Karaoke Forums

I just read some HEATED debates about this subject. My  :2cents:  :2cents: may not even be worth that but here goes.

Have any of you considered how MP3's will affect Karaoke shows? I When I used to run shows I had this huge Pioneer player that was "the latest at the time" you remember the ones with the 12 inch video disks and 15 to 18 songs per disk? Would any of you now consider using something so antiquated? Are those machines and disks even produced anymore?

In the modern world of technology it's getting smaller and smaller and more an more efficient. I sing at shows now where in some cases- almost the entire show in on an ipod. They are a fraction of the size of Midi players- and will fit in a pocket. I bought a 30 gig one that holds 7500 sings and thought I was "all that" and 3 months later they came out with an 80 gig model. The days are FAST approaching where Karaoke players of ANY size will be technological dinosaurs. The future is already here with some of the Karaoke companies like  soundchoice who sell karaoke tracks on Itunes and other sites in an MP3 format.

Not sure what the laws will do about the problems that will cause...but actual disks will be a thing of the past in the very near future. I'm no longer a KJ- but I can say with out any doubt or hesitation that if I could put my entire show on something smaller than the size of my hand- and all I had to bring to the show were speakers, an amp and a monitor screen- That would be the easiest decision I ever made. Bose even makes a speaker system that will fit in even the smallest back seat that is amazing- check out the Bose PAS system...
http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VI ... x.jsp&ck=0  ( hope that goes through) if it doesn't goto bose dot com and click on "products for musicians" Look at the L1 model2 system. Freaking unbelievable! If you don't believe it could work go to your local guitar center and TRY IT! Technology is advancing far faster than most KJ's can keep up with financially! But if you're starting new shows...these new fangled gadgets are something to seriously consider.

So realistically speaking - in 10 years  with all the advancements- a Kj could theoretically pack their entire show( a BANGING SHOW TOO) in a suitcase..ONE suitcase!  You could even have your back up show with you in your pocket so if you had a glitch with the first one.......anyway I have a feeling that as with so many songs available for download- you will pay a set fee for the license to the song and be able to use it at all your shows just as you do with any other MP3 video clip you download today.

perhaps Kappy will get some relief from reading so many repetitive posts then(wink) Just some food for thought!

Paula

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I still use the laser discs at my shows!  I finally made the move to computer for the cdgs this year however.  Technically it is illegal & I have no qualms about going back to a strictly disc based show if I hear of companies going down for simply format shifting their music to computer - all my discs are still on the counter as they have been for 14 years.

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I totally understand your point! But that isn't the discussion I was aiming for when I made this post.  :)

The question I'd like to hear your thoughts on is: If you had unlimited funds and the show was of equal sound quality yet would fit in a small suitcase- would you not PREFER that to any of the current show formats? That is what I was bringing up. This post really pertains to the possible avenues technology could take the world of karaoke to in coming years... NOT who is right in the debate of format shifting. I should have chosen a better "topic intro" Sorry.

and personally- though I had fun with those big ole disks..they WERE a pain in the tail to lug around! And those videos!!!! Arrrgghhh- I don't even have to go there cuz you already know what I'm talking about -admit it- you're grinning!  Those videos were cheesy at best in the early 90's when they were "new". I was at a show a few months ago that was using them and the entire audience was GROANING and laughing at the "videos". They were SO bad....I'll say one thing about them The entertainment value has certainly gone up from the first time I saw them. LMFAO!

(sigh) how easily I digress!

Back to the issure at hand. I'd rather take a zip case with my CDG's in it - lighter and smaller....and now we're REALLY back to the issue at hand...all those CDG's  are loaded on my Ipod so.......grin!

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Well of course I would definitely prefer to have everything as small & portable as possible if sound & video quality remained.
I honestly think the laws WILL change eventually & more companies will produce their stuff in a computer based format, some are already soing so.  CD's ae going the way of the cassette, still around, but not as readily available.  More & more companies are coming out with legal download sites for regular music, karaoke is next in line - it would be stupid for it not to, or it will die altogether eventually.

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THERE YOU GO!!!!

I AGREE COMPLETELY!

BTW did you go check out the bose site I gave you...That L1 system blew me away when I tested one! OMG.......I'm saving up for 2 with the quad bass package!

