Karaoke Forums

A couple of comments in another thread got me wondering. Just simple questions. How many of us still use CDs? How many use a combination of discs and computer files? How many are strictly CDs? How many don't use discs at all?

I took out my Numark dual-tray last year, having ripped everything to computer. I've not had a request to play someone's disc in at least three years... and the best part is, my console is lighter and I no longer have to carry those three aluminum cases crammed with discs. They now sit in my basement storage room gathering dust. (And yes, I know about the legalities of shifting formats, but that's not what this thread is about...)

_________________
Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

Personally, I don't care about the certification status as long as you have the discs and personally I am willing to take your word. For The most part with the exception of those asking about loaded hard drives, and I hope that even they have left this forum better informed about what damage it can do to hosts who go the discs as backup route, are at least 1:1 in disc to songs ratio for discs ripped to computer and have receipts from legitimate download sites. And again, I don't need to see them to believe that you have them. I run an all computer show. In fact even though my software has the ability to play discs, I don't have a DVD in my laptop. I rip using an external drive which I don't carry with me to shows. That said I can play off of a USB flash drive. I have had one outside disc brought into my shows and that was before Compuhost had the ability to play outside media. Had to use the original version of Karafun to play his song.

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

I still have 900 CDG disks I keep in Sony Multi-disk players but as an upgrade I found it's cheapest way to just buy the tracks in MP3+G format on disks and SD cards (Pennies a song)
and still have them as backups.

I still buy discs, but they get ripped. Do not actually run shows with them anymore. However I do still have a disc player for those that do bring them - getting less and less each year in favor of flash drives - but I still get them.

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

been close to 15 years since i did a show using discs.
still have them, but they stay home.
still can play them, just an external cd drive for the laptop.

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Ditto, except that I don't need an external player since CompuHost will play any CDG Disc using the CD drive on my laptop.

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

I still have all four of my discs..

As I have said before, the only time that I have played a song not in my library other than from a subscription or buying on the fly was before Compuhost added disc playing capability. I probably won't ever have to worry about that again. In fact I only use the play outside media feature for playing songs that I have bought on the fly before importing into the database.

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

Same here. I don’t use an external cdg player. I use my laptop built-in cd/dvd drive to play my singers’ cdgs thru Siglos karaoke player app with animated visualization background/variety of skins (optional use).

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

the only reason i have an external cd drive is that i removed the internal one from my laptop to put in a second HDD for music. so i put the internal cd drive into a usb enclosure just in case.

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I am completely CDG based. Since I only do a show once in a blue moon, I have no desire to computerize everything. It is not worth the time or effort for me to do so.

I do have several burned discs (from my original collection), which I bring with me when I go out to sing. I also have those same songs on a flash drive in an MP3+G format. I want to thank all of you who said you are willing to play from my personal discs or flash drive.

What I've found here in SW Fl. with an older population, many older singers only go where there are KJs that play discs, I'm not one of them. Many of the disc player manufacturers are not making players anymore like JVC which was one of the best. I've even had older singers tell me they practice their discs at home and don't trust computers to put out the same music, additionally they don't know what manufacturer they use. I tell them when they go to computer only shows make sure to write down manufacturer, and keys up/down same. Most of these shows are at club type settings such as Elks, Moose, VFW and American Legion, one reason is that the drinks are a lot cheaper, and most of these people are on fixed incomes. On the other hand bars, restaurants etc are not playing discs, and places where there is a younger population.

Laptop only here. CDGs slow down the rotation because I have to handle them and do not wish responsibility for the care of them. Some alcohol could get on them from the table the client is sitting at and they think it was me that ruined their disc. No Way, No How, Not Ever!

I used to not play thumb drives either because of not knowing whether it was pirated material or not. I have done that on occasion for a KJ friend that comes to my show now and then because I know he has become legal. He is the only one.

I'm not sure if I would be liable if material on the thumb drive were pirated and if I only played it and refrained from downloading. Maybe someone here knows and will explain. Even though it appears PEP has dropped lawsuits since I have seen none in 2018. Still, I'm one of the ones they have on a CNS because of audit and could be liable due to that ignorance on my part.

_________________
You can never argue with a crazy mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mind ----B. Joel
I have great faith in fools; My friends call it self-confidence ---- E.A. Poe
I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity ----E.A. Poe
I don't know, I don't care, and it doesn't make any difference! ----A. Einstein
Double bubble, toil and trouble ----W. Shakespeare & Walt Disney
I hate it when I get on FaceBook ----Me
Karaoke might be Groundhog Day ----?
Of All the Martial Arts, Karaoke Inflicts the Most Pain ----?

I dont play discs but keep the capability available for customers to bring. But I remember disc kjs that would custom number their discs eliminating the manufacturer code altogether, literally the book would have say 6 versions of Friends In Low Places but not show what manufacturer (which kind of defeats listing multiple versions to begin with).
As far as not knowing what the computer users are offering as far as being the same or not (paranoia if it's the same manu), absolutely no different in that respect.

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

I guess I'm part of that older generation,
I much prefer a venue that plays my discs.
It is such a let down to find that a song you
want to sing Is an inferior version, such as
I ask for, We Just Disagree, and here comes
the All Hits version, which I don't care for.
also, I don't burn my discs, nor download
to computer, it's a little extra work but I
don't mind.It don't take much to make this
old boy happy.

Lonman, I'm like a kid in a candy shop
when I find a Kj who can, and will play my
discs! But when they can't then it's do you
have this song, that artist, on this disc! kind
of stuff, and you notice their smile fading &
then, feel like a nuisance, it takes the fun out
of the hunt, you're right about the numbering
system, and no cdg manu listings, defeating
the purpose of finding ones song quickly, It's
a real drag for me, l keep a book, and reading
the posts here has helped me compile the
best versions possible that I can find. There's
a lot of good advice and tons of information,
listed in these pages.

I actually am probably one of the few kj's that still list manufacturer code in my book (not full disc number just 2 or 3 letter id ie SC, CB, SGB, etc). Granted just one time and the version I feel is the best - you can ask if I have another, chances are I do not but ya never know.

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

While I don't list the versions in my hardcopy books, my online remote requests shows every brand so that my singers can make an informed choice. Even when I go around with my mobile kiosk, I will tell the singer what version of the song that I have and let them make the decision. My books only list one version, two versions if it's in both the main list and the subscription list.

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

The singers knowing the difference between brands are getting far and few between. I did a survey on my page a couple years ago and out of around 998 people that replied - FOUR said they cared or even knew what the difference was between brands. It's just not relevant in todays industry, people just want to sing their song to a decent sounding version.

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

The random singer that has disc he/she practices with, may request that version.
But yes, not so common these days.