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Songbook software question
https://mail.karaokescene.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7094		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  maninblack [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Songbook software question
I did a forum search and found a thread from August of last year and several programs were mentions such as KJ Pro, Aiwer, FastTracks. But man I got to tell you, the price on some of these programs is outta my range right now, and I really need to update my list ASAP. Any feedback on which is the best for the money. The only one that I've personally checked out is Aiwer, but kinda dissapointed with it's lack of page layouts.
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
James
Maninblack
Author:  gahmc [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
Though everyone has they're opinion about the book software, just like disk manufacters, I believe the gold standard is pretty much KJ Pro.

And I know how you feel about paying the price for it, I was the same way, but when you start ordering more and more disks, and get tired of typing the songs in, you'll be willing to pay it, and never regret it!  :wink:
Author:  Lonman [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
I like Microsoft Access.  Completely customizeable to any format I want, downfall is you need to enter songs manually.
Author:  DannyG2006 [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
KJPro may be the standard but Fast Tracks has the best layout for Artist. It only lists the artist name again if the artist's songs end up on another page or column.
KJpro while it will not name the artist everytime an artist's songs are there it will only rename the artist in single column mode so if the artist goes to the next page or column, the person looking is lost as to who the artist is for the songs listed on the other column. Fast Tracks also allows you to remove duplicates in the print out without removing it from the main songlist's database so you can print either the full list for your needs and make a lower costing print output for your patrons that only lists one copy of each song. Also Fast Tracks has a free viewer that if you wanted to set up a computer based ebook you could. You would still have to do the slips but it would cut down on the need for extra books.
Author:  gahmc [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
Fast Tracks does sound like it has some awesome features, but as far as being able to set up book so you don't have duplicates, but keeping a master list, I have two book set-ups in my program: one for my master book, and another edited to remove duplicates. It works for me.

One question: does fast tracks automatically remove the duplicates before printing? What about duplicate songs from different manufacters?
Author:  eben [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
gahmc @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:04 am wrote:
One question: does fast tracks automatically remove the duplicates before printing? What about duplicate songs from different manufacters?


I use FastTracks and it does not have automatic remove duplicate. However, it has a nice feature when printing. You can go manually select songs you don't want to print by clicking on the check box. It's pretty easy specially if you sort them by songs. Then when you print, there is an option that lets you print all songs or only songs that's not checked. So, it's easy to keep a list. I keep at most two versions of each songs and hide the rest. I keep two just incase someone is used to one version or another.
Author:  DannyG2006 [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
eben @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:30 pm wrote:
gahmc @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:04 am wrote:
One question: does fast tracks automatically remove the duplicates before printing? What about duplicate songs from different manufacters?


I use FastTracks and it does not have automatic remove duplicate. However, it has a nice feature when printing. You can go manually select songs you don't want to print by clicking on the check box. It's pretty easy specially if you sort them by songs. Then when you print, there is an option that lets you print all songs or only songs that's not checked. So, it's easy to keep a list. I keep at most two versions of each songs and hide the rest. I keep two just incase someone is used to one version or another.

I have the plus version and it gives you a choice as to what order of priority to eliminate the duplices by artist and title but you can choose which manufacturer you want to keep out of the duplicates globally.
Author:  eben [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
DannyG2006 @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:55 am wrote:
eben @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:30 pm wrote:
gahmc @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:04 am wrote:
One question: does fast tracks automatically remove the duplicates before printing? What about duplicate songs from different manufacters?


I use FastTracks and it does not have automatic remove duplicate. However, it has a nice feature when printing. You can go manually select songs you don't want to print by clicking on the check box. It's pretty easy specially if you sort them by songs. Then when you print, there is an option that lets you print all songs or only songs that's not checked. So, it's easy to keep a list. I keep at most two versions of each songs and hide the rest. I keep two just incase someone is used to one version or another.

I have the plus version and it gives you a choice as to what order of priority to eliminate the duplices by artist and title but you can choose which manufacturer you want to keep out of the duplicates globally.


Is that right? I have the plus version and I never knew that. LOL. I guess it helps to read the manual. I never did and was able to figure out how to use it. It's pretty intuitive.
Author:  lbister [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
I'm with Lonman on this one.  Access works really well and it has the added advantage of that it doesn't cost you anything (as long as you have it).

On my first go-around I used Excel because I needed something quick and didn't have time to do all of the formatting that I would have needed to do in Access.  It worked pretty well.

Larry
Author:  eben [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
lbister @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:16 am wrote:
I'm with Lonman on this one.  Access works really well and it has the added advantage of that it doesn't cost you anything (as long as you have it).

On my first go-around I used Excel because I needed something quick and didn't have time to do all of the formatting that I would have needed to do in Access.  It worked pretty well.

Larry


I agree mostly about Access or even Excel. I used Excel until last year. Excel has a decent Database function to do sorts and stuff so it's ok.

However, I bought one of the programs mostly for the database. Programs like FastTrack comes with a main database that contains almost all of the known CD-G/DVD/etc. for karaoke. It's pretty userful for lazy guy like myself. I just input the first song from the CDG and it gives me all the know CDGs with that as the first song. I choose the right one and it inputs all the songs from the CDG in to my personal database.

