Karaoke Forums

Haven't has a single complaint about DK. Your people must be very spoiled.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I've heard that complaint back in the wee beginnings of karaoke. Especially when the pioneer discs didn't have the guide (then other manus). Not just "my" people but often I get the "can you turn that flute sound off". But then again pioneer was the dominant brand in the beginning in this area so people got used to the no guide in their music.

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DK was the only producer that created tracks SPECIFICALLY for the amateur singer. One of it's features was that "pan flute" melody line designed to help new singers stay on track. It is recorded center channel. If one can hear it while singing, one is singing OUT OF TUNE. Mention that if someone complains and I'll bet they don't do it again...

That being said, I miss the heck out of Pioneer....

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Wouldn't that be great if they never sang out of tune again. Oh wait!!!! You meant that they would never complain about the Pan Flute melody that they keep hearing in the background.

So going back to the OP.

I am curious.....what tracks are/were your friends having a hard time finding at the time the Op was made? There are so few companies producing discs any longer, that finding tracks on disc from some companies has been hard for years. In other words, it isn't a sudden thing.

The OP was made in Mid June which is a couple weeks before the "No Fly" list took effect. So if your friends were buying downloads or having custom discs made, then those songs were still readily available at the time.

Plenty of Sound Choice, Chartbuster, SGB, KJ Tools, NuTech, Pioneer, and even DK on eBay. Lot so of other brands too.

So exactly what were they having a hard time finding? Some Helluvadisc tracks? Maybe KaraokeMaker? Or perhaps Druid?

And since brand isn't important, why not just find the same tracks on a readily available brand?

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-Chris

SBI & Sunfly still have all the songs available as custom discs, I haven't had any probs yet finding the songs on the no fly list that I've needed - just cannot download them on the fly.

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So why are the artists that don't want their music on karaoke told to take a flying leap as long as the manu puts it on a disc? that makes no sense...

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

Don't know! Something to do with downloads themselves. This is what SBI has on their site

Due to changes in PRS licensing certain songs will no longer be available as karaoke versions with on-screen lyrics for purchase by download.

As things currently stand as of 1ST JULY many titles will only be available as audio only (no lyrics on screen or video accompaniment) for download purchase. Custom burn disc orders are unaffected to date meaning you can still order ALL titles with or without on-screen lyrics on CD, DVD etc.


Now whether changes to them being able to put them on disc will be what to watch for - as they do state 'to date'.

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I believe the no fly list is still a US thing. PRS agreed to honor the no fly list for downloads as they are instantly "imported" into the US. I just did a spot check on Karaoke Version and found plenty of Adel, Barry White and some Eagles. So it doesn't appear that the French are playing along. There isn't a lot of Eagles and several are Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmit.

And for those that think the UK companies won't ship to the US........

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-Chris

The Eagles songs on Karaoke-Version (with graphics) don't fall under the Henley/Frey category - none were written by Henley or Frey, most weren't even written by the any of the band except for the couple by Joe Walsh & 1 by Bernie Leadon (original founding member).
As for Adele or Barry White.....dunno. But Barry White's refusal for karaoke is all publisher related as he's dead - unless it was his dying wish.

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It depends on the company and how cautious they are being as far as not riling up the publishers or jeopardizing their PRS. Zoom has been the most conservative but people have reported they are being shipped one disc at a time but not doubles of one disc or sets. Also remember that Selectatrack even blocked US IPs. Some companies seem more willing to test the limits than others.

Selectatrack is just a retailer outlet source for many companies. Their US (accessable) sister company Selectkaraoke (via Tricerasoft) no longer offer any of the no fly tracks (and more now it seems that aren't even on the list). If the cdg ok rule is in effect then all they would need to do is put up a window if someone tried to buy as a download that it was only available as an instrumental or on a custom disc that includes graphics, rather than taking the entire song down completely. SBI/Sunfly still offer everything on custom disc and state which ones can only be bought on custom as you try to buy them.

