Karaoke Forums

Has anyone used 'karaoke song book creator' by airwer? If so, is it any good? They say that they will update the database free for life. Do they update often?

Any help here would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Patrick

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Patrick
Twinbrook Sound
Waltham, MA

Patrick, I don't use that, but I do use the Music Book Deluxe and really like it. They do an update about once a month. When I got it, it ran about $100, but lately I've noticed it on different web sites for $49. At $49, I doubt you'd be able to beat it. The first time I used it I was recovering from a computer problem and with no prior experience with that particular software, I did an entire songbook in 4 hrs (previously using my data base software I had done myself would have been about a 4 day project, full time).

I originally tried the Airwer product, but didn't like it due to the serious amounts of errors in it.

MBD is pretty good, but again, doesn't have everything.

KJPro is pretty much updated like MBD.

I personally use Microsoft Excel, and manually enter everthing. When you first get a LOT of discs, it's quite daunting, but I'll tell you, you have a good feeling for what you have.

I can't tell you the number of times someone asks me if I have a certain song. 80% of the time, I can give an accurate answer!

Matt

I have been using the airwer book software and have found a ton of errors in the database. Every time I print new books I find another error. It sucks when a singer brings up a slip and you can't find the song because the book has an error due to a flawed data base.

Max

As usual, I' glad I asked!

I just may go your route, Matt, and use excel. I agree that doing it this way will help you get to know your collection. Do you cut and paste using music book deluxe online? I mean, you don't maunally type in everything, do you?

Patrick

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Patrick
Twinbrook Sound
Waltham, MA

MBD doesn't allow any copy/pasting on their online site, sad to say. I wish they did! !

And yes, I've typed in all the entries.

It DID take awhile... I am a fast typist, though!

Probably why I love to keep up my website so much! !

As usual, I'm with Matt on Microsoft Excel, for all the same reasons. In addition I spot check the disks (listen to) to pass the time while I'm entering data and labeling. The result is that once I get the blisters on my fingers healed, I don't have to guess at what I have or how good it is.

Norm

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Jazz and Swing Live (as long as I do).

I also use Excel and find it more than adequate.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

I did try the airwer demo and it seemed cumbersome to use. I am going to try the music book demo, but I doubt I'll use it because I refuse to pay a fee for updates.

Excel sounds like a winner!

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Patrick
Twinbrook Sound
Waltham, MA

Ha Ha..I did mine in Word.
5000 song titles first by artist , then copied and pasted
dragged and dropped to reverse to - by song titles.
I only type with 2 fingers and double spaced every word.
size 12 font in bold and underlined.
took forever, but i think it looks and works GREAT now .

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Gotta' Sing , Gotta' Sing !!!

I swear by Music Books Deluxe..
I'm extremely happy with it!

Brian,

Doesn't MBD charge a monthly fee? I guess that would probably be fine for you because your spreading that cost over several systems. I'm not sure I can afford it in the budget. I do think I want an easier way than typing everything in, though.

Patrick

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Patrick
Twinbrook Sound
Waltham, MA

Excell allows you to sort via the different columns, and moving the artists collumn to the secondary collumn is just a mouse click or two! Then you can resort, and get them alphabetized!!

MUCH more powerful than word.

The good news is, converting to an .xls file would be a snap! Merely highlight the entire listing, and then do your cut and paste! (or send it to me and I'll do it for you!)

Matt

Agree - I also have fields for type of music (i.e., foreign), duplicate flag, etc. You can set up an autofilter across the field headings and then isolate virtually anything. For instance, to print non-duplicates I autofilter to that field = blank. Custom report printing can be done by linking the data range into an Access database, Crystal or some other program. Generally I just autofilter to another worksheet and print from there (update list, holiday music, etc.). I will also sort on the length of artist or song to trim them down if necessary (you can also format to fit, but sometimes they come out rather small). Lastly, I keep a master list of CDGs and their number (for my book purposes), and have Excel do a VLOOKUP command to assign the reference number for the book. Lots of things you can do with it. Yeah, I'm an Excel nut.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

Pat,
Not every system of mine is the same.. some have Laser Discs, some are now on PCKJ, others just have DVD & CD+G media. and Now I'm starting a move to build a VCD library in a system. I just like the look. but Pat you may wanna look around this site on the discussions this topic has been brought up before and may have been archived.

Yea Knight , I know you guys are right about Excel.
I just haven't tried to figure it out yet and wanted to get my first books done as soon as possible.
That was several years ago and every time I'm ready to update my books (Yearly) I remember all the blood sweat and finger blisters that went into them so I end up just adding to the word file

P.S. the haha was me laughing at myself , not me thinking
that I had a better way or sumpin.

' Artist Song Title Song #
AC DC BACK IN BLACK 305 - 01 SC


SO ON AND SO FORTH
Have fun Peoples.

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Gotta' Sing , Gotta' Sing !!!

I tried to attach a file on the last post to show what they looked like but no luck. ( Rookie )
oops!!!
L8er

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Gotta' Sing , Gotta' Sing !!!

I use Access. Typed in all by hand.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Access is a good way to do it. In fact, I was thinking of keeping all kinds of data in an access DB. You could really go nuts if you had the time.

Marty, is there any chance you would be willing to post a copy of your excel file, as a template?

Patrick

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Patrick
Twinbrook Sound
Waltham, MA

Sure. Geocities won't let you view this, but you should be able right click and save it locally. If not, I can strip it down and email it to anyone interested and knowing a little about Excel:

http://www.geocities.com/marty3dj/kjbook04.xls

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois