posted
There are quite a few great music cdg's out there on $5 discs, don't be brandaphobic. NO one company has a monopoly on good music. Competition is HEALTHY for the KJ and singer/buyer. I have never and will never be a schill for any one company. Every disc company has made at least some good music and the so called great companies have had many STINKERS. I will agree that there are some brands with more than their fair share of PU's.
Posts: 542 | From: Mobile, Alabama, USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
That was a pretty ignorant statement. You must be new to the industry, or not have much experience with other manufacturers. Legends, Pocket Songs, Priddis all make some excellent products. They also have their share of stinkers. Every manufacturer has them.
(Keifer- I was going to let the lingual faux-pas go by.)
[This message has been edited by l'opera voce (edited October 02, 2000).]
posted
One of the brands that surprised me was Protrax. As far as I know they are out of print now, but they are a lot better than than a bunch of the current brands. The words are the easiest to read (although it is hard to keep up with BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN). They only put out 3 discs; 50's Rock (Chuck Berry, Little Richard, etc.), Buddy Holly (which I have), and Elvis Missing Recording. If you can find them, get them.
posted
what about coast to coast they would have to be the worst i own about 50 different brands and each had at least one good song except for coast to coast i am very suprised about some of the choices, mm, dk, lg, backstage they have some very good stuff that you can't get anywhere else
Posts: 1 | From: halifax , nova scotia, canada | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Anything other than Soundchoice you in a crap shoot. Music Maestro poor reproductions, DK with that annoying melody guide flute in the background. Nikko another poor brand. Pioneer another crap shoot.
Posts: 66 | From: Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Actually, Mr. Karaoke, there are 14 Protrax discs and they do still make them. I have 13 of them and they are a must have for all British KJs. I particularly like the Cliff Richard disc and the version of Devil Woman. I have SC's version, but the guitar is mixed too loud in the chorus part and it spoils it.
Bose
Posts: 342 | From: Hull, England, Great Britain | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Well, since I live in America, it don't look like they are advertising them over here anymore. The ad I got for them is about 3 years old and shows only 3 discs. If there are more out there, I want to know WHERE! (Sorry about the yelling)
posted
The QUALITY of the song isn't the only criteria, you know. I know that as far as quality goes, Sound Choice has a pretty good track record. They for the most part make an attempt to appease the mass market. All in all, I would say they have the best.
As far as the "worst" list, sure there are some stinkers out there. But many of those companys are producing songs that Sound Choice doesn't. Sunfly, to my knowledge, produces the best Euro stuff (if any of you out there knows another company producing euro-type karaoke, PLEASE let me know).
Other great songs, such as Sarah McLachlan's "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" and "Hold On" are only available on those "undesirable" brands. Sure, the quality might not be up to par with some of the other companies, but what can you compare it to when the "prime companies" won't even produce these songs? Beggers can't be choosers, you know.
Posts: 106 | From: Denver, CO USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
Maybe the topic's been done to death but the 2 types I buy are almost exclusively Chartbuster and Sound Choice. Other brands I would not buy unless I could hear the entire disc first. I bought some DK applause discs (cheap, on sale) because they posted on the JOLT forum years ago saying they took out the flute lines. A lie...they only excluded the flute lines from one series (premier??) and when I contacted them about this they said they stand behind the flute thingy because they are for the amateur consumer and not professional singers. You ask any amateur off the street if he thinks the flute lines sound stupid and 99 out of 100 will say OF COURSE! You would not be singing a song if you didn't have a clue how the melody went (why would you pick it out of the book if you didn't know it?????)
For me selection is #1 priority and quality is #2, price #3. This is why I buy more Chartbuster than Sound Choice, they have more small discs with individual artists or all female, and they tend to get to market a little earlier. However, I buy an occasional power pick, star series or spotlight (maybe 1 per month at most) because I know the quality will be exceptional 19 times out of 20. I even buy sc discs with songs I already have if the version I have isn't right (usually the cb flaw is backup singers in wrong timing or way too loud). The ONLY things I would ever change about SC if I suddenly woke up as owner would be to try and improve the street time (maybe impossible with the quality standards required) and try to compile some of the discs a little less diversely in the consumer lines and a few of the spotlights. I still think SC is the best quality and if that was my #1 priority I would be buying mostly sound choice.
quote:Originally posted by Connie: In my opinion Sound Image is the worse.
