Spectrum Sound and Light | For All your Karaoke Needs: Karaoke Discs, Karaoke Players, Microphones, Amps, CD Players, Mixers, Speakers, Lighting and Effects.

For All your Karaoke needs: Karaoke Discs, Karaoke Players, Microphones, Amps, Mixers & Speakers...

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Karaoke Glossary.

A/V

A/V is an abbreviation for Audio/Visual.

All-In-One Karaoke Machine

This is a machine that can play at least one of the following karaoke formats: CDG, VCD, DVD, or cassette tape. These machines have a built-in amplifier and speakers all in one unit. They are usually very portable and need only a connecting wire to your TV or video monitor video input or VCR video input. If you don't have a video input on your TV or VCR you will need an RF Modulator (see definition of RF Modulator).

Ambience

The acoustic characteristics of a space with regard to reverberation. A room with a lot of reverb is said to be "live"; one without much reverb is "dead."

Amplifier Also known as: Amp

A device which increases signal level. Many types of amplifiers are used in audio systems. Amplifiers typically increase voltage, current or both.

Karaoke amplifiers may contain a variety of features which include mixing capabilities for microphone and music, echo, key change, vocal reducer, and vocal replacement.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Never turn on the amplifiers (or other source units) with the level (volume) control on at any level. This could cause irrepairable damage to your loudspeaker system. This is normally detected by a loud pop when the units are switched on. If this occurs with the level controls down, turn off your system immediately and consult your dealer. Never use an amplifier with a higher rating than your speaker system. This could cause damage to your speaker system. If in doubt, consult your dealer. Do not use shielded or microphone cable for any speaker connection as this will not handle the amplifier load and could cause damage to the complete system.

Balance Control

Left/right channel balance on a stereo system. This allows you to remove the lead vocal track on multiplex recordings by turning off one channel.

CDG Also known as: CD+G, CD+Graphics, Karaoke CD

A CDG is a specially formatted disc that has an additional line of sub-code on the CD that is responsible for the lyrics that play on video screen for Karaoke systems. CDG stands for Compact Disc + Graphics.

Most CDGs do not have lead vocals. They only have background vocals and instrumentals.

Standard audio CD players will play the audio portion of a CDG, but not the graphics. Computer CD-ROMs will usually, but not always, be able to play the audio portion as well.

Clipping

Refers to a type of distortion that occurs when an amplifier is driven into an overload condition. Usually the "clipped" waveform contains an excess of high-frequency energy. The sound becomes hard and edgy. Hard clipping is the most frequent cause of "burned out" tweeters. Even a low-powered amplifier or receiver driven into clipping can damage tweeters which would otherwise last virtually forever.

Decibel Also known as: dB

Named after Alexander Graham Bell. We perceive differences in volume level in a logarithmic manner. Our ears become less sensitive to sound as its intensity increases. Decibels are a logarithmic scale of relative loudness. A difference of approx. 1 dB is the minimum perceptible change in volume, 3 dB is a moderate change in volume, and about 10 dB is an apparent doubling of volume

0 dB is the threshold of hearing, 130 dB is the threshold of pain.

Whisper: 15-25 dB

Quiet background: about 35 dB

Normal home or office background: 40-60 dB

Normal speaking voice: 65-70 dB

Orchestral climax: 105 dB

Live Rock music: 120 dB+

Jet aircraft: 140-180 dB

Delay

Delay is also a facet of the echo process. Delay refers to the amount of time that exists between echoes.

Diaphragm

The part of a dynamic loudspeaker attached to the voice coil that moves and produces the sound. It usually has the shape of a cone or dome.

Digital Echo

Digital echo is a synthetically processed sound effect that mimics natural echo.

Echo in general is the "bouncing" of waves back and forth between 2 surfaces. Echo is what makes the vocals on records and on the radio have that professional sound. It's a very popular effect with singers. It gives the vocals a spacious or ambient feeling that works great with vocals. A little Echo is definitely a great effect on most vocals, but not necessary for all occasions.

Digital Key Control

This allows the singer to transpose the Karaoke Music into their desired key without effecting the tempo.

