KARAOKE TIME!!

This is one of the popular new generation of Karaoke machines which is very common as an entertainment tool back home . This unit is the lowest in price when I visited Appliance Center in San Juan at that time. It is 8900 pesos which offers: about 2,000 songs, one cable microphone ( with a built in remote control on the mike's body ) a wireless remote, a song list and manual, a auto voltage AC pack , a USB cable and a microphone screen ( looks like a mini shower cap for the microphone's head ). For hygienic purposes, each singer should have 1 screen for his/her use because it catches the saliva emitted by the last user. The other units costing 20,000 pesos have more accessories but the basics is just you need in the meantime. You can always add the extras as soon as you find a need for them.

The unit, ( called Ziller ) also comes with a satchel case where you can keep the machine in case you want to use it in another house.

I kept the machine in my carry on luggage on my return trip because I am afraid it might get swiped from the checked - in baggages. Yes, there are some pilfering done in some airports.

One can see from the photo that 2 microphones could be used, and the 2nd could be an ordinary one as long as it works. There is the power switch on the left, then a "magic eye" in case you want to switch the machine on/off thru the remote switch and song selector.

One has to connect the unit to a TV and a good stereo to give that almost perfect sound of an orchestra accompanying your singing. Plugging the unit to a video and audio monitor is a child's play.

Now some technical tips concerning the music capability of this thing..

Human voices have different ranges. Thus sometimes, the key or pitch that came with the song will not suit a singer. Too high or too low. If the track is too high for you, you can change the pitch to something lower. and vice versa...

E.g. If the song is written in key of C and the highest note in the song is a high F which cracks your vocal chords, then lower the pitch by using the remote or the microphone's panel. Not everyone knows how to change the pitch. In this machine ( and maybe in similar models, ) this is the way to do it. Lower the pitch in 3 clicks, and the pitch will go down from C to an A Major..

You can do this by: first you access the song by punching in the numbers. Once the song title is on the top of the TV screen, press the START button twice. If you press it once, it starts playing and changing the key while the music is playing will make it sound horrible ( like an LP record slowing down). Press it twice and the playback goes into a pause. While the music is on pause, go to ADJUST in the remote/microphone. Press it twice and the menu will show the changing of pitch option. Then, change the pitch by pressing the arrows on the remote. Wanna make it go down? Press the left arrow. Go up? Press the right arrow. Then press the START button and the track starts playing in the ADJUSTED pitch.

Nothing better than singing a Karaoke song in the right pitch. Remember there is a crowd of critics out there listening to you especially your mistakes..:)

Do not mind the scoring of the song. Some songs are built in with high scores, some are with low. What is important is that you enjoy singing and you are entertaining your guests...

There are more techie tips re: Karaoke which I could write about. Will do it as the need arises...

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