Karaoke Forums

Good call, but you will still need to transport the remote machines which is the drawback Dr. Fred was talking about.  Wireless anything costs more money than I would like to spend on a kiosk.  Although I have never had one die (and lord knows they should have) kiosks have to be thought of as expendable IMHO.  Some of the more techy folks did complain that I should upgrade my hardware becasue it would look better.  But....

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Okay, who took my pants?

   Hey Weed, do you know where one could find the software and the cost, per chance?    :wave:

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Sorry Joe, I haven't kept up with what everyone else is doing.  If you've got some dusty old computers sitting around I can send you an old version of SON with the kiosk aplication included.

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Okay, who took my pants?

  If that's a stand alone. I'd love it. If it's a plug in I'd pass.  Info?

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

use excel and create your own books.  when you cuy new discs next time you can simply add the new songs to pages in front of each book and label it new arrivals.  the NEXT time you buy discs after that you can add the previous new arrivals AND the new new arrivals to the regular book, thus meaning you only have to redo books every other time you get new stuff instead of every time.  
i print mine at office depot.  10 books usually runs me about $100.

<edited>
oh yeah, don't forget to take out all of your  duplicate songs, leaving just the best version of each song.  this will make your book much smaller and less expensive.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

OK, suggestion for paper books, IF you decide on that instead of kiosks:


    Remember, time is also money.  Skip Excel, and buy KJPro sostware.  You don't have to enter each title, artist, ans disc number, one by one.  You enter the disc number, and all the info is loaded at once ( But double checking the entry against the actual disc is a must. Databases are never 100% accurate).  The progeam will allow you to download a database containing (now) close to 400,000 songs, and they continually update it. Since the Dbase is stored in your PC, you can browse it by title or artist to find the manufacturers for any song that you need.

   You can print by title, artist, or disc, and also print a disc catalogue for inventory purposes.  Like all other functions, font, font size, and layout are all one click functions.  ( BTW- I've found that 10 pt Ariel is about as small as you want to go in bar light, but bigger is better.  I'm generally at 11 or 12 pt with two columns).


   You can also enter by hand, edit, and change disc numbers with a click.  It can create custom songbooks ( in case you want one just for say, country, or you want to help a fellow host out)


    The point is, the speed of entry and production  is way,way, faster than Excel.  If you happen to have started one in Excel, the program has a one click import button.


    Side Note:  Unlike many hosts, I do NOT recommend deleting duplicate versions from different manufacturers. I have found that many of my singers practice at home, and prefer singing to the versions that they are used to, not neccesarily the ones that we consider "best". If we happen to have their versions, it makes them happy and keeps 'em coming back.

   Also, as far as running a show goes, "best" is really whatever version is most popular with the customers- not always the "brand" name.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I actually prefer to hand type each song myself.  This helps a great deal in knowing your library.  Then custom create reports in Access.  I personally never liked the looks of the canned databases.

If you can afford to print your books with a large amount of duplicate titles, then go for it.  99 out of 100 times your singers are going to come to you & ask what the difference is between multiple song listings for the same song title.  When you explain it to them, 99% of the time when they ask what the difference is, they will say give me the version you feel is best.  Yes you will get the minority that actually know which version they prefer, you could make a denotation by the song instead of actually listing each version that multiple versions are available and to ask.  No point in listing 10 versions of Friends In Low Places & 8 versions of Goodbye Earl when you don't have to - unless you just want to give the illusion that your book is huge without having a lot of songs.
However if you do list every version - makes SURE you list or denote manufacturing info/code (ie SC8148, CB60338, THMR0607) as well and not a generic number list (114504, 02345, 10956) - otherwise it is completely moot point to list all versions because no one will know which version you are using to begin with.

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     I agree with your theory of typing the songs in one at a time- did it myself for awhile.  However, when entering sets I found this too time consuming.  What I do now is add new entries into a temporary book ( an empty custom book)  first ( by disc). I can then copy - with one click- this book to my main one. I print the tempory book and can study it at my leisure.


     As for the look:  This software has so many fonts and types that you can pretty much customize it to your liking.

     Duplicates:   Yes, some will just say "Pick the best version", but sometimes that's not possible.  

     Example:   Elvis's "Suspicious Minds"


            Three good versions are SuperCore, Music Maestro, and Sound Choice- BUT:

      It's not a matter of "best".  I prefer the SuperCore version.  The problem is that all three are equally good, but VERY different.  

