January 4, 2006 23:00 - Karaoke maker in Coconut Creek to widen product line
The Singing Machine Co., the Coconut Creek-based retailer of karaoke machines, says it's about to start
singing a different tune.
The company announced Tuesday it plans to expand into the broader consumer electronics market with the launch
of a line-up of products including iPod speaker systems and accessories, portable DVD and public address systems, micro
stereo systems, and MP3 players.
The success of Apple's iPod and the consumer electronic craze for portable DVD and MP3 players has created a
competitive niche market for related electronic accessories. The Singing Machine is jumping on the retail bandwagon to
sell these gadgets with hopes that the new product launch will help the company achieve financial growth and
stability.
January 7, 2006 22:14 - SilverBirch Inc. Announces Karaoke Distribution Agreement With Telia
Sonera
SilverBirch announces today that its wholly owned subsidiary SilverBirch Studios Inc. has entered into a distribution
contract with TeliaSonera - the largest wireless carrier in Scandinavia to launch MobilokeTM for mobile users in Scandinavia.
The groundbreaking mobile karaoke application Mobiloke along with other SilverBirch mobile content will be distributed in
cooperation with Telia Sonera, making it available to all TeliaSonera subscribers throughout Scandinavia, Eurasia, Turkey and
Russia.
Mobiloke allows users to transform their mobile phone into a fully functional, portable Karaoke experience, incorporating
pitch and tempo controls, progressive lyrics display, downloadable tracks and an online "CD Case" to manage and store
tracks.
"SilverBirch enjoys first mover advantage with their Mobiloke product. The application allows users to create a karaoke
party anywhere they carry their cell phone," said Kevin Birch, President & CEO, SilverBirch Inc.
"SilverBirch's Mobiloke will build on the worldwide popularity of Karaoke singing and television productions like
'American Idol,' added Birch. "We anticipate significant recurring revenue streams from song file downloads and community
building initiatives that are part of the overall vision for this application."
"We believe the Mobiloke product is well positioned to penetrate and capture a significant amount of the content download
revenue currently being generated," commented Juhani Kivikangas, Director, 3rd Party Services and Messaging, TeliaSonera
Finland.
January 9, 2006 21:42 - Create your own karaoke bar
By Andy Kaiser
The Grand Rapids Press
Awhile ago I had the lucky experience of going to Japan as a bright-eyed foreign exchange student. One of my favorite
parts? Karaoke. It's not the same in the USA. Here, a standard karaoke night involves a smoky bar, dozens of strangers, and
one too many drinks with names such as "Bahama Mama."
If you're not into that scene, but would still like to sing karaoke, go to Japan. You'll rent out a private room with a
small group, just close buddies who don't mind your bad singing. Compared to the United States, it's karaoke for the
introverted.
Or save your money on plane tickets, while still living your dreams of becoming Celine Dion or Bon Jovi: Turn your PC into
a karaoke machine with free software.
You'll need a computer with speakers. Grab your music collection, whether it's CDs, an iTunes account or MP3s.
There are many free software packages available to display music lyrics karaoke-style on your computer. Among the best is
EvilLyrics. Download here: www.evillabs.sk
First, get the software by clicking the "download" link from the EvilLyrics Web site. Before you install, click and read
the info at the "Players" link. This section tells you how to set up EvilLyrics for your specific music player. The software
supports popular players such as iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp and RealPlayer.
When everything's configured, start your music player, then start EvilLyrics. Play a song, and EvilLyrics will
automatically detect the song title and download lyrics automatically. Presto -- full song lyrics on demand.
If you want to get fancy, EvilLyrics has a scrolling "karaoke bar." This scrolls to display the current line of whatever
lyric you're singing.
Plan on some prep time. You can't install EvilLyrics and have an instant party. Before inviting friends, make sure
EvilLyrics knows what lyrics go with what song. If you'll be using the scrolling karaoke bar, you need to download a free
timing script for each song -- this tells the karaoke bar when to scroll and when to pause, so you'll sing the words in time
with the music.
If lyrics or a scrolling karaoke bar isn't available for a particular song, you can make your own and share the results
with other EvilLyrics users. In this way, the database of lyrics and karaoke-enabled songs continues to grow.
I was very impressed with the way EvilLyrics worked on Windows Media Player and iTunes. The majority of songs I tested
were detected, and the correct lyrics were displayed without tweaking. It was easy to sing along, from Duran Duran to Gloria
Gaynor.
For a cool effect, turn on "visualizations" on your media player: Create trippy images that pulse and spin to the sound of
the music. In EvilLyrics, right-click on the lyrics or karaoke bar and choose "always on top." You'll have a great karaoke
setup -- full song lyrics and snazzy background images.
Bahama Mamas are optional.
Visit http://www.andybrain.com or email digitalbits@andybrain.com. The-Karaoke-Advisor.com
January 9, 2006 21:46 - Sing on the go with a pocket-sized karaoke machine
Karaoke fans will always be ready to take the stage with the portable i-TEMO karaoke machine. Measuring just 2 inches by 2
inches, this minuscule karaoke machine has a built-in microphone, a display screen, an MP3 player, an FM radio and built-in
memory.
You can download karaoke files from www.i-temo.com and transfer the tunes directly to the device via a USB connection on a
computer.
Designed by Leadsinger, the 512-megabyte i-TEMO costs $170 while the 1-gigabyte model is $190.
The-Karaoke-Advisor.com
January 13, 2006 18:59 - Lawsuit against karaoke machine manufacturer dismissed
Good news for the whoel karaoke industry......
A federal court in California has dismissed a music-piracy lawsuit against Coconut Creek-based karaoke machine maker The
Singing Machine Co. (SMD).
Sybersound Records, a Malibu, Calif., record company, last year filed two lawsuits seeking more than $200 million in
damages from Singing Machine and five other firms.
The California suit last week was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it can't be refiled.
January 13, 2006 19:01 - Transcend Releases 256MB microSD Card, T.sonic 520 Karaoke MP3
Player
The future is here.....
Transcend Information has developed its latest 256MB microSD Memory Card, which is sized as a half of a mobile phone SIM
card.
The novelty offers data transfer speeds of up to 10MB/sec and can also be used in regular SD memory card slots via a
provided adapter, thus ensuring that the microSD card can be used in all compliant SD card devices.
Another novelty is the T.sonic 520 flash MP3 player with a Karaoke-type feature that lets you sing along by displaying the
lyrics of the song you are listening to on its screen. It supports MP3, WMA and WAV, hosts an FM radio, voice recorder and
line-in (record directly from a CD player).
The T.sonic 520 is powered by one AAA battery. It has a mirrored faceplate with a bright OLED display. Measuring 74 x 30 x
18.5 mm, the player weighs 28g (minus battery). The T.sonic 520 doesn't require file conversion, you can just connect it to
your computer and drag and drop your digital music onto the player (there's Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface, by the way).
The T.sonic 520's FM radio can preset your 20 favorite stations and has the ability to record from the radio. Other
T.sonic 520 features include 7 equalizer effects with a customizable USER EQ mode, support for filename and song/artist title
in 12 user languages, simple Jog-wheel control, and A-B playback. The T.sonic 520 is available now in 512MB and 1GB
flavors.
January 21, 2006 10:21 - Karaoke's cast of characters
THought this is a great article - love the analysis of different types of singer!
By Michelle Saturley
Staff Writer - Manchester Mirror New Hampshire
Karaoke started as a mere oddity; a bizarre Japanese game-show import to be attempted only after many drinks and a
double-dog-dare from fellow barflies. But on any given night in the Queen City, at least one of the army of bars and
nightclubs is packed with secret singers from all walks of life.
Step into McGarveys, The Uptown Tavern, The Empire Lounge or the Yee Dynasty and youll find housewives and frat boys,
dentists and students some of them inebriated beyond comprehension, but many more stone cold sober all stepping up to the mic
to entertain, impress or maybe get some muchneeded attention after a dismal work week chained to a desk.
