Hi, this is my first post here.
I teach singing.
I use a range of backing material including CD+G discs. I would love to use kJams to create folders of backing tracks for each of my students. However I have an iMac G5.
As this has a Panasonic optical drive I can't use it for reading or writing CD+G formatted discs.
Can you please advise on the simplest way for me to achieve what I want? Should I change the internal drive? Is this easy to do? Will an external drive work, or are there "issues"?
Hope you can help.
CC
Proud iMac owner wants to use kJams
hi
did you see this from the FAQ?
Re: hi
I did look, but I can't even see the iMac mentioned.dave wrote:did you see this from the FAQ?
I did see the draw loading Plexor 760a internal drive, but the iMac is a slot loader, hence my question.
CC
not related
the iMac is not a relevant issue here. in the FAQ it states you need an external drive and an adapter that gives you a USB port. All computers have a USB port. No you can not replace the internal drive.
tho the drive mentioned is "internal", there is no need to mount it internally. My "internal" drive sits on my desk.
tho the drive mentioned is "internal", there is no need to mount it internally. My "internal" drive sits on my desk.
Well this is how far I have got in being a proud kJams user.
1) I have downloaded the trial software
2) I have bought a Plextor external drive. See HERE
It worked fine on a couple of CDG discs.
3) I have upgraded my internal HDD to make room for the tracks
4) I have upgraded my external backup HDD in like manner.
Then disaster.
Just before I paid for kJams Pro. I tried another disk and it failed to work. I then tried samples from the rest of my collection. This is what I found.
Disks that worked perfectly with no problems included.
Some Pocket Songs
Zoom Karaoke
Sunfly
Sunfly Gold
Music Maestro
Legends
Essential Karaoke.
Disks that it would not read included
Pocket Songs Just Tracks
Music Minus One
Cantolopera
Music Maestro (starcaster series)
Sound Choice (This actually froze the system)
Pro Burn
Classic Karaoke
Custom Karaoke
Some Pocket songs.
I mostly get the message "sorry your drive is incompatible with CDG on these discs".
Please advise.
ChurchCat
1) I have downloaded the trial software
2) I have bought a Plextor external drive. See HERE
It worked fine on a couple of CDG discs.
3) I have upgraded my internal HDD to make room for the tracks
4) I have upgraded my external backup HDD in like manner.
Then disaster.
Just before I paid for kJams Pro. I tried another disk and it failed to work. I then tried samples from the rest of my collection. This is what I found.
Disks that worked perfectly with no problems included.
Some Pocket Songs
Zoom Karaoke
Sunfly
Sunfly Gold
Music Maestro
Legends
Essential Karaoke.
Disks that it would not read included
Pocket Songs Just Tracks
Music Minus One
Cantolopera
Music Maestro (starcaster series)
Sound Choice (This actually froze the system)
Pro Burn
Classic Karaoke
Custom Karaoke
Some Pocket songs.
I mostly get the message "sorry your drive is incompatible with CDG on these discs".
Please advise.
ChurchCat
hmmm
1) do those non-working discs play in regular CD players?
2) do they play in commercial karaoke hardware?
3) do they play in other computers? (do you have access to a different drive? maybe at the store?)
it could possibly be the drive? but otherwise i've never seen this.
2) do they play in commercial karaoke hardware?
3) do they play in other computers? (do you have access to a different drive? maybe at the store?)
it could possibly be the drive? but otherwise i've never seen this.
Re: hmmm
They all play in regular CD playersdave wrote:1) do those non-working discs play in regular CD players?
2) do they play in commercial karaoke hardware?
3) do they play in other computers? (do you have access to a different drive? maybe at the store?)
it could possibly be the drive? but otherwise i've never seen this.
They all play on my JVC XL-SV22 karaoke machine
They play in iTunes on my iMac (audio only). The exception to this is the Sound Choice series. These seem burdened with .exe files. *spits*
I suppose it could be the drive, but it says in the spec that it is CD+G compatible.
The strangest disc was one of the Pocket Songs ones. The tracks with guide vocals were incompatible with the drive and the tracks without guide vocals worked perfectly.
Before I buy a new drive (The last one was expensive) can someone confirm that kJams does actually work with Pocket Songs discs as most of my collection is on this label.
CC
it was a bug
there was a bug that caused the "your drive is not compatible" problem, it has been fixed. please update to latest.
-dave
-dave
Re: it was a bug
*Dances, like only a cat can*dave wrote:there was a bug that caused the "your drive is not compatible" problem, it has been fixed. please update to latest.
-dave
Fantastic Dave.
You have just sold your next copy of kJams Pro.
CC
yaay!
Meyow!
Great, I now own kJams Pro.
Before I begin the long, long task of putting every backing that we own onto the system can I ask a few more questions?
I use Pocket song because it has half the tracks with guide vocals and half without. When we are teaching students to sing it is helpful to put both versions onto a tape or CD for them to practice to.
When I put a Pocket Songs disc into the drive the track names come up fine for the Karaoke version but the guide vocal track just says "vocal". This means that I will have to edit each track in turn.
Bearing this in mind here are my questions.
1) Is it still the case that I have to edit the track data before ripping?
2) What if I make a mistake can I edit things like track title later?
3) What encoder would you suggest as being the best one to do the ripping with?
Thanks in advance.
CC
Before I begin the long, long task of putting every backing that we own onto the system can I ask a few more questions?
I use Pocket song because it has half the tracks with guide vocals and half without. When we are teaching students to sing it is helpful to put both versions onto a tape or CD for them to practice to.
When I put a Pocket Songs disc into the drive the track names come up fine for the Karaoke version but the guide vocal track just says "vocal". This means that I will have to edit each track in turn.
Bearing this in mind here are my questions.
1) Is it still the case that I have to edit the track data before ripping?
2) What if I make a mistake can I edit things like track title later?
3) What encoder would you suggest as being the best one to do the ripping with?
Thanks in advance.
CC
answers
1) yes, but it is becoming less of an issue.
http://www.kjams.com/wiki/Why_meta_before_ripping
2) yes, just as long as the track title+album name+artist are unique before you rip. Best to get them as correct as you can.
3) OggVorbis/Best if you like to stay away from MP3, else use MP3/Best
http://www.kjams.com/wiki/Why_meta_before_ripping
2) yes, just as long as the track title+album name+artist are unique before you rip. Best to get them as correct as you can.
3) OggVorbis/Best if you like to stay away from MP3, else use MP3/Best
