Karaoke Forums

I'm wondering, since I work a f/t job during the day and really don't have the time OR (mostly) the inclination to do this myself, if there is actually anyone around who offers a service of loading harddrivers and will actually work off a list of the CDGs I have (so I have hard copies) and load those onto a harddrive for me - probably walking a shaky line there but I'm having a hard time finding the time that it takes to convert all 900 of my CDGs to computer... Just wondering if there is an 'easy' way to do this...it is a daunting task to say the least.  Want to stay legit, of course...Suggestions anyone?

This worked for me.

Get up -
Put CD in computer to rip
Take shower (while ripping)
Put CD in computer to rip
Eat breakfast (while ripping)
Put CD in computer to rip
Go to work (while ripping)
Etc...

Took a bit over a month to rip my 350 cds that way. Towards the end I was glad it was done.

I am sure you can find a local high school kid that would be glad to do it for a bit over minimum wage but you are probably talking about 15 min a cd if you burn them at a slow rate. (My experience is burning as fast as possible results in skipping you don't detect until later). Probably going to cost about $1000 or more.

Another time consuming part is finding a bitrate that offers the quality you like without taking too much space per file. Hard drives are cheap these days so you can rip larger files now than you could have a couple of years ago.

When I ripped GiGi's and mine, about 100 discs, I went with a variable bit rate based on 224kbps. This allows the quality to be better when necessary. I ripped with free ripping software and we play the music on free software as well. This was for home use.

There is also MTU software that some people swear by. I like the quality of MTU but I don't know if you can play their files in other software for example Winamp.

Most KJs I know have ripped their own music. If averaged 4 discs per hour, even at minimum wage that gets expensive rather quickly. 225 hours times whatever minimum is these days.

Legit?  With a computer........ .  Nah, kidding, I finally went that way too.  
I wouldn't trust a 'service' that did it for you.  You don't know what you are going to get.  At least if you do it yourself, it will take a little time, but you know what you are getting.  It took me about 3 months to do 850 discs into my Hoster program.  You don't have to stay with your computer as suggested either, put it in a central place where you can hear it finish, load a disc then go do housework or tv or dinner or ???, when you hear the import finish, go change it out & go back to housework or whatever.  When I was bored I would just play solitaire by the computer - with real cards not on the computer - & would get like 15-20 discs done in a few games.  It took my imports about 10-15 minutes per disc, rip at the highest number (lowest compression) you can, just get a large hard drive - 250gb or bigger - to handle it.  all 850 discs ripped at best quality only took up 1/4 of my 250gb drive.

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Well I guess I know what my winter activity will be ... ick.  I was SOOOO hoping for a magic elixir. I have a lot of info from MOTU and it looks like what they offer is pretty decent. Ah, the inevitability of it all. Thanks for all the advice.  :roll:

It's MTU not MOTU.  MOTU makes pro grade sound interface's for computer based multi track recording.
I like MTU Hoster as well, sure there are programs out there that have fancy graphics & control rotations, but I didn't need all that & prefer the sound quality of the kma file of Hoster over the mp3 based files.  If you haven't already done so, download the demo first, this will also help to make sure your cd burner is compatible with cdg discs.

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Duh me, yes I know it was NOT MOTU...I have viewed the MTU hoster demo and it seems like something that'll work great for me. Thanks for the correction. /kk

Here is a thought.  If you have more than one computer or could borrow a couple for a weekend you rip more than one disk at a time then transfer the files to your portable hard drive later.

Jim_N_TN

Usually it takes a lot more time to convert to what ever compressed format you are using than it does to actually rip the disks.  Try ripping the disks to wav + cdg and then converting to the compressed format while you're at work.

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Okay, who took my pants?

The easiest way i. Choose a s something like Kjamp RipnZip  You can tottaly structure the naming  With an up to date KJPRO data base you put in the disc manu and # and it auto names the songs choose a bit rate of 192.   It rips into a zip file.

Depending on your computer you want to make it efficient and eliminate all the services not needed Every so often do a reboot to clear temps and do a disc cleanup.

Once you get a method going and get on a roll its not that hard just time consuming..

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I asked this question before ..( pssst OPEN CAN OF WORMS)

Let's say 4 KJ's all have the same library
Soundchoice - Foundations and all Bricks
DK Millenium
Dangerous set

(you get the idea)

If ONE of them had a HARDRIVE with all the MP3+G's and they were the EXACT duplicate of alLthe originals --  COULD THEY COPY THE ONE HARDRIVE WITHOUT RIPPING EACH SET 4TIMES? ...... Since they ALL own originals and we accept for arguments sake that ripping anything in the 1st place is LEGAL ...couldn't they just copy the files if they have the orginals to support the MP3+g files ????

My money is on the chances of two KJs having the same exact library being slim to none.  Possible?  Yes.  Likely?  No.  To ask a question like this is futile.  

The answer to your question is yes, just like the answer to the question is 1:1 CDG format shifting considered illegal.

This is the pretense, on which, most pirate HDs are sold.......they tell you to erase the files you don't have the cdgs for........

Chances of them having the exact same library ..slim

But let's say one KJ has the 115 disc DK millennium or similar -
One KJ with originals CDG's already has them ripped ,tagged and zipped
(hours and hours of work).  It's not inconcieveable that another KJ has the same original 115 disc set ?  :talk:  :talk: -

What would be wrong with one KJ copying those files for another as a service ?
again SAVING HOURS AND HOURS OF WORK?

Based on all we know ..I would say there is nothing wrong with it

Exactly why I asked - I knew it was slim-to-none, and I figured most illegal sellers would suggest that anyone "erase" anything they didn't own. I just wondered if there was a legit commercial service who would do this for a fee. Oh well, it was worth asking. Now I'll go and hook up all my computers and get to work...

Again, since formatting to hard drive is technically illegal, there wouldn't be any legit source for that kind of service, i'm sure they exist in the karaoke underworld somewhere.

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

When you think about karaoke and all it entails...are we not all part of the "karaoke underground"?

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

If the files are ripped at 190 or above; yes  :)

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

http://www.musicshifter.com/index.html

Don't know if they do karaoke tracks but you could drop them an email and ask.

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

Thanks  for that link. I'll find out and then pass on what I find out. I have a feeling it'll be a little expensive - the least expensive is 0.69 per CD - and that is to MP3. Will contact them, though, and thanks - this was what I was trying to find out in my OP. K