Karaoke Forums

I've been searching many different sites looking for samples of the different brands of karaoke tracks. Still really shocked how many newer songs sound like they were made on Casio Keyboard or a (@$%&#!) synthesizer. When I'm at the bar, I enjoy singing to the tracks that have great instrumentals. I've also been a little shocked at the vast difference in timing of the lyric prompts from brand to brand. Some are dead on, and others seem like a blind monkey sync'd it to the music.

Are certain brands preferred by the legit KJ's? Or do I need to literally pick and choose the best version of the songs I like from multiple sources? Some brands I can't find any way to hear a sample of their style, any tips to work around that?

Also how common is it to have tracks that have the Lead Vocals muted but still there? I like those when I'm starting to add a song to my singing list.

Thanks,
^Hawk^

There are far wiser here than me, but a good guess would be that the death of the Compact Disc format (CD's) has removed a lot of the financial incentive to producing good sounding (i.e. actual musicians playing) Karaoke versions of new songs.

Also, I'm not sure how Royalty fees work with Karaoke, but some of the old music is probably Public Domain as well?

It would be interesting to know which brands you've heard that you think sound like synth (Casio) midi stuff. It's always hit & miss, NO brand will get it right everytime. Lots of cheaper off brands will sound synthy quite often but even they have their diamonds in the roughs.
most of our primary goto's are
Karaoke Version
SBI
Party Tyme
Sunfly
Zoom

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I have been building my collection as a new start-up in the U.K.

It does seem some brands are consistently better than others although still with varying degrees of quality.

I recently made a bulk purchase of 99 disks for £50 and included were 27 disks of Idol Makers. It was a really nice surprise that the quality of these tracks have been consistently good. I understand these are sold quite cheaply in the US. Anybody else rate that collection?

Robbie

All of the brands that Lonnie mentions above, with the exception of PartyTyme, offer outstanding quality. I would only use PartyTyme as a last resort if they had the song I wanted and it wasn't available from the others.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Are you saying that given the choice between Party Tyme 9say Sweet Georgia Brown, you'd pick Sweet Georgia Brown. How about Music Maestro? How about Buy Karaoke Downloads? There are several brands that I can think of that I would buy Party Tyme over.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Get yourself the CB SD CARD 1-10 set (4500 tracks) 12 cents per track and excellent quality.
eBay has many offerings also.

If you are low on funds for purchasing, simply start yourself off with a Karafun Pro subscription (31,000+ tracks) and slowly buy tracks as you need them.

I believe that the Idol Makers are the exact same thing as Sweet Georgia Brown

You really are in a world of your own.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

EXACTLY the same, despite what some may try to argue.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Well since buykaraokedownloads are totally illegal in all respects i don't consider them as part of the equation.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Karaoke Version IMO... If they suck, then none of my singers can tell.. I never get complaints on their tracks..

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A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.
"William Shakespeare"

my personal opinion list (in order of preference*

Soundchoice/PEP
Zoom
PartyTyme
SBI
Karaoke Version

I will admit that SC is becoming less and less relivant tho

Why is it that people who ask questions never follow up

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

You would take PartyTyme over SBI and Karaoke Version? Seriously, that would be my last choice. Even DK and Chartbuster are so much better.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Chartbuster and DK are dead brands and shouldn't even be in the conversation to begin with. That said, I would place at least Karaoke Version over Party Tyme. Since SBI is brand non grata in the states let's leave them off the list as well. But between Chartbuster, DK and Party Tyme, I would take Party Tyme over the other two.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

The newer Party Tyme releases are much better than some of the previous. Especially their back catalog stuff.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Until SC comes through with a years worth of releasing 5 songs a month in a row, they are far from being back in the game. In fact with their record to date, I think that they should only be allowed to collect their $10 a month for only the months rhat they produce new tracks.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

We are very close to the point right now where live studio musicians will not be needed to be able to replicate a song.
The days of tinny plink-plunk midi files are over.

High quality instrument sample libraries of real instruments ie Martin Guitar, Fender Bass, Telecaster, virtual instruments can be used to create virtually indistinguishable copies of live played music.

search for youtube videos of virtual instruments from companies such as Ample Sound for examples.

At one time Sound Choice was the #1 Karaoke company..now with downloads..I personally feel KV is leading the way