We do check the forums from time to time ;) We're still alive.

Over the last year we've been working on the new fork.  Sometimes you make something so good, you see it's potential, it's value so much you covet it, in order to nurture it into something great.  This is what's been going on.   Free from the potential negative commenting, fubar and I have been working closely on what has been the culmination of all these years of experience and time of seeing what works at 7b, and what doesn't.

I want to give a shout out to Joe Blackie from Zoom.  Joe, I've been selling a lot of your karaoke lately.  Please speak to Gai about what I've done.  Keep up the good work with Tricerasoft.

Sales... Hmm.. OK let's step back in time to concepts...

Let's say a customer hands you 3 dollars, and tells you to purchase a song from Tricerasoft (With your credit card).  They tell you, "Just keep the song, I don't want a copy".  You own it outright, basically for free because the customer reimbursed you on the spot.

This is basically what the new software does.  You can create "credited" accounts for your customers.  You don't have to charge them to sing, but why not sell them your own credits?  As long as you're good with your credit card (i.e. never overdraft) then you're good to roll.  Work it out with the bar, tell the bar "Credit your drinkers 10% and you pay me that"  It's an easy easy way to roll with it.  If a customer wants to buy new songs, they have to drink! Bar owners will love you!

Right now we're earning between 75-100 new songs every month this way, paying full retail price per song + transaction fee.  Take the average price of a Tricerasoft song and multiply it by that, and you have a very strong indication of what the sales are on this.

Still though... I am not done yet...

In my garage exists a machine I'm building.  Version 2 of something I made almost a year ago.  Metal grinders, sparks flying.  Yup, that's me over there.  Here's another picture of the WIP. You might be un nerved by the fact that I have molten slag flying in my face, but fear not, I'm wearing a full facemask respirator.

The last year has done well for me.  2012 I go from 4 to 5 nights a week at my club (owner said it's because I make him more money)  Been able to buy tools and gear to get this thing fitting together even nicer than before.  Audio is still automixed through a variety of compressors on the EMU1820m (always keeping the music to -30db) and goes out to a brand new QSC-K10 1000w speaker.

After it's done it's getting wheeled into my local newspapers office here in San Jose for a review. Some of the writers sort of hate what I've done at 7b, because they're used to getting "special treatment" from human KJ's..  Which amounts to them saying they're from the paper, put me up next or else.  I'm cool with that, I sort of see this system as "The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger" of karaoke.

It's been rock solid...

With all this triumphant talk, I want to take a minute to talk to folks about things that are bothering me.  Mainly, the idea being put out by the KIAA mouthpeices that downloads are illegal to use in a commercial venue.

I got into an argument with Lonman about this issue.  I said something along the lines of "This is why I hate Lonman, he's a hypocrite(he's used MTU hoster for years)" and got issued a warning from an "anonymous" moderator.  I told whoever hid behind the warning account "Ban me and you'll see a mass exodous of users to a new forum."  I still don't feel like I attacked the guy, and banning me doesn't change my opinion. (BTW karaokescene, I'm done with you.  Fin)

My opinion of Lonman?  His ear's a microphone pointed at the KIAA consortium of companies because it makes him feel important, and his mouth/typing is the speaker.  His moderation powers are like a 1000w amp, able to steer public opinion of which side is right, the KIAA or the Tricerasoft consortium of companies. To them, he's a tool.  He pulls the same act on every forum I see him on.  Maybe what I wrote is chock full of metaphor, but it's not far from the truth.

The KIAA is not to be trusted.  I'm sorry.  I joined on the advisory board thinking maybe they would let me show them the way out of the entire piracy mess, but it never happened.   (Though it is happening with the companies under the Tricerasoft system)

Thier "opinion" of Universal licesning has never been challenged in court.  Where is the "Slep Tone Vs Tricerasoft" cases?  They don't exist because there is no challenge.   Sweet and short answer right?  Norbits Bellowing at last years mobilebeat about "CONTRIBAND KARAOKE" was just a smoke screen.

Kurt Slep I like you, but god man..  This is starting to get redundant.  My promise of a new boat still stands if you roll with us.  Derrick Slep could be jamming below deck in the on the floating studio.

I just formed an idea over the last 5 minutes.  Folks... While what we have is good, I just thought of something better.  I must go, because my people (you) need me.