Editing Karaoke (section)

==Technology==
A basic karaoke machine consists of a music player, [[microphone]] inputs, a means of altering the [[Pitch (music)|pitch]] of the played music, and an audio output. Some low-end machines attempt to provide vocal suppression so that one can feed regular songs into the machine and remove the voice of the original singer; however this was, historically, rarely effective. Most common machines are [[CD+G]], [[LaserDisc|Laser Disc]], [[Video CD|VCD]] or DVD players with microphone inputs and an audio mixer built in, though [[VHS]] [[Videocassette recorder|VCR]]s are sometimes used.<ref name="cloud">{{cite web | url=http://karaokecloud.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/the-history-of-karaoke-in-america/ | title=The History of Karaoke in America | publisher=Karaoke Cloud | access-date=15 January 2014| date=12 April 2013 }}</ref> CD+G players use a special track called [[subcode]] to encode the lyrics and pictures displayed on the screen while other formats natively display both audio and video.

Most karaoke machines have technology<ref name=clickblue>Clickblue [http://clickblue.in/persang-entertainment-pvtltd/http-googl-zyp7hp "Best technology Karaoke systems from a renowned karaoke manufacturing company"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626141451/http://clickblue.in/persang-entertainment-pvtltd/http-googl-zyp7hp |date=26 June 2015 }}, 30 November 2014, ''International Business Times''. Retrieved 30 November 2014</ref> that electronically changes the pitch of the music so that amateur singers can choose a key that is appropriate for their vocal range, while maintaining the original tempo of the song. (Old systems which used [[Cassette tape|cassette]]s changed the pitch by altering playback speed, but none are still on the market, and their commercial use is virtually nonexistent.)

A popular game using karaoke is to type in a random number and call up a song, which participants attempt to sing. In some machines, this game is pre-programmed and may be limited to a genre so that they cannot call up an obscure national anthem that none of the participants can sing. This game has come to be called "Kamikaze Karaoke" or "Karaoke [[Roulette]]" in some parts of the United States and Canada.<ref>One Baltimore variation involves limiting the songs to titles written by participants into a sombrero for the KJ (karaoke jockey) to pick from; Xun Zhou and Francesca Tarocco, ''Karaoke: The Global Phenomenon'' (Reaktion, 2013), 131–32. {{ISBN|9781780232409}} Portraits of kamikaze/roulette karaoke appear in recent fiction, highlighting the features of social challenge and anxiety involved, e.g. Eileen Shapiro, ''Precious Little Devils'' (2016) and Mike Donald, ''Louisiana Blood'' (2017).</ref>

Many low-end entertainment systems have a karaoke mode that attempts to remove the vocal track from regular audio CDs, using an [[Out Of Phase Stereo (OOPS)]] technique. This is done by center channel extraction, which exploits the fact that in most stereo recordings the vocals are in the center. This means that the voice, as part of the music, has equal volume on both stereo channels and no phase difference. To get the quasi-karaoke ([[monoaural|mono]]) track, the left channel of the original audio is subtracted from the right channel. The Sega Saturn also has a "mute vocals" feature that is based on the same principle and is also able to adjust the pitch of the song to match the singer's vocal range.

[[File:Karaoke Booth.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A row of 3 karaoke booths at a shopping center in [[Angeles City]], [[Philippines]]]]
This crude approach results in the often-poor performance of voice removal. Common effects are hearing the [[reverb effect]]s on the voice track (due to stereo reverb on the vocals not being in the center); also, other instruments (snare/bass drum, bass guitar and solo instruments) that happen to be mixed into the center get removed, degrading this approach to hardly more than a gimmick in those devices. Recent years have seen the development of new techniques based on the [[fast Fourier transform]]. Although still not perfect, the results are usually much better than the old technique, because the stereo left-right comparison can be done on individual frequencies.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

===Early age===
Early karaoke machines used [[8-track tape|8-track cartridges]] (The Singing Machine) and [[cassette tape]]s, with printed lyric sheets, but technological advances replaced this with CDs, [[video CD|VCD]]s, [[LaserDisc]]s and, currently, DVDs. In the late 1980s and 1990s, [[Pioneer Electronics]] dominated the international karaoke music video market, producing high quality karaoke music videos (inspired by the music videos such as those on [[MTV]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Retro Blue – A Brief History of Karaoke|url=http://retroblueentertainment.com/a-brief-history-of-karaoke|access-date=2021-10-20|website=retroblueentertainment.com}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 1992, [[Taito]] introduced the X2000, which fetched music via a dial-up telephone network. Its repertoire of music and graphics was limited, but its smaller size and the advantage of continuous updates saw it gradually replace traditional machines. Karaoke machines which are connected via [[fiber-optic]] links enabling them to provide instant high-quality music and video are becoming increasingly popular.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

