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Driving Directions

I did mega hours of research to find this stuff out.  I think it is the most informative web page on karaoke with the information you actually need.  If only Google would figure that out.  A lot of the stuff the software tech support doesn't even know.

Ben's Karaoke Parties

Song List:

Karaoke Songs:

  • Nutech Party Packs Volume 1, 2 and 3 - If you do the math it only comes to 8 cents per song with very few duplicates ($100/1234)=$0.081.  The problem is removing the vocal if you don't go with the CAVS brand players or ever decide to switch to a computer based system.  See my notes on removing the vocals below.  Earthbound Karaoke has the three volumes bundled with the CAVS 203 (with USB) at a good price.  You'll have to use the CAVS players with the Nutech Super CD+G or else get CGDFix 3.4e Super and rip the Super CD+G to another format on your hard drive.
  • buykaraokedownloads.com - Great selection and price but I didn't like the quality on some.
  • mycdg.com (top songs) - $3 per song but if you buy CD+G disks, by the time you figure the duplicates and the fact that there are only about two good songs on a disk and the duplicates and the fact that the rest you will never play, you are probably paying a lot more than that.  The hard part is determining good karaoke songs.  Click here for my suggestions.  Click here for my wish list.
  • Amazon.com - They have a fair selection and good prices with no tax and free shipping.  I'd get their Party Tyme Karaoke: Oldies Party Pack and their Party Tyme Karaoke Country Classics Party Pack.
  • Karaoke Version - I don't know about this site though.  It seems like every time you find a song it says it doesn't contain the lyrics so what's the point?
  • expresskaraoke.com
  • ebay.com - If you know the specific disc you want, you can usually get a new one via ebay at a lower price.
  • acekaraoke.com - A good selection but stay away from some of the brand x's.  They can be really poor quality.
  • CAVS - You can download individual songs for $3 per song but they don't have much of a selection.
  • karafun.com
  • chartbusterkaraoke.com
  • shopkaraoke.com

User Manuals:

Karaoke Supplies:

Karaoke Software:

Removing Multiplex Vocals from Nutech Super CD+G:

  • I had a big write up on this but now it's easy.  It's an option with CDGFix Super.

Making your own super CD+G discs, what they don't tell you:

  • For the basic directions, see http://cavsusa.com/instruction/cavs_make_scdg.pdf but there is a lot they don't tell you.
  • I was able to get 2000 songs on a disc in the super CD+G format with DVD DL compared with about 90 songs on a CD.
  • You need a CD/DVD ROM capable of writing CD+G to write both CD+G and super CD+G.  See http://www.plextor.com/english/index.html.  Here is what Plextor tech support says:
    • A CD+G is a special Audio Compact disc that contains graphics data in addition to the audio data on the disc. The disc can be played on a regular Audio CD player, but when played on a special CD+G player, can output a graphics signal

