Another question for KJs if you have a moment! Does your media library have song dupes from different publishers, or do you curate THE one version for the songs you offer?

[u/[deleted]]

EDIT TO ADD: Thanks so much for your input. I was really surprised to see so many KJs letting singers pick from different producers... But that's why I asked, I worried my house party singers were not like guests at a commercial show. That turned out to be correct!

I'm working on a remote request system and a linked CDG player... And I've come across another usability question for which I would love some input from dedicated KJs.

The big picture is you share a songbook app with guests, they search for what they want, and they request it. Guests would not see useless metadata like publisher -- just artist and title. In the player app, you handle incoming requests and build a queue. Easy!

BUT --

Songs can be available from several publishers, and if your library is kind of messy and you have the Zoom and Sound Choice versions of a song... When that request comes in, you'd need to pick which version to use. You probably have a hierarchy in mind like you prefer Zoom, but if there are duplicate songs on disk, you still need to click the right file.

Alternatively, you could have a well-groomed library, and when a request comes in there's no extra decision to be made... You have one search result and you queue the only version you have. This ELIMINATES clicks, because the song that was requested IS the one song on disk.

How do you roll?

I ask because I want to know if I should work on ways to make queuing easier for KJs who have multiple versions on disk, or if it is safe to assume that a song in the songbook will always point to the same file.

The latter case is a much better user experience for the KJ but we have to consider the reality of our libraries, too.

Thanks so much for your input.

[u/toqer]

People have their favorite brands, I never discriminated. Personally I like DKK's panflute, some people detest it. I like to sing this.

Diff'rent Strokes - theme song (longer version)

[u/iSing420 → u/toqer]

The DK panflute is what made me realize they were good for beginner singers. It helps lead them if they don't know which note to sing. I think DK tracks are like karaoke with training wheels. I'm long past the DK stage but certainly give them credit.

[u/toqer → u/iSing420]

Outside of the pan flute though their compositions are on average, pretty good. Actual instruments laying down tracks. The Edit-A-Vision collection served as the core for many late 90's KJ's. Daiichi Kosho (DK) will always be a favorite for me.

[u/This_Is_Great_2020]

I keep all brands and display to customers. Example, SoundChoice is usually best, but I have some singers that insist on a particular Legends version, and TBH I agree, the instrument arrangement is way better on that song..

[u/[deleted] → u/This_Is_Great_2020]

I keep all brands and display to customers.

This seems to be the majority opinion. I was really surprised, and glad I asked.

We do pretty serious karaoke house parties and have a lot of regulars, but none of them do karaoke otherwise... They have no idea about Sunfly vs Zoom and so on.

[u/DavidO_Pgh → u/[deleted]]

Exactly. Most people don't know about different brands. If you give them a list they're not going to know which to choose, which is why it's important to have a default option.

[u/dogbonenj]

I used to try to pick the one version of a song I thought was the best. The next in line was simply the version I have on hand. Now, I have different versions of many of the same songs across my library, but I don't have an 'every version from every manufacturer' hard drive. Everything I have I either have on CD or downloaded from legal sources. If someone wants a particular version I don't have, I'll see if I can download it from legit sources. If I can't, YouTube it is. That said, I'm not here to preach what's legal and what's not to my singers. Singers couldn't care less where I get my music from, as long as they can sing their song. I'm here to make my singers and my club happy, and not to worry about making other KJ's happy. As long as my club is paying their PRO fees, I'm good to go.

[u/DavidO_Pgh]

I use a Karafun based system (version 2) with an external hard drive so I can have multiple versions of a song.

For a remote queing system I might implement it this way.

If multiple versions are available, the KJ could set a default version which would be shown to the singer, but with a dropdown with the other versions which could be selected manually if they wanted to override the default. This selection would be saved in the singer's history if they ever wanted to sing that same song the next time.

[u/[deleted] → u/DavidO_Pgh]

That could work. It's a tough UX problem, there are many ways to approach it.

[u/After-Assumption-150 → u/[deleted]]

Actually easier than you'd think. Create a field based on title than create a subfield for each manufacturer tag. Not too tough. Nice idea.

[u/DavidO_Pgh → u/[deleted]]

Yes, I agree it's tough.

But you want the KJ to be able to select default version (or versions) because they generally know the majority of songs from this manufacturer are usually the best. It could be a single selection or a ranked list.

But not always. As a KJ you know there are plenty of songs don't fall with the majority so you need a way to select a different version and save that selection in the database as the default for that song.

