Did You Like This Music Site? Click here to Bookmark it at Del.icio.us
长至小腿肚的歌曲和乐谱
Karaoke Machines by Elizabeth Morgan
A karaoke machine has an audio input, an audio output and a way of changing the music's tone and pitch. There are karaoke machines that have the means of vocal suppression. The machine actually suppresses the original singer's voice and allows the music to be feed through the machine; the results, it must be said, are not great. Generally, karaoke machines have a microphone input replete with Video CD, CD+G, Laser Disc, et al. Of these, CD+G possess sub code, a particular track that is used to encode lyrics and pictures that are displayed on the screen. Some places that offer karaoke have KTV, which is karaoke with the ability to display video lyrics.
Karaoke machines possess equipment to electronically alter the music's pitch, allowing the user to pick a key appropriate for his or her vocal range without any change in the tempo of the original track. A well-known karaoke game randomizes the songs that people can attempt to sing. In some karaoke machines, this game - known as 'Kamikaze Karaoke' in parts of North America, is programmed to a particular genre so that all can participate.
Karaoke systems like 'boom boxes' have a mode that alienates the vocal track from the audio CDs. A process called the 'center removal' manages this. This unsophisticated approach often manifests itself in the low performance of voice removal.
Computer programs are being developed that serve the same purpose as a karaoke machine. In place of a normal recorded track, these programs use musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) instrumentation that provides the musical accompaniment. MIDI accurately defines each and every musical note in a musical instrument like the eclectic guitar and synthesizer, allowing computers and electronic musical instruments to swap data.
Karaoke Downloads by Elizabeth Morgan
Karaoke downloads are a great way to get backing tracks for your favorite songs. However, you should be careful while downloading karaoke music. Some tracks will be midi files that come with lyrics attached. The midi files are generally free but are mostly illegal, and there is disparity in how they sound. Also, these files will sound better if the sound card is properly configured with good sound fonts. So, it is advisable to download mp3 songs. The following are the most common and best karaoke downloads.
* AV DVD Player - Morpher 1.0.56 can convert DVD video and audio and can edit subtitles for movie, record audio, capture images and copy or delete VCD.
* Busker 3.0 can copy a song by dragging chords, symbols and notes and make an exact replica of the songbook. You can choose any instrument or genre and play.
*MagicScore School 4.0 is a specific notation software that can be of great use to music enthusiasts, teachers, students, schools, etc. This program gives the music aficionado a plethora of options, including editing, printing, input, etc.
*Intelliscore Polyphonic MP3 to Ringtone Converter 6.3 IntelliScore can convert MP3 to MIDI, WAV to MIDI and CD to MIDI for live performance. It can make MIDI files, transcribe music and get chord names from polyphonic MP3 and WAVE files.
*Lyrics4You 1.3 is special entertainment software. It can play as well as display karaoke lyrics with audio file formats like MP3, OGG, MIDI, WAV, KAR etc. It is a simple way to record. Lyrics4You 1.3 can also play back voice over the song.
* Karaoke Jockey 2.10s folksKJ is a MIDI Karaoke player with special features like automatic melody detection for MIDI and KAR files, customized photo albums and display of digital photos.
*Karaoke-to-Text-with-Chords 2.2 can take out lyrics from karaoke files and verify chords for MIDI and Karaoke songs.
How To Hire a KJ (Karaoke DJ) For Your Club Karaoke Show by DJ Kool Karl
I have often advised club managers on the finer points of selecting a Karaoke Jockey for their upcoming Karaoke shows. Some have followed my advise with reasonable success, and some did not with predictably poor results. I will attempt to elucidate some of these important positives and the avoidable pitfalls in picking a host for a weekly restaurant or club Karaoke show.
There are two major mistakes the uninitiated bar owners make when considering Karaoke as an attraction in their venue. The first is the expectation that you will make a lot of money selling drinks to singers. Most singers are light drinkers or drink non-alcoholic beverages. The purpose of Karaoke is entertainment, it creates a party atmosphere and attracts locals to your pub for a little fun and liquid refreshment.
Many people come in to party with friends, and not to sing. This is a requirement for a successful show. You will rarely average more than 20 singers per night in So. California since the wait to sing will be so long that singers will go elsewhere. You need a minimum of 2 to 1 audience to singer ratio, and preferably more. The happy party crowd is where you make your profit.
We have a number called "critical mass" which is the number of people in an establishment where a party spontaneously ignites. When you hit this point, people hopping from bar to bar "stick" in your club because it's a fun happening place. Below the critical mass the place appears dead. Karaoke music and singers act as a magnet to boost your numbers early in the evening. It can make the difference between a "good night" and a poor night financially speaking.