      Plextor drives:
      PX 230A (CDR drive) can only do Karaoke VCD, not CD+G
      Plexwriter Premium (CDR drive) will read and write CD+G
      Px 708, PX 712 and PX716 families of CD/DVD drives will read and write CD+G
      PX-740 family drives will only read CD+G. Will not write CD+G
      PX750 drives, like the PX 740, can only read CD+G
      PX-755SA drive will read and write CD+G
      PX760 will read and write CD+G
      PX680U is NOT cd read or write.
      PX800A, 810SA and 810UF are not CD+G compatible
      The 800A, 810SA, 810UF are our newest, current drives.
    • From that you would think that the Plextor PX-755SA or PX-760 are the way to go.  However, all those listed are no longer in production.  Everyone stopped making the CD/DVD ROMs that write CD+G. I guess there isn't much demand for them and if you have to jack up the price $20 for something nobody wants it puts them out of the price competition. I was able to get a new (unused) old model CD/DVD ROM via ebay. The guy had 14 of them and I think he sold out the same day. I specifically asked Plextor tech support what the difference was between the IDE and SATA CD/DVD ROMs and told them what kind of computer I had. They said both would work. When I received it from ebay, the wiring was completely different. I told Plextor tech support and they said that was the wrong one and I'd have to exchange it for the SATA. That burned me up because I asked that question and told them to see the question in that email. Finally I did some more research and found out that there are two options and I tried both and they worked.  You can keep the IDE Plextor 760 as an internal drive and go with a Silicon Image Sil0680 UDMA/133 IDE RAID PCI Controller Card or you can make it and external drive with a Sabrent USB-DSC5 Serial ATA or IDE 2.5-/3.5-Inch to USB 2.0 Cable Converter Adapter with Power Supply.  I wasted my money on a SATA to IDE adapter that didn't work.  I preferred the external and now have three CD/DVD ROM (2 internal and 1 external) on my Dell XPS.  CAVS says the SATA version won't work anyway so maybe my mistake in buying the IDE instead of the SATA was really luck. So you can see all the problems you run into.  I was thinking I should write a book on it. Some guy wrote to me and said he wrote a book on vitamin D mostly from my vitamin D web page.
    • If you follow the directions on making your own super CD+G at http://cavsusa.com/instruction/cavs_make_scdg.pdf, there is a lot they don't tell you.
    • Before you generate the CAVS MCG/.dat files put the curser on the just past the last letter in the last line of the SCDG.CFG file and hold the delete key to ensure there are no blank spaces.
    • Which software to use had me confused. To write CD+G to a CD or DVD everything says that CDRWIN is the only software that will do it. However super CD+G is some kind of ultra zipped form of CD+G. You need a special CD+G capable CD/DVD ROM to write CD+G. CAVS even says that you still need those same special CD/DVD ROMs to write super CD+G. So you would think that you would still need the special CDRWIN software. I tried the built in Windows software and the Roxio software to burn the files to the DVDs and it didn't work so that kind of confirmed that theory. So then I tried the CDRWIN software and it worked for a two song super CD+G file so that seemed to further confirm that theory but when I tried larger files it would always crash and corrupt the disc. Then it seemed like everyone in the forums were using the Nero software so I tried that and everything worked great. Those idiots at tech support either don't answer or tell you something completely wrong.  With Nero, you select Nero Express (not Nero Startup) and Data and DVD (not CD) and follow the menus.  To get the the CAVS_MCG folder to the Nero window was to bring up Windows Explorer and right click the folder and select "Copy" and then go to the Nero window and right click and select "Paste".

Other Karaoke Part Supplies (some for for the computer based option and some are for the player based option).  It includes different options for different based systems (player based or computer based):

Recommended Systems (assuming that you already have good speakers and an entertainment center or receiver):

