Claiming arrangers as not being Karaoke devices is a stretch by the very definition of the word. An Arranger is a Karaoke machine by definition.




People who PERