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Want
to Know 'Karaoke'?
(A booklet available on request) 
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What
is the meaning of the word "Karaoke"?
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"Karaoke" is a Japanese word. In fact, there are two words in one; "Kara" and "Oke". "Kara" in Japanese means "empty" or "invisible". It means that it is there although you don't see it. "Oke" is a borrowed English, from the word "Orchestra". "Karaoke" therefore means "Invisible Orchestra". Singing Karaoke is to sing with full orchestra backup or to sing along with music accomplishment. Everyone, irrespective of age, sex, race or religion, loves to sing because singing is a therapy, is a release of tension and is an expression of one's sentiments. He who doesn't want to sing is because he is afraid of forgetting the lyrics or singing out of tune. Now, for Karaoke singing, you
hear the music together with the changing color of the lyrics
to guide you the beat and the rhythm as you sing along. You
are more confident and will love to perform in Karaoke singing! |
The
difference between VCD (Video CD) and CD+G (CD+Graphics)
| Both
VCD and CD+G look the same, being 5" compact disc. Both are
Karaoke formats because the songs you want to sing are either
available in VCD or in CD+G disc format.
However, when playing a Karaoke Video-CD(VCD), you will see on the TV screen the lyrics of the song and also a motion video background. Since any video movement or action, e.g. People walking, jumping, leaves falling etc. occupy memory space in the disc, VCD has to be compressed by a special compression technique (MPEG) and at the same time, the audio sound tracks in the discs will inevitably be compressed. Therefore, in playback, the musical instruments recorded on the VCD will not be as clear as they should be. On the other hand, Karaoke CD+Graphics(CD+G) contain no video background. When playing a Karaoke CD+G disc, you see a blue screen with lyrics of the song only. And, as a result, no compression is involved and the instruments played out are just like playing a regular music CD and are therefore very clear. If you sing along with a CD+G Karaoke, you have a better feel of the music and your singing is just like being backed up by a live orchestra. Therefore, any song that is arranged with a full orchestra or with more instruments can only be lively if recorded on CD+Graphics. Fast songs and in particular, country songs are only available in CD+G. That's why in bars and restaurants, most professional singers and DJ's use CD+G for their Karaoke. CD+G Karaoke discs are also known as performance track. Practice your favorite songs, particularly new songs on CD+G. After you have mastered it, bring the disc to the DJ who may not have a CD+G machine but most likely will have a regular CD player. Since CD+G discs can also be played on a regular CD player (although lyrics not shown on TV), you can perform on the same version of the song with live CD music back-up! The DVD Karaoke
machine Model: HKD-3008 and other machines Model: HKV-898G &
HKV-898GS are able to play BOTH VCD and CD+G Karaoke discs. |
History
and development of VCD (Video CD)
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Video-CD evolved from the big 12" Laser Disc. Digital CD format was originally invented to replace the large and heavy plastic music records. In 1991, the "Digital Compression Technique" was developed called Memory Compression (MPEG). This technique has been adopted for playing in 352x288(PAL) and 352x240(NTSC) TV systems, thus giving rise to Video-CD. In 1992, a standard of Video Compact Discs, called VCD Version 1.0, was developed and in the later year further improved to VCD Version 1.1. This VCD Version 1.1 was good for playing VCD Movies. However, in terms of Karaoke Video-CD's, it would be convenient if a Song Menu can be displayed on the TV screen and we can select any song we want to sing. To achieve this, the Video-CD Version 2.0 finally came into being in March 1994. In recording, the Video-CD disc is separated into several different sections, called "CHAPTERS". In the case of a Karaoke Video-CD, the song menu and each song will be recorded in an individual CHAPTER and therefore, each CHAPTER will last for about 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the length of the song. However, in the case of a Movie Video-CD, the story of the movie will occupy the whole disc in only one or two CHAPTERS, unless the story contains two or more ending versions. Version 2.0 provides a Play Back Control(PBC) feature, which will display the Song Menu on the TV screen, and one can easily select the song he or she wants to play. Like turning pages of a book, PBC enables one to return to the Main Menu to select another song. Version 2.0 VCD also provides a High Resolution Still Picture effect(HRSP) and hence, song lyrics on the TV screen is very clear. This most important part of a Video-CD Player is the CD-Mechanism. Because signals are so much compressed and stored in a small size CD, the disc is very vulnerable to dust, dirt and minor scratches. If the CD-Mechanism is not powerful enough, it will not be able to read any scratched discs.Home Karaoke has adopted the most advanced technology for CD-Mechanism and built-in high-quality Karaoke functions, such as Key control, Multiplex function, Echo and Vocal Partner, etc. in making their VCD Karaoke Players, which definitely are ideal Home Entertainment units in watching VCD movies, in Karaoke singing and in listening to music! |
| Multiplex
is a general audio recording term for Karaoke songs.
The Karaoke song is recorded on two separate channels, the Left and the Right. Normally, the left channel is recorded with the "music only" while the right channel is recorded with "music+guided vocal". Some music recording companies may record the "music only" on the right channel while the "music+guided vocal" on the left channel. Such is called Multiplex recording. When you play a Karaoke disc on a Karaoke machine, the MULTIPLEX function of the machine should be able to remove the vocal no matter on which channel it is recorded. The "music only" will come out from your two loudspeakers. It becomes your "MINUS ONE" or "ACCOMPLIMENT" for you to sing along. When you buy a Karaoke Machine, make sure it contains the MULTIPLEX function, which can remove the vocal no matter on which channel (left or right) it is recorded, apart from Mic Inputs, Key Control and Echo. |
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Vocal
Partner is one of the Karaoke functions normally built-in any
Karoake Machine.
The function of Vocal Partner is that when you sing, the recorded vocal stops; but once you stop singing, the recorded vocal comes back again. It provides singing lots of fun and is an amazing feature for you to practise singing. How to operate this function? Depending on which channel (Left or Right?) the vocal is recorded on the Karaoke disc, if it is recorded on the Right channel, press the function button to "Right Vocal"; or if the vocal is recorded on the Left channel, press the function button to "Left Vocal". When you buy a Karaoke machine, make sure it contains the "Vocal Partner" function, apart from Mic Inputs, Key Control and Echo. |
What
is JPEG Electronic-picture (E-pictures)?
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JPEG, known as Joint Picture Exports Group, is the first international committee to formulate the compression technique standard for still images. Now, with your computer and a CD-burner, you can store your pictures electronically on a CD-R or CD-RW disc with the JPEG file format. You will make your own E-Pictures discs. The DVD Karaoke Machine (Model: HKD-3008) is able to decode the JPEG image files stored in the CD-R or CD-RW disc and play out the pictures in 10 different viewing modes and 13 slideshow modes. When playing a CD-R or CD-RW (make sure your DVD machine is CD-R/CD-RW compatible) containing electronically-stored still images and MP3 music, you may view your own E-pictures on your TV with your background music selected from your MP3. |
What
is an Echo Mixer? FAQ about Karaoke Echo Mixer
| Q.
I want to sing but my DVD player has no Mic Inputs. What should
I do?
A. Your DVD player is just an ordinary player which is meant for watching DVD movies only. If you want to sing, you have 3 options:-
Q. What is an echo mixer? A. Basically, an echo mixer is an electronic device, acting as an "in-between" an audio player and your stereo receiver (amplifier). It should not have anything to do with the video (picture) and itself is not an amplifier. Q. How is an echo mixer operated? A. It inputs both audio signal (sound, music) from any audio source (e.g. DVD player, VCD player, audio cassette player, etc.) and your vocal at the same time when you sing through the mic input. It provides reverberation (echo effect) with repeat and delay, digitally controlled. You can then sing more comfortably. It helps to blend in nicely both the music of the song and your voice. That's what we all "mixing" and that's why it is called a mixer. After it mixes the music with your vocal, it outputs the sound to your loudspeakers through your stereo receiver (amplifier). Q. Can I hook up the mixer directly to my loudspeakers? A. No! The "driving" power of your receiver must be matching with the "power handling capability" of your loudspeakers. It is a bad design to build-in an amplifier of a fixed power output in the mixer. In case your loudspeakers' handling power is not matching, it may either damage your speakers or your mixer will be overheat. Q. If my DVD Karaoke Machine already has mic inputs, should I also buy a mixer? A. In this case, it is not your "MUST". It is your "Add-On" Karaoke equipment. As explained, an independent mixer is designed with a digital reverberation system which no Karaoke machine will provide. There are 3 mic inputs built-in the Echo Mixer. Together with the 2 mic inputs in the Karaoke machine, 5 people can sing at the same time. Your vocal characteristics can be adjusted in terms of bass and treble, which means, you may sing with a low-key voice (more bass than treble) when you sing a low-key song, e.g. Elvis' "Love me tender" or vise versa to sing with a high-key voice when you sing Barbra Streisand's "Memory". An independent Echo Mixer also provides you a separate music volume adjustment from your vocal volume, which means you may wish to sing with your voice louder than the music or the music louder than your voice. In short, an independent Echo Mixer will enhance your vocal input. If you want to sing like a pro, you may consider adding this on to your Karaoke machine. Believe me, with this add-on Echo Mixer, you sing better and also, up to 10 people can sing together if wireless microphones are added on to your Karaoke system. |
What
are Wireless Microphones?
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A wireless microphone is of course a microphone without wire! Singers prefer to sing with a wireless microphone because it gives them a feel of carefreeness so they sing with power and confidence. With a wireless microphone, you can sing and dance like a pro and as free as a bird! One thing can be sure: you cannot buy just the wireless microphone. It won't work! You need to have a system which consists of a wireless microphone receiver and the microphone, both of the same frequency. Basically, wireless microphones are operated through radio frequencies. The microphone which is normally driven by dry batteries is built-in with a transmitter, transmitting a signal frequency to the receiver. The receiver is also built-in with the same frequency. When the same frequency is received, audio signal is produced and passed on to your loudspeakers through your receiver (amplifier). There are 3 bands of frequencies: FM (88 MHz to 108 Mhz), VHF (108 MHz to 400 MHz) and UHF (400 Mhz tp 800 Mhz). Most wireless microphone systems in the market are operated through FM frequencies. These can easily be interfered by radio being operated in the surrounding. Professional wireless microphones are mostly worked through VHF frequencies. Because these frequencies are outside the radio frequency band, they are rarely interfered. Some wireless microphone systems come with one microphone only. That means the receiver contains just one frequency. Professional wireless microphone systems normally come in two different frequencies and therefore two wireless microphones can be used at the same time. Testing is important when you buy wireless microphone. Before you buy, make sure it is dual channel of VHF frequencies, try and be satisfied with its vocal clarity, vocal pick-up and working distance range. At Home Karaoke, there are two kinds of wireless microphone systems: HKW-2288 & HKW-2868. |
How
to use "PBC" for singing VCD Karaoke?
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"PBC" stands for Play Back Control. In all DVD/VCD Karaoke machines, PBC is a standard function. You can find this functional key either on the front panel or the remote control, or both. When Karaoke songs are recorded on the VCD discs, the disc is just like a book and is divided into different chapters. Normally, Chapter one is devoted to the "Song Menu" and the following chapters to songs. However, some musical companies record the "Song Menu" and the first song together on Chapter one. If you know the song titles on the disc, you just press the number of the song direct and the PBC will automatically be turned off and your song will appear. But if Chapter one occupies the "Song Menu" and Chapter two occupies the first song, then if you select song No. 1, you have to press No. 2, and so on. When you are playing a song when the PBC is off, you may select and press another song direct. DJ's find it convenient at parties. If you don't know what songs are on the disc, you turn on the PBC. In this case, when you play the disc, it will play until it comes to the "Song Menu". You may now select to play whatever song displaying on your TV screen. When you are playing a song with PBC on, each time you press STOP, it will return to the "Song Menu" for you to select your song again. Note:
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Broadly speaking, there are two groups of singers; the Musical Karaoke Singers (or called Serious Karaoke Singers) and the FUN, FUN, FUN Karaoke singers. The first group includes the professional singing performers, entertainers and the Dj’s. The other group comprises those just singing for fun, singing to release their tension and singing in a social environment, e.g. with friends in Karaoke bars/restaurants and at home parties. Which kind of singer are you?
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(A) Musical Karaoke Singers (or Serious Karaoke Singers) Your songs are not my songs! Each song is composed of different musical arrangements played by different instruments best suitable for the song. Therefore, music is a matter of individual taste: If I give you 10,000 songs, all played from the same instrument (e.g. from the midi), and not known to and selected by you, I'm sure you would not like them or you may not be able to sing them. Singing is also a challenge! Apart from singing standard songs, you may wish to learn, practice and perform singing a new song. There are new hits popularized from time to time, (like "There you'll be" from the movie "Pearl Habour", "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias). Like all Karaoke songs, these new hits are produced by musical companies in CD+G or VCD formats. They are all available in the Karaoke market. To be able to select from a large reservoir of songs available in the market, make sure your Karaoke machine can play both formats. When you practice a new song, make sure it is recorded in MULTIPLEX (There is a vocal guide which your machine is able to remove). After you have mastered a song, you perform singing the song on a CD+G format which will give you a better sound quality and in the version best suitable to you. You feel performing live! Conclusion: When you buy a Karaoke equipment, make sure it contains all singing features, e.g. Key Control, Multiplex, Vocal Partner, Mic Inputs and Digital Echo etc. Besides, it must be able to play both VCD and CD+G Karaoke formats. With this machine, the whole market of Karaoke songs will be available for your selection and it will be your selected song that you are singing!
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(B) Fun, Fun, Fun, Karaoke Singers Everyone sings,
irrespective of race, age, sex or religion. Singing is a release
of tension! Singing is a therapy! After singing a song, You sing your way, be it good or not. You enjoy singing any song, you sing and pretend singing like a pro. You enjoy applauses from your friends after you deliver a piece of tune. Well, in this
case, you need a machine with full Karaoke functions, including
the scoring systems and lots of songs handy and ready for your convenient
selection. We recommend you check our machine Model No: DVOK-8028K
and the Portable Karaoke Microphone. |