''Karaoke direct'' is an Internet division established in 1997 been serving the public online since 1998. They released the first karaoke player that supports [[MP3+G]] and now {{When|date=June 2010}} the KDX2000 model supporting karaoke in DIVX, Format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?loc=ol_ue&typeofrhyme=wke&Word=Divx|title=RhymeZone: Use Divx in a sentence|website=rhymezone.com|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>

One of the long-running karaoke device is the DVD and HDD karaoke systems, which comes with thousands of songs that are popular in business such as karaoke machine rentals and KTV bars, and became popular in Asia, especially the Philippines. This device also provides [[MIDI]] format with on-screen lyrics on a background video and scoring after you sing, the score will appear from 60 (lowest) to 100 (highest) based on timing and pitch.

===Video games===
{{Main|Music video game#Pitch games}}

The earliest karaoke-based [[music video game]], called ''[[Karaoke Studio]]'', was released for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Famicom]] in 1985, but its limited computing ability made for a short catalog of songs and therefore reduced replay value. As a result, karaoke games were considered little more than collector's items until they saw release in higher-capacity DVD formats.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

''[[Karaoke Revolution]]'', created for the [[PlayStation 2]] by [[Harmonix]] and released by [[Konami]] in North America in 2003, is a console game in which a single player sings along with on-screen guidance and receives a score based on pitch, timing, and rhythm. The game soon spawned several follow-ups including ''Karaoke Revolution Vol. 2'', ''Karaoke Revolution Vol. 3'', ''Karaoke Revolution Party Edition'', ''CMT Presents Karaoke Revolution: Country'' and ''Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol''. While the original ''Karaoke Revolution'' was also eventually released for the Microsoft [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] console in late 2004, the new online-enabled version included the ability to download additional song packs through the console's exclusive [[Xbox Live]] service.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

A similar series, ''[[SingStar]]'', published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, is particularly popular in the European and Australasian markets. Other music video game titles that involve singing by the player include ''[[Boogie (video game)|Boogie]]'' and its sequel ''[[Boogie Superstar]]'', ''[[Disney Sing It]]'', ''[[Get On Da Mic]]'', the ''[[Guitar Hero (series)|Guitar Hero]]'' series starting with ''[[Guitar Hero World Tour|World Tour]]'', ''[[High School Musical: Sing It!]]'', ''[[Lips (video game)|Lips]]'', the ''[[Rock Band (video game)|Rock Band]]'' series, ''SingSong'', ''[[UltraStar]]'', and ''[[Xbox Music Mixer]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search results : learn|url=https://www.xbox.com/en-in/search/learn|website=xbox.com|language=en-in|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>

An Xbox Live App with the same name created by iNiS and powered by The Karaoke Channel/Stingray Karaoke was released on 12 December 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft's upcoming XBOX 360 Karaoke App will charge you by the hour|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-11-19-microsofts-upcoming-xbox-360-karaoke-app-will-charge-you-by-the-hour|work=EuroGamer|access-date=19 November 2012|date=19 November 2012}}</ref> The app uses [[Unreal Engine 3]].

===VCDs===
Many VCD players in Southeast Asia have a built-in karaoke function. On stereo recordings, one speaker will play the music with the vocal track, and the other speaker will play the music without the vocal track. So, to sing karaoke, users play the music-only track through both speakers. In the past, there were only pop-song karaoke VCDs. Nowadays, different types of karaoke VCDs are available. [[Cantonese opera]] karaoke VCD is now a big hit among the elderly in China.<ref>{{Citation|title=China's Elderly Sing The Praises Of Daytime Karaoke {{!}} NBC News| date=21 December 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aay2Wgh-m0I|language=en|access-date=2021-06-04}}</ref>

===On computers and the Internet===
[[File:Karaoke versus full.png|alt=comparison of two spectrograms, one with vocals, one without|thumb|Electronic music production has made distribution of instrumental '[[Stem mixing and mastering|stems]]' simple.]]

Since 2003, much software has been released for hosting karaoke shows and playing karaoke songs on a personal computer. Instead of having to carry around hundreds of CD-Gs or LaserDiscs, karaoke jockeys can [[ripping|rip]] their entire libraries onto their hard drives and play the songs and lyrics from the computer.

Additionally, new software permits singers to sing and listen to one another over the Internet.

Karaoke devices in the 2000s saw a shift towards the use of hard drives to store large collections of karaoke tracks and touch screen devices that allows users to select their songs. This trend was driven by the declining cost of hard drive storage<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomcoughlin/2017/12/20/digital-storage-projections-for-2018-part-1/|title=Digital Storage Projections For 2018, Part 1|last=Coughlin|first=Tom|work=Forbes|access-date=6 June 2018}}</ref> and improvement in [[touchscreen]] technology in the consumer space.

In 2005, Freeware Karaoke software from Thailand on Windows "All In One Karaoke Player" Version 2.0 has released<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-11-24 |title=Karaoke Software Development |url=http://www.karaoke-soft.com/main/index.php |access-date=2024-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124012337/http://www.karaoke-soft.com/main/index.php |archive-date=24 November 2005 }}</ref> It can play all MIDI Karaoke file (.MID, .KAR, .RMS etc.), Video Karaoke file (VCD, MP4, DVD, MPG, DAT, WMV) and Audio Karaoke file (MP3, OGG+HotBeat).

In 2006, first released of eXtreme Karaoke<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-11-28 |title=Karaoke Software Development - Home |url=http://www.karaoke-soft.com/extreme/index.php |access-date=2024-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128052636/http://www.karaoke-soft.com/extreme/index.php |archive-date=28 November 2006 }}</ref> is a paid software by bank transfer pay 500 THB and send to E-mail for activate license key<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-11-28 |title=การสั่งซื้อ |url=http://www.karaoke-soft.com/karaoke/extreme/doc/order/order.html |access-date=2024-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128052825/http://www.karaoke-soft.com/karaoke/extreme/doc/order/order.html |archive-date=28 November 2006 }}</ref> and also can play same with All In One Karaoke Player. and in 2008 eXtreme Karaoke changed from License file to HardLock (USB Dongle) the price is 2,000 THB for software.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-12-08 |title=เปิดจำหน่ายแล้วครับ eXtreme Karaoke version 3.0 (Hardlock) |url=http://www.karaoke-soft.com/smf/index.php?topic=3252.0 |access-date=2024-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208181416/http://www.karaoke-soft.com/smf/index.php?topic=3252.0 |archive-date=8 December 2008 }}</ref> In 2006, Recisio was founded as a downloadable karaoke software.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|date=2016-09-01|title=KaraFun Bar : a journey that began 10 years ago|url=https://www.karafunbar.com/blog/492-karafun-bar-a-journey-that-began-10-years-ago.html|access-date=2024-07-17}}</ref>

In 2010, a new concept of home karaoke system through the use of live streaming from a cloud server emerged. The earliest cloud based streaming device, KaraOK!, was released by [[StarHub]] on 14 January 2010,<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.starhub.com/about-us/newsroom/2010/january/14012010_singyourheartsoutwithstarhub.html|title=Sing Your Hearts Out With StarHub|work=StarHub|access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref> licensing songs from RIMMS.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.rimss.com.sg/starhub-karaok/|title=24/7 SINGALONG FUN FOR THE FAMILY|work=RIMMSS|access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref> The use of cloud streaming allows for smaller devices with over the air updates compared to costly and bulky hard drive-based systems. Recisio transitioned into Karafun, an online  subscription based system in 2011.<ref name="auto"/> In 2015, Singa Karaoke was launched, providing karaoke for Android and iOS mobile devices, in addition to a web browser product<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-06-04|title=About Singa|url=https://singa.com/en/about|access-date=2024-07-17}}</ref> for a subscription fee. Other similar service providers include Smule and Starmaker.

