A: Karaoke is singing to pre-existing
songs. You are replacing the original lead singer. The background
music and supporting singers are usually left intact.
A: Karaoke music discs (CDGs, CDGMs,
VCDs and DVDs) are recreations recorded by independent manufacturers.
The manufacturer will hire independent artists and bands to
recreate songs done in the likeness of the original artist,
with the goal of sounding as similar to the original artist
as possible. Manufacturers' interpretation of like songs will
sound different throughout different manufacturers.
Important Note: The lead
singer’s voice is usually removed.
A: Yes, most discs and songs have
background singers, mainly for the chorus. And these background
singers are not removable.
A: Atechglobal.com has a large music
database, but unfortunately, not all songs are available for
Karaoke. When you search for your favorite songs, singers,
or groups, try omitting the word "The" and "A"
from the song title or group name. For favorite singers, try
searching by just the last name.
A: CDG (or CD+G) stands for Compact
Disc Plus Graphics. A CDG Karaoke disc contains an additional
track, which displays the song lyrics on a TV when played
on a Karaoke player. The words to the song are typically displayed
on a blue background and are highlighted in a contrasting
color to signal when the words should be sung. The CDG format
is the Karaoke standard for most of the world's Karaoke. CDGs
usually have about 15 songs per each disc.
CDG Karaoke disks require a special Karaoke player called
a Karaoke CDG Player. A Karaoke CDG player is similar to a
regular CD player, except that it has an additional chip for
reading the graphics track of a CDG. In addition, a CDG Karaoke
Player also has a place to plug in a microphone, a key controller
to adjust for the singer's key, and an echo control to enhance
the singer's voice.
A: CDGM stands for Compact Disc
plus Graphics Multiplex. In addition to being exactly like
CDGs, CDGMs include vocal demos for each song so that you
can choose to listen to the song with or without the lead
vocals. CDGMs usually have about 8 songs per each disc. The
lead vocals are removed by a balance control on your player
or by a special multiplex button on your player. See "What
is multiplex" for more information.
A: VCD stands for Video Compact
Disc. VCD Karaoke discs provide not only the lyrics in time
with the music, but also a video background display that complements
the song. VCDs usually have about 11 songs per each disc.
To play Video CD disks
you need either a CDG Karaoke player with Video CD capabilities
or a DVD player since all DVD players can play Video CD format.
Many CDG Karaoke players have a combination Video CD and CDG
function and operate the same way as a regular CDG Karaoke
player.
A: DVD stands for Digital Versatile
Discs. DVD Karaoke disks are generally replications of the
Video CD Karaoke disks. The video background on a DVD Karaoke
Disk is much higher quality than a Video CD disk, however,
currently there is no additional music, improved sound quality,
or special DVD features. DVD Karaoke disks tend to be higher
priced and there is less selection of songs.
A normal DVD player will
play both the DVD and Video CD Karaoke disks. However, a Karaoke
DVD Player has additional features such as microphone inputs,
key changer, and echo control.
A: A CDG Karaoke disc will play
(only the sound, not the graphics) in any standard CD or DVD
player. A CDG karaoke disc will sometimes work on a computer
with a CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, however it depends on
the karaoke disc manufacturer. Recently, some manufacturers
have began implementing a method that protects the CDG from
being read by a computer. If a CDG has this type of protection,
it will still play on standard CD players and DVD players.
Please Note: Keep in
mind that only a CDG karaoke player can read the graphics
track, so the song lyrics will not be displayed on a standard
CD player, DVD player or computer.
A: Yes, however, a Karaoke DVD Player
has additional features such as microphone inputs, key changer,
and echo control.
A: All Karaoke discs are made in
either a multiplex or non-multiplex format. Multiplex discs
also do not feature the original artist.
Multiplex discs, have
vocal demos for each song so that you can choose to listen
to the song with or without the vocals. Non-multiplex discs
provide only one version of the song, without the vocals.
A: The vocal demos can be removed
by locating the "vocal remove" or "multiplex
function" on your Karaoke player. By turning this button
on or off you can add or remove the demo singer.
A: This is a multiplex disc with
a demo singer.
A: This is a function on your Karaoke
player that allows you to listen to a multiplex disk with
or without a vocal demo.
A: Generally, the song is recorded
in the same key that the artist recorded it in. Unfortunately,
most Karaoke disc manufacturers do not provide key of the
song.
A: Yes, with a "digital key
changer". Although many Karaoke players offer a key changer
feature, only a digital key changer effectively changes the
key. Non-digital key changers change both the key and the
speed the sound. Therefore are not ideal for key changing.
A: Yes, if you want to see the song
lyrics. All Karaoke discs are made with a special track that
contains the song lyrics on the disc. When a Karaoke disc
is played on a Karaoke player, which is connect to any regular
TV, the song lyrics are displayed on the TV. The words to
the song are typically displayed on a blue background and
are highlighted in a contrasting color to signal when the
words should be sung. No matter what type of Karaoke music
you purchase, you will need a Karaoke player to be able to
see the lyrics to the songs. Also, only Karaoke Players offer
you a microphone connection, a vocal changer and a key changer.
A: Any standard TV will work. You
do need an RCA connection, which most modern TVs already have.
If your TV does not have a yellow RCA connector, you can easily
purchase an RF modulator from any Radio Shack for about $20.
A: No. Some players play only CDG
discs. Some players play both CDG and VCD disks. There are
other players that play DVD disks. Finally, there are players
that play all types of Karaoke music. Before you select a
Karaoke player, you need to determine what your needs are
and then select the player that best fits your needs.
A: A portable Karaoke System is
an all-in-one Karaoke player that usually includes:
a CD player that has
a graphic reading capability
microphone connection(s)
built in speaker(s)
a tape cassette player which allows you to record your own
voice singing along to the music
a video connector that connects your player to your home TV
a key changer that allows you to find the most comfortable
key for you to sing in
an echo controller that improves the sound should someone
sing off key
an external speaker jack that allows you to listen to the
music through a more amplified component system
A: Component Karaoke players are similar
to portable Karaoke players in size and function but include
several additional features that are important to professional
Karaoke Jockeys:
two or more microphone
inputs with separate microphone volume controls.
a digital key changer
a digital echo control.
a video out jack for connection to a home TV or to a professional
monitor
multi-disc carousel or drawer systems
programmable features that make it easy to cue specific discs
and tracks.
In addition the component player does not have its own speaker
or amp so it must be connected to separate sound system. Finally
the component player does not have its own audiocassette tape
recorder so any tapes must be made using a separate tape recorder.
A: Yes! You will need a microphone
to record yourself singing. Hook up the microphone, put an
audio cassette in the tape loader, push record and start singing.
What could be easier and more fun?
A: If your player has 2 microphone
inputs, you can buy another microphone for the second microphone
input and sing duets! You can also record both of you singing
together.
A: Most players come in 120 volt
and NTSC TV format so they work well in the United States,
but require adapters for other countries. Some players (mostly
component) come with 120/220 voltage switches and NTSC/PAL
switch formats so they can be used in virtually any country.
If they don't include these switches, they will also require
adapters for other countries.
A: Most of your choices will be
based upon the level of enthusiasm you have for karaoke. Higher
levels of enthusiasm warrant higher quality equipment and
media. If you have an existing player, reading the manual
will let you know the type of media it will play. Usually,
your karaoke player will play CDG and CDGM karaoke format.
Descriptions are below. CDGs have no lead vocals, are more
expensive and usually associated with the serious or veteran
enthusiast. CDGMs have the lead vocals intact, are less expensive
and usually associated with the beginners.
A: Normally, you would purchase
karaoke media as a single disc. For the serious and professional
KJs, this would be cost prohibitive. Manufacturers assemble
their own multiple disc packs to save you money. As with other
products, the more you buy, the cheaper each one gets. Usually,
manufacturers try to respond to the market demands by assembling
both the broad category packs and also specific category packs.
In short, if you only intended to sing country or gospel,
you would seek out packs specifically for those categories.
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Karaoke
CDG
