Our Story
From Diploma Studios to SBI Karaoke
One of the world's largest karaoke catalogues began in a small recording studio in Essex.
SBI began at Diploma Studios, a small semi-professional recording studio on Oak Lodge Farm in Bicknacre, near Chelmsford, Essex, owned by Jim Woodford. Opened in spring 1983, the studio welcomed a steady stream of local and visiting bands recording demos to sell at gigs or present to record companies.
Among them was Triple Cream, a local cabaret band who brought in the singers they backed at gigs to record albums to sell at their performances. When one singer asked for backing tracks only, to perform over at live shows, Jim saw an opportunity and began commissioning the band to record backing tracks of standard songs.
Through the mid to late 1980s the studio moved from live musicians to computer-based production. As karaoke grew in popularity and Sound Back International (SBI) was formed, the studio closed its doors to become dedicated entirely to creating backing tracks.
Over the following decades SBI grew into one of the world's largest and most respected karaoke catalogues, supplying brands including Sunfly, Soundchoice, Karafun, Luckyvoice, Zoom and Mr Entertainer, and operating live karaoke venues across Asia and Europe. Following the passing of its founder in 2024, the company ceased trading in 2025. The catalogue continues through its exclusive distribution partners, Quadalpha and Digitop Ltd.
