external drive ?

[David M]

Hello

I'm new to karaoke and just setting up a system. I just bought a Music Maestro set. I have an ibook (10.3.9). I know the Plextor 760 is recommended, but I would prefer an external drive.

Can anyone recomend an external drive ?

Thanks

[dave]

The only external plextor that works is this:

http://plextor.com/english/products/716uf.htm

[David M]

will this one work for Karaoke ?

http://www.plextor.be/products/px-740uf ... e=PX-740UF
European site.

They show up on ebay.com, but aren't listed on the Plextor.com North American site

Compatible formats: CD (Read/Write)
CD-DA, CD-Extra, CD-ROM Mode-1, CD-ROM Mode-2, CD-ROM XA, Photo-CD, Video-CD, Multisession, CD TEXT, CD-I, CD+G
___
755UF
http://www.plextor.com/english/products ... -755UF.pdf
also lists CD+G under useable CD format

Comments ?

Thanks
David - Toronto

Thanks

[dave]

If it says "CD+G" in the spec, then yes. So, yes.

[Dr.Rhythm]

I downloaded kJams a few weeks back and I just tried it for the first time today. This is my first post. I tried to import a CD+G with the internal drive in my Macbook Pro and found that it was not supported. I have an older external Firewire CD-RW drive from LaCie and it seems to work in my limited test. I was able to rip the first three tracks from a CD+G disc. Is that enough to prove it works?

Here are some of the details from Apple System profiler on this drive.

Code: Select all

LACIE CDBP-161040A:

  Firmware Revision:	5.32
  Interconnect:	FireWire
  Burn Support:	Yes (Apple Supported)
  Cache:	2048 KB
  Reads DVD:	No
  CD-Write:	-R, -RW
  Burn Underrun Protection CD:	Yes
  Write Strategies:	CD-TAO, CD-SAO
  Media:
  Media Type:	CD-ROM
  Blank:	No
  Erasable:	No
  Overwritable:	No
  Appendable:	No

[dave]

if it works, it works.

try burning too (the free plugin will burn 2 songs per disc)

-dave

[Dr.Rhythm]

I'll get the plug-in and give it a try. I think the mechanism in this LaCie external may be a Plextor.

[ChurchCat]

The only external plextor that works is this:

http://plextor.com/english/products/716uf.htm

I am currently using this one.

PX 755A clicky

CC

[randyj]

I bought the Plextor PX-708UF from UnityElectronics.com

It's in an external enclosure with both USB and Firewire ports and a fan. The face plate is available in a variety of colors.
I got the one in "bulk packaging" -- means no glossy package and no manual.
It's plug-n-play on the Mac. Plug it in and start burning with kJams.
$89+ $15 shipping (UPS ground)

It's a little bulky, but it's been working fine so far for burning CD+G.

My experience with UnityElectronics:
order was shipped quickly!
their job at packaging was only partially suitable
the only option was UPS ground, which is notoriously hard on packages, but I decided to go for it since it was going on such a short trip...

Even though my package only went from California to Nevada, it had obviously been CRUSHED (dents in the box, holes).

Despite their mediocre packaging and UPS Ground, the drive has no apparent damage and is working.

In retrospect, I should have called them to see if they could ship by way of FedEx Air or UPS 2-day air or went with a shipper who does. Express Saver is only a couple dollars more than UPS Ground and your package has a cushy ride in a DC-10 instead of a big rig trailer over bumpy roads for many 100s of miles)

Insider info -- FedEx Express Saver "3-day" service is delivered in one day most of the time.

-Randy

[FunkyRob]

I just want to add that I've been using an older iomega CD-RW/DVD Rom combo drive to rip cd+g discs.

P/N on the bottom of the casing is 31191900. Though I've never burned a CD+G disc, I've got no need to.

The following shows up in the system profiler under USB

CDDVD523216E23-B:

Version: 0.02
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: IOMEGA
Product ID: 0x0158
Serial Number: 0503302074
Vendor ID: 0x059b


I didn't think iomega actually manufactured cd drives, but maybe they do. I don't feel like opening the casing to see what it says inside.

[FunkyRob]

I just want to add that I've been using an older iomega CD-RW/DVD Rom combo drive to rip cd+g discs.

P/N on the bottom of the casing is 31191900. Though I've never burned a CD+G disc, I've got no need to.

The following shows up in the system profiler under USB

CDDVD523216E23-B:

Version: 0.02
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: IOMEGA
Product ID: 0x0158
Serial Number: 0503302074
Vendor ID: 0x059b


I didn't think iomega actually manufactured cd drives, but maybe they do. I don't feel like opening the casing to see what it says inside.

Mystery solved:

found this under Disc Burning in the system profiler:

LITE-ON COMBO SOHC-5232K:

Firmware Revision: NK0G
Interconnect: USB
Burn Support: Yes (Vendor Supported)
Profile Path: VendorSupport.drprofile
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw
Media: No

So, it's a Lite-On then.

[Brendan]

I just purchased a Cool Copy CB9168 drive. It has a dual tray and copys CDGS. They work fine in my component player too. I was also able to put my CDG's into Kjams and play from the drive. The only problem i'm having is taking the songs from Kjams onto a CD R. When i play it in my Karaoke component player, it plays the music but not the graphics. It seems if it reads and writes that i should be able to play them on my component player also??? I also had this problem with my last drive. Is this a case of bad luck on my part? What i would like to be able to do is download music, put it on a CDR and play it in my Component player. Is there some conversion i need to do before i put it on a cdr? Please advise. Cheers

[dave]

Sadly yes this is a case of bad luck. If you get a drive that specifically states in the spec "CD+G" that means when you burn a CDG disc, it should most certainly play in any run of the mill hardware karaoke player. if it does not, then there is something wrong with the drive. It should "just work", there is nothing special you need to do: (downlaod | rip) -> mix -> burn, that's it.

-dave

[Brendan]

In kjams these CDG's show as .mov files or mp3 files, never as CDG files. Do they have to be converted back to be copied as CDG??
Cheers

[dave]

I don't know what you mean. Are you ripping with kJams? or are you using "Add To Library"?

There is no way to convert an existing file TO a CDG file. When you rip a disc, it copies the CDG portion directly (into a CDG file) and it encodes the audio portion into whatever encoder you want (mov, mp3, ogg, aif). it then optionally zips the audio+g files together.

-dave