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Copyright 2002, 2003 & 2004 © Karaoke Star & KaraokeStar.com
Microphone Inputs - Also known as "quarter inch jack inputs". Most machines have at least two.
Individual Volume Control on Microphone Inputs - A separate knob to control volume on EACH microphone. Some of the less expensive systems only provide one volume control for both mics making it impossible to adjust singers if one duet partner has a stronger voice than the other.
Disc Trays - Top Loading or Front Loading. Front loading trays don't need to be cleaned as often. Top loading trays have a lens that are more exposed to dust. These types of players may require lens cleanings more often
Key Control (also known as Key Changer) - This will change the key the song is in. Most machines change keys in 1/2 steps each time you hit the button up or down. Changing the key too high or too low will usually result in the background singers sounding like toads or chipmunks. Most higher end machines have key changers.
If a machine says it is 19 steps, that means you can go 8 steps lower, 8 steps higher or stay normal (19 steps).
Pitch Control - True pitch control slows down or speeds up the song. It can sound a little like the key is changing. Pitch control is a feature that dance groups like to have or DJ's like to use. Most karaoke systems on the market DO NOT have pitch control.
Echo (also known as Reverb) - All karaoke machines have this. To little makes a singer sound flat and too much is annoying. Echo makes a singer sound fuller and richers---hides imperfections. If you are speaking (not singing) into a microphone NO ECHO is much better---speaking voices should be flat.
Repeat - Added effect that enhances echo on some systems or mixers. Repeat means how many times your voice will repeat. If you say "what" it impacts how many times you hear "what what what what". This is considered a high end feature only found on premium systems.
Delay - Added effect that enhances echo on some systems or mixers. Delay means how much time between "Repeats". If you say "what" it impacts the distance between the "what------what------what------what" This is considered a hi end feature only found on premium systems.
Vocal Partner - Feature found on some machines (especially portable units). When this feature activated, vocal guide will only come through if customer isn't singing through microphone. When the customer starts singing, the vocal guide will disappear until needed. Some people love this feature, others find if annoying. In reality, it's one of those features that sounds good in principle, but not used very often.
Vocal Cancel (Multiplex Button) - Another term that gets abused. Some people think this term is a Vocal Eliminator. Vocal Cancel means when you hit this button, the vocal guides on a disc with vocal guides will disappear. Years ago, some karaoke discs were created with a vocal guide imbedded in the same track as the karaoke version. You needed to hit this button to sing alone. Now, most karaoke discs with vocal guides provide two separate tracks for each. A feature that isn't as important these days!
Vocal Eliminator - Rare feature only found on RSQ and JVC Triple Tray Players (remote function). Also on a few mixers. This feature is where you can play a REGULAR cd in the player and strip the lead singer (no words will appear on TV). This is not 100 effective.-----it just depends how the original recording was created in the studio. Some studios will weave the tracks together and when you strip the singer, you will also lose some of the music (weaker sound) and not all of the singer.
Cassette Deck - Some customers want to be able to record their singing onto cassette. Some will want a "Dual" cassette decks so they can make copies of their tape. The cassette decks on most karaoke systems on the market are NOT studio quality---even in the $1000 machines. If someone wants high quality recordings, we recommend they invest in a very good karaoke system that allows you to connect auxillary equipment, then purchase a dual CD recorder. Customers can add these devices to the higher end machines such as the Colt, Bravo, Twister, Viper and AKJ7801.
Graphic Equalizer - Found on a few machines and some mixers. Allows customer to adjust song to their liking. The easiest way to "set" an equalizer is to adjust levels so they look like lazy smile-then slightly adjust from there.
Built In RF Video Output - Most karaoke systems come with a RCA Jack Video output. Most TV's accept a RCA jack video input and there is no problem. Some older TV's do not have an RCA input ---only the RF input (looks like a cable TV plug type input. Karaoke systems with a built in RF output send out signals "both ways". Having the option built in is especially helpful in cases where a machine is taken different places and you never know what kind of TV you will be plugging into.
Bass or Treble Controls - Bass impacts the "heaviness" or lower end of the music and voice. Treble is the edginess or tinniness of the sound. Having the ability to control bass (also known as Low EQ) or treble (High EQ) is a great feature.
However, the BEST systems and mixers will allow you to control the bass and treble of the music separately from the microphones. This is because you may want to add bass to a "tinny" voice, but not add any more bass to the music. The VocoPro Twister allows you to control separately the bass and treble of the music is controlled on the front of the unit, and the voice is controlled on the back.
Audio Output Jack(s) - If the system has this, you can run the sound out of it into an amplifier to get even more power. This is a nice feature on the smaller wattage system.
Multiple Audio Output and Input Jacks - Helpful for customers who want to add auxiliary equipment for mixing or recording purposes, such as CD Burners, Tape Decks, or effect mixers.
NTSC or PAL switchable - NTSC is the TV format in North America. PAL is the format in Europe. This makes the system easy to use anywhere in the world. If a customer in America calls and says the words on their TV are black and white, or "rolling" they have probably bumped their NTSC or PAL switch. Tell them to make sure their machine is on NTSC not PAL. They will also need to turn machine off and on to reset it.
Voltage 110 or 220 switchable - North America is 110, Europe is 220. If machine is switchable, customer will not need an adapter overseas. If machine is set incorrectly (220 in USA), it will do very strange things-trays won't open etc. If incorrectly set, customer will need to adjust.
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