Karaoke
Machine
Buying the Right Karaoke Equipment and
Machines
One invention that has really taken
off in the music world is the karaoke machine. Unlike other
pieces of musical equipment, the karaoke machine appeals to
folks of all ages, all genders and all types of voices
– good or bad! Here’s a quick guide to karaoke
machines, and how they’ve progressed over the
years.
A Brief History of Karaoke
Machines
The earliest karaoke machine was
invented in Japan during the 1970s when a singer named
Daisuke Inoue developed a tape recorder that could play a
song for a 100-yen coin.
He had been asked frequently by
attendees of his performance to provide his song on a tape
recorder so they could sing along during a company vacation.
Daisuke felt it was a great idea, not for his song only, but
for many others. Inoue leased his karaoke machines to stores
instead of selling them directly.
The machines were placed in
restaurants and hotel rooms. In 2004, Inoue won the
tongue-in-cheek Ig Nobel Peace prize for his
invention.
The USA Discovers Karaoke
Singing
Karaoke machines came to the United
States during the 1990s when karaoke bars, also called KTV
boxes, began having competitions or fun karaoke nights for
amateurs.
The Karaoke Machines Go
Mainstream
The early karaoke machines worked with
cassette tapes, but later became more advanced using CDs,
laserdiscs, VCDs and today’s DVDs. The machine has
audio input, audio output, and a way to alter the pitch of
the music. The most popular machines are audio mixers that
include a microphone input that’s built in with a Laser
Disc, Video CD, CD+G or DVD player.
Vocal devices that are capable of
producing a video lyrics display are called KTV in many
countries. Another unique
equipment feature of many karaoke machines is the ability to
change the pitch of the music, or key, to fit the vocal
range of the singer.With this feature, songs that are too
high for the singer can be played in a lower key.
From Karaoke Equipment to
Computers
Karaoke songs are now being played
over computers everywhere via music files such as MIDI, MP3
and many others. The karaoke machine is not needed with
these files, but a downloadable karaoke player instead. Both
the players and song files can be downloaded on the
Internet.
More Advances are on the way
...
Karaoke machines are being modernized
in many other ways as well. From auto karaoke to mobile
phone karaoke, people are going to be able to “sing
along” from just about anywhere before long!
Karaoke Equipment and Related
Products
Below is a list of karaoke equipment
and accessories to help get you started. There
are several types of players on the market. Portable karaoke
players come in two forms, with or without a built-in
screen.
Those without the screen will
typically hook in to any television set. Those with the
screen are combined karaoke equipment, and are convenient
for outdoor use or anywhere a television set is not
available. The price for portable karaoke equipment ranges
from $150 to over $1,000.
Component players are more advanced
for professional use.
The player may feature more memory to
hold more songs, full-featured remote control, two or more
microphone inputs, surround sound equipment compatibility
and more. This type of karaoke equipment is priced from $150
to over $700.
Microphones for
Karaoke
Once you begin to move beyond basic
background information, you begin to realize that there's
more to karaoke than you may have first thought. Most
karaoke machines will come equipped with microphones;
however, you may purchase them separately as well. There are
wireless and wired karaoke microphones, and even headset
microphones for those who dance or entertain as they sing.
Features might include multiple
channels, a broad frequency range, a base unit and more.
Price ranges are from $9.99 up to $300. Karaoke Sound
Equipment
Karaoke Machines With
Power
If you need karaoke equipment for
entertaining a large crowd or for professional use, karaoke
sound equipment might be the answer. Amplifiers, speakers
and mixers can all enhance the sound of your player. You can
get a clearer audio signal and control sounds for many
singers at once.
Speakers or woofers help to create a
louder sound without annoying static. Amplifiers and mixers
are priced from $150 and up. Pricing
is usually based on brand name, wattage capabilities, and
number of microphone inputs. Speakers may be priced from
$100 to $1,000 each.
Equipment
Accessories
Once you own the basic equipment,
there are some other accessories you may need to complete
your ensemble. Karaoke stands for speakers and microphones
always come in handy during karaoke shows and events.
Karaoke equipment cases are available
to protect your player, speakers, Amps or mixers. Other
items that are useful, but not directly related to karaoke
equipment, include CD racks or cases, karaoke games on CD or
DVD, rack shelves, modulators and karaoke song book creation
software.
Shopping for a Karaoke
Machine
Want music to sound your best? Some
popular brands to look for include Legends, RSQ, Numark,
Essential, Panasonic, Various, VocoPro, CAVS, Echo, Gemini,
Pioneer, JVC, Hyundai and many others.
A great way to find karaoke equipment
is to shop online for new or used products. You’ll be
able to search through many brands and styles to find the
karaoke equipment that meets your needs.
The Karaoke Machine Is Still
Going
Even with all the modern devices and
gizmos being developed every year, the karaoke machines will
still be around for a while.
The karaoke machines are convenient
for restaurants, bars, gatherings and other public karaoke
events because they can be moved easily, use a screen and
sound everyone can see and hear when a big crowd is present,
and they provide affordable entertainment. Now, go and sing
something!
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