Who are these performers, and what is it about karaoke, as opposed to joining a band or a theater group, that draws them
to the experience, oftentimes week after week? A recent Friday night at the Yee Dynasty, considered by many to be the
pinnacle of the karaoke scene in Manchester, revealed a few different answers to that question. The truth is, everyone has
their own reasons and motivations for writing their song choice on that little piece of paper and waiting for the words to
start rolling up the screen. For every song, theres a different kind of singer. Here are a few of their stories.
The Girl Group, aka Drunken Divas
Its Friday night, and a group of 20-something women are cutting loose. One of them, donning a sparkly silver tiara, is
celebrating a birthday and shes not sure if shes happy about it yet. But no matter. She and four of her best friends are
gyrating around on stage, belting out the lyrics to Nancy Sinatras These Boots are Made for Walking.
The Girl Group is one of the most common sightings at a karaoke night. Like the hair salon of the fifties, the karaoke bar
is a popular gathering place where women can gossip, laugh, flirt harmlessly and complain about the men in their lives or
lack thereof. Common song titles for the girl group include Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Respect, and Meredith Brooks Bitch.
For K.J. (karaoke jockey) Mike Sebastian, the best thing is to think of them as a local version of Destinys Child if Beyonc
just did six shots of tequila.
The Frustrated Front Man
Jeff Brooks, with a sneer on his lips and a pumped up fist, delivers an impressive version of Billy Idols Dancing With
Myself. With his strut and stage presence, Brooks is the textbook example of the Frustrated Frontman someone who once had
dreams of replacing David Lee Roth in Van Halen, and probably has practiced his Mick Jagger pout in the mirror on more than
one occasion.
The Frustrated Frontman is a common character at the karaoke bar, but rare is the man, like Brooks, who actually has the
chops to carry the title. Too many Frustrated Frontmen have the moves, but not the voice, or vice versa. Maybe Brooks, when
he tires of being accompanied by canned music, will put together a band or make the trip from the karaoke bar to the coffee
house to perform at an open mic night in the near future.
The Artiste
A cherub-faced young man in a poncho steps up next. He sings Wicked Game, by Chris Isaac, and has a completely earnest look
on his face the entire time. Hes not just performing the song; hes feeling it. This isnt just a fun Friday night escape to
blow off some steam; hes got something to say tonight, and hes using the song to say it.
The Artiste is probably someone with very few other creative outlets in his life. Perhaps he secretly longed to go to art
school, but became an accountant instead. He may not be the best singer of the group, but the crowd appreciates his effort.
And with the microphone in hand, eyes closed, its clear that this makes him feel alive in a way that filing tax returns will
never quite achieve.
The Musical Theater Guy
From the moment he saunters on stage, you know hes no beginner. Musical Theater Guy is also known as The Ringer. Hes probably
played either Jesus or Judas in a high school production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and he might even take voice lessons. He
knows exactly which song to sing to showcase his voice, the correct key, and the choreography to go along with the lyrics. He
doesnt even need to follow along on the prompter screen. This is his domain, and hes there for the applause.
The audience has a love-hate relationship with Musical Theater Guy. On one hand, he is highly entertaining to watch and
hear. But he also has a habit of showboating which makes anyone else who has to follow him highly annoyed. Musical Theater
Guy, if left unchecked, can sometimes become The Hustler, who runs the karaoke circuit, pretending hes a newbie. Musical
Theater Guy needs to get himself an agent and hit the audition circuit.
The Cheerfully Tone Deaf
The regulars at the Yee Dynasty all know about Goatgirl. They tell me I cant leave until I hear her performance. Sebastian
says shes something of a legend at the Yee. It isnt long before shes introduced by her real name, of course. At first, Im
confused about the nickname. She doesnt look like a goat. In fact, shes an attractive girl, nicely dressed, who moves
confidently. But when the musical intro is over and she opens her mouth to sing Peggy Lees Fever, it becomes painfully clear
where the moniker came from. Not only is she woefully out of tune, but Goatgirl also has a vibrato that sounds like shes
sitting on a washing machine during the spin cycle. The worst part is she seems completely unaware of the actual sound coming
out of her mouth. In her mind, she sounds exactly like Peggy Lee.