[This message has been edited by Connie (edited September 10, 2000).]
Max, I gotta disagree with you on DK. A lot of the songs they reproduced sound almost EXACTLY like the original version. The only thing that sucks ( aside from and I will certainly agree with you on many songs being recorded on the wrong key and incorrect lyrics ) is that horribly annoying flute that is suppose to demonstrate how the song is supposed to be sung - how unprofessional!!! However, I purchased a couple of disks from their Song Factory selections and they are quite good. I have the one with Jimmy, Janis and Eric and the HIp HOp disk.
quote:Originally posted by case1960: its got to be sunfly and sweet **** brown lol i hate both.
Why are some of you bashing Sunfly. For the songs that I've purchased, I would have to say they did a downright good job. Sunfly also comes up with some really good songs that most of the other karaoke companies wouldn't even think of adding to their repertoire!
posted
Looks like we all have our favorites. Sound Choice has always been my favorite in sound quality. I also like Pocket Sound and Priddis for sound quality (not a lot of music available like Sound Choice and not many songs on each disc). DK is good but I agree with the annoying background flute. Chartbuster is good but the sound quality isn't as good as Sound Choice. Sunfly (some good dance and hip-hop songs on these discs), Hellavadisc (lots of bass), All Hits and Dangerous are okay. Pioneer is okay. I just don't like the sound of Music Maestro. Backstage, Standing Ovation, Nutech, Nikkodo and Sound Image are horrible. I wonder why they are even on the market. Those are my preferences.
Posts: 137 | From: North Brookfield, MA U.S.A. | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
I know this is an old topic but it was posted before I got here, and I'd really like to add my $.02.
I think that the overall worst, crummy, lousy brand of CDG has got to be Nikkodo. Any way you look at it, from top to bottom, all the way around it just stinks. Doctor Music is pretty bad too.
It looks like a lot of people actually like Priddis. I hate them because there are NO backing vocals on 2 of my discs! They're multiplex discs and the background vocals appear only on the demonstration track. They fade out together with the lead vocal so there's NO way to sing with backup vocals and harmonies! It's ridiculous! On some songs (like All The Small Things by Blink 182) the backup vocals are absolutely essential to the song; they overlap the lead in some spots. And it sounds crummy and plain without the harmony. I sent a letter to Priddis voicing my displeasure and no one wrote back.
My Priddis "Hits Of Journey" disk sounds really good, however, and that disk DOES have backing vocals (go figure). But I got mad because my 2nd favorite song on the disc, "Don't Stop Believin'" has no graphics! The outside of the package said "no printed lyrics included for this song" next to it. I figured, "Who cares? I don't read the words off the page, I look at the monitor." Then I get home with the disc and there's no graphics. Has anyone else noticed problems like these with Priddis?
I think Backstage WOULD be pretty good if it wasn't for that damn flute. It's much louder and more irritating than DK's. "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen is especially bad. There's that part in the middle where he's not really singing actual notes; he's kinda shouting "Another one bites the dust OWW! Another one bites the dust HEY HEY-" then he goes off on that one note at the end, and the flute is trying to play the notes and copy it! Wow, he's really shredding on that flute! Think you can match him?
I actually think some of the Legends Series is pretty good. I really like The Who disk; especially the drummer. He plays a great Keith Moon! But I made the mistake of buying the Van Halen and Metallica disc as soon as it came out. Has anyone heard "Master Of Puppets" on that one? It's pathetic! For some reason the guitarist decided to play the song WITHOUT his distortion pedal on! It sounds awful!
Needless to say, I ended up buying the Sound Choice version as soon as it came out.
------------------ Mark
[This message has been edited by Mark Cheetah (edited October 20, 2001).]
posted
In my opinion, "Sweet Georgia Brown" is the worst I've seen. I have some songs on these discs that I couldn't find on any other brand, and I go ahead and attempt to sing to them, but the music is not good, the keys are almost always off (and sometimes the music itself doesn't even sound like it's completely on-key), some of the words are incorrect, and some of the songs have some kind of background noise that's obnoxious.
I can't really say I've found a song of their's yet that I would call well-done.
