Keeping Duplicate Songs

[michbabe]

I searched the forum to see if this question was already asked, but I really found nothing that gave me an answer.
I was just curious if you Hoster Pro's keep all your duplicate songs on your drive.? I mean some of these songs you find you have 3-4 versions of.
When using discs we had picked what we considered to be the better version and only had that one in the song book. But I kept a master copy of where all others were.
But now going to the laptop I'm wondering - better to keep or delete to save space???
Also what about some of these LONG songs, do you keep them? I found one song that was 16 min long!!! Never knew that till I pulled it up in hoster to see what it was...
Still loading my discs, had the lost files problem with vista and had to start all over now on disc 302 not quite half way...All seems Well...yea hoster!!!
But wanted the "Hoster Pros" advise on which files to keep, which ones to loose...Thanks All!!!! Happy Singing!!!!

[admin]

Hoster 4.000 will have a flag you can set on duplicate files in the Tools Edit Songs dialog to "Hide in Songbook". You can set this in Single or Multiple mode. In the Songbook, we'll add a control to use this flag to hide those songs with it set.

[ddouglass]

Many times there are variations between all those versions. We have singers who know what version they want and if it isn't available they won't sing it. Some are even picky enough to want a particular brand. My sister-in-law was doing a show in a new location and had a couple who specifically wanted Sound Choice (some of the worst quality CDs ) versions only for everything they sing...go figure. But anyway yes I would keep all of the versions....just in case.

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by michbabe

I searched the forum to see if this question was already asked, but I really found nothing that gave me an answer.
I was just curious if you Hoster Pro's keep all your duplicate songs on your drive.? I mean some of these songs you find you have 3-4 versions of.
When using discs we had picked what we considered to be the better version and only had that one in the song book. But I kept a master copy of where all others were.
But now going to the laptop I'm wondering - better to keep or delete to save space???
Also what about some of these LONG songs, do you keep them? I found one song that was 16 min long!!! Never knew that till I pulled it up in hoster to see what it was...
Still loading my discs, had the lost files problem with vista and had to start all over now on disc 302 not quite half way...All seems Well...yea hoster!!!
But wanted the "Hoster Pros" advise on which files to keep, which ones to loose...Thanks All!!!! Happy Singing!!!!

Everyone will have a different opinion on that. Ultimately it will be what works for you.

Personally I try to keep what I believe to be the better version (usually Sound Choice but not always.) and delete any others. Sometimes I'll have a song someone has gotten used to and they don't want to "upgrade" so I'll leave it on the computer just for them, but you won't find it listed in my book.
When I first started I listed all versions but I got tired of answering the question "which one one's better" or "what's the difference between..." or "which one should I pick". Ultimately it's just your personal philosophy and what works for you.

As to long songs: I get rid of them. With a very few exceptions I get rid of anything over about 6 minutes. If it's fun, fast and popular with the audience I'll let it go to about 7 minutes. Long, slow and boring is the kiss of death for a song in my opinion. I have to take crap from people occasionally because I don't have American Pie and a few others but such is life.

[bobcox- with the Lord]

I only list one of each song in book.
but i keep all of them on my hard drive, just in case i need them for a paticular version.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by bobcox

I only list one of each song in book.
but i keep all of them on my hard drive, just in case i need them for a paticular version.

Ditto!

[michbabe]

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinion on duplicate songs.
I thought what I would do is keep most of them on the hard drive (can't see over 3-4 versions of a song) but only put one in my books.

Sort of like I had it before except when I finally get finished we won't have to lug all those Disc's around!!!

Wow, this is like starting all over again, here I had all the little weeds out of my books, mispelling of songs, errors in some of the track order, now I have to do it all again!!! But I guess improving takes work Right!!!!

Thanks again to All!!!!

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by michbabe

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinion on duplicate songs.
I thought what I would do is keep most of them on the hard drive (can't see over 3-4 versions of a song) but only put one in my books.

Sort of like I had it before except when I finally get finished we won't have to lug all those Disc's around!!!

Wow, this is like starting all over again, here I had all the little weeds out of my books, mispelling of songs, errors in some of the track order, now I have to do it all again!!! But I guess improving takes work Right!!!!

Thanks again to All!!!!

Hard drives are cheap enough now days, why delete anything from it, you may get that 1 singer that will become a regular BEACUSE you have that oddball version. Delete it from your books by all means, but put a page in about ask the host if a different version is available or put a denotation besides the songs that you have dups for allowing the singer to come and ask if you might have that version. It may not happen often, but could mean a new customer because you do have it when no one else does (or lists it).