DVD Also known as: Digital Video Disc, Digital Versatile Disc

DVDs are like CDGs plus, some DVDs incorporate a motion picture background with the words to the song superimposed in front of the video pictures. The biggest benefit to DVDs is capacity. DVDs hold about 20-26 songs depending on song length.

DVDs do not have lead vocals. They only have background vocals and instrumentals.

Equalizer

Electronic set of filters used to boost or attenuate certain frequencies.

Frequency

The range of human hearing is commonly given as 20-20,000Hz (20Hz-20kHz). One hertz (Hz) represents one cycle per second, 20Hz represents 20 cycles per second and so on. Lower numbers are lower frequencies.

Gain

To increase in level. The function of a volume control.

Graphic Decoder Also known as: Decoder

Karaoke unit which decodes the digital coding on a CDG to provide the words and graphics for songs. If you already have a CD player, a decoder is an alternative solution to purchasing a CDG player.

Headphone Jack

Output on a system which allows for the music to be heard through headphones.

Inputs

Input jacks which allow for connecting other components or systems into the main system. Can refer to audio input or video input.

Karaoke

1. A music entertainment system providing prerecorded accompaniment to popular songs that a performer sings live, usually by following the words on a video screen.

2. The performance of such music.

Common mispellings of karaoke include: kareoke, karioke, and karoke.

Karaoke Player

A unit that plays karaoke formatted discs (CDG, VCD, and/or DVD). They can also play regular audio CDs. It converts the information on a karaoke disc to audio and video output. In order to view the lyrics that are coded to the disc, you must connect the player to a TV or monitor. The sound can either be produced by the TV's speakers, or a separate amplifier and speakers. There are many ways of configuring a karaoke player to work. Contact us for help.

Many home singers connect them to their home stereo system for an amplifier. In order to view the lyrics that are coded to the disc, you must connect the player to a TV or monitor.

Karaoke Track

You sing the main vocal part of the song. This also referred to as the instrumental track on some karaoke CD's. Background vocals (not the main vocal), if needed, can also be heard on the prerecorded karaoke CD track, so when you sing the song, these addtional voices are heard, along with you singing your main part.

Key Changer

This is another device placed between the player and amp in the connection process, but it is also "built-in to many CDG players. This device raises or lowers the key that the song is in. This helps a singer sing the song in his or her range ( makes the song easier to sing). It does not effect the tempo of the song. Other terms for key control are digital key control or pitch control.

Key Control

Raises or lowers all the notes to help you sing in your range. Digital key control effects only the pitch, not the tempo.

Line Level

CD players, VCRs, Laserdisc Players etc., are connected in a system at line level, usually with shielded RCA type interconnects. Line level is before power amplification. In a system with separate pre-amp and power-amp the pre-amp output is line level. Many surround sound decoders and receivers have line level outputs as well.

Microphone Also known as: Mic

Buy a good quality microphone. Poor quality microphones will sound bad no matter how much you have spent on amp's and speakers. Wired microphones plug into your sound system with a cord. Wireless Microphones permit you to go anywhere in the room while you are singing. Wireless mic.s plug easily into your sound sytem. Many singers like a wireless mic. because most wireless mics. amplify your voice just a small amount, unlike wired or corded mics., which have no amplification built into them. With this small amplification, singers with a "soft" voice can usually be heard better on a wireless mic.

Mid

Mid frequency bass, usually frequencies just above the sub-bass range, from around 100 - 400 Hz or so.

Midrange

A speaker, (driver), used to reproduce the middle range of frequencies. A midrange is combined with a woofer for low frequencies and a tweeter for high frequencies to form a complete, full-range system.

Mixer

This is placed between the player and amplifier in the connection process. A mixer is used when your player or amp doesn't have a place to connect a microphone. The mixer "mixes" the music from the player, with the sound from the microphone. It is also useful when you want to be able to control aspects of multiple sources of audio and video from one unit. The number of A/V inputs and outputs vary on each mixer.

Some mixers contain additional features such as key control, echo and vocal reducer.

Monitor

TV screen used to display words and/or pictures from karaoke players.

Monitor Speakers

Speakers directed at the performer to help them hear the music and singing.

