Karaoke Forums

I have been told by my peers that remaining with the disc, makes me shiftless. Since SC and other manus problem seems to stem from the shifting of material, not leaving it in it's natural pristine condition. I was just wondering if any hosts that have shifted might consider going back to nature? This is of course to keep in compliance with the creator's (SC), original plan for the industry. Before that evil Satan technology crept into the lovely garden of karaoke.

Uh, no thank you. I'm not about to carry discs again and additional players that slow down what I do just to satisfy SC. I dropped them first.

My business (if I have one) is not about pleasing SC.

It would not be my first choice, but I have relied on discs if I have a computer crash since I have all my discs at my show anyway, these are what I use for back ups. I don't get crashes often, but every once in a while, and this is where I just pull the discs & continue the show - no down time waiting for the computer to reboot or hooking up a back up.

Now if it were found to be illegal (actual cases banning the fact) to use format shifted material, yes I could and would go back to discs with no issues.

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

Lonman you have to admit that you have a different situation than almost everyone else here: You system doesn't move, you work 7 nights at the same venue. It's easy to keep all your discs there and huge amounts of equipment since - once again - you don't have to move them.

I think you'd act differently if you had to move your system 4-5 times a week. You have a smaller system to start with and I doubt you'd carry all your discs with you "on the chance" that somewhere, someday, somehow, someone would ask to see them.

As far as show "crashes" are concerned: In the 7 - 8 years that I've been computerized, I have never (not one single time) had a "software crash." I have had hardware crashes - maybe 6 in eight years - of a hard drive or power supply, but never a software crash.

If you had to carry all this again, I believe you'd have a backup laptop (smaller, lighter) that you'd carry instead and not a ton of cd's and a player.

just my opinion.

plus, st this point it is all being built so much better that i know i have not had any real software problems (i can think of 3) in 3 years. and those only took less than 5 seconds to restart. the hardware is more solid, no issues there.
but to the OP, if it came down from an actual authority (court ruling) that it was unlawfull to shift content, i could go to disc based. carying all those discs would not be as pleasant, but we could do it. i wouls actuallt mix the 2 methods. my software can play direct from disc without ripping it to a temp file so i can use rotation management, history, fill in music, display screens, etc so that is an option not available before.

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

I too would have no problem (technically) returning to discs and playing them from my computer, but before I resort to that I would probably just purchase downloads of the songs I need and only tote a minimum of discs.

Since I have very detailed records in my history files I would have no problem figuring out the songs I would need to keep everyone happy without carrying tons of discs for only a couple of songs each. Much of what my regulars are singing now are already songs I've purchased as individual downloads.

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KNOW THYSELF

We carry 2,000 discs, play in three different venues, six nights a week and it poses absolutely no problems. We dolly them in and out in custom made wooden disc boxes (three stacks) which also acts as a base for our SKB case and "office". The discs are kept in jewel cases. It's only as difficult as you make it.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Do you carry them in your house every night or park your vehicle in a garage or secure location?

I live in a 2nd & 3rd floor condo with no secure parking. I'm refuse to carry my discs upstairs every night or leave them in a vehicle. Am I making it difficult?

Well since the OP was basically asking WOULD you go back to discs if I had to, the answer is yes. But i've stated before i'd still bring my discs even with a laptop running. I have a cd coffin on wheels that would just reside under the table. Not a big deal to roll one more piece of equipment in. It holds 600 discs in the slimline cases.
Like the others I may find a software that I could run the discs through for the computer fun stuff that I like, names of singers coming up and marquees. Slide shows, ads, etc. I know COmpuhost allows for a video capture card so I could run the player through it and still get the computer bennys.
If I were just starting another setup, i'd probably opt for the SC GEM & CB HD Media Pro & bite the bullet & purchase Compuhost anyway to be able to utilize it.