I do have a few Priddis discs that don't include the lyrics on the disc for some songs. It IS kind of irritating, but you just have to learn the words in advance I guess (although in my opinion, they probably shouldn't include these songs on a disc they call a karaoke CDG).
posted
i agree that most of the SGB discs are not up the the usual standards, but a few here and there are. the legends metallica sounds like the guitarist is using an old telecaster going though a fender twin..it actualy sounds like a surf-style guitar sometimes...LOL The Guitar TONE can make or break any karaoke soundtrack..backstage discs and many other cheap brands sound like they were recorded direct without an amp. They have that cheap hollow sound (kinda like listening trough a papaer tube sound)
------------------ DJ Mad Maxx Karaoke at it's finest!!
Posts: 1898 | From: DuBois, PA | Registered: Jun 1997
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posted
Funny about Backstage. I always thought they were recorded without instruments LOL. I think, personally, that the original BS discs (Eagles, Alabama, Bryan Adams are the 3 I have) are better than the Sound Images discs that were re-branded as Backstage, which is where the Queen disc came from I think.
I have one SGB disc (#38), and I think it's pretty good. I picked it up, so I could stop bugging BC to do the Sopranos theme. I'm sure SC could do the little sounds in the background better, but I think SGB did a very good job on that one. Also, their version of "If I Had a $1,000,000" is better than the Radio Starz version I have.
posted
Ya know what really chaps my behind? It's these karaoke singers that have been going to show after show throughout the years and singing a bad version of a song. They come into my show and then complain because the version I have, which is more accurate, sounds like crap! I used to apologize and be sympathetic, but now I just bite my tongue and shrug at them.
The SGB discs aren't bad, but with a little foreknoweledge, I made sure to check the songs for accuracy, and I kept a list of the ones that needed to be improved.
I still sing off of many of my SGB discs. I just have to remember not to get to far from the mixer in case they are too loud.
-Eric
Posts: 373 | From: Bay City, Mi, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
I don't think Sweet Georgia Brown is really all that bad. They've got a pretty decent guitar tone (which is important, like Madmaxx said earlier). I agree the wipes and lyrics are way off, but for $10.00 each I picked up quite a few SGB discs with "okay" songs on them (I make sure I pick up all my favorites and "must haves" on Sound Choice).
I heard from ProSing that the price is going up soon on SGB CDG's. If that's the case, I probably won't buy any more cause they're not worth more than 10 bucks.
posted
You guys must have different SGB discs than I do. The ones I have sound like they are sampled from the original discs. The Pat Benatar songs I have sound like they have Pat herself singing backup. I agree the lyrics and wipes are atrocious, but since I don't really pay much attention to the lyrics it doesn't bother me too much. It all depends what's important to you. If you're a KJ you probably don't want SGB because your less experienced singers won't be able to follow them. If you're using them at home and you know the song, most of them are good.
Priddis smells up the joint...Nikkodo bites the heads off bats....music maestro has a problem getting the instruments loud enough and "bright" enough (they always sound muffled). Basically I only buy 3 brands...I buy a lot of Chartbuster because they have the 6 song discs with demo vocals at a decent price and the quality is good to very good. I buy sound choice whenever I can find a disc with more than 2 songs I want on it, since their quality is #1 and lately they've been a little faster out of the gate than previously. I will occasionally pick up a THM for my husband (or PHM whatever they go by) the ROCKER series, because they are usually pretty good and have all ROCK themed songs as opposed to mixing all the pop-boyband-britney dreck and nouveau rap with the rock.
posted
I once ordered several Entertainment Network "Startracks Series" (multiplexed) discs and was so unimpressed that I sent them straight back after listening! The BVs were my biggest hang-up.
Being a UK outfit we basically had the choice of Sunfly or Essential Karaoke CDGs when we first started. Now we have a mixed portfolio of discs, including a lot of SC and Chartbuster - which we are delighted with. However, contrary to some postings, we would still recommend Sunfly and EK for coverage of British hits and a generally high standard of reproduction (since early discs, at least). In fact current Sunfly hit and artist CDGs are hard to fault in our opinion.
Posts: 251 | From: Bedford, Bedfordshire, England | Registered: Aug 2001
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You're joking, right? They're easy to fault, here's a few faults...
1 - There are many spelling mistakes in the tracks. They even spelt 'Place' as 'Palce' in the title screen for Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Volume 12). Good quality control, I think not.
2 - Synthetic guitars which sound awful. Try listening to 'C'mon Everybody'. It's an absolute joke.
3 - Wrong lyrics. Whenever I'm feeling down, I watch the lyrics to the Sunfly version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and have a good laugh.
4 - Mambo #5. Enough said.
Bose
Posts: 342 | From: Hull, England, Great Britain | Registered: May 2000
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posted
I have ONE Sunfly disc, and ONE Chartbuster. Frankly, that's enough for me.
I bought Sunfly vol. 21 a while ago because I wanted "Fool For Your Lovin'" by Whitesnake (before Sound Choice released it. The guitar sound on that song is awful. It's very "keyboard-synth" sounding; it's supposed to rock! "You Could Be Mine" is a little better but not much. In "Stairway To Heaven" the graphics stop after the guitar solo. You then get to watch the Sunfly logo on the screen while an unknown singer performs the final verse. And you CANNOT get rid of his voice with a multiplex button. On the plus side, "Smoke On The Water," "Crazy," (Aerosmith) and "Bed Of Roses" actually sound pretty good on that disc.
I've got the 6+6 Chartbuster Dave Matthews disc. My biggest problem is that the words appear in yellow, then turn white as they are wiped. It's very hard for me to see. I don't know if all Chartbuster discs use these colors however. The sound quality I thought was good, not great. I really don't see why so many people like Chartbuster so much (but I only have one disc, and I'm not a big country fan).
posted
I have three Chartbuster discs. Melissa Etheridge, INXS, and Madonna. They're not bad, but at $14.99 for 6 songs, they're pretty expensive for not getting the arrangement's quite right. I'd rather pay Sound Choice.
Posts: 1691 | From: USA | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I have four ChartBuster pop discs (Dave Matthews, Tom Petty, Counting Crows, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and I'm pretty satisfied with them with the exception of the CC disc. Looks like the swipes are way off on the performance track but when when you look at the demo track, it matches the swipes...what's up with that!
BTW: Of course, after I bought the RHCP disc SoundChoice announced they would be releasing one. I have both and the CB version only collects dust now.
Posts: 1201 | From: Kansas City, MO USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
Yeah, my Sunfly disc collects dust too, now that Sound Choice has released "Fool For Your Lovin." I've got them both and the Sound Choice version blows it away. The only thing is, I believe that song belongs on a Headbanger disc rather than a 70s & 80s disc along with the likes of Patrick Swayze and Glen Mederios.
Posts: 1153 | From: Buffalo NY | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
My Pick is Nutech, But sometimes the only place you can get the song you want is from cheap disks like amerising or nutech etc.
Posts: 8 | From: Canada | Registered: Sep 2001
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If you're going to quote us then at least get it right - I (Greg) wrote 'CURRENT Sunfly hit and artist CDGs are hard to fault in our opinion.'
Taking up your points:
1 - Bad spelling - fair enough, but then half the disks we own spell 'colour' without the 'u' (lol)
2 - Crappy guitar sound - probably, but we've never heard a singer complain of guitar samples yet. I wonder if this was an early disk...or you're a guitarist perhaps? Either way I'll only call the synth police if a customer complains.
3 - Wrong lyrics. Personally most people I know use the graphic lyrics as an aide memoire and sing what they know. Of course those literal types who insist on singing 'instrumental' during breaks may run into difficulties here.
4 - You've found another poor Sunfly rendition!?!
Well we never claimed that Sunfly get it right every time, just don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. For UK current and retrospective hit coverage Sunfly certainly takes some beating (IOHO). If SC produced a timely UK chart disk then we'd be subscribing to it. Unfortunately they don't.
- Greg
Posts: 251 | From: Bedford, Bedfordshire, England | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Hey Greg, If you look in an american dictionary, "color" is spelled that way, so an american disc SHOULD come up like that on the graphics. Bob Prosing/Sound Escape Productions Posts: 206 | From: Clearwater, Fl | Registered: May 2001
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posted
For all you guys, BACK STAGE is going into production addition ovetime-LOL!
It is getting to be that time of year, THE absolute worst discs I have EVER heard in my decade of being around karaoke is NOT SOUND IMAGE the TOP HONORS go to...
