posted
I know, I know..you're thinking, "shouldn't this be in the Song Request Forum?" Well, the truth is I am requesting feedback about OTHER companies' discs on the subject, which places the topic squarely in this department. When Essential came out, I snatched up the Blues Bros. disc as fast as I could. Wasn't too disappointed, really...decent sound, good wipe,and Aretha's fast version of "Think"...I gave it a B+ to maybe an A-. Now, Top Tunes has come out with one; I read the JOLT forum and got mixed reviews about the company itself, and the KJs weren't nearly as vocal as I'd like... -which is why I'm asking for Sound-offs. Anyone buy this disc yet? Is it OK? There are several songs that are not on the Essential disc, and I NEVER imagined that ANY company would have the guts to publish "Rubber Biscuit"...(oh, I've GOT to try this one...:sing
Once again, I'd like to thank BC,Rodney, and the fabulous flying Sleps for giving us the freedom to discuss competitors here. Thanks, guys!
with that said, what's the scoop gang?
Posts: 745 | From: Portland, OR, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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I have been putting off buying the Essential Karaoke Blues Brothers CDG for many of the same reasons you have mentioned. I would like to hear it first. I have been waiting for the price to come down (it retails for $20, $10 is about all I want to pay for it, considering the quality of the other EK discs I own, and they stink.) and for the fact that half of the disc is from theBlues Brothers 2000 movie (which I don't know if anyone saw, let alone would want to sing!) I don' t like Top Tunes, too many bad experiences with them (and their labeling is often wrong too!)
But...... If Sound Choice produced it, I would buy it in a heartbeat! (Especially for "Rubber Biscuit"!) I know that I would not be too disappointed if Sound Choice made that same disc. Please consider it, SC.
Posts: 622 | From: Santa Ana | Registered: Jul 2001
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I haven't heard the Top Tunes disc. I've got a few of their country discs, and they are pretty decent, but I wasn't too impressed with the freebie disc Karaoke Warehouse gave out, which had a lot of pop on it, so I wouldn't have any idea what to guess at for the quality of the Blues Brothers disc. I know BC cut to the chase a couple months back in saying Top Tunes gave karaoke a bad name, so we know what his opinion is LOL. There are some sound clips from the disc on the Karaoke Warehouse site
Dan
[This message has been edited by BC/Studio Manager (edited March 26, 2002).]
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Wow, those casio keyboards are working overtime! Would it kill them to hire a brass section? Or how about a real drummer at least??? Posts: 622 | From: Santa Ana | Registered: Jul 2001
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*sigh* I was kind of afraid of this... BC? You and the boys want to re-do this disc and show'em how it's SUPPOSED to be done? ...I'll wait over here.... :RC:
[This message has been edited by RC the DJ (edited March 28, 2002).]
Posts: 745 | From: Portland, OR, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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I have the EK disc and I think its fantastic. Haven't heard the TT disc, don't think I need to by the replies I see.
Posts: 531 | Registered: Feb 2001
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I have a couple of Top Tunes discs (All Guy Country & All Female Country) and they are really good. The music quality is there and the swipe is on. Since seing this post, I've asked some of my customers what they thought of the the discs and they liked them, so...I've had a few Sound Choice that weren't up to their standards also - No background or harmony, etc... Not all Manufacturers are going to be perfect, but Sound Choice does do an excellent job (I think moreso in the past). Bottom line.....yer not goin' to make everybody happy.
Posts: 102 | From: Vacaville, Ca. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Ken, it would be helpful if you could be specific as to which SC songs - in your opinion - don't have the background vocals or harmony parts as they exist on the original recordings? From what disc numbers?
Unless you're more interested in parroting the party line from the supermarket rag of forums.
Posts: 4262 | From: Charlotte, N.C., USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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I meant to say, the background or harmonies aren't very strong (in volume). I will get the disc numbers and re-listen to them again. If I am wrong, I am man enough to apologize. Don't get me wrong, I love the Sound Choice selections and I use them. One that comes to mind is SC8115 "Money For Nothing". If ALL the background and harmonies are there, nobody can hear them, except the "...I want my MTV..."
[This message has been edited by Ken Baumgardner (edited March 29, 2002).]
Posts: 102 | From: Vacaville, Ca. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Thanks for getting back to us on that, I'll have to go listen.
(Not to nitpick, Ken, but didn't you just get through saying the "older" SC productions were better than the current ones? And then you illustrate your complaint with an example from the 15th Spotlight ever made in 1996?!)
...........................
Anyway, background vocals that are too low in the track. That's ironic to me, as it seems like for years the only complaints I’ve ever seen about this were the opposite – that they were too loud in the track.
But if that has happened, it’s probably my fault. I have told our Engineers to tuck lead vocal doubles and harmonies into the track a bit rather than leave them out front as far as the original recordings. This is because I don’t want the average karaoke singer to have to worry too much about singing in exact pitch and time to our reproduction of the Original vocal parts.
In other words, I expect that our vocalist is right on the money in pitch, intonation and phrasing. If the lead vocal double or harmony part is extensive through the song, that forces the karaoke singer to sing with our singer. If the karaoke singer is good, that shouldn’t be a problem. However, if the karaoke singer is like most people in the world, this could be, uhhhh, challenging at times.
So, we would rather err on the side of caution – if possible. It’s a tough second-guess. We would like to be as close to the original recording as possible. But we want our customers and singers to have as good a karaoke experience as possible, too.
Posts: 4262 | From: Charlotte, N.C., USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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Like I said, you can't make everybody happy B.C., and I'll continue using Sound Choice as my main source of Karaoke. You guys are pretty much on the money for everything in the song. As far as the double, harmonies, etc.. I can understand your point. But in some songs, I think that by not having them, it takes away from the "original" sound. But I see your point.
Thanks
Posts: 102 | From: Vacaville, Ca. | Registered: Jun 2001
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I'll be waitin' in the SONG REQUEST Thread with RC