The second mistake managers make is assuming all Karaoke is the same. I have heard this theory from way to many managers, and it couldn't be further from the truth. The success of your show will be due to many factors and the KJ will be the most important of these. But the management and staff in your venue must also support and promote the shows. If you are going to commit to it, commit 100% with advertising, promotion and fully supporting your Karaoke host.
If all Karaoke is not the same, how can you pick a winner and not a looser? First don't look for dirt cheap, you get what you pay for in this area as in any important endeavor. As far as the KJ himself goes, there are five things to check for when sizing up a KJ. These are; music selection, sound quality, experience, fairness, and personality.
We are well into the second decade of Karaoke, and the requirements in music selection for success are an order of magnitude higher than when it all began. It takes 10,000+ selections today for a top show. But beware, there are KJs and venues sporting less than 1000 songs trying to land your gig. Only pick a KJ with CD+G Karaoke format. Midi, Laser Disk, VCD or DVD formats will not attract singers, and no top KJs will use them. Some of the new MP3+G computerized systems are now good enough to equal CD+G. Check it out first before hiring a KJ using one of these new computer systems.
Sound quality is just as important as selection. This has to do with both quality and matching of sound components such as mics, amps and speakers, and tuning and adjusting the equipment for your venue. KJ experience and expertise weigh heavily in this area. Expensive equipment can sound crappy when a poor KJ tunes it, and an average system can perform fabulously with a top notch KJ at the dials. The only way to tell is check them out live at shows. Bring some experienced singers you trust if you are not into singing yourself. Don't just talk to the KJ's friends.
Experience matches up with several of the other requirements. Most, but not all, experienced KJs will know what CD brands are good quality, how to tune sound equipment, how and why to be fair and honest with singers and clubs, and how to run a popular, upbeat show. Few inexperienced ones do. But there are heavily promoted companies out there who hire inexperienced hosts, give them mediocre equipment and piss-poor music selections, and offer them to you at a great price. Run, don't walk away from these promoters. It's a guaranteed looser.
Fairness includes a lot of things, including honesty and integrity. As in the rest of life you want to deal with and be dealt with fairly. You want a host who is fair to all the singers, good and bad, and lets everyone sing. Some dopes actually require a bribe from singers to sing at their shows. A good KJ always keeps singers happy. It's happy singers that make successful shows. Unhappy singers go to your competitor's shows.
If some KJ approaches you with an offer to replace your current KJ for less money, just remember honest KJs go out and start their own shows. Do you want a cheap (read low quality) KJ ruining what it has taken you and your KJ months to build up? If this slug has so little regard or respect for a fellow KJ, how far do you think you can trust him? And once again, you get what you pay for.
Personality can be the maker or breaker for your K-show. Not how pleasant the individual is and definitely not how attractive, but whether or not the KJ has ANY personality at all. He can be outrageous, or funny or silly or totally off the wall, but he needs some kind of personality to make him stick out from the crowd. He may dress offbeat, wear a funny hat, have goofy hair, tell dumb jokes or whatever. You just don't want some dull, "jims up next", "nice job suzy", "zzzzzz", kind of kid that puts your audience to sleep. You don't even have to like his personality or his jokes, if he runs a lively show and makes you money, he's the man!
Now how do you find this super hero of Karaoke when they come in all flavors and the big promoters are often the dregs of the business? This is where you have to do your homework. You don't buy a car without checking different models, kicking some tires, and taking a test ride or two. Karaoke is no different. This takes a little honest investigating, but it's worth it in the long run. First find some candidates, check the yellow pages, search the internet, and go to some local K-shows.
Check out at least a half dozen popular spots in your area. Talk to the singers. Find out where they go. decide what kind of show you want in your establishment, laid back and mellow, wild and fun, or totally off the wall. Do you want Sinatra, rock and roll, or rap-crap? Find out what the KJ specializes in and what kinds of music he offers. Make sure he has a good selection of what you want.
Song books can be very misleading. Most people list songs twice, by title and by artist. Some will use several types of listings to pad their book. Plastic loose leave page inserts with two single sided sheets per insert will give you a book six times as thick as double sided printing on standard paper in compression binders.
To asses the true song count, take one section (say by artist), count the number of songs on a page and multiply by the number of pages in that section. If there is an 'update' section, add the 'by artist' pages in there also. You will find that most KJs claim grossly inflated song numbers. And if you check for duplicates of the same songs, you will find from five to twenty five percent duplicates. With over 10,000 songs it can easily exceed 25% to 50% dupes.
Listen to the singers to see how well the system is tuned. Don't judge the singer, everyone will be different talent wise. If you don't sing, bring friends who do, and have them sing and evaluate the system from the singers perspective. It will sound different to a singer than to an untrained observer.