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Yes I have tested them, they are great for what they are intended, a personal stage monitor - they were originally named the PAS=Personal Amplification System, but had to change it for some reason, but not really designed for an entire PA system.  For what they charge for the sticks & 2 subs, I can get a very good PA that would out perform - but then again, I don't mind the bulk  :no: .  However in a smaller club, they might do just fine.

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They sounded GREAT to me...but I have gotten mixed reviews on them from working musicians that have them. The concensus seems to be just what you said about the smaller rooms (no more then 250 to 300 people are the numbers I hear pretty consistently.) Then again the places I did shows in were usually fairly small- 200 people at a karaoke show is alot! If it had been around the Bose could've managed all the shows I did with the exception of the televised show.


And just think-  if they are this good now...you know the technology is coming..everything is gonna be smaller, faster and more compact.......Never thought I'd say THAT to a man with excitement! I would have given my eye teeth to have something that small when I was having to carry around all that crap. 3 monitors, 4 speakers, the amp, the stands, the books, the cords, the TV and the plastic bins of disks...I had to buy a darn station wagon to do it! NOT KEWL at ALL y aknow? First thing I did when I stopped KJing was wreck(rueful grin) then I bought a new sporty car!

Something else to consider...we are so used to bouncy bass heavy sound as KJs and musicians- that when you hear truly balanced sound you tend to think"It's not live" Most of the patrons who have been in rooms with the bose systems in use have LOVED and RAVED over the sound. Some of my gigs like country clubs or restaurants actually prefer a quiter level that can be hard to get with a system on steroids like most standard karaoke show are for smaller rooms. They(the owners)  don't understand that a live performance isn't like one on the radio. The volume only goes so low ya know? Sound was and is something I have always had issues with. I never had any problem delivering in your face chest thumping beats- but to have quieter levels and still be crisp and clear has been somewhat of a challenge....especially with multiple instruments and a live drummer. But again JUST a thought!

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Bose has never had the greatest rep among the musician world, remember the saying No Highs No Lows, Must Be Bose....



Hey now!



Like I said in those situations they would probably be more than adequate, although to keep the volume down I would actually take in a couple more speakers, put them in the back so it would even out the sound & not have to pump them up so much volume wise.
Mixing live music is more of a challenge, but more fun!!!

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Just a thought......if it makes one feel better having the original cdgs on the premises, when running from a hard drive........don't you worry KAPA might confiscate them too.....just to make sure you can never format shift them again?

Nope.

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Cool.....but I'm saving mine till the trial.... ...I can make a new set of mp3gs, and still run a show with the originals until then......

Nah it's just that KAPA don't have any bite to do anything.  The only busts they did had initiated were of big time pirates making several copies for sale or multi-riggers & people selling preloaded hard drives.  Never once to date was it for a user that buys discs & transfers them to computer for play.

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Don't understand why anyone would buy a hard drive full of karaoke..

All the ones I've seen were free..

Aw C'mon you guys the topic?? Ipod Karaoke???  :oh yeah:

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I have the majority of the lasers in mpg format (windows media)... and in most cases, I prefer them! Since I ran a computer show anyway (mp3+g for the cdg files), so it isn't as if I needed other hardware to do this.

LOVE those cheesy videos!

I could sure understand the appeal of going with an mp3 based routine as far as equipment size and ease of setup/operation, but I hate to see a compromise in sound quality.  Small sized mp3 files often do not have the clear, full, high frequency range that an uncompressed format has.  I know you're not supposed to be able to tell the difference at 192 kbps and higher, but I swear there's just a certain slight harshness that creeps in.  But maybe the compromise is worth it in the long run.

What is a man's Ultimate embarrassment?
 
Answer:
Running into a wall with an erection
and breaking his nose.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

hey, I got a BIG nose, and a bigger gut...

Did it's job... protected the REAL joy meter! !

Well then here you go.  

www.dopikaraoke.com

Like the way dopi is iPoD backwards?
VocoPro also has their own hard drive system - not mp3 based, but still a compressed file format - as well that can fit in your shirt pocket.  
http://vocopro.com/p_plap.html

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http://www.powerkaraoke.com/src/prod_cd ... verter.php

this too..

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott