Instrumental Karaoke
Instrumental Karaoke is different from normal Karaoke music as it does not have any lyrics. Its’ mostly meant for professional artists as there is no lyrics appearing written before hand on the screen. As such anyone who is not that much experienced in performing live Karaoke rarely opts for Instrumental Karaoke. In Instrumental Karaoke, as only instrumental karaoke songs, it allows the performer to give his own twist to the lyrics, but in such a manner that the lyrics and music fall in sync. However no vocals can be recorded over the Karaoke instrumentals, and the performer has to sing the song with the aim to give the audience same feeling, as they would have if they had heard it in the original form the original singer.
Instrumental Karaoke is not just available off the shelf, but also available for sale online as well as free online downloads. Instrumental Karaoke usually consists only of instrumentals of a song. While in pure instrumental music there is no voice or chorus, the voices including lead and chorus are removed from the song tracks with the help of machines and software. As such the karaoke instrumentals are not similar to pure instrumental music, with makers taking care to avoid copyright issues, because if there is any similarity then they will be forced to pay royalty. As with songs, Karaoke instrumentals are also available for songs in all variety of languages including Hindi, English, Japanese, Chinese and others; under various categories including hip-hop, rock, rap, devotional, special occasion and even festival related.
Karaoke CDs
Karaoke CDs consist of Karaoke songs also called accompaniment tracks. These CDs are a set of 2 to 3 CDs, with each CD having been developed for a specific purpose. Most of the Karaoke CDs are available in both medium high and medium low voicing format for the ease of the user. Karaoke CDs also include features such as orchestrated recordings on both the accompaniment CD as well as the listening CDs. Some of these CDs also include instrumental tracks of a song, to help the performer give a better ‘Karaoke’ performance. Karaoke music is available in a variety of disc formats; these include CD+G discs (CD plus Graphics) that can be played on a CD+G karaoke player and at the same time display synchronized lyrics on the monitor, or on an ordinary CD player without lyrics.
Apart from these, karaoke DVDs are also available that can be played in any DVD player. The karaoke CDs carry a variety of songs, similar to the ordinary CDs. The Karaoke performer needs to follow the lyrics’ that appear written on the screen of the Karaoke machines to give live performance with or without supportive keyboard accompaniments. Karaoke music is characterized by its live performance, so a variety of songs are available on Karaoke CDs that a person may like to perform live on. These include hip-hop, rock, love ballads, festival, and special occasion songs. Some Karaoke CDs come with assorted songbooks to help the performer sing live while reading the lyrics. Sometimes 2 CD packs are also available for sale, in which one is a full-performance CD and the other one is a practice CD when an accompanist is not available.
Karaoke Machines
Generally karaoke machines includes everything from players, accessories, microphones, wireless mics, mic stand, amplifiers, mixers, software, tote bags, speakers, speaker stands, monitors/TV stands. Older machines allowed suppression of voice of original singer; new karaoke machines come with microphone inputs and audio mixers; display both lyrics and video. These machines allow amateur singers to change the pitch of music themselves, and ‘Karaoke’ at levels they are comfortable at, by just changing the key levels. The karaoke machines that allow suppression of the original voices, often caused performance downfall due to poor audio quality. Music played on these machines resulted in voice and instrument reverberation that further degraded the quality of song played. Such problems forced people to develop better techniques. One such technique, is the Fast Fourier Transform technique provides a better left-right comparison between frequencies, thus allowing users to enjoy songs in moderated manner on the machines.
Karaoke machines allow user to choose from a huge selection of songs as per their own like. They just need to pay the money and ‘Karaoke’ for each song they select. While some low cost machines directly suppress the voice of the original singer affecting the quality of output; CD+G, VCDs, Laser Discs, DVD players with microphone inputs and built in audio mixer, allow karaoke singers to sing along with the visuals, without affecting the output. High end CD+G players encode both lyrics and pictures displayed on screen. In this way, the amateur singers can ‘karaoke’ by just altering a key to match there own vocal capability. Some karaoke machines have also been developed to cater to a specific musical genre.
Karaoke MIDI
MIDI is short for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, a protocol established in 1982 that allows musical instruments such as keyboards and related equipment to control, communicate, and synchronize with each other through a computer. MIDI electronic protocol allows a computer to control the drum and synthesizers by simply transmitting the pitches and musical notes’ that set up the tempo. The Karaoke songs are now generally based on MIDI protocols, because the MIDI file formats allow storing of lot of music at one place.
The Karaoke MIDI files allow proper organization of sounds independently, using a computer sequencing software or a MIDI instrument/workstation. As each track has its own MIDI channel, connecting the instruments and creating a SMF (Standard MIDI File) format is easy. SMF files can be prepared in 3 different formats namely Format-0 that has one single track or a single song performance; Format-1 has number of tracks but adjustments for single song performances can also be done; and Format-2 has number of tracks and each track can be singled for a single performance. These Karaoke MIDI files saved with ‘.kar’ extensions, are used to add lyrics to a standard MIDI file and synchronize the whole song. As these files can be played in a PC, so a PC can be turned into a karaoke machine.
As such MIDI technology is now a days considered as the standard protocol to prepare a Karaoke format song with the help of a computer, where all types of Karaoke instruments can be controlled using a single keyboard.
Karaoke Software
A variety of karaoke software’s are available in the market that are used to not just modify a song, but also to create, burn and play new karaoke songs. The software allows not just a karaoke professional artist, but also an amateur artist to develop a wide range of karaoke song collections. Karaoke software’s allow the creation of karaoke songs; burning and copying karaoke songs into compact discs. Also there are software’s specifically meant to help in playing and recording a variety of karaoke songs. There are software’s that allow a professional karaoke artist to organize a proper karaoke live show to entertain the public.
There are software’s that help in conversion of karaoke songs from CDs to DVDs or any other audible or viewable platform be it iPods, MP3 or videos. Karaoke software’s that allow processing, filtering and segregating of original songs to be played in karaoke format are also available. There are also some software’s available that allow users to directly convert a karaoke song into a karaoke video in MPEG and AVI video format, complete with lyrics and visual track.
Some of these software’s include Karaoke CD+G Creator, Karaoke CD+G Creator Pro for creation; Power CD+G Burner, Karaoke DVD Burner to burn and copy; Siglos Karaoke Player/Recorder, Power CD+G Player Pro, Power CD+G Filter to play and record; Siglos Karaoke Professional to run a professional karaoke show; Karaoke DVD Burner, Power CD+G to Video Karaoke Converter, Power CD+G to iPod Karaoke Converter to convert songs in to other ‘Karaoke’ formats; as well as vanBasco's MIDI Player and EasyKar for Karaoke in Karaoke-MIDI format. Apart from Karaoke software’s available off the shelf, software’s are also available for free download off the internet. All these software’s help a singer to ‘karaoke’ the songs effectively without any problem.
Karaoke Songs
A ‘Karaoke’ song also called accompaniment track is a song chosen by a performer to ‘karaoke’ which are liked by the audience also. A ‘Karaoke’ song is different from a normal song, where instead of a song being played on a machine, a singer sings to a song with the visuals are played on the screen; and lyrics appear as written on the screen of the machine. All the singer has to do is to put a coin in the karaoke machine, and select a song which suits his/her voice pitch. The selected song comes up on the screen, with the original music but without the original vocals, but the backup vocals are left untouched. To sing a Karaoke song, the singer has to carefully read the lyrics that appear on the screen, and sing the song in such a manner that the audience gets feeling that the song has been sung by the artist himself.
If the audiences don’t enjoy a particular song, the singer can always change the ‘karaoke’ songs as per the audience demand, and as such these ‘Karaoke’ performances are always considered live performances. However choosing the right song as per the occasion is the key to a well developed ‘Karaoke’ performance. ‘Karaoke’ song performances are mostly held in lounges, restaurants, and night clubs, where people come to enjoy. Mostly the Karaoke singer’s are joined by individuals or groups on stage for singing. Karaoke song CDs are not just available off the shelf, they are also available for free download from the internet. Some of the major Karaoke song sellers on the internet include www.hitkaraoke.com, www.myindiankaraoke.com, www.loudkaraoke.com, and www.pocketsongs.com. The best part of karaoke songs is that now Karaoke song are available in variety of languages including Hindi, English, Japanese, Chinese and many others.
Karaoke System
A karaoke system is made up of 3 parts; namely microphone, karaoke player and speaker. A karaoke system allows a karaoke singer to easily control the pitch of the music as per their own liking, and even remove the original voice of the singer. Called centre removal, this is not considered a very effective method, so using an audio mixer that takes inputs from vocals of the live singer and mixes it with the music is ideal. These audio mixers include systems such as MP3 players that display only audio; others like CD+Gs (CD plus Graphics) have embedded lyrics and graphics; while the rest are equipped with audio and video encoding facility to meet user needs.
The Karaoke systems can be customized later on after purchase or can also be designed specifically so as to meet the performers’ requirement. As Karaoke is basically centered around the ability of performers’ to sing live, so its’ important that pitch of music is altered as per vocal range of the singer, so that live performance does not suffer. As no two voices are same, so most of the times a customized Karaoke system is used. A portable Karaoke system is sometimes called singing machine that usually have a built-in audio mixer. These portable Karaoke systems are also available in the form of Personal Karaoke System. The Personal Karaoke Systems are well equipped to play CDs, CD+Gs as well as display lyrics on a monitor to help the performers read the lyrics.
Karaoke-Box
Karaoke-Box! is the name, given in Southeast Asia to a place or venue where people go to perform or enjoy a Karaoke gathering. These places called karaoke boxes are generally a huge auditorium or hall like place, divided into small/medium-sized private rooms with multiple floors. These rooms are available at a fixed rent for a particular time for people to enjoy Karaoke night privately. These private rooms allow people to perform and enjoy Karaoke by themselves, if they are uncomfortable performing in front of large gathering. These Karaoke venues are fully equipped with all types of modern karaoke equipment, and are made specifically to be sound proof, so that noises do not cause problems for others. Most of the times these places have dedicated space meant for other businesses such as food service counters, and other entertainment facilities so as to be able to handle a large gathering of people.
As the craze of Karaoke grows in Southeast Asia some hotels and malls have started providing karaoke box facilities in their lobby as well, however Karaoke machines are also available on rent for use in parties. In China some restaurants are known to keep a separate space called ‘mahjong-karaoke rooms’ where elder people play ‘mahjong’ a musical instrument and teenagers perform ‘Karaoke’ on their favorite song. In Europe bars/restaurants, club/lounges have separate ‘Karaoke’ sections called ‘private rooms’, where people perform. Generally performers are allowed to use the rooms for free, with revenues being generated through sale of other amenities. These places equipped with some of the best Karaoke equipment, generally organize Karaoke performance on a weekly or daily basis. One of the most famous Karaoke center in Europe is ‘Karaoke!Me’ in Bristol, UK. ‘Karaoke!Me’ has 7 private, soundproof, waiter-serviced Karaoke rooms for people to perform Karaoke on any occasion.
Technology and Karaoke
Music and technology go hand in hand now a days’. New technologies have allowed the user to get hold of any type of songs in any format. As such people now can listen to music and watch videos of any song on any type of device they like. Technology has allowed development of devices that are not just small and compact but can store and play music, earlier it was only cumbersome equipments Long Playing (LP) records or audio tapes. Now people can choose from a variety compact devices such as VCDs and DVDs as well as audio CDs, MP3 players, mobile phones, and iPods that are not just small in size but also store much more music than the previously used instruments. Even CDs are slowly becoming redundant.
Use of technology in karaoke has increased since karaoke came into being. Earlier basic karaoke machines included a music player, microphone, a device to change pitch of music, and an output device. But with the advent of new technology has allowed karaoke/amateur singers’ to get the same feel of a professional singer in real life. Compared to older karaoke machines that used audio cassettes as data feed and where change of pitch was done manually; the new age advanced karaoke machines use MIDI technology that allows user to change the pitch of the music electronically without disturbing the flow of original song. Use of modern technology has allowed users to download karaoke and MIDI songs from internet. This has allowed downloading the songs directly onto special Karaoke iPods.
What is Karaoke?
Karaoke is popular type of entertainment that’s mostly witnessed in bars, night clubs and lounges. Karaoke which originated in Japan, is a merger of Japanese words’ ‘kara’ meaning "empty" and ‘ōkesutora’ meaning "orchestra". Karaoke sometimes mis-spelled "kareoke", should not to be confused with "lip syncing" in which performers mime to a previously recorded song with lead vocals intact. In Karaoke an amateur singer takes the help of recorded music or video to sing a song, but without the original vocals. Its’ said that Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue installed ‘Karaoke’ machines in Kobe, Japan in 1971. The machines were an instant craze and soon spread to other parts of Asia and world.
At the center of Karaoke are machines fitted with variety of equipments like Laser Discs, VCD/DVD players with microphone and audio mixers. In Karaoke, the song lyrics are usually displayed on a screen, along with a moving symbol and/or video images, in order to help the singer to sing in a proper manner. The Karaoke singers generally sing a song using a microphone and public address system. ‘Karaoke’ includes Karaoke songs and Karaoke instrumental music. However for copyright issues, the makers create the songs and music in such a way that they don’t have to pay royalty to the original producer of the song. The advent of technology has had an impact on Karaoke music. Of special mention is ‘Karaoke music videos’, where technology has allowed lyrics to be displayed on screen with an option to disable the original voice track. This type of arrangement is called ‘KTV’. Karaoke machines were initially placed in restaurants and hotels; but have now become an essential part of entertainment in lounges, bars and nightclubs.
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