Also, if you choose a CDG by name, it will show you which songs are duplicate from your own database. It's a quick and convenient way to check if the CDG is worth buying.
Author:  DannyG2006 [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
eben @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:14 pm wrote:
DannyG2006 @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:55 am wrote:
eben @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:30 pm wrote:
gahmc @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:04 am wrote:
One question: does fast tracks automatically remove the duplicates before printing? What about duplicate songs from different manufacters
Is that right? I have the plus version and I never knew that. LOL. I guess it helps to read the manual. I never did and was able to figure out how to use it. It's pretty intuitive.

I believe that it is in their latest release.  Could you have an old version. Do they give you the upgrade for free? Worth looking into.
The plus even searches your hard drive and creates a book form your mp3+g files. The only software that is better with computer karaoke is Latshaws SongList Generator as it only prints out the names of the songs and auto removes the duplicate artist and title from the list. It also gives you a three column format for the artist books.
Author:  eben [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
DannyG2006 @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:28 am wrote:
eben @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:14 pm wrote:
DannyG2006 @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:55 am wrote:
eben @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:30 pm wrote:
gahmc @ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:04 am wrote:
One question: does fast tracks automatically remove the duplicates before printing? What about duplicate songs from different manufacters
Is that right? I have the plus version and I never knew that. LOL. I guess it helps to read the manual. I never did and was able to figure out how to use it. It's pretty intuitive.

I believe that it is in their latest release.  Could you have an old version. Do they give you the upgrade for free? Worth looking into.
The plus even searches your hard drive and creates a book form your mp3+g files. The only software that is better with computer karaoke is Latshaws SongList Generator as it only prints out the names of the songs and auto removes the duplicate artist and title from the list. It also gives you a three column format for the artist books.


Hmm, thanks for the info. I just did the free upgrade but didn't have chance to use it since. I will be getting a bunch of CDGs next week so I will check out the function. Thanks again for the info.
Author:  Guest [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
KJ Pro $99, has 270,000+ songs.   Bunch of different formats for printout.   Had it for 10 years.     One drawback.   The first version 10 years ago had a bunch of typos.    Bought a new one  last year.    Had the same typos.   They never fixed anything.    I had to do a lot of fixing.    Wrong titles and Artists names, dupe songs different spelling.   It does have a lot of features.   You can download updates whenever you want.    My master songbook (almost 15,000 songs) is already corrected now, so I will just have to add new stuff as I get it.    Changes can be made easily.    I'm sticking with it.   You can do discs inventory printouts, by artist, by title, by disc.    Haven't seen any others, so I'm limited to this one.
Author:  DannyG2006 [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
Quote:
Hmm, thanks for the info. I just did the free upgrade but didn't have chance to use it since. I will be getting a bunch of CDGs next week so I will check out the function. Thanks again for the info.


If you are going computer look into Compuhost as it is compatable with fast tracks.
Author:  knightshow [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
I've become a huge fan of Access in the past few years. Initially, I couldn't get the reports to look right, but lately, I've been able to do ALMOST what I want to do!

Figure when it's time, I'll hit Lonnie up for some serious tech talk about it! LOL!
Author:  eben [ Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
DannyG2006 @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:43 pm wrote:
Quote:
Hmm, thanks for the info. I just did the free upgrade but didn't have chance to use it since. I will be getting a bunch of CDGs next week so I will check out the function. Thanks again for the info.


If you are going computer look into Compuhost as it is compatable with fast tracks.


Wow, that is one great information. I will definitely check in to it since I am about to go computer on the Karaoke side. Thanks for the info.
Author:  DannyG2006 [ Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
eben @ Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:30 pm wrote:
DannyG2006 @ Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:43 pm wrote:
Quote:
Hmm, thanks for the info. I just did the free upgrade but didn't have chance to use it since. I will be getting a bunch of CDGs next week so I will check out the function. Thanks again for the info.


If you are going computer look into Compuhost as it is compatable with fast tracks.


Wow, that is one great information. I will definitely check in to it since I am about to go computer on the Karaoke side. Thanks for the info.

One thing for customers discs (to save wear and tear on your computer's drives) set yourself up with a cdg player as a backup anyway.
Author:  Guest [ Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
Add a UBS external drive to play other peoples discs.   It works with Sax and Dotty.    You won't need to use an A/B switch or any other hook ups.
Author:  CJCJ [ Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
Like Lonman I prefer to use MS Access. I have created two forms; one for the records and one to search the records. Access is so customizable that it is in my opinion by far the best - with a little know-how you can get exactly what you want out of it. You do have to enter the records manually but once you have it set up it's no hassle to add new discs, you can either enter them in to the records form or directly in to the table. I enter straight in to the table as you can copy and paste the first part of the disk reference, i.e. "Sfly-242-" and then just tab down entering the 01, 02 etc on to the end of it.

The record form has options to preview or print song books sorted by Song, Artist or Reference Number. The search form allows you to search by the same parameters.

You can create a query to delete duplicates or even move them to another database.
Author:  Lonman [ Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Songbook software question
CJCJ @ Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:15 am wrote:
You do have to enter the records manually but once you have it set up it's no hassle to add new discs, you can either enter them in to the records form or directly in to the table.


The upside to entering your discs manually is you kind of get a feel for the songs you have too without even thinking about it.  When you use a canned database, you type in the disc number & forget about it.
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