      The Music Maestro version is the VERY fast live version.  The Supercore is the origianal "studio" version ( slower, and with a less dragged out ending).  Sound Choice has a richer instrumental track, but has slight wording changes and is somewhere in between speeds.

      Friends In Low Places  ( I am SO sick of this song) comes in the live, three verse version or the studio two verse version.


     Desperado comes in both the Eagles  and Linda Ronstadt versions, both very popular, both made well by more than one Mfr.   Someone To Watch Over Me comes the same way.

   The list goes on.  If someone asks me for the "best" version, I ask if they sing at home, or do they know who makes their favorite, or even the color of the disc label.

   If they can't answer, I  may even ask where else they sing that carries their favorite. ( I am friendly with other local hosts and sometimes know what versions they carry).

    In the end "duplicates" generally aren't.  I know my way of doing this isn't popular with other hosts because it does take extra work. I just like to keep the customers as happy as I can, and selfishly enjoy the ego boost when they express their satisfaction.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

But not the actual layout of the report itself to customize exactly how you want it to look - maybe that's changed over the last couple years.



As far as very different versions, I don't consider a fast version vs a slow version a duplicate version.  I list both & denote which is which like Eric Clapton Layla - 2 completely different versions by the same artist of the same song.
Desperado by Eagles & Linda Ronstadt - these are two different artists, doing the same song, not the same version & they will both get listed.  
Friends In Low Places - the studio verion & the live version - 2 different version & they both get listed.  I have 2 versions of At This Moment - a long drawn out ending that is nearly acapella at the end & a short to the point ending - both listed & denoted as such.  What i'm referring to is the same versions by different manus - there is no point in listing several different versions of a song from the same artists if it's basically the same version - now you go by quality of the music & accuracy of the lyrics.  
But like I said, if you have the funds to print a bunch of duplicate titles, then go for it.  My books are getting rather large with non-duplicated, i'd have to go to a 3"+ sized binder if I wanted to list all - that's double columned, doubled sided & 12 pt font.



Not me.  If they ask me I give what I feel is the best IMO & then ask them at the end if that worked for them, majority of the time they will end up saying that was a better version than what they were used to.  Most of the competition around here uses SGB & NuTech in their cores.



Actually I feel it takes less work to print all the duplicates.  When you weed out, you go through & listen to each version & determine from there.  It's not a matter of more work or less work, it's a matter of book space for me.  I can't afford to print up unneccesary book space anymore so duplicates go bye bye.  
But again like you said, when they ask me & I give them what I feel I know exactly what you mean when they look happily over & tell me that's better then what they are used to!  Makes me know I am doing my job as well.

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

good points on both posts.

i like typing my own to try to eliminate typos.  i run hoster which has a bookmaker on it, but i wasn't satifsied with the results i got from it.  further, we no longer use pen/paper for folks to turn in songs.  they simply approach me and ask to add the song by name.  i pull up all the versions i have and ask if they have a preference.  most of the time i get a goofy look from the person like "huh?  what do you mean?"  to which i explain different companies versions are not always close to the original.  they usually say "just gimme the one that sounds like the radio"


on the point of ease of use making books from the program, because list only the best (in my opinion) version, i would have to go back through and delete duplicates again making it much more time consuming.  in excel i need only to add to the previously saved book and resort.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

With modern technology, I'm finding it far more economical to purchase legal cdg+mp3 tracks.
Not only do you get the Premium Tracks desired, but you weed out all those filler tracks most people really don't want.

With that Being Said.........
In Time.... One ends up with perhaps Ten's of 1,000's of cdg+mp3 tracks.
KJPRO's SongBook is USLESS for this Modern Setup.
I wrote to KJPRO requesting that they add the Utility Tool to count cdg+mp3 tracks.
They wrote me back and said, "At this time, KJPRO is not Interested in this feature."

In Time.... Manually Inputing Will Be A Thing Of The Past!!

FastTracks V2 Plus has the Single Track Utility Tool for Modern Technology!
I Loaded 50,000 Single cdg+mp3 Tracks in less that ONE MINUTE
with Excellent Accuracy.
I don't have to tell you how Long KJPRO takes to Load 50,000 Tracks!!!

