How to Use Karaoke Software

Karaoke software for the home user includes decoder software to enable your disc drive to read karaoke discs and ripping and burning software to enable you to create a compilation of your favorite tunes to sing along to. Here are generic instructions on how to use these programs.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Using Decoder Software

1. Install the decoder program onto your hard drive.

2. Insert a CD+G (karaoke) disc into your CD-ROM or DVD drive.

3. Start the decoder program and follow its instructions for playing your karaoke disc.

Using CD+G Ripping Software

4. Start your ripping program.

5. Insert a CD+G disc into your CD writer.

6. Display the tracks on the disc. You may have to click "Refresh," "Display Tracks" or some other button or tab to do this.

7. Select the tracks you want to copy from the disc ("rip") onto your hard drive.

8. Choose the folder to write the tracks to and the output format for the ripped files.

9. Click the "Rip," "Start Ripping" or similar button to start the process.

10. Repeat Steps 2 through 6 for each of the other discs you wish to rip until you have enough songs to fill a disc of your own. A 79-minute CD (700 megabytes) will hold from 16 to 20 songs, depending on the individual song lengths.

Burning a Custom Karaoke Mix Disc

11. Start your burning program. If this is the same program as the one you used to rip tracks from, you will instead select the "Burn" option.

12. Click "Add" or "Add Tracks," according to the program you have.

13. Browse to the folder containing the tracks you want to burn onto disc and select the tracks you want to burn.

14. Select the write speed for burning. Use the highest speed your CD writer supports.

15. Deselect any box labeled "Simulate" or "Test," unless you wish to first test the disc before actually burning to it. If so, you will have to repeat Steps 2 through 4 when the test is completed.

16. Click the "Burn," "Burn Tracks" or "Make CD" button, according to the program you have.

Creating Karaoke Tracks From CD Tracks

17. Follow Steps 1 through 3 as outlined under "Burning a Custom Karaoke Mix Disc."

18. Select the vocal reduction or suppression feature of your software.

19. Type in the songs' lyrics. You can obtain song lyrics from a lyrics website, or by carefully listening to the song and transcribing them.

20. Select the write speed for burning and proceed as outlined by Steps 4 through 6 of "Burning a Custom Karaoke Mix Disc."

Tips & Warnings

• Consult the manual for your burning software for program-specific instructions.
• Many CD+G burning programs also will let you substitute your own lyrics, thus allowing you to create your own parody karaoke discs. You also can use the tracks to advertise, such as to promote a karaoke contest.
• Most vocal suppressors do a poor job of suppressing the lead vocals. The quality is usually sufficient for home use, but not for professional applications.
• Before applying downloaded lyrics to karaoke tracks, verify them against the original recording, especially if the song has been sung by more than one artist. Often, singers will change a few words in their versions of a song; also, all too often certain words are misspelled or just plain wrong.

Resources

• Find compatible CD+G burners at Karaoke-Systems.
• Get answers to your karaoke questions at Karaoke-Tutor.