Hey OldNewb,
Something else to consider...Kar files display lyrics using a "text event" while true midi files display lyrics using a "lyric event". Many keyboards need to see the lyric event to display lyrics. Vanbasco can display either, lyric or text events.
I use GNMidi to convert my .kar files to .mid files which will change the text events to lyric events.
http://www.gnmidi.com/ -mike