In my opinion, KJPRO has The Best Database availabel.
It's too bad they won't even consider Evolving with Modern Technology.

sw00000p

in this situation i list ALL varieties.  for example "fly me to the moon" on sweet georgia bown is a slow soft melody while "fly me to the moon" on party tyme karaoke is the uptempo version from the movie "space cowboys".  i list them both.  one as uptempo the other as original.  
i list suspicious minds by both elvis and dwight yoakum
i list desperado by the eagles anc clint black and linda ronstadt
i list take it easy by the eagles and by travis tritt.

it's really not that difficult.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

Lonman:  Thanks for the clarification regarding the definition of duplicates.  We're on the same page.   I would, however, have another look at KJPro's printing abilities. I don't know how long ago it was that you tried it, or what your preferred layout is, but it may be possible now.


    xx:   Duplicate deletion in KJPro is one click, and all are deleted.


    swOOOOOp:   KJPro's database exists with the help of the disc manufacturers and can't be used with MP3s without the manufacturers' cooperation.  It's going to be awhile before that happens.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Joe,
You said KJPro can't be used with MP3s without the manufacturers' cooperation.
I'm speaking about CDG+MP3 (NOT MP3'S)
.... Do you know what that is?

According to FastTracks:
It's merely a Utility Tool with an Alogorithm to Count Tracks!
No Special Cooperation Needed to Implement  A Tool to Count Tracks.

KJPro is Simply Unwilling to Help the User with Tens of 1,000's
of Single Tracks at This Time. As this method is fairly New, I understand.
That's why I use FastTracks!

Out With The Old, In With The New.. It's Only A Matter of Time!

sw00000p

sw, is there a fire, cause you certainly are peein' on a lot of things with your posts...

oh, and the cdg+mp3 is usally called MP3+G, KMA+G, WMA+G, etc...

   Misread your first post.

   KJPro is running a business, in hopes of turning a profit. That's how businesses work.  It's not 1000s of single tracks, it's, AT LEAST hundreds of thousands.  They don't feel it would be profitable (and it probably wouldn't) so they don't want to do it.  Makes sense to me.

  BTW, I don't think I would want to build my library one track at a time. Too many opportunity to miss a song, no matter how obscure, that COULD become popular.   This is why many manufacturers sell SETS of discs.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Joe,

Sorry for the Sacasim. I don't see any lost revenue from a counting tool.  Also, I'm a far cry from building my library, One track at a time. After purchasing Dozen's of discs, over the years, it's refreshing to purchase the desired tracks. How do you miss a Track? When you KNOW what you want.... You get it.
You keep buying your Sets and I'll buy Only the Ones People Sing.
I respect your opinon and agree to disagree.

Happy Karaoke'ing
sw00000p

We are getting prepared to go online with this. Our club is going to get the internet so that when someone requests a song and we don't have it (fairly frequent as our library isn't all that large), we can immediately buy it from an online source. I wish onliine selection was better, but I believe it will improve over time.

I think he's getting at is if you just buy the track instead of the disc because you personally may think it's filler or non-useable songs, the songs on that disc may actually get used more than you think.
I see exactly where you are coming from as well, get what singers request.  I do the same thing, but I think I would personally be limiting their options if that is all I got them to sing.  I have discs I bought for specific requests that have had other songs on that disc get sung more often than the actual request that I never had one request for in the past - could have been a 'missed' track.

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

I'm merely trying to do as mckyj57 stated. After obtaining SC Foundations 1 & 2,
all 5 SC Bricks, Teen & Party Packs, NuTech SCDG 1, 2, 3, SGB, THM & PHM, Chartbuster Essentials:

I frequently visit karaoke shows to Note what's popular.

Although this isn't very complete compared to some of you,
I'm Tired Of Buying Duplicates.

sw00000p

If you're careful at what you buy, duplicates don't have to be a factor.  Funny thing I know 1 guy here that advertise that they have 15,000 songs, OVER HALF are duplicates so he actually has maybe 7500 individual song titles.  But he buys every set - doesn't look at what's on them & compare them to his book so he bought some sets that are almost mirror images of what he already has.
If you carefully take the time, duplicates are not a huge factor.  I run just over 11K songs right now non-duplicated titles, if I counted the dups, i'd be sitting at a little over 14K.  That's only 3,000 duplicated titles, not a huge loss over 15 years of buying discs.  i won't get a disc if it has 1/2 or more duplicates titles to what I already have (unless the versions I have suck).  I have only 1 custom disc because I did need songs that I wouldn't buy discs for 1 song, so I finally splurged.  May do it again, but except for 2 of 15 songs that were 'must haves' by our singers, I paid for a custom disc that don't get used much.