  • Player based:
    • CAVS DVD-203G USB - Note:  This model has both multiplex and USB and can play the super CD+G or the CD+G or the DVD formats.  You need the multiplex to turn off the vocals on most super CD+G's.  You need the USB so that you can load your disks on an external hard drive so that you don't go crazy changing disks.  Do a Google search of it and find the lowest price (about $250).
    • A four microphone wireless system - See computer supplies above (about $290).
    • An external hard drive such as Seagate ST302504FDA1E1-RK FreeAgent Desktop 250 GB USB External Hard Drive [CD] (about $90).  You'll have to format it for FAT32 to use with the CAVS DVD-203G USB (see page 16 of their manual), which was a real hassle trying to figure out how to do with Microsoft Windows.  FAT32 is an old format.  They now use NTFS.  Microsoft tells you to use the procedure at http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/c5545765-da9b-41e4-8fd2-f1f83f9a61401033.mspx#E6B.  When you get to their pull down menu, it only offers NTFS.  Another site says to run the "format (Drive letter): /FS:FAT32".  I couldn't get that to work either.  I went to the Seagate web site and it said to download their DiscWizard program.  I did but it was still confusing.  You need to select "Add New Disc" and at the very end of the wizard it offers the FAT32 option.  The Seagate DiscWizard worked for my Maxtor external hard drive also.  After that, I ripped the Nutech super CD+G to my external had drive (formatted in the FAT32 format) using CGDFix 3.4e Super and the CAVS 203 USB worked fine with the Seagate external hard drive.  If you really want to be cool thought, go with a flash drive  The small free one I got with my Dell computer worked without formatting.  The average karaoke song in the CD+G format (the CAVS won't read .zip) is less than 5 megabytes.  So a 32 gigabyte flash drive (about $250) should hold 6400 songs (32000/5 = 6400).  Actual numbers are 3970 songs came to 14.1 GB in the CAVS MCG  format and 13.2 GB in the .mp3/.cdg .zip format and 3714 songs came to 17.2 GB in the .mp3/.cdg format.  That $105 plus shipping and tax that CAVS wants for a 60 GB hard drive is a rip off.  The CAVS player require the CAVS MCG format which can be done with the free CAVS MCGManger or CGDFix 3.4e Super.  Computer based systems such as CompuHost and Siglos Karaoke Player/Recorder can use the .mp3/.cdg .zip format.  So worst case using the .mp3/.cdg none zipped format a 250 GB external hard drive should hold 53,982 songs (x/250 = 3714/17.2 therefore x = 52982).  Doing the same math, a 32 GB flash drive should hold 6906 songs in the .mp3/.cdg format.
    • You'll need to rip the karaoke songs to the external hard drive in the CAVS MCG format or you get audio only, not video.  You can either use the free CAVS MCG Manager software of use the CGDFix 3.4e Super.  I don't think you can rip the Nutech super CD+G with the MCG Manager software though.   The CAVS manual is really confusing about requiring the CAVS MCG format.  It seems like that manual spends way to much time covering things that are obvious and no time at all telling you what you need to know.  The CAVS 203 USB also needs the English.inx for it's menu.  The juke.txt file is useful also.  CGDFix 3.4e Super gives you the option of creating the English.inx and juke.txt files when you rip to the CAVS MCG format.  If you are using MCGManager, I think you need the INXMenu program.  I don't know if CAVS made a mistake or what but the INXMenu programs that's created with the MCGManager program was completely different from the INXMenu program at http://www.cavsusa.com/product/H_player/data/INXMenu.zip.  I don't know what the MCGManger INXMenu does the one at http://www.cavsusa.com/product/H_player/data/INXMenu.zip worked great.  At first I didn't know about the INXMenu program created by the MCGManager but I'm glad I didn't because it didn't work.  The good one at http://www.cavsusa.com/product/H_player/data/INXMenu.zip took me about and hour to find though because it was not on the page that the CAVS manual said.  I finally found it via a Google search.
    • When you get it set up, you only need to enter the song number on the CAVS playing instead of going crazy changing disks.  For that to work though, you'll need to create a English.inx and Juke.txt file.  This is another area that the manual is useless.  You'll need the free INXMenu software.  The web page that the manual sends you to has nothing about that software.  I found it with a Google search at http://www.cavsusa.com/product/H_player/data/INXMenu.zip.  Then found out the the CAVS MCGManger software also installs the INXMenu but when I brought up that one it was completely different.  I couldn't figure out what it's purpose was.  See "Download useful programs" at http://cavsusa.com/product/H_player/dvd203gUSB.htm which has a link to the INXMenu software but the INX Menu that gets installed with the MCGManager is completely different.  http://www.sumakaya.com/products/pdf/CAVS_DVD_USB.pdf has the directions but it is pretty self explanatory.
    • CAVS also has a problem with their forum site.  I registered under three different email addresses because it keeps refusing my user name and password yet won't let me re-register with that user name because it says it's already used.  The CDGFix software will also create the required English.inx and juke.txt files but only if you are ripping the songs.  They are working on version 3.5 which may create only the english.inx and juke.txt without the ripping.  You can bring up the juke.txt file in Microsoft Excel and select "Data - Text to Columns" and follow the menu (type # for "other) and then save it in the .csv format to create song books with programs such as FastTracks V2 Plus software.
    • A note of caution when ripping to the CAVS MCG format; all the files have to have the same number of digits.  I believe the MCGManager does this automatically but I used CDGFix and numbered my songs 1.mcg ... 3970.mcg.  The problem that I encounter is every time I selected a song from 1 to 999, the CAVS player would lock up.  All the songs need to have the same number of digits.  I renamed the songs to 00001.mcg to 003970.mcg using CDGFix Super and everything worked fine.  Having 5 digits will allow me to expand to 99,999 songs.
    • If you are running out of USB ports, something like CyberPower CPH720P USB Hub, 7-Port, USB 2.0, 480Mbps (about $30).
    • Nutech volume 1,2 and 3 (super CD+G) to get started (about $300) or other bundles pack (CD+G, not DVD or you'll get yourself in trouble when you try to expand) then go with custom karaoke CD+G's at places like mycdg.com to fill in the gaps.  Otherwise you end up with a lot of duplicates.  SingClean.com has the CAVS DVD-203G USB/Nutech 3 pack bundle for $389.
    • CGDFix 3.4e Super (about $80) is great for copying super CD+G to the CD+G format hard drive.
    • For back disks (optional) you'll need something like Plextor Super Multi Portable CD/DVD RW Drive (about $165)on disks such as Verbatim DVD+R DL 8.5GB 2.4X 20pk Spindle (about $40) and backup software such as CGDFix 3.4e Super (about $80).
    • You might want to get a fiber optic cable to go from the CAVS 203 to the receiver or entertainment center.  See Tripp Lite Digital Audio Cable (optical) - 6 ft.
    • Also see:
      • How to download karaoke songs from CAVS Online Store (PDF)
      • How to extract karaoke songs from CD+G discs* (PDF)
      • How to load Super CD+G disc to ext. USB HD for CAVS USB players (Flash movie)
      • How to make a CD+G disc (PDF)
      • How to make a Super CD+G disc (PDF)
      • How to make a Super CD+G disc from downloaded songs of CAVS Online Store (Flash moive)
      • How to prepare a USB storage device for CAVS DVD USB players (PDF)
      • MCG Manager (EXE)
        last update:Nov. 2007 How to use new MCG Manager
      • SCDG_Encoder program (EXE)
      • Win Rename
  • Computer based:

