Karaoke Forums

A couple of years ago I was "looking at" a karaoke machine with which you could input any song and get it karaoked. It was high-end, about $2,000, and I believe it came out of Georgia—possibly Atlanta. The company sent me an oversized postcard having a picture of the unit, its description, and so forth. Alas, I've misplaced the card, can't remember the company's name, etc.

This is a component type device that connects to one's home stereo. It isn't a portable rig, doesn't have its own amplification, and it doesn't require CD-G disks. It may have even had an ethernet port so it can perform lyrics lookup on the web...I don't remember.

I also recall the company's proprietor had quite a bio in relation to audio engineering, karaoke, and the like.

Can anyone help me out here?

Sounds like snake oil to me.

You can do vocal elimination, but it is usually quite imperfect. And you could try and sync up some lyrics, but the sync would be rudimentary at best.

I haven't heard of such a thing, and I have been looking extensively at all things karaoke for the past two years.

Sounds like the older CAVS jukebox.
http://www.cavsoutlet.com/JUKEBOX.html

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Nope...that isn't it.

This box was a smallish component-stereo type unit that is designbed for use with an existing home component system.

As for snake oil, its description had me convinced, and I'm a broadcast-trained A/V veteran of 40 years. Though I'm no audio engineer, I was convinced as to the pedigree of the unit and its developer.

But enough of that... how about hardware recommendations whereby I don't have to heavily invest in CD-Gs?

This sounds pretty neat.  What exactly did it do again?  You input some music and it spits out out a karaoke virsion?  Is that right?

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Okay, who took my pants?

Oh you are probably thinking of the Thompson Vocal Eliminator - based out of Lithonia, GA.
http://www.vocaleliminator.com/default.htm
Big hype.  Most karaoke machines that have a vocal eliminator can do the exact same thing.  No matter how good it claims to be (I looked at an original back in the early 80's - it came out in '76 or so, I achieved the same exact effect wiring my speakers out of phase), it's also COMPLETELY dependant on the original recording as to whether the vocals will come out clean or not at all or somewhere in between.  Vocals that were originally recorded straight up (equal frequencies/levels in both channels) are the best candidates for vocal elimination, anything other is a crap shoot that either will work some, leaving some of the original vocals, work more leaving a ghostly sounding vocal track left or not work at all - ANYTHING that was recorded with vocals slightly shifted or ANY mono recording.  Basically it's entire premise is it determines like frequencies in each channel & cancels them out - often it is vocals, but more often than not, the like frequencies also include the kick drum, snare drum, bass guitar, even backup vocals many times - which leaves a very thin sounding track - with a little re-eq'ing & some time shift delay effects, it can get to sound somewhat ok - but never as full as the original track you are trying to de-vocalize.
Now in all fairness I haven't tried the new model out - never felt the need, very overpriced for what my $300 karaoke player can do.  Remember, the mp3 samples on their page, they are only going to put up the ones that work really well.
Now for about $100 you can get an Alesis Vocal Zapper that will rpetty much do the exact same thing - or if you have the money to throw, get the Thompson for $around $2300 and yield pretty much the same results.
http://www.music123.com/Alesis-Vocal-Za ... 8650.music

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Yup...I was thinking of the Thompson.

OK, so for $300, what unit do you have? Are you happy with it?

I've got a massive MP3 collection. Both my wife and I like to sing to Top 40 oldies, classic rock, and some country. The unit I'd like to have would be able to strip vocals from MP3s, sync up with the lyrics, display same on my 58" TV, etc. And, as I've written, I don't feel compelled to go out and purchase hundreds of CD-Gs—if I could even find what I want.

No, any further investment in media will be in SACDs, audio DVDs, and the like for my surround-sound system.

Thanks for fielding this question and for your forthcoming recommendation(s).

Like I said that little Alesis Vocal Zapper I linked to previously would probably do the job - mp3's may not work as well as the original media however - with any unit.  My karaoke players arn't made anymore, but there are several other karaoke players that offer that feature.
But none of them will allow you to do lyrics - this is something you would actually have to take the time & create via one of the karaoke designer programs once you get your music de-vocalized.

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Well, your players may not be made anymore, but maybe I could find a used one? What make and model are they? Do they offer more functionality than the unit you linked me to?

Well mine are the Pioneer Laserdisc model V-760, 860, 880, 121G & JVC XLSV22BK single tray player.  As far as offering more functionality, no not in the devocalizer part - the Alesis would probably suit you better as you are working with mp3's, but they do play discs from Laserdiscs - which aren't made anymore - to cd's, cdg's, vcd - no dvd.  The Pioneer laser players have aux inputs so you could hook into it & change the keys as well.

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  And when all is said and done, ya still have to get synched lyrics up on the screen......THAT'S a bit harder and VERY time consuming. Is your time ( a lot of it )worth more than what you'd lay out for the disc?  In my case the disc's the way to go...

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