I put a new machine in service about a month ago. As part of that process, I also added a bunch of new music I had bought from a local KJ who went out of business. He was fairly new in the business, and as a result, had mostly newer music. I usually rip to mp3 + G at home in my spare time, or have one of my kids or wife just feed CDs and rip them when we get time. I then load them all on a HD and take them to the permantly installed comp at the bar. I know the quality suffers a bit, but it is a timing and ease issue. I used to use my backup comp to do this, but I prefer to keep it at the bar in case it's needed.
Since I own the bar and this is my major draw, I invest a LOT of $$ in my music. Karaoke AND DJ music. I usually buy any and all karaoke CDs from local dime a dozen DJs who THOUGHT they wanted to be in this business without realizing how much time you have to invest in it. I also offer my regulars to buy their Cds that I don't have. This gives them no reason to go anywhere else. They aren't out of pocket for music, and they have to come here to sing it. I am getting close to the limitations of the database because of the numbering scheme. You really only get 9,9999 CDs, not actually 100k. My new comp ALREADY lost a hard drive, so I am bringing it home to put in a new one and improve the cooling. I also need to print new books, weed out dupes, and set up a networked automatic backup.
My question is twofold.
1. How can I set myself up to load more songs in the database without a MAJOR investment in time. ( I already put in 16hr days ) I would like to keep adding DJ music too, but would be willing to weed them out. Even then, it is only a short term solution. At the rate I'm going, just CDGs will # over 10k in the next two years.
2. Since I have to do some work on the comp anyway, should I just start over and wait for 4.0 to come out to take advantage of the new database.
I really don't want to invest the time in loading CDs again since they are already ripped to a HD.
Starting over is appealing to me just to start from a clean slate.
My biggest drawback is the fact that 90% of my files were added to the database when we still had volume normalizing. I really miss that with the newer versions. I could run a one time normalize on all the mp3s prior to adding them to the database.
Right now, I have over 100k invested in this whole process over the last 12 years as a bar owner. It is a great draw for the crowds and I would have spent twice that much or more in advertising anyways. I only need to unlock the doors, and people just show up to sing. Word of mouth is cheaper and MUCH better.
As a note to MTU, I feel like you aren't charging me enough
The few hundred I've spent with you has been the best investment I have ever made in my business. I started with a CAVS unit and found it to be terribly limiting. I feel like I wasted the 10 grand I spent on that crap first. You can expect to see me as a customer for as long as you have Hoster.