Karaoke USA Glossary of Terms
What is karaoke?
Karaoke is making anyone the singing star they’ve always wanted to become. In Karaoke, you can have the same music playing in the background from your favorite professional group, while you sing the lyrics. Don’t know the words? No problem. CDG, CDGM and DVD karaoke discs have lyrics that will display on your TV if played on a compatible player connected to your TV.
What are CD, CDG, CDGM and DVD karaoke discs?
- CD's will play in a karaoke player, but they are not associated with karaoke. CD's are typically your favorite artist or group recorded with music and vocals onto disc. CDG and CDGM dics will also play in your normal CD player, but you will not be able to se lyrics on a TV screen. CD players are audio only and have no video capabilities.
- CDG's are CD plus graphics. Imagine buying your favorite artist's CD and removing that artist's voice so you can sing in his/her place. Although 99.9% of all karaoke music is recreated in a studio and not original artist music,that the essence of karaoke CDG's. Add to that, CDG's have a track that will include lyrics in graphic form. When a CDG is played on a CDG compatible player, those lyrics will scroll on your TV screen. Most karaoke lyrics include a color swiping motion to help the singer keep pace with the song. CDG's do not have lead vocals and are typically bought by singers who know the songs they are buying. The advantage is CDG discs will have about twice as many songs as a CDGM.
- CDGM's are CDG Multiplex discs. CDGM discs have about one-half the songs CDG's have, but they also have a lead singer's vocals to help you learn the song. Your karaoke player will have a multiplex button or a balance knob that will remove the lead singer's voice when you know the song. As with 99.9% of all karaoke, music and vocals on a karaoke disc are recreated in a studio by hired bands and singers. They are not original artists.
- DVD karaoke discs are formatted just like a DVD movie. The advantage to DVD karaoke is more songs will fit on a disc and they will play on anyone's home DVD player. A DVD disc will not play on a normal CDG karaoke player. The downside to DVD karaoke is most home DVD players have no capability of integrating a microphone into the experience. For that, Emerson Karaoke Plug N Sing Karaoke Systems come into play. For an economic price, anyone can have karaoke in minutes.
What are MP3G and MP3.LRC karaoke downloads?
MP3G (MP3 plus Graphics) music is simply MP3 music with another accompanying graphics file containing lyrics. There are two files for every song and each file is named exactly the same, except for the file extensions which are MP3 and CDG respectively. When played on a computer or MP3G compatible karaoke player, the music and lyrics will be cued to play at the same time. Lyrics will display on your screen just like CDG discs.
MP3.LRC music makes use of MP3 music but with another accompanying text file. It follows the same principles as MP3G, but with a text file most anyone can edit or create with a little patience. The text file contains many lines of lyrics, with a timing cue for each line. When played on an MP3.LRC compatible player, if both files are present, it will cue and play them at the same time.
MP3G and MP3.LRC files are available for purchase and download on the internet.
What is a key controller?
Key controllers are used by serious singers who cannot reach the high or low keys of their favorite artists. Everyone's voice is a little different and will change as you age. The key controller will help you adjust your voice a little to make your singing experience a fun time.
