Karaoke Glossary

Automatic Guide Cancel	Jack plug	Preset
Backing Track	Karaoke	Sync
Bit-rate	KAR file	Sync-Bubbles Mode
CD+G format	Key Control	Tempo Control
CDG file	KFN file	Text Highlighting
DirectX	KFP file	Training Mode
Echo	KPL file	Vocal Reducer
Editor	MIDI	WAV file
Extra Tracks	MP3 file

Automatic Guide Cancel

Automatic Guide Cancel is the same as Guide Replace or Guide Partner.
When a singer is listening to the guide melody or the guide vocal on any karaoke file and starts singing into the microphone, the guide stops, when he stops singing into the microphone the guide comes back. Thanks to this, "you may be able to sing afterwards!"

Backing Track

Pre-recorded music used by a singer or other musician during performance and which augments or entirely replaces other performers. This has become increasingly popular as musicians attempt to recreate the sound of their studio recordings live on stage. Karaoke are backing tracks.

Bit-rate

We use the term Bit-rate when speaking of video or audio quality and file size. It defines how much physical space one second of audio or video takes in bits. The higher the bit-rate better is the quality and higher is the size. For MP3 encoding, you can choose between constant, average or variable Bitrate. We recommand VBR.

CD+G format

CD+G discs look like standard audio CD's when played back on regular CD players or CD-ROM drives. The CD+G format is an extension of the standard RED-BOOK audio format. On an audio disc there is an area known as the subchannel. This area is used to store data for the cd player like elapsed time etc. Some of this area is normally unused.
In CD+G discs the subchannel is used to store the CD+G data. This data consists of commands and graphics that are interpreted by the player to produce the CD+G display.
There are dedicated CD+G players, mostly in the form of stereo equipment or stand-alone Karaoke systems.
Using CDDA or CDRWin to extract the CD+G data and one of the many CD audio rippers and MP3 encoders you can convert your CD+G discs into files on your computer. KaraFun will then play those files on any properly equipped Windows system.

CDG file

A CDG file contains the data normally found in the subcode area of CD+G audio discs (mostly Karaoke CD's). That area is used to hold graphics that display in sync with the audio. In a process similar to ripping, a program (CDDA) reads the audio disc and extracts the data from the disc and saves it to a file. KaraFun can both read these files and read directly from the disc. There are very few CD-ROM drives that will read the subcode area of an audio CD in order to extract the CD+G info. To Convert CD+G discs to CDG/MP3 files you will need: Registered CDDA or CDRWin, and CD Ripper and MP3 encoder(s).

DirectX

Microsoft DirectX® is an advanced suite of multimedia Application Programming Interfaces (API's) built into Microsoft Windows® operating systems. In simple words, DirectX is a Windows technology that enables higher performance in graphics and sound when you're playing games or watching video on your PC. You need to have DirectX 8.1 or higher installed, to be able to use KaraFun.
Click here to download the latest version of DirectX

Echo

An echo effect can be put on any kind of extra track (audio and midi). You can change the level volume and the delay time applied to the current extra track.

Editor

The KaraFun Editor enables you to create your own karaoke files. For more information, you can read the tutorial.

Extra Tracks

An extra track can be anything but the backing track: It can be the guide melody (an instrument plays the melody), the guide vocal (a real singer plays the melody) or your voice when you've just finished recording it. All theses additionnal tracks are always mixed with the backing track. You can reduce their volume level individually.

Jack plug

A jack plug is an extremely common audio connector. Jack plugs are available in two standard sizes. The original 6.5mm and the 3.5mm (miniature). Both sizes are available in two-conductor (mono) and three-conductor (stereo) versions. You can plug a microphone in your PC and use it with KaraFun. It's generally a 3.5mm mono jack plug. For more informations, read the "How to use a microphone" in the help page.

Karaoke

Karaoke is a form of entertainment where an amateur singer accompanies recorded music. The music is of a well-known song in which the voice of the original singer is absent or reduced in volume. Lyrics are usually also displayed, sometimes including color changes synchronized with the music, to help with the sing-along.

KAR file

A .KAR file or (MIDI-)karaoke file is just a special case of a MIDI file.

Key Control

Raises or lowers all the notes to help you sing in your range. Key change effects only the pitch, not the tempo. (also named Pitch Control or Key Changer)

KFN file

The KFN format is used by KaraFun software for storing MP3 or MIDI karaoke. It can contain a lot of information: MP3/OGG audio tracks, MID or KAR files, images (JPG, PNG or BMP format), lyrics, visual effects... This format is continuously evolving and then new features will be added afterwards.

KFP file

A KFP file (KaraFun Preset) is used to play KAR, LRC, KOK and CDG karaoke files in an appropriate visual environment. It does not contain music, lyrics and syncs, but it is used to "package" your karaoke files. You can also use it as a starting point for KFN file creation. Some karaoke presets are included in KaraFun, but you can download many others in the Karaoke Presets Download page. You can create your own presets with the KaraFun Editor.

KPL file

A KPL file (KaraFun PlayList) contents the list of karaoke files that KaraFun will play automatically. You can manage your lists in the Playlist Window of KaraFun Player. (Same as M3U files)

MIDI

Musical Instrument Digital Interface.

MP3 file

An MPEG audio file (MP3) is a highly compressed audio file that can be played back at CD quality. A typical audio track from a standard CD normally takes 30 to 40 megabytes to store. Using MP3 this can be reduced to less than 4 megabytes while still retaining high quality.
The process of extracting the audio from a CD disc is called "ripping". This gives you a WAV file. You must then "encode" this WAV file into an MP3 file. There are various programs available to do this for you. Some programs combine the ripping and encoding into one step.

Preset

KaraFun Karaoke Preset. See KFP file.

Sync

A sync (abbrev. of synchronization) is the time position of a piece of text separated by a space, a carriage return or by the "/" character. In the KaraFun Editor, syncs are showed with little vertical dotted lines with pieces of text. In the KaraFun Player, you can show the syncs with the "Sync Bubbles Mode" button.

Sync-Bubbles Mode

The sync bubble mode displays incoming synchronizations: useful to anticipate when lyrics restart after a solo.

Tempo Control

Controls the speed of the music. (also named Speed Control)

Text Highlighting

There is two way to highlight the text when the karaoke is playing: per blocks or gradually (line). You can toggle with the TXT button on the main window of the player. The type of highlighting can be defined in the KFN file.

Training Mode

The training mode (the "sunglasses" button) is optimized for an easy reading. It helps to become more familiar with the lyrics. You can change the colors and the type of the font in the options.

Vocal Reducer

Reduces the level of vocal range on an original MP3 songs (may reduce instruments in same range)

WAV file

Uncompressed audio file format. When you record your voice with KaraFun, a .wav file is created.