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Getting back to the original OP What Hath SC Wrought?

I don't think it is one manu that has wrought the present karaoke landscape. It has been a long process and karaoke has gone through several stages of evolution, revolution whatever you want to call it. From it's humble start in Asia to it's coming to America and it's rapid rise and boom, then the predictable decline and eventual bust, all part of a cycle. Now some would argue that the decline was helped along by lawless activity. This outlaw culture seems to not only have infected the majority of hosts but also the manus themselves. Numerous labels have material that the proper fees weren't paid, making the material in question pirated also.

Still hosts both legal and illegal continue to carry this questionable material. It was paid for and bought in good faith and the host feels that they should be able to use it. No host I've seen posting on this forum even the legal eagles say they are going to voluntarily eliminate anything from their library, until they are told they must. Without any central clearinghouse to determine what's in and what's out this present situation will continue.

There has been talk from time to time to setup some kind of hosts guild or association to set some type of standards. This will probably never happen since hosts are independent by nature. Even the one's that run multi-rig operations have their particular stamp on their operation. Minus some authority that all hosts will accept, there can never be an kind of united front, on any issues effecting hosts or their working conditions. That is all up to the individual to work out for themselves. Eventually any of the multi-rig employees if they are any good and have some business savvy will want to get their own rig, and work for themselves, the American Dream.

The root problem to all of this has been the Wild West type of culture the whole karaoke industry has been both hosts and manus. Quick money could be made and as long as everyone was getting their share they didn't want any tight rules applied to the industry as a whole. It is only when the money got tight for both hosts and manus, the cry went out for some type of controls. By that time putting the technology genie back in the bottle was impossible. Even SC's legal process has been too little too late and the best they can hope for it to license their mountain of unsold inventory. That is probably why they license it rather than out right sell it, they know they won't be able to make any new product. Eventually the material will be coming back to them. That is if they are still in business?

I feel strongly that if I own a disc and use it according to the 1:1 rule, then I will use it until proven that I can't. This should not be viewed as a crime and the remedy should be a simple "cease and desist" letter.

PS Sorry Lone, but I simplified your quote and I hope I didn't change the message too much.

I totally agree with your position mrmarog. I'm not the one to determine what is kosher and what is not. Nor am I an enforcer, regulator, informer or policeman, where karaoke product legitimacy is concerned. There has never been nor will there probably ever be one unimpeachable source to consult about any questions concerning karaoke products. The way things are set up only the individual manu can audit and ok their product, and that only so far as they won't sue the host over it's use. The host can still be sued by the owners of the underlying material used. To tell you the truth only one manu currently is using this legal process approach. Like I have said before the reason they continue is that they have a huge inventory of unsold product that has to be moved. If that weren't the case I think even they would not bother with the legal show. Me and you are generally in agreement at least when it comes to target markets and the type of crowds we like entertaining. Have a nice day.

Even SC's legal process has been too little too late and the best they can hope for it to license their mountain of unsold inventory. That is probably why they license it rather than out right sell it, they know they won't be able to make any new product. Eventually the material will be coming back to them. That is if they are still in business?[/quote]

This is my first ever entry on any forum and likely my last on 'KARAOKE SCENE' because it is fraught with arguments (waste of time).

I expect the direction Karaoke will be going is via Jukebox like those mounted on the walls in venues and people can pay as they go. That way publishers have more control of their product. They will squeeze Karaoke manus out and take care of hosts, legals and pirates alike. That is unless the manus have already figured this out and are making headway in that direction behind the scenes whilst keeping all current hosts in the dark of the future and continuing to sell them a product that will all be useless to the host except for private functions. It's what I would do. And I am a sweetheart of a guy.

Then why even bother!!!!!!!!

Sure you are... Just come on in and insult everyone in one big fell swoop!!!!!

You come into the legal section not expecting an argument? Go to the regular sections where it's more for help and discussion

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