karaoke

N

nord

New member
why do karaoke tracks sound so awful? someone said something to me about yhem being in the wrong key, don`t know if thats right

nord
 
Most professional units can adjust the key up or down half an octave, through tempo change - some more recent models have multilayer disc - so they play in any key with no tempo change.

With these older units the default key is not the compositional key but C. So unless the songs original key is C then it will be out unless like all professional K-Singers you know the key that best suits your voice. Some competitions do not allow you to change from C - so you really have to know your tunes and range well.

That said - also throw in super-duper-do compressed mixes, through bad EQ, and beer/sake drenched speakers. Oh and not to mention that usually even good singer sound crap with bad mics, no fold back and too much alcohol in their own PA system.

All in all the UN should declare Karaoke it a war crime! If you are thinking this guy knows too much - sorry I live in Asia - it’s an occupational hazard.
 
i was looking through napster once listening to random stuff and found

`wing sings elvis` In the ghetto is particularly bad

it sounds like a 5 year old starts playing the keyboard during one of the instrumental parts!

nord
 
i think the world would be a better place without key changers or transposition of any kind
i get this feeling i`m listening to one song but all the notes are wrong or its being played on some weird instrument

Mozart didn`t write compositions in `whatever` major

nord
 
nord said:
i think the world would be a better place without key changers or transposition of any kind
i get this feeling i`m listening to one song but all the notes are wrong or its being played on some weird instrument

Mozart didn`t write compositions in `whatever` major

nord
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I really don't think that transposition makes one bit of difference. If you play a song, then hit a bunch of random notes (so I lose my sense of the key), and then play the song again shifted up or down a bit, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Most people wouldn't. The 1% or so of the population with perfect pitch may perceive things differently, but for the rest of us, I think its pretty arbitrary.

The actual technology used by karaoke machines to transpose audio recordings, however, can sound pretty bad.

I think Whatmysay's list of problems is a lot closer to home. To add to the list, I doubt the musicians and techs who produce these things feel very inspired, thus they provide very mediocre performances. Lots of generic midi sounds seem to get used.
 
I've only been to a karaoke bar once - and that was to listen to a "country" singer who claimed he was good and sounded like Alan Jackson (I needed an "Alan Jackson" voice for a couple of songs I had written). It turned out he and every other singer I saw during a space of 90 minutes sucked (I stayed that long to see if he got any better at his 2nd and 3rd try - he didn't). Clearly I am no expert re" karaoke". However my obsevations were as follows:

Karaoke background tracks while not horrid are likely produced in an assempbly line fashion, with limited attention to quality and little actual pride in ownership (track 'em and ship 'em).

The karaoke DJs use the bare minimum equipment to send the sound to the room - the compurter transposition has some digital quirks and while the mixer and speakers coulds maybe be considered a "PA system" - it by no means is good enough to provide a quality sound. People who "run" karoeke "shows" are at best "wanna be artists" and at worst untalented parasites simply trying to make a quick buck on the foolishness of people willing to embarrase themselves in a public forum. (I'm actually being overly general - I actually know one talented musician/singer who fronts a karaoke show simply because it provides a more consistant gig income than being in a band - I know him, but I can't really respect him)

The mics used by the singers suck and the singers suck even more!!!

The fact that so many venues choose to use karaoke as entertainment - which in trun takes gigs away from actual musicians is a misjustice of the highest level. The fact that so many people turn out to "sing" and so many more people turn out to observe is an assault to the sensitivities of any musician and a travesty to the arts.

I do find myself thinking - why is a thread about karaoke (one of the seven dealy sins) even here in the "songerwriters formum')

Just to qualify my response - I'm not a fan of karaoke:eek:
 
its about 1/10000 in america (0.1%) but more in other tonal language countries but i`m not sure about the whole have and have-not theory,anyway a funny thing i just read;


'For example, in the Chinese dialect of Mandarin, the word "ma" when spoken in a high pitch means mother, while "ma" in a lower tone means hemp.'

so;

can i borrow your hemp just for tonight?:)
can i borrow your mother just for tonight?:eek:

is basically the same question differing by a single pitch

would you risk this question?!!!!!!

lol

nord
 
Mandarin is for wimps – only 4 tones – try Cantonese (Southern China dialect – incl HK) – up to 7 tones.

The word for the number 9 ‘gouw’, can also mean dead, dog and penis. This leads to a great insult about sucking ‘9 dead dogs’ penises’ which just goes “gouw, gouw, gouw, gouw”. You really have to be careful in the taxi if your block number is 9.

On the Karaoke thread in the forum – I think we should always be reminded of the ‘Dark side of the Force’. Another aspect effecting the sound must be the sickening feeling induced by the accompanying videos – they look like porn without the sex!
 
Whatmysay said:
......
With these older units the default key is not the compositional key but C. So unless the songs original key is C then it will be out unless like all professional K-Singers you know the key that best suits your voice. Some competitions do not allow you to change from C - so you really have to know your tunes and range well....

....All in all the UN should declare Karaoke it a war crime! If you are thinking this guy knows too much - sorry I live in Asia - it’s an occupational hazard.
Click to expand...

....so 1 in 12 should sound ok

....you would think asians would be better karaoke singers if they have these tonal languages- i suppose they`ve got two things pulling them in different directions though


nord
 
mikeh said:
I do find myself thinking - why is a thread about karaoke (one of the seven dealy sins) even here in the "songerwriters formum')

Just to qualify my response - I'm not a fan of karaoke:eek:
Click to expand...


where should it be? room 101?

nord
 
nord said:
where should it be? room 101?

Beyond the fact that I question if a discussion about karaoke should even be on a web site dedicated to and frequented by musicians and composers who are serious enough and dedicated enough to commit huge amounts of time, effort and money into their craft (which was really the jest of my comment) - I would suggest the oriinal question would likely make more sense posted under recording techniques, or perhaps mixing/mastering - or better yet, the Cave - which seems to have little or nothing to do with actual music (which conicidentally also defines karaoke:D)
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'dedicated to and frequented by musicians and composers who are serious enough and dedicated enough to commit huge amounts of time, effort and money into their craft'

thought you might know the answer? And you did, i think i will forget about

karaoke, i like the sound of silence

nord
 
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