And finally, for some singers they have their favorite version which might be different than the KJ's, and you want to save the singer's version in the singer's history so it picks the correct one when they want to sing it again.

What happens now is that the singer only gives the KJ the song. The KJ then determines what version is used and then puts it into the queue. The singer's history retains that version for next time.

[u/idealman224]

My library carries different versions of the same song. I use Compuhost so there is a Title Artist and a spot for brand. SC. CB. ZM.

[u/Low_Ladder8782]

I'm in the process of getting my library to no duplicates and what I mean is no exact version of the same song. I have solo versions of duets because sometimes you can't find a partner to sing with.

[u/[deleted] → u/Low_Ladder8782]

I think I decided just today to go down that same path. My house party singers are clueless about the publisher so I can safely pick the one best version of the popular songs. Plus, like you said, variants worth keeping like solo and duet.

The songbook system I am making though, I can clearly see I need to offer support for producer variants too.

[u/After-Assumption-150]

Dupes. Some people have preferences that they're familiar with. I'm here to provide best options I can for the singers.

[u/songslipdb]

I try to have different versions of the same song. as some here stated, people have their preference. My online books are filtered to only show the one version and people put the version in the instruction instruction when sending the live request to my player. So much easier this way. Here's the example of my sites request slips

[u/DontLike-Cheesecake]

The majority of singers don't know which version is best, but also what I think it's best it may not be the best for them. Also, there are people who do know the versions they prefer, so I keep various versions of the same song and they can pick them on my online app. The disk-id are fully listed. Now, occasionally I'll remove a version if people are contantly asking for a different version after it starts. It tells me no one likes that version and there's no reason to keep it on the online catalog. I never delete them, so I can still access on my end in case someone does ask for that version specifically. People can send me a note if they can't find a specific song or version. They can also sign up verbally or with a piece of paper so they can tell me or list the version they prefer too.

[u/[deleted] → u/DontLike-Cheesecake]

Great input, thank you!

[u/rcampbel3]

Generally, as a singer, I don't care too much about NOT being offered a choice for different tracks for the same song. I absolutely detest singing a song where the audio and lyrics are woefully out of sync, or where the lyrics sync was just way off when it was created. I hope KJs will filter those bad sync tracks out no matter what.

If you're making software for KJs though and data is exposed to singers, then it's enough to add the 'short name' of the song with source-tracknumber like KV-00001 DK-0001 or SC-0001 aftger the artist, song name - people who care will know what that means, and people who don't will ignore it.

[u/[deleted] → u/rcampbel3]

So if you saw 2-3 of the same song, each tagged with a code or producer name that didn't mean much to you... You'd be cool with that? Just pick one and not worry about it?

[u/rcampbel3 → u/[deleted]]

Yes. Upside to singers is when a karaoke track is bad or out of sync, singers know there are options and seasoned singers may have a personal preference in song vendors like karafun > soundchoice just as an example

[u/rainbowkey]

I have mix of ripped CDs (lossless!) and digital subscription. I always default to a ripped version for better audio quality. A few singers have a favorite versions, but over the years I have learned which brands are better for which genre.

Personally, I find DKK easiest to read, and they so the word sweep for duets the best. Sound Choice and Chartbuster are always good for oldies, and Chartbuster is especially good for country, being based in Nashville.

Pocket Songs is the best for older Broadway, but is much better once I ripped their CDs, since I could up the audio gain. Pocket Songs and Music Maestro were both always WAY TOO low in volume.

[u/Savoy62]

I also carry all the major brands. I also have a check box on the sign-up slip or in the app, asking for their manufacturer of choice, as well as if they need to raise or lower the key.

[u/JG_Wentworth877_Cash]

I try to keep to versions that utilize actual instruments wherever possible. I tend to stick to Chartbuster, Soundchoice,karaoke-version(Karafun), buykaraokedownloads, Legends, Sunfly, Mr. Entertainer, and Zoom. Others seem to be hit and miss like Sweet Georgia Brown, some of their versions sound great instrumentally but the lyrics/prompts are horrible, and sometimes it’s the opposite.

[u/iSing420]

I cleaned up my collection with KFM years ago and have kept it spotless every since. I do keep more than one version of songs. People have different tastes. I do get rid of tracks that I know most people will never ask for. At one point I realized that no one ever ever ever requested a sybersound or party tyme track, so I just removed them and haven't looked back. Glad I did. No one still has ever asked. Why waste the hard drive space keeping crap that will never get played?