When you find some good possibilities, approach them and see if they are available. Ask if they will do a demo show for you. Offer to pay them, never ask for a free or cheap demo, you may turn off an excellent prospect. When you find the right KJ, find out how much he wants to work for you. Remember if you have done your homework, you have found a top host and he won't work cheap. Saving $25 or $50 a night on a cheap company is poor economics if it ends up costing $200 on the bottom line every night from poor sales.
The closer you start to Saturday in the week, the faster your new show will build. If you plan more than one night, start as close to the end of the week as your venue will allow, and as the shows build, add new nights one at a time before it. Don't quit if the first show isn't overflowing, these things do take time. Saturday may take only 2 to 4 weeks to build. Monday could take 6 months. Plan accordingly.
Ideally you will find an owner-operator KJ who runs his own business, owns his system and CDs, and cares about doing a good job. He also has KJ friends who can fill-in, in an emergency. You are now ready to start your professional Karaoke show with a professional host. On the other hand if you just run a dive bar and all you want is something loud to drown out the drunks snoring, disregard everything I have said.
Karaoke Music by Elizabeth Morgan
Karaoke discs are specially formatted discs that have lyrics and music. There are two major karaoke disc formats: VCD and CD+G. CD+G discs are mainly audio CDs, having extra lyric data. They can be played on a CD player, though the images are low in quality. VCD or "Video CD" can support MPEG-compressed video of high quality. This format, while popular in Asia, has some catching up to do here in America. There are also DVDs and karaoke laser discs. With formats that can support video, video clips specially made for karaoke usually accompany the songs. Karaoke discs (VCD, CD+G and Karaoke DVD) are in multiplex or non-multiplex formats. Multiplex possesses vocal demos for every song, giving the user the choice of listening to the track with or without vocals. The user can eliminate the vocal demos by using the "multiplex function" or "vocal remove" button on the karaoke player. Non-multiplex format comes without the vocals.
It is important to note that karaoke tracks are not original songs but rather their recreation. Karaoke songs are re-recorded with the objective of sounding as similar as possible to the original track. Multiplex disc formats do not have the original artist featured.
Also, these discs come with background singers, generally for the chorus. The background singers cannot be removed.
In America, karaoke can be enjoyed in different settings. Karaoke bars charge a fee per song of $1 to $2, and there are suites where a private room can be rented and used for as long as desired. The fee varies from an hourly rate to a flat rate for the room. There are also home karaoke machines, where one can enjoy karaoke in the privacy of their home. These machines can be purchased for less then $100, with discs costing $10 to $20.
Karaoke Microphones by Elizabeth Morgan
The best Karaoke microphones are durable and have high quality. There are many places that one can use a karaoke microphone - from a club to a computer equipped with karaoke software. There are different microphones for different settings. For instance, a USB microphone would be redundant in a bar, but ideal for computer use.
First and foremost, it is necessary to check that the microphone comes with ambient noise filters; that gets rid of the background noise. You should then check the frequency response. The average response should vary from around 10,000 Hz to12, 000 Hz. The lighter the karaoke microphone, the better. The Uni-Directional Dynamic microphones are some of the most popular. They come around 2 inches to 10 inches long, and weigh about 10 oz. Uni-Directional Dynamic Microphones are available in cable and wireless models. With the appropriate adaptors, cable microphones work with just about everything.
When purchasing a wireless karaoke microphone, you should check the range and make sure there is no loss in connection between the receiver and the microphone. It is possible to get a decent quality karaoke microphone for under $100. However, the cheaper price means quality is compromised. Though, the word "quality" is overrated when it comes to karaoke microphones. A professional may find faults in a microphone; but for a layman, the same product may sound as good as a high-end microphone. Budget karaoke microphones do come with a catalog of advanced features that give them adequate quality. They may suffer in comparison to professional microphones, but budget karaoke microphones are the ideal investments for home use or even a bar.
Karaoke Software For Inevitable Singing by John Rivers
Before karaoke came in this world, people used to sing with the accompaniment of people playing music instruments. The singing is not complete without them. Singing in those times was quite odd because of the lack of resources.
Then karaoke was introduced. This innovation in the singing world leads to better appreciation of people to music. Singing became the most sought hobby and activity of every citizen. They became addict and indulge in singing through karaoke.
Karaoke was pioneered by the Japanese. The word karaoke was derived form two Japanese words, kara meaning music, and oke, a word that means orchestra. The karaoke became a phenomenon. Karaoke already reached different countries including the most powerful and the hardest to penetrate, the United States of America. Karaoke is being used in different languages and dialects around the globe.