The Cheerfully Tone Deaf performer is harmless in most cases. After all, the average karaoke performance only lasts about
three and a half minutes barely a blink of the eye in a four-hour night on the town. But the danger is when this unfortunate
singer thinks she has true talent, and she ends up embarrassing herself in other venues. We may someday see poor Goatgirl
being mercilessly skewered on national television by Simon Cowell or other notables. So, if you are the friend of a
Cheerfully Tone Deaf person, do them a favor and dont tell them how great they sound. Well all thank you for it by buying you
the next round.
Harder than it looks
Dont knock it til you try it. Thats sage advice about many things, including karaoke. When I decided to find out what all the
fuzz was about, I soon learned that theres much more to a stellar performance than reading the words off the prompter.
A good performer doesnt always have the best voice, but he puts his personality into the song, said Mike Sebastian, a
karaoke DJ at the Yee Dynasty. Sebastian and his fellow DJ, Kerry Preston, have been masters of ceremonies on Friday and
Saturday nights at the Yee for almost 13 years, and have seen it all the good, the bad, and the downright frightening.
Song choice is key.
It should be a song you are very comfortable with and has some meaning to you, but it should also be a match for your
voice, Preston said. I think thats a common mistake. People just want to get up here and sing their favorite song and its not
in their vocal range.
With this advice in mind, I picked Janis Joplins Me and Bobby McGee. Not only is it one of my favorite songs, but I felt
pretty comfortable with the words and the vocal range. Plus, I sing it in my car and in the shower all the time.
But standing on the small stage at the Yee, it occurred to me that singing in my car is a whole lot different than singing
in front of this formidable crowd. Alas, this realization came far too late. When the music kicked in, I suddenly had a huge
lump in my throat and my hands started shaking. At this point I understand why the second most common fear is the fear of
speaking in front of a crowd.
I started to sing, but between the feedback of the sound system and the noise level of the crowd, I couldnt really hear
myself. The only way to tell if I was in the right key was to monitor the faces of the people in the front row: if they
winced, I knew Id hit a bad note. By the time I got to the end of the song I hit my stride, and I actually started to enjoy
myself.
Not bad, said Jeff Brooks, a seasoned karaoke veteran. Coming from him, I took that as a compliment.
January 21, 2006 10:45 - Disney Makes Karaoke Version of Musical
Great news.....even Disney loves Karaoke
The folks at the Disney Channel say theyre so certain people are going to want to sing along to their new movie, "High
School Musical," that the cable network is going to let them do just that with a special "karaoke version."
"After Fridays premiere, youll be able to download the lyrics for all the songs, and on Saturday, were going to be doing a
karaoke version of the film with the lyrics on the screen," said Gary Marsh, president of entertainment for Disney Channel
Worldwide.
The movie pits warring school social cliques against one another, drawing instant comparisons to 1978s "Grease."
January 26, 2006 08:41 - The karaoke of the TAITO appears!
Taito has launched a song download service for aspiring karaoke masters on Japanese PSPs through Sony's P-TV service. Yeah,
and that Japanese headline's a bit awkward, but that's what you get when Google does the translating for you.
According to GameSpot: "The site only offers about 70 songs at the current time, but Taito plans to expand the available
selection to over 10,000 songs by early summer. Each of Taito's Karaoke songs can be downloaded for 105 yen ($.93), and can
be played back on the PSP for 15 days."
A dollar per song sounds good, but it only pays for 15 days' use? We hope there are some well-paying karaoke competitions
in Japan for those limitations, but that's a lot to pay for choice. Hopefully, Konami/Harmonix can do better with
downloadable songs (or custom-song capabilities a la Dance Factory) on future versions of Karaoke Revolution, with hopefully
a few hitting portable system or 2. There's no support mentioned for countries other than Japan, but who knew Taito was "one
of the country's major karaoke providers"?
January 26, 2006 08:42 - Japanese PSP karaoke service launched
TOKYO--In Japan, would-be pop stars can now download tunes and practice singing their favorite songs through their PSPs.
Taito, one of the country's major karaoke providers, today announced that it has launched a karaoke download service for the
PSP on Portable TV, a Sony Web site dedicated to PSP content.
The selection of karaoke songs currently encompasses Japanese pop music, songs from popular anime shows, and TV theme
songs. At this time the site offers only about 70 songs, but Taito plans to expand the available selection to more than
10,000 songs by early summer. Each of Taito's karaoke songs can be downloaded for 105 yen ($.93) and can be played back on
the PSP for 15 days.
By Hirohiko Niizumi -- GameSpot
Posted Jan 24, 2006 5:28 pm PT
January 26, 2006 08:43 - PSP Gets Portable Karaoke
Looking to get some singing in on the go? Well, unless you're planning on singing Japanese songs and have a Japanese credit
card, most likely you'll be missing out on the fun. Starting today, Sony along with Taito are starting to send out songs to
musical gamers all over Japan through the PSP Portable TV distribution system.
By paying about the equivalent of $1, PSP owners can choose a song plus music video with lyrics from a list of around 40
choices, and download it to either their computers (and then subsequently transfer it to their PSPs) or straight to their
PSPs through the Wi-Fi connection. It's a nice idea, and one that could be a good party starter, but one catch is that the
songs are only good for 15 days and then they expire, becoming unplayable.
Still if they could ditch the expiration date and just sell karaoke music videos for $1 each, it'd probably be a hit in
the west provided they concentrate on songs in English. But for those who are true fans of J-pop, the songs are available
here
January 28, 2006 21:49 - Konami Announces Country Karaoke Revolution
Konami has announced the upcoming release of their newest Karaoke Revolution title, CMT Presents: Karaoke Revolution Country.
The game will feature 35 country songs although they have not officially been announced yet. CMT Presents will include
EyeToy compatibility, mini-games and unlockable rewards including new playable characters, songs and more.
Konami's product manager Matt Knoles said, "We are excited to have CMT as a partner in creating a game that finally meets
the needs of the growing country music fan base."
CMT Presents: Karaoke Revolution Country is scheduled to release for the PlayStation 2 in March.
January 28, 2006 21:50 - StrawberryFrog creates online karaoke competition for Asics
launch
Asics has created the world's first internet Karaoke competition to promote its heritage brand Onitsuka Tiger during the
World Cup in Germany.
The pan-European campaign, created by independent agency StrawberryFrog, marks the launch of Injector DX, street footwear
based on its 1972 football boot.
A three-minute, videoclip, football anthem 'Lovely Football', performed by a Japanese choir aims, to appeal to streetwise
football fans and is available on CD-rom from shoe retailers and is downloadable from onitsukatiger.com. It is also available
as a podcast, Lovely Football is now available as a Podcast, a download for 3G phones and a ringtone.
The anthem forms the focus for a live karaoke competition, which invites football fans to sing along to 'Lovely Football'
through the Onitsuka Tiger website, using a microphone plugged into their PC. The website scores the singer based on the
accuracy of their lyrics, tone, volume and key.
The top five scoring singers win a pair of Injector DX on March 31.
Lovely Karaoke will run in two leagues -- the Junior Tiger version, which is in English only -- and the Onitsuka Tiger
World Cup, which is in Japanese and English.
The Onitsuka Tiger National Choir, which consists of 22 football fans from the company's head office kitted out in the
footwear, and is conducted by founder Mr Onitsuka himself, will feature in a viral video campaign and will run alongside
print ads in lifestyle magazines.
The campaign aims to build on the hysteria of the Japanese football fans witnessed at the world cup in 2002.
Carsten Unbehaun, senior marketing manager for Asics Europe, said: "This engaging new StrawberryFrog campaign leverages
Japanese passion and generations of World Cup anthems. It is destined to get fashion-conscious fans talking, and laughing,
from the terraces to the streets."
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