In August 2017, [[ROXI]] home music system launched in the UK, and later that year in the US, providing on-demand music streaming and a karaoke singalong feature called Sing with the Stars. ROXI matches songs in its cloud based licensed music streaming catalogue to a lyrics database to provide real time scrolling on-screen lyrics. The music system also uses a hand-held [[Wii]] style point and click controller with built-in microphone allowing users to select and sing along to thousands of songs from its catalogue.<ref>Landridge, Max. [https://www.pocket-lint.com/gadgets/news/142990-what-is-the-roxi-entertainment-device-how-much-is-it-and-what-can-it-do "What is the ROXI Entertainment device, how much is it and what can it do?"], ''Pocket-Lint.com'', London, 29 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2018.</ref>

In July 2023, YouTube channel Sing King Karaoke reached 11 million subscribers, making it the largest karaoke channel on the platform.

===On mobile phones===
In 2003, several companies started offering a karaoke service on mobile phones, using a [[Java (programming language)|Java]] [[MIDlet]] that runs with a text file containing the words and a MIDI file with the music. More usual is to contain the lyrics within the same MIDI file. Often the file extension is then changed from .mid to .kar, both are compatible with the standard for MIDI files.

Researchers have also developed karaoke games for cell phones to boost music database training. In 2006, the Interactive Audio Lab at [[Northwestern University]] released a game called [[Karaoke Callout]] for the Nokia Series 60 phone. The project has since then expanded into a web-based game and will be released soon as an iPhone application.

Karaoke is now available for the Android, iPhone and other playback devices at many internet storefronts.

===In automobiles===
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2018}}
Taxicabs equipped with sound systems and a microphone appeared in South Korea in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-14-mn-805-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Paul | last=Shin | date=14 June 1992 | title='' Karoake '' Taxicabs Are Latest Fad for South Koreans Who Love to Belt Out a Song}}</ref>

Chinese [[automobile]] maker [[Geely Automobile]] received much press in 2003 for being the first to equip a car, their [[Geely BL|Beauty Leopard]], with a karaoke machine as standard equipment. Europe's first commercial "karaokecab" which was a London TX4 taxi with a karaoke machine inside for occupants of the cab to use to sing whilst in the cab. The idea and installation were made by Richard Harfield of karaokeshop.com and was featured on Channel 4's Big Breakfast and several German TV stations featured the karaokecab. Granada TV also featured the cab, which is now in its 4th vehicle and operates in [[Bolton]], Greater Manchester as Clint's Karaoke Cab. Karaoke is often also found as a feature in [[Aftermarket (automotive)|aftermarket]] in-car DVD players.

In 2010, karaoke taxis were available in London, England in the 'Kabeoke' fleet of private hire vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starnow.co.uk/listing/177086|title=Photoshoot for The Kabeoke – Karaoke Taxi- London}}</ref>

[[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]]'s newer cars have an infotainment system that features a "Car-a-oke" app.

===Mini karaoke box===
[[File:Sing and record machine in Haiikou - 01.jpg|thumb|upright|Mini karaoke box]]
'''Mini karaoke box''' or '''karaoke booth''' is a device similar in shape and size to a [[phone booth]], equipped with a [[karaoke machine]] inside. Typically made from soundproof glass, it can be installed anywhere and is suitable for use by one or two people. It is popular in East Asia.

===Alternative playback devices===
The [[CD+G]] format of a karaoke disc, which contains the lyrics on a specially encoded subcode track, has heretofore required special—and expensive—equipment to play. Commercial players have come down in price, though, and some unexpected devices (including the [[Sega Saturn]] [[video game console]] and [[XBMC Media Center]] on the first Xbox) can decode the graphics; in fact, karaoke machines, including video and sometimes recording capability, are often popular electronics items for sale in toy stores and electronics stores.

Additionally, there is software for Windows, Pocket PC, Linux, and Macintosh PCs that can decode and display karaoke song tracks, though usually these must be ripped from the CD first, and possibly compressed.

In addition to CD+G and software-based karaoke, microphone-based karaoke players enjoy popularity mainly in North America and some Asian countries such as the Philippines. Microphone-based karaoke players only need to be connected to a TV—and in some cases to a power outlet; in other cases they run on batteries. These devices often support advanced features, such as pitch correction and special sound effects. Some companies offer karaoke content for paid download to extend the song library in microphone-based karaoke systems.

CD+G, DVD, VCD and microphone-based players are most popular for home use. Due to song selection and quality of recordings, CD+G is the most popular format for English and Spanish. It is also important to note that CD+G has limited graphical capabilities, whereas VCD and DVD usually have a moving picture or video background. VCD and DVD are the most common format for Asian singers due to music availability and largely due to the moving picture/video background.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}