Americans are so much indulged with karaoke. Almost every household has their own sot of karaoke which they use during parties and some occasions. They use karaoke to entertain their guests and visitors. Even without any occasions, still they use karaoke for their own entertainment.
Karaoke provide and offer much enjoyment. They can relax when they are singing in karaoke. Karaoke singing serves a activity to strengthen relationships, to build ties between each and every one.
Before you can enjoy and have fun in karaoke, there are lots to prepare first. You need to have compact discs and tapes that are installed with songs, which are of much cost that usually holes our pockets. We also spend in buying players. So karaoke singing is quite a burden for our wallets, but despite these, we still patronize karaoke because of the joy and entertainment it brings.
In the birth of the cyber world, the access to karaoke entertainment was made easy. Karaoke is just in front of us, right in our computers. It is just a click a way. It is only a matter of some finger movements.
You can convert your computers into a karaoke machine by karaoke software and programs. You can download and have this software with charge or free of charge.
Karaoke software may be in the form of song, lyrics, music or in the form of downloadable pictures and images that can make as backgrounds.
Karaoke software that is in the form of song, supply and offer singing and entertainment without limitations. You can have as many songs as you want. So can have and create your own archive of songs. Amaze your friends with these songs for you can download it where ever and when ever.
If the karaoke software is in the form of lyrics, it gives you lyrics of your favorite songs. You can make your own book of lyrics through this software.
There are also software that provides pictures and images that you can make use as backgrounds of your monitor. This will add to the enjoyment and relaxation of karaoke singing. You can also make slides through this pictures and images.
Converting your much loved computer into a karaoke machine through the help of karaoke software, will add savor to your life. This will give you much entertainment. Your karaoke enjoyment and relaxation will be just as easy as single flick of your fingers.
Karaoke software is now offered in the market. They are two inches away from you. So what are you waiting form? Start surfing the now and download this karaoke software for your convenience.
The Best Karaoke Equipment To Enhance Your Karaoke Experience by John Rivers
Having just a karaoke machine is not good enough for the serious karaoke enthusiast. Karaoke equipments add spice in your karaoke system. It looks boring and it sounds boring if it has no karaoke equipments, accessories, and decorations on it.
The first home karaoke machine was little more than a standard boom box stereo with a microphone feed, but it allowed users to play special karaoke cassette tapes and sing along with the radio. But it does not contain the best equipments.
The more the equipment, the more buyers will appreciate and encourage buying the product. Consumers are now concise and intelligent in dealing with the latest technology. They already know how to find or look for the better product. The more features it offers the more pleasant praises will be provided.
During these days karaoke can easily become the life of the party. This is best for you if you do not have the voice of a nightingale. Amateur singers can read lyrics on a television monitor as they perform in front of an audience or in the privacy of their own homes. In the present day, a lot of karaoke singers seek the best karaoke that offers best karaoke equipment available for serious performers. You can just stay at your home and be a star in your own way.
If you love entertaining people you should seriously take into consideration getting the best karaoke equipment to be able to have a nice set of karaoke.
A small television monitor may also be included on higher-end models, or the karaoke machine may have external plugs leading to a standard television screen. The idea is still the same, the singer usually select a track from the disk.
Installing new karaoke equipment in your karaoke will add a big factor. To be able to get more assessments on what is good for you and your system; here are the best karaoke equipments you can find in the market.
* Portable players have built-in speakers and sometimes a screen for displaying lyrics and there is no need for using TV. They are good for children as well as professional quality player.
* Component karaoke players look a like at DVD player and are designed to integrate with an existing stereo or home entertainment system.
* The microphone is one of the best karaoke equipment that can make a lot of difference. It has lots of uses as well as offers top quality entertainment and enjoyment. It is also sturdy and durable. Microphones are often mixed into commercial-level soundboards for better sound balance and vocal quality
* Having a good quality of amplifier, mixer and speaker set can take your event into the next level by providing clear, distortion free sound at higher volume levels.
* An electronic key changer can raise or lower the original pitch by several keys in either direction.
The new karaoke machine for both personal and commercial use looks more like a DVD player. Several CD+G disks can be placed in multiple trays, eliminating the downtime between selections. Unexpectedly, to my surprise, a disk-based gaming system such as Play station or Game Cube can also become a karaoke machine with graphics capability. Karaoke equipments can often be found at department stores, music shops and Internet catalog sales.