TOP HITS MONTHLY CHRISTMAS DISCS - ALL of them.
Posts: 542 | From: Mobile, Alabama, USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
The more I see/hear Priddis, the more impressed I am with them. Their music is actually really good (on the discs I have) complete with harmony and back-up vocals. You only get 5 or 6 songs (depending on what you get) but to me it is worth it. But I agree, the ones that don't come with printed graphics doesn't make since.
Posts: 102 | From: Vacaville, Ca. | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
The two Priddis discs I have with NO backing vocals are #1352G(Christina Aquilera) and #1360(Modern Rock 2000). I agree that the music and instumentation is very good, but it's ridiculous that there's no backing vocals or harmonies on the performance tracks. I never sing off of these discs for that reason alone. They might as well be used as coasters.
I have last year's Priddis catalog with me now. It states (and I quote):
"B/U (BackUp Vocals) indicates whether or not background vocals are included as part of the accompaniment music. Background vocals are usually not close harmonies of the melody line. Vocals are only included if they are determined to be an integral part of the accompaniment, such as 'oohs' and 'ahs' or other critical embellishments."
That has got to be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. If it's on the original, put it in! Besides, my discs don't contain "oohs and ahhs," harmonies or ANY other backup vocals. They're blank. Like I said earlier, I complained to Priddis but no one responded.
I'm glad Sound Choice doesn't have the same person "determining whether or not background vocals would be appropriate" for them.
posted
Author Topic: ANGRY SINGERS ANONYMOUS Mr. Dabblehand Junior Member Posts: 8 Registered: Sep 2001 posted July 09, 2002 10:41 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Topic Sweet Georgia Brown "Gag us with the microphone..." Once upon a time, I heard a person sing "Paranoid/WarPigs" by Black Sabbath. This was a live version of the song, with the first tune segueing right into the next. To my knowledge, there is only one karaoke company that has ever produced such a track, and that company is Sweet Georgia Brown.
As I recall, I went through three stages of choking when I heard this song. The first involved me choking on my own damn pizza in surprise at this persons ignorance for having picked such a lousy version of this great song. Next, I had to choke back vomit, upon hearing the poor quality of it's production. And finally, I was forced to choke back hysterical laughter when I saw the graphics at the end, displaying the following motto:
"The Best Songs Done Right"
HA! I think SGB is more full of **** than Robert Downey, Jr., in a court room with a Jesuit attorney pleading for his defense.
It isn't bad enough that the musicians for this company are not much better than the ones from "Halloween Land," in the movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's also sad to see the look of embarrassment and shock on the faces of those unsuspecting souls who sing to these tracks for the first time.
I can still remember the first time I ever sang to something from SGB. I was singing "Phony Calls," by Weird Al Yankovic ("Phony Calls" is the parody of "Waterfalls," by TLC for those of you who don't know). How bad was it, you ask? Well, let me indulge you:
I didn't much like throwing up on the stage that day. I think it is bad form to get sick in the middle of a performance, but it was even worse for the poor sap who had to use the microphone after me. At that time, I promised myself, that I would never sing to anything from SGB again. Or, that's what I thought...
Then they released two Pink Floyd songs. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," and "Wish You Were Here." Neither of which were available on karaoke anywhere else, at the time. So, naturally, I let my devotion to this group, and my curiosity get the better of me. I sang both songs.
Let me tell you, I've heard gangster rap artists perform renditions of songs by Tom Waits that sounded better.
I'll just end this post with a call to arms. Let's boycott Sweet Georgia Brown, and tell all our friends to do the same. They *******ize the very spirituality of karaoke, and they'll continue to do so if we let them. Only when they are forced to file Chapter 11, will we be free of their puke.
Uncle Floyd
[This message has been edited by Mr. Dabblehand (edited July 09, 2002).]
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Posts: 4262 | From: Charlotte, N.C., USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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I still stand by my previous statements that you need to eat more bran. A lot more bran.
Now, in the interest of being technically accurate, you don't "boycott" a product because it's inferior. You simply don't buy it, there is a major difference between the two. If you require a reason to "boycott" Sweet Georgia Brown, do it because they don't pay for appropriate licensing rights.
[This message has been edited by l'opera voce (edited July 09, 2002).]
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TOP HITS MONTHLY CHRISTMAS DISCS 
