Hardware Needed to do MIDI-Karaoke
Hardware Needed for MIDI-KaraokeTo create MIDI-Karaoke files, you need a MIDI tune (tons of them are available on the Internet), the lyrics and the software to put them together. You can find all of this in the links that follow. To better enjoy the MIDI tunes, it is also highly recommended that your sound card have wave-table support. I use the Sound Blaster AWE32. Listening to good MIDI files on a sound card that has NO wave-table support is like hearing the difference between a toy keyboard you get at K-Mart for $30 and a $3000 professional keyboard. Get a sound card with wave-table synthesis like the AWE32. Games are better, the MIDI is better, life is better.
If you do not have wave-table synthesis, the sound card will re-map the MIDI sounds to non-wave-table equivalents. While you can still have fun with the songs this way, it will not sound as good. If you do not have wave-table synthesis, you may want to check out some software synths that make your Soundblaster compatible, non-wave-table card sound better with MIDI (but not as good as an actual wave-table synthesis). There are two that I know of: Wingroove and the Yamaha S-YG20.
What About a Microphone?
If you're serious about wanting to enjoy computer-MIDI-Karaoke, you've probably already invested in a different microphone than what shipped with your sound card. The reason for this is not so much to compensate for a drastic quality issue as it is for utility. I wanted a different microphone for four reasons:
- I wanted an on/off switch on the microphone.
- I wanted a wind-screen on the mic. Like the Police tune, "Every Breath You Take" is heard without a wind screen.
- I wanted a better grip. On the mic that came with my AWE32, if you try to hold the pencil-thin mic neck, you hear every friction noise that occurs as your hand moves around the mic (very distracting).
- A more standard-looking microphone (I like the cone-shaped mics) adds to the fun. If you're having a Karaoke party, the mic is a big part of creating the atmosphere.
A microphone cord length of 15 feet is a good idea. If your cord is shorter, I would also recommend a good extension cord for the microphone. I've had very bad luck with the extensions that are coiled. It seems they always have poor connection (sound cuts out intermittently). I've tried purchasing this type of extension three different times in the last five years. Every time I was disappointed. I have not had any problems with extensions that do not have a coil pre-built into the cable. I'm not sure why or if this really makes a difference; it's just been my experience.
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You cannot fully enjoy MIDI files or MIDI-Karaoke unless you have a
sound card that has wave-table synthesis. |
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Prepared by Kenny Bellew, (c) 1996
(with editor modifications 1998)