Multiplex, CDG Multiplex, CD+Graphics MultiPlex

There is a vocal track so that you can learn the song. Some manufacturers have two versions of the song on the disc. One without the vocal track and one with. Some manufacturers provide you with only one version that has a vocal track. In either case the vocal track can be removed by using a feature on a karaoke player called Multiplex (MPX) or the balance control on your amp or CD player.

Muting

To greatly decrease the volume level. Many receivers and pre-amplifiers have a muting control which allows the volume level to be cut way down without changing the master volume control. Great for when the phone rings.

NTSC

There are two TV video standards, NTSC and PAL. NTSC is used in North America, and PAL is used almost everywhere else in the world. Most hardware devices (DVD or VCD players) that play PAL video resolution out on a NTSC monitor correctly will cut approximately 24 lines of resolution from the top and bottom of a PAL image.

NTSC has 352 X 240 video resolution. This PAL to NTSC video conversion / truncation problem does not exist when viewed on a PC monitor as the PC just displays the whole image.

Octave

An octave is a doubling or halving of frequency. 20Hz-40Hz is often considered the bottom octave. Each octave you add on the bottom requires that your speakers move four times as much air!

Out of Phase

When speakers are mounted in reverse polarity, i.e., one speaker is wired +/+ and -/- from the amp and the other is wired +/- and -/+. Bass response will be very thin due to cancellation.

Outputs

Output jacks which allow for connecting other components or systems from the main system. Can refer to audio output or video output.

Overload

A condition in which a system is given too high of an input level. A common cause of distortion or product failure.

PAL

PAL has 352 X 288 video resolution. This PAL to NTSC video conversion / truncation problem does not exist when viewed on a PC monitor as the PC just displays the whole image.

Pitch Control

Raises or lowers the song pitch to help you sing a note which is too high or too low for your vocal range. A pitch controller changes the key by slowing down or speeding up the recording.

Power Output

The sound level produced by a loudspeaker. This is usually measured in watts.

Pre-Amplifier

This is a device that takes a source signal, such as from a turntable, tape-deck or CD player, and passes this signal on to a power-amplifier(s). The pre-amp may have a number of controls such as source selector switches, balance, volume and possibly tone-controls.

Pre-Out Also known as: Pre-Amp

These outs are used for a number of functions. They can be used to output a signal suited for a recording of your performances to an outboard recording device such as a Tape deck or CD burner. They can also be used to plug your system into a club's PA system or into an external power amp to power some additional speakers.

Rack Mountable

Rack Mountable refers to the ability to place unit into professional or travel rack cases. Such cases are great for building complete systems and protect them during transportation. The standard rack size for MOST cases is 19".

RCA Connector

"Phono" plugs, used primarily as low-level connections between CD players, Tuners, Recievers, Amplifiers, and TVs.

Repeat

Repeat is facet of the echo process. Repeat refers to the frequency of echoes within a period of time. As more repeat is applied, more echo repetitions are applied.

see also: Delay, Digital Echo

Resistance

In electrical or electronic circuits, a characteristic of a material that opposes the flow of electrons. Speakers have resistance that opposes current. In electrical or electronic circuits, a characteristic of a material that opposes the flow of electrons. Speakers have resistance that opposes current.

RF Modulator

If you are not connected to a monitor type TV you need one of these adaptars to convert the video signal from your karaoke player's "video output" to Channel 3 or 4 on you TV. If you have a video input on your VCR, you may not need the RF Modulator.

SCDG Also known as: Super CD+G, Super-CDG, Super CD+Graphics

A SCDG is like a CDG, except that Super CD+G discs have hundreds of CD+G karaoke songs in each single disc.

Super CD+G discs are convenient and economical for parties and rentals. Super CD+G discs will save money from buying so many discs, time from switching so many discs, pain from carrying so many discs.

Super CD+G discs are playable in DVD/CDG karaoke players with SCDG trademark, including the CAVS DVD-202G karaoke player. Simply insert the disc, press a song number, and play. You have the features of Key Control, Voice Cancel, and Reservation.

Super CD+G discs are also playable in PC Windows with DVD-ROM drive. Each disc comes with an auto-loading PC program to play the hundreds or thousands of CD+G karaoke songs right in your PC.

Software

This refers to the type of media which reproduces the music in the case of audio cassette tape, or reproduces music and video or graphics in the case of laser disk, CD+G, VCD, or video tape. To reproduce the graphics and or video and to display it, you must have a karaoke player attached to a TV, VCR or video monitor.

Sound Tracks Also known as: Music Tracks, Disc Tracks, Songs

Music, and information stored on a discs and tapes. Example: CDs, CDGs, LDs, cassettes, video CDs, music soundtracks, and karaoke without lead vocals.

Sound Waves

Sound waves can be thought of like the waves in water. Frequency determines the length of the waves; amplitude or volume determines the height of the waves. At 20Hz, the wavelength is 56 feet long! These long waves give bass its penetrating ability.

Speaker Power Ratings

By far the most common cause of loudspeaker failure is damage to the voice coils caused by amplifier overload. Speaker damage from faulty components or manufacturing defects is very rare. The overwhelming majority of failures are due to misunderstanding the difference between loudness (decibel, dB) and the power to create it (Watts, W).

Sub-Code

Sub-code is specially coded area of data used by CD+G manufacturers to produce lyrics for Karaoke video output.

Superimpose

Function that allows video input from TV, VCR or video camera. Displayed on TV screen behind lyrics of CDG discs.

Timbre

The quality of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds of the same pitch and volume. The distinctive tone of an instrument or a singing voice.

Tone Control

This allows you to control the amount of bass and treble.

Tweeter

A speaker, (driver), used to reproduce the higher range of frequencies. To form a full-range system, a tweeter needs to be combined with a woofer, (2-way system), or a woofer and midrange, (3-way system).

VCD Also known as: Video Compact Disc

VCD is a disc formatted in MPEG-1. These discs are good candidates for Karaoke use as they have an audio and a video layer to them.

Words to the songs appear on a TV screen over a scene that you normally see on TV when the disc is played on a VCD player and hooked up to a TV.

Video Out

Output jack on a system which allows for the video to be shown on a TV or Monitor.

Vocal Assist

Allows the lead vocal to be heard over headphones, without being heard over the speakers, when used with multiplex recordings.

Vocal Cancel Also known as: Vocal Replacement

Vocal Cancel mutes out the vocal guide on a CDGM (Multiplex) karaoke disc. This is done by canceling out the whole left channel (where the vocals are coded), and splitting the right channel (with no vocals) to both sides.

Vocal Demo Track

A professional singer sings along with the music, so you know how the singing part is supposed to go.

Vocal Partner

Vocal Partner is just like Vocal Cancel, except it is voice-activated. When a singer is listening to the guide vocal on a multiplex disc and starts singing into the microphone, the vocal on the disc stops, when you stop singing into the microphone the guide vocal comes back. This feature is very helpful if you're learning songs or performing simulated duos

Vocal Reducer Also known as: Vocal Eliminator, Vocal Masking, Vocal Suppressor

It reduces the vocals on a regular, pre-recorded music CD or tape. The Vocal Reducer can reduce the lead vocals on regular music CD's but not Multiplex CD's. For the optimum effect the lead vocal should be in the center of the audio mix. If the vocal is not in the center there will be a slight audible vocal ghost. In addition to the vocals it may reduce any instrumentation in the same range as the pre- recorded vocal. Vocal Reducer will not eliminate 100% of the vocals of any regular CD. Results will vary from song to song.

Watt

The smallest increase in loudness of 3dB takes twice the power. To increase the level to seem twice as loud, you need ten times the power. If you try to sustain a given loudness within a particular room size and do not have enough power (watts), several things begin to happen within your sound system. As you use up amplifier headroom, the sense of detail in the reproduced sound will disappear. Then you may hear distortion on signal peaks - the distortion is generally easier to hear at higher frequencies, but is much more common at low (bass) frequencies. This means the amp is running short of power to send to the speakers. Allowing this state to continue will reach the third stage of failure, overt distortion followed by voice coil burnout. Many people have an amazingly high tolerance for distortion and just do not notice a problem until it is too late.

Woofer

A speaker (driver) used for low-frequency reproduction. Usually larger and heavier than a midrange or tweeter.

Y-Adapter

Any type of connection that splits a signal into two parts. An example would be a connector with one male RCA jack on one end, and two female RCA jacks on the other end.