Home Karaoke Machines - Is MP3 Karaoke Systems Better Than CDGs

The two most popular Home Karaoke Machines are MP3 and CDG. But which one is better? And which one should you get? Here are some quick details about the two types of karaoke machines to help you decide.

Home Karaoke Machines are fun and simple to use. They can give you hours of wholesome entertainment for the whole family. And are great for any type of party or event. In the past you were limited to the types of home karaoke systems you could purchase. But right now you have two main choices to the type of Karaoke Machine you want to have. Either a MP3 Machine or a CDG Machine. Of course there are other types of karaoke machines available, but these two are the most popular choices amongst home karaoke users.

The difference between the two types is straightforward. A MP3 Machine is capable of playing digital files in the format of a MP3. While a CDG Machine requires physical discs with a number of prerecorded songs. CDG stands for Compact Discs plus Graphics. They are just like regular CDs but have a graphics attached to them for displaying the lyrics of a song. They are a few Karaoke Machines out there that are capably of playing both types of media. Which is great news for those who want to be able to play both types.

CDG Karaoke Machines:
CDG Machines have been around for a long time. This does not mean they are out of date technology. While we do live in a digital age, it is still nice to physically have a library of songs that are readily available to pop into your machine whenever you like. Digital files can often get lost or deleted and you have to purchase them all over again.

Displaying lyrics on a TV screen is the big advantage that CDGs has over your MP3 files. Simple playing a MP3 file without any graphics or lyrics is still great, but you lose a major feature of Karaoke. Not everyone knows the lyrics to every song, so having the lyrics displayed means everyone can take part. The big disadvantage of CDGs are their limited storage space and navigation. Most CDG discs only have about 10 to 12 songs on each disc. You may find yourself constantly inserting discs to find songs.

MP3 Karaoke Machines:
MP3 Machines carry with it a level of convenience that you just do not get with CDG Machines. You can insert your iPod or mp3 player and select your favorite songs by just pressing a few buttons. Your friends can bring their iPods or mp3 players and suddenly your music selection has drastically increased. Also, your playlist is not limited to just 10 or 12 songs, you can create a playlist as long as you want.

Of course MP3s files alone do not display lyrics. For this you will need to have a MP3+Graphic file. You can find these types of files now on many Karaoke downloading sites. They are basically an audio file (mp3) plus a graphics file that you play at the same time. Just make sure your Karaoke Machine is capable of playing MP3+Graphic (MP3+G) files before you download any. Not being able to eliminate lead vocals is another disadvantage you may come across with playing regular MP3 files. A song on a CDG disc is usually recorded with two different tracks, one for the music and the other for the lead vocals. Which makes it easy to remove the lead vocals when playing the song. Playing regular MP3 files does not give you this option.

Which Type Is Best?
Both CDG and MP3 Karaoke Machines have their good points and bad points. Only you can decide which will best suit your karaoke needs. MP3 Machines are definitely more modern and offers better functionality. And is probably the better choice between the two types. But the classic CDG  Machine is still around for a reason. It will provide you with all your basic karaoke needs, including displaying lyrics. The ideal machine is one that is capably of playing both types of media. This way you get the best of both worlds.

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