Karaoke Music by Elizabeth Morgan
Karaoke discs are specially formatted discs that have lyrics and music. There are two major karaoke disc formats: VCD and CD+G. CD+G discs are mainly audio CDs, having extra lyric data. They can be played on a CD player, though the images are low in quality. VCD or "Video CD" can support MPEG-compressed video of high quality. This format, while popular in Asia, has some catching up to do here in America. There are also DVDs and karaoke laser discs. With formats that can support video, video clips specially made for karaoke usually accompany the songs. Karaoke discs (VCD, CD+G and Karaoke DVD) are in multiplex or non-multiplex formats. Multiplex possesses vocal demos for every song, giving the user the choice of listening to the track with or without vocals. The user can eliminate the vocal demos by using the "multiplex function" or "vocal remove" button on the karaoke player. Non-multiplex format comes without the vocals.
It is important to note that karaoke tracks are not original songs but rather their recreation. Karaoke songs are re-recorded with the objective of sounding as similar as possible to the original track. Multiplex disc formats do not have the original artist featured.
Also, these discs come with background singers, generally for the chorus. The background singers cannot be removed.
In America, karaoke can be enjoyed in different settings. Karaoke bars charge a fee per song of $1 to $2, and there are suites where a private room can be rented and used for as long as desired. The fee varies from an hourly rate to a flat rate for the room. There are also home karaoke machines, where one can enjoy karaoke in the privacy of their home. These machines can be purchased for less then $100, with discs costing $10 to $20.
How To Setup A Karaoke System by Gray Rollins
Are you interested in how to set up a karaoke system so you, your friends, and your family can have hours of fun singing your favorite songs? Here's what you need to set up your own karaoke system; one that's adequate for small events and won't send you to the poorhouse.
The first thing you've got to decide is what the media type is that you want to use. The karaoke CDG disc system is one of the most popular systems, but more and more professionals are turning towards MP3 and other digital formats. That's because these types of files can easily be stored and played right from a laptop using hosting software. Talk about convenience!
The karaoke system components you need include 2 speakers, 2 speaker stands, a mixer and amp, a Karaoke CDG player, 2 wireless microphones, RF converter, a Color TV that is a minimum of 19", a disk storage system, and all the necessary cables and accessories.
Choose a CDG player that's a name you can trust. Quality is worth a few extra dollars. Make sure it has the features you want, but don't pay for features you will never use.
When it comes to your mixer/amp, you don't need a huge mixing board. It's not a necessary item for karaoke. You need a mixer with separate channel controls and a minimum of a 7 band graphic equalizer, plus the power to drive your speakers.
When it comes to amps Fender, Berhringer, Peavey, Mackie, and Samson are just a few of the companies that make good quality affordable amps.
You need to pay attention to your speaker choices. They are what will be responsible for the quality of your sound. You can have the best components, but if your speakers are poor quality your sound quality will also be poor. Not all speakers are created equal. Speakers that work great for the DJ might not be the right choice for someone to sing through. Peavey, JBL, and SoundTech all make good karaoke speakers.
Speaker stands have gotten very trendy in the past few years. No more big ugly heavy stands; now you can get cool aluminum or fiberglass stands that are light and easy to pack. And they look real good too.
Cordless microphones don't have better sound than wire mikes but they sure are more convenient. And it's nice not to have all that ugly wire to get caught up in, so consider going wireless.
In order to display your lyrics on a standard television you will need an RF converter. Just run a RCA cable from the converter to the player and then cable coax from the converter to the TV. Your TV should be a minimum of 19" so that it's big enough to see the lyrics. Other than that, no fancy buttons are required.
The disk storage system is real helpful when it comes to staying organized and being able to find the disc you want. There are all kinds of CD disk systems on the market to choose from.
Your cables and accessories should include 2 heavy duty 30' speaker cables, 2 light duty ¼" cables, 1 double and 1 single RCA cable, one 6' coax cable, surge protector, cable splitter, and 100' TV coax. There may be other bits and pieces you might need, but you'll need these items for sure.
That's it. You're ready to set up your own karaoke system. All that's left is to get busy buying your equipment.
Karaoke - Don't Laugh, People Say It's Fun by Michael Russell
Karaoke. For some of us the word makes us want to lose our lunch. For others it's a source of great fun and enjoyment. So what is it, what's the attraction, and where did this form of entertainment even come from? We'll try to answer some of these questions in this article.
Well, for those of you who don't know this, Karaoke actually originated in Japan and has since spread throughout most of the world. How it actually originated is a bit or a mystery and maybe more myth than fact. One story that has circulated around the world is that it started in Kobe when a snack bar owner, when his entertainment for the evening failed to appear, put on tapes of music and asked people if they wanted to sing. The word itself comes from Kara, which means empty and oke, which is short for orchestra. Thus karaoke means "empty orchestra." So rather than containing both vocal and instrumental tracks karaoke tracks have only music. The vocals are provided by a live person. The fun part of this is that this live person is not a professional singer. In a karaoke bar when the music starts somebody from the audience will get up on stage and sing to the music in the background. To assist them they have a microphone and the lyrics are displayed on some kind of a screen or TelePrompTer. The fun comes from many directions; either laughing hysterically at somebody who obviously can't sing or cheering someone on who has a voice that belongs on Broadway. In a Karaoke bar you'll get both types.
