CD+G and MIDI Karaoke

Karaoke technology

Karaoke fans take advantage of a lot of different technology when it comes to getting their hands on the best music. CD+G and MIDI files are very popular in the industry; in fact, CD+G are used almost exclusively for Karaoke!

CD+G

CD+G (CD + graphics) are discs that contain both audio and visual information. You can play a CD+G on a regular CD player but if you play it on a CD+G player (often found in Karaoke systems) you’ll see the graphics that are encoded on the disc as well.

Most often the graphics found on CD+G are the lyrics to the song that’s playing. A CD+G player is usually hooked up to a television or a computer screen so that you can sing until your heart’s content in the comfort of your own home. However, some more elaborate systems also take advantage of the technology because it’s fairly simple and inexpensive.

CD+G started showing up with recorded music in the mid-1980s. Few recording artists bother with it, however, because most CD players aren’t equipped with the required technology. If a recording artist is looking to include graphics with their CD they’ll usually release a CD / DVD that can be played on a computer or DVD as well as a CD player.

The only equipment you need to play CD+G Karaoke files is a CD+G player, a screen to hook it up to and a microphone. Since you can use both your TV and your computer as a screen, it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to get singing with CD+G.

MIDI Files

MIDI files transmit digital data that allow electronic devices like synthesizers and computers to play audio files. A MIDI Karaoke file is used to add synchronized lyrics to a standard MIDI file. MIDI Karaoke files can turn any computer into a Karaoke machine!

MIDI files have a low bandwidth and are meant for real time transmission. A long string of MIDI messages can be overwhelming and cause a noticeable delay in the transmission of the data.

The graphics included in a MIDI file are generally quite basic. They’ll offer the lyrics to the song in a ‘follow the bouncing ball’ fashion that synchronizes them to the music as it plays.

There’s no extra equipment required to take advantage of MIDI Karaoke files. As long as you’re hooked up for online or PC Karaoke you’ll be ready to download a MIDI Karaoke file and start singing!