I can count on one hand in the few years i've used Hoster that it's actually shut down on me. When I really was having troubles is when my motherboard & hard drives were failing. I've heard from some users here that their software can crash up to 5 or 6 times a week - which is completely unacceptable IMO.
But if I had to carry it all again, I would still roll the coffin, I will ALWAYS offer a player for custy discs and back up purposes and not worry about a second laptop. Honest engine! What I use in a mobile show is sometimes as much as what a band uses. As a matter of fact here is a pic of the complete speaker system I have used for both karaoke & bands, this is obviously a band setup. Usually for karaoke it's just two of the tops & 1 (maybe 2) dual 18" sub, a full amp rack (3 2000 watt amps) & effects rack. 1 more cd coffin isn't going to be an issue.

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

I've been at this for over 20 years now. I've got all my disks stored in custom made wood road cases. Each one is between 50 to 60 pounds each. I just turned 64 yesterday, and I can no longer carry 50 and 60 pound road cases of disks so I guess I'd have to say no, I wouldn't go back to disks. If I were to continue in the business, I'd continue with my computer and buy the CB Essentials and SC Gems as downloads.

As for computer crashing, that has only happened once in my 4-5 years of using a computer. That was when my power supply went bad. I ran the show on the battery and the battery finally died on the next to last song of the night. Normally I have a backup computer for emergencies.

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My first choice IS Sound Choice.

Disk based and loving it..

I carry both of them to every show..

Happy belated birthday!

How many of you who also DJ still use CD's for playing your music? If not, who did you get permission to shift the media from CD to .mp3 from? Exactly - no music producer cares because they operate their business in a 2011 environment, not 1998.

Sound Choice just made up the media shift prohibition because it was the fastest way to bring lawsuits - it's BS.

Hmmmm, where have I seen that before....?

Actually many may have forgotten that I have actually used a PC for tiny home parties where space was at a premium.

Did it for about a year, using the original PCDJ/KJ Red, which was perfect for my purposes. Though I had no trouble with it at all, when the lappy crapped out I just tossed it and went back to discs for the little parties too. I wasn't about to waste any more selling/promotion time ripping all of my discs again- and there would have been a lot more of them. I actually LIKE disc handling, by the way.

So I actually did go back.

I carry my discs in three 600 disc binders, plus two smaller 100 disc binders now. I can carry all on one arm ( and I'm 55) in one trip.

I handle the discs properly, and have never had damage issues related to using binders rather than big heavy road boxes and jewel cases either.

Some prefer using PC's rather than discs simply due to the process, and I understand that completely. However, for those who simply think carrying discs is too much work, I would suggest a bit of time in the gym. I would also ask who carries their speakers?

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Actually in Canada Djs who use a harddrive to play their music must get a hard drive license from the AVLA.

The weird part is they shouldn't need one because this matter has already been to court. The first DJ to use a hard drive in Canada for music got sued, went thru the battle and WON.

the sad part is that he lost everything he owned in the process anyway because of the legal costs.

I think the music industry doesn't do anything about it because they know they'd lose if it went to court again.

-James

No...would Never go back to using discs. SC can kiss my left n@t.


This could be construed as SOUND CHOICE being the NAME of KARAOKE. If that's the case, then SOUND CHOICE may lose their Trademark Rights as they have become a household name for Karaoke. It seems to be SC this and SC that for years.

Rather than a host losing everything he has worked for, or SC risking losing in court and thus ending it's current source of cash flow, why not compromise. Many hosts don't like the AVLA approach of getting a hard drive license, although I think that would be the best solution. We don't have anything like AVLA in the U.S. any solution to the problem of shifting comes from the particular manu. which is using the court for relieve. Why not have the particular manu just charge a simple fee or license to allow you to shift your material, forget this audit process, and renting the GEM series. It would cut down on their expenses and probably generate as much income as what they are currently collecting. Minus all the bad feelings they are generating in the industry by their current course of action. Since the question of format shifting will only be settled after a lengthy court battle
which either side might lose. It would seem a simple fee approach would be the best solution.

perhaps, but the problem still lies in enforcement of the license. they could all say "$50.00 a year and copy to your hearts content", but who is going to make sure i paid? it's all enforcement.

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

If a guy robs banks and gets caught, rather than have him lose everything he worked for, why not just......??????

Well said, don't let anyone tell you how to run your business