Some Notes on Super CD+G:

  • If you go with the computer based route, the software reps will tell you that super CD+G will not work because it is a proprietary system and is copyrighted by CAVS.  It might be copyrighted but I was able to read it from both of my CD/DVD readers and CGDFix 3.4e Super was able to copy it from there to my hard drive in just about any format including the CD+G/.zip format used by CompuHost.  The only problem you run in to is that the disk number shows up as the title.  This isn't a problem because you usually go by the song book anyway.  You could always enter the title and artist in manually if you want.
  • When you copy from super CD+G to CD+G/.zip on you hard drive, CGDFix 3.4e Super allows you to select the starting number and number of digits.  I selected six digits and numbered my disks.  That way I can use the same song book for both the computer based and player based routes.  The first two digits are the disk number.

What I would buy if I were to do it again (computer based), however more most none techies, the player based is much easier:

A Caution of DVI Plugs:

 

These are the song books I made with  FastTracks V2 Plus software.  I realize that the covers don't tell anything about the software.  The covers were purchased at Office Depot.  The comb binder punch for the holes was purchase at Amazon.com.  See Plastic Comb Binding Machine at Amazon.com.  My song book came to 78 pages, which being double sided came to 39 sheets which required a 1/4"iconor 5/16"icon comb.
 

Making Song Books with FastTracks V2 Plus software:

  • I felt their song disc database was more trouble than what it was worth.  I opened the CGDFix 3.4e Super software then inserted the super CD+G or CD+G disc and CDGFix recognizes it.  Then I select "Project - Save Tracklist as CSV...".  Then I open Microsoft Excel and select "All Files" and open the .csv file.  To get the columns, highlight every row and select "Data - Text to Columns - Delimited - Next " and put a check mark in "Tab, Semicolon, Comma, Space and Treat consecutive delimiters as one".  You can highlight everything and select "Home - Format - AutoFit Column Width" to make it easier to read.  Then  I delete the first row and all columns that don't apply and insert a blank top row and label the columns in the order of "Song Title", "Artist", "DiscID", "Track#" (as per the FastTracks manual) but I leave the "Track#" blank and insure the columns are in that order.  For "DiscID", I use a 6 digit numbering system where the first two digits are the disc number and the last 4 are the track number so if I ever want to go back to using discs I still have that option.  If you have 1234 songs as in the case of super CD+G, you can create a formula to get the "DiscID" (for example "+10000+d1" and copy down the column) then copy that column and paste it back into the same column by selecting "Home - Paste pull down menu -  Paste Values".  To ensure 6 digits, select "Home - Format - Format Cell.. - Number - Custom" and put in 6 zeros.  Close Excel because you can't open the same file with FastTrack while it is open in another program.  Bring up FastTrack and select "Import CSV file into song book" from the "Documents" directory most likely.  FastTracks has a bug in it so you have to go out of FastTracks and back into it to get back in their default directory or else you'll get an error every time you try to do something.  With that saved FastTracks file you can print out a neat song book and save it to a web page format.  See mine at Song Book.

Computer Karaoke without the Mixer:

Most karaoke software programs are designed to work with a mixer.  I got the VocoPro KJM-7900 Pro at DJDeals.com.  You run something like the Cables To Go - 03179 - 3.5mm Stereo Male To 2 RCA Female Y-Cable from your computer to the mixer and plug the microphone into the mixer and then run something like Monster Cable M DJ-CR-1M pair of 1 meter DJ Cables(RCA to 1/4 inch) from the mixer to an amplifier.  However there is a way to skip the mixer, use your computer's microphone input and just go with the computer to amplifier cable.  See:

  • Use Your PC as a PA - PC Magazine - "Find the speaker icon in the system tray. If you don't see a speaker icon, launch Control Panel and double-click the Multimedia, Sounds and Multimedia or Sounds and Audio devices applet. On the first tab find the check box that relates to showing a volume icon on the taskbar - check that box and click OK. Double-click the speaker icon to open the Volume Control window, which acts as amixer board for the various sound channels. In that window, choose Properties from the Options menu. Make sure that Playback is selected in the Adjust volume for box,and that the check box for Microphone is checked in the list of volume controls. Choose OK to close the Properties window ... You should now see a column labeled Microphone in the volume controls. Uncheck the Mute check box for the microphone, making your mic live. Adjust the Microphone and Volume Control settings and the volume control on your speaker system as needed"
  • Miguel Carrasco's Real World: Vista Microphone and Line-In Issues? - miguelcarrasco.net - "Right-click on the sound icon in the system tray and select Playback Devices (or alternatively, go to Control Panel and select Sounds). Once in the Sounds window, double-click the Speakers options, then go to the Levels tab, and there you'll find the available options"
  • However, I had to go this route:
    • Miguel Carrasco's Real World: Vista Microphone and Line-In Issues? - miguelcarrasco.net:
    • "If you can't get the input monitor to appear in the speakers/headphones section as a few of you can't.
      Try this:

      1) Press (WindowsKey)-R (to run a program)
      2) Type "regedit", press enter, and then click "Continue" (depending on your security settings)
      3) Go to Edit -> Find (or Ctrl-F)
      4) Type "EnableInputMonitor" and click Find (or Find Next)
      5) Double-click the EnableInputMonitor entry. It will come up as 0000 00. Change the 00 to 01 (so it's 0000 01). Do a Find Next just to make sure it's the only EnableInputMonitor registry setting on your system
      6) Exit the Registry Editor and Restart the PC
      6a) Wait for Vista's criminally long reloading time
      7) Right-click the little Sigmatel Icon and select "Playback Devices"
      8) Click "Speakers/Headphones" and then "Properties".
      9) Under the "Levels" tab, there is now a new option called "Input Monitor", which is muted. Click the speaker to unmute to Input Monitor, and the Line-In port now functions as expected (i.e. like every other computer and every other sound card made in the last 20 years)"
    • If you have a Dell, try:
    • Alright, I found an article on Dell's site that gives the registry key mikey mentioned back in June. See the full article at http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=vista&view=by_date_ascending&message.id=38805&c=us&l=en&cs=04&s=bsd

      Long and short of it is:
      1) Open regedit (Start->Run, type regedit)
      2) Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings\filter\SpeakerHp\
      3) Create a new Binary Value
      4) Give it the name EnableInputMonitor
      5) Set it's value to 01
      6) Restart your machine
      7) Open your Playback Devices (right click on volume control icon in system tray, select Playback Devices)
      8) Open the Speakers/Headphones
      9) Go to the levels tab
      10) Unmute the input monitor

      There you go, you can now hear your microphone on your speakers.

My favorite karaoke software is Siglos Karaoke Player/Recorder (about $50).  If you don't know some that can put your karaoke songs onto your hard drive you'll also need software to do that.  My favorite is CGDFix Super (about $70).