Karaoke Forums

Disclaimer:  I have never owned a karaoke machine and have a lot of preconceptions.  In other words, I don't know anything.

On Black Friday, I saw this ilive IJ308W sitting the shelves and knowing that my wife wants a karaoke machine so that we can have fun with our friends, I picked one up.  

http://www.dealigg.com/blackfriday-iLiv ... tem-IJ308W


When I saw it had video out, I envisioned that I could play the CD+G disc in sync with the ipod so that while music is playing off my ipod, I can see the lyrics on the television screen (through the video out), and sing along.

As I started going through the manual, it became apparent to me that playing the ipod and playing a CD+G disc are two different modes.  In other words, I can't see any lyrics on the screen while playing songs from my ipod.  I can only see lyrics on the tv when playing the CD+G discs.  Is this correct?  


At this point, I am thinking about returning this karaoke machine and buying some CD+G discs for my RJ1500 dvd player with karaoke functions and some microphones.

http://www.merconnet.com/product_info.p ... cts_id=252


Should I keep this ilive machine or not?  It's being sold on Amazon, but there are no reviews.

Also, what brick and mortar stores have CD+G's and microphones that I could use with my RJ1500?

Lose the iPOD.  You can find MP3 karaoke music, but I still don't see an iPOD dong the job.

  Go buy some discs, and have a good time.....

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

It sounds like I should return the ilive and use the DVD player I already have that has karaoke function.

Do you know anything about DVD players that have karaoke function?  Will it work okay?

What do regular karaoke machines normally run for? (nothing fancy)

All I want to be able to do is play the music and sing the lyrics on the screen.

I got the ilive for $50.  It seemed like a good deal.  I am wondering if it has something that my DVD player doesn't have already (with the exception of the ipod dock which apparently is a waste)

It looks like it will play cdg discs.  And looks like you confirmed this.  It will probably play karaoke from the ipod provided you have the correct files stored in the ipod.  Not sure if yours is a video ipod, or if this will be of any help, but they do sell karaoke files for the ipod & have heard them & they sound & look just as good as any mp3 based karaoke file i've heard.
http://www.dopikaraoke.com/



Discs I feel are still the best way to go as you can still convert them to a computer file if need be but still have the discs.
Not knowing where you live, couldn't recommend a 'brick & mortar' store.  Most do their shopping via the internet.  You can go to some of the sponsor sites to the left (in the side bar) & toward the bottom marked Karaoke Site Links.  Ace, Discount, Express, 5 Star.  Then there are literally hundreds of other stores that are just as good.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

There also is a converter that takes CD+G discs or files and outputs iPod-compatible MP4 videos:

http://www.powerkaraoke.com/src/prod_cdg_ipod_converter.php