In the early days Karaoke tracks were recorded on tape. They have since moved to CD and finally incorporating on screen graphics and videos. Today you can download karaoke tracks off the Internet. Yes, this has become big business. But it doesn't end there. You can buy for yourself home karaoke sets so that you can have your own karaoke night in your own home.
So why the craze? What is it about karaoke that people just can't get enough of it? There are many theories to this but the most common psychological theory is that most people are closet pop stars. Many of us who dream of being on stage singing popular music for a living either don't have the voice or the nerve or both. With karaoke they can get up on stage, live out their fantasy and not have to worry about how good or bad they sound. With karaoke the rule of thumb of etiquette is that you applaud for the person no matter what. So there is no fear of rejection or failure. Also this is a good way for many people to get over their stage fright if they have it.
An associate of mine tells me that if you've never gone to a karaoke bar and got up in front of a room full of people to make a fool of yourself you don't know what you're missing. Well, there must be something to it as karaoke has become a multi billion dollar industry. I guess people just can't resist the urge to ham it up.
Karaoke Microphones by Elizabeth Morgan
The best Karaoke microphones are durable and have high quality. There are many places that one can use a karaoke microphone - from a club to a computer equipped with karaoke software. There are different microphones for different settings. For instance, a USB microphone would be redundant in a bar, but ideal for computer use.
First and foremost, it is necessary to check that the microphone comes with ambient noise filters; that gets rid of the background noise. You should then check the frequency response. The average response should vary from around 10,000 Hz to12, 000 Hz. The lighter the karaoke microphone, the better. The Uni-Directional Dynamic microphones are some of the most popular. They come around 2 inches to 10 inches long, and weigh about 10 oz. Uni-Directional Dynamic Microphones are available in cable and wireless models. With the appropriate adaptors, cable microphones work with just about everything.
When purchasing a wireless karaoke microphone, you should check the range and make sure there is no loss in connection between the receiver and the microphone. It is possible to get a decent quality karaoke microphone for under $100. However, the cheaper price means quality is compromised. Though, the word "quality" is overrated when it comes to karaoke microphones. A professional may find faults in a microphone; but for a layman, the same product may sound as good as a high-end microphone. Budget karaoke microphones do come with a catalog of advanced features that give them adequate quality. They may suffer in comparison to professional microphones, but budget karaoke microphones are the ideal investments for home use or even a bar.
The Difference in Karaoke Music Formats by George Yang
The current market for karaoke music is in three different formats: CDG, DVD and VCD. Each format is distinctly different in terms of quality, background videos, and music selection.
CDG, or otherwise known as CD+G or CD+Graphics, is in my opinion the better format for karaoke music. You have a larger selection of music to choose from and you also have better manufacturers producing quality content. Some of the better manufacturers are Sound Choice, Musie Maestro, Chartbusters, and Top Hits Monthly. One thing that throws people off about this format is that you cannot play this on any regular CD player for the full features. You can play this on regular CD players to listen to the music but you will not be able to see the lyrics on the TV screen. You will need a player that can play CDG (CD+G, CD+Graphics) format if you want to see the lyrics appear on the TV screen. The other thing to note is that you won't see actual music videos in the background, you will only get a solid color background.
DVD and VCD formats are similar and any DVD player can play both of these formats. With these formats, you get a smaller selection of music but one of the advantages is that you do get videos in the background. Mind you, they are not the actual music videos that you see on MTV for example. They are usually just background videos of nice sceneries and such. Music quality can vary with DVD and VCD format but in my opinion, CDG music quality is on average better than these two formats if you go with the name brands of course. Another thing to note with DVD and VCD Karaoke Music is that they are all multi-plexed, meaning that all the songs will have vocals that can easily be removed with a press of a button on your DVD player's remote. Many people do not know this so when they started to play the Karaoke DVD and the vocals were there, they complained to the store that it's not karaoke. So with these formats, you have to remember that you can remove the primary vocals by pressing either the MPX or Audio button on your DVD player's remote. Actual button may be different depending on your machine.
Another thing to note about Karaoke Music is that it isn't completely vocaless. It's a misconception that Karaoke Music has no, and I mean no vocals. It sounds odd but that's true. Karaoke Music isn't the same as instrumental music. Instrumental music is completely vocaless. In Karaoke Music, you will always get the background vocals. Why? Karaoke music is meant for a person to sing as the primary vocalist while the background vocals in the music provide back-up, that's why all karaoke music, no matter what format, will always include the background vocals.
Karaoke Bars by Elizabeth Morgan
Karaoke bars probably established their roots in the early twentieth century in Japan during the Taisho rule. "Utagoe Kissa," or "coffee shop," became popular with customers who tried out their singing talents backed up by music from a live band. Soon, the trend caught up with the rest of the world, and karaoke bars are now the ideal place for fun and unwinding after a hard day's work.
Picture a typical karaoke bar today. Customers, having a few drinks, and a good time -- probably not gifted with the ability to sing, but that doesn't matter. They take the stage, and with microphone in hand try belting out a popular song- with friends razzing in the background. The lyrics are displayed on the screen, and the music is provided by the karaoke machine.
Simply put, an American karaoke bar is a restaurant or a bar having a karaoke machine that allows customers to exercise their singing abilities publicly. Though it is not uncommon to have karaoke shows every night, the schedule is generally on a weekly basis. There is the 'rotation' policy where a singer has to wait his turn to take the stage. The time between different performers is an hour or so.
Karaoke boxes (KTV) are highly popular in some places, especially in Taiwan. In a room of medium size, complete with karaoke paraphernalia, friends can get together and enjoy karaoke. Karaoke boxes are a more private means of entertainment. Around fifteen to twenty of these boxes are scattered around the room accompanying the main karaoke bar. It is commonly believed that the karaoke box concept started in South Korea where it was known as "noraebang" ("norae" and "bang" meaning song and room respectively).
Karaoke boxes became popular in North American during the 90's. However, karaoke bars are still the major source of karaoke entertainment. In China, there are "mahjong-karaoke rooms", where teenagers can enjoy karaoke and the aged indulge in mahjong, a game played by four players that originated in China.
Are You A Presentation Karaoke Machine? by Michelle Howe
As a service provider, one of the best ways to market your business is to offer free presentations at association meetings. It's a great way to share knowledge and build relationships. However, you've got to entertain as well as inform.
While reading the newspaper this morning I noticed a funny cartoon, Real Life Adventures, by Wise and Aldrich. Two businessmen are talking to each other and the one says, "It's a presentation karaoke machine. You can play an earlier successful presentation and lip-sync to it. And since most meetings are about the same old thing every time, nobody even knows the difference."
It got me thinking about how many pathetic presentations I've attended that did sound like they were coming from a presentation karaoke machine. The presenter didn't care whether the audience was "getting it" or not, he just rambled on with his agenda. It was a waste of time for both the presenter and the audience.
Make Presentations Two-Way Communication
Presentations can be described as a one-way communication activity. The participants sit and listen while the expert "presents." However, it's this type of thinking that creates a karaoke presentation.
I prefer to think of presentations as an opportunity to engage my audience in my topic. Presentations can be a two-way communication activity if you take the time to make each presentation unique for the group you are presenting to. No matter what your topic, it can be tweaked to meet the needs of a specific audience.
For instance, if I am giving a talk on effective business writing techniques to a group of realtors, I would make sure the examples I use refer specifically to the writing of realtors. I would find out ahead of time what realtors consider their main problems when putting together a business message. From there I would incorporate solutions to these specific issues in my presentation.
A presentation isn't effective unless the audience can relate to what you are saying. They have to bring the information into their world before it will make sense to them. That's why it's so effective to use examples common to them.
Adults Learn By Doing
Remember, adults learn by doing. Try to include some small, fun activity, in your presentation to involve your audience. Rather than telling them, let them experience the excitement of discovery. Arrange one of your main points to become an exercise for the audience.
The activity doesn't have to be complicated or take a long time. I often use a handout where participants fill in the blanks. I encourage participants to work with the person sitting next to them to try to get the right answer. Everyone laughs when I read off the answers and we all have a good time.
Doing this accomplishes two things: you give the audience a break from your lecturing and you give yourself a break from lecturing. Now you can put yourself in the role of a facilitator and get some one-on-one interaction with audience members. It will also cause your evaluations to skyrocket. Adults get such few opportunities to have fun at work that these activities are greatly appreciated.
Karaoke Music by Elli Potrelli
Karaoke bars are quite popular these days. People come here to hang out and have fun. The word "karaoke" is derived form a Japanese word and means "empty orchestra". It started in Kansai, Japan, in 1984, and spread to worldwide popularity. Music of any popular song is taken but the voice of the singer is absent or reduced. So, anybody who is interested can sing along using a microphone, usually the lyrics are also displayed .Some restaurants also have adopted this concept and they either have their in house singer or sometimes even visitors can sing.
Before karaoke music came in cassettes only but with technological advances they were replaced with CDs, VCDs and DVDs.KTV boxes were set up for people to entertain their friends or just to have fun. KTV means karaoke music video where the lyrics are displayed along with the audio track. It has become quite popular in US, Canada and other Western countries. People love it and it is a good source of entertainment.
Karaoke music popularity:
Karaoke music business has also picked up very fast and now one can find karaoke nights every day in almost every restaurant as it drives people to the place. Small karaoke box have been replaced by hi-fi sound equipments and to make the atmosphere catchier they even put lighting effects and have dance sessions. Now almost all kinds of music are available from rock to pop to hip hop and even religious hymns. The fun part is watching even those timid and shy ones, after consuming alcoholic beverages become bold and march towards the microphone and sing their hearts out ,sometimes even humiliating themselves.
Karaoke Machines:
Computer karaoke is also quite popular among the youngsters. Those who are shy to perform in front of people can now be a star and sing in their own room and also for those who want to improve their skills can also have practice sessions quietly in their room. You can pick karaoke softwares which can provide the means to hear music and also see lyrics on the screen. Quite a number of websites also offer this entertainment for their karaoke fans. All you need to do is download the files, load the song in your computer and you are set to begin.
A simple karaoke box consists of an audio input, an audio output and pitch controller. Some bars also have low end machines where they try to suppress the voice of the original singer so that you can hear only your voice. These machines are cheap. But those high in built machines have a technology that can electronically change the pitch level according to the key the singer chooses for the song.
Next time you step into a karaoke bar do not shy away thinking you will be the laughing stock. People come here to have fun and you will be surprised to see everyone cheering for you. Explore your singing talent! This is a terrific way to wind up your soul and just relax. After a hectic day if you are looking for a place to enjoy and meet new people, this is the place to be. Some karaoke bars also hold karaoke nights, where all wanna be singers show off their talents, if you are one of them, go ahead and show everyone what you have!!
Karaoke 101: Some Basic Facts Of Karaoke by Robert Thatcher
Have you ever wonder why this little music machine attracts so many people in the entertainment world? Have you ever tried singing a good song using a karaoke?
Today, the utilization of karaoke is rapidly gaining a fair share in the market. In most entertainment places like bars, merry-making will not be complete without these remarkable music machine known as the karaoke.
However, many people are wondering what this karaoke is all about. How come that this new technology had quickly gained the people's attention in a short span of time.
Moreover, there are many people wondering why, is spite of the close interaction between and among karaoke users, still, they do not know what karaoke is all about.
So for those who wish to know everything about karaoke, here is a list of some facts that will help those who want to land a big score in this remarkable music box.
1. When name matters
It is obvious that the word "karaoke" is a foreign name.
In reality, karaoke is actually a Japanese term, which means "empty orchestra," where "kara" in Japan means empty, while "oke," from the Japanese term okesutora, which means orchestra.
No wonder why using karaoke literally creates a small orchestra where the performer and his audience are having a grand time.
2. The origin
Karaoke first originated in Japan during the 1970s, where people are known to be "entertainment aficionados." At a later stage, this wonderful music boom box was distributed to the East Asia during the last part of the 1980s and entered the United States on early part of the 1990s. From here, karaoke gradually dominated the whole world.
3. The technology
The basic technological concept of karaoke machine is based on the utilization of "audio input" and "audio output."
This technology uses the concept of "subcode," which, in turn, makes the encoding of the lyrics absolutely possible.
With this device, seeing the lyrics on the screen was made possible.
On the other hand, the technology that is being used by the karaoke machines has the capacity to modify or alternate the "pitch of music" so that the singers will be able to establish a good connection with any available source of music. This can be done by preferring a particular key based on their "vocal range."
4. The authentic look
What the modern people may not realize is the fact that the first forms of karaoke resemble to that of a cassette player. This is because karaoke in the past uses compact discs or CDs. The only difference this karaoke CDs make with the other CDs is that it combines standard graphics capability known as the CD+G.
5. Utilization of newer technology
With the fast pace of technology, one item seem to evolve with another item that is more technically superb than its first form.
Take for example the emerging new technology of karaoke. With the help of the new technology, karaoke fanatics may no longer stay in clubs and bars just to get hold of the microphone and sing. This is because karaoke is already available over the cellular phones, Internet, and computers.
All of these three use special software that when attached to the machine, the audience will be able to make the best performance.
Indeed, karaoke are known for its entertainment purpose. So one should keep in mind that the only best way to enjoy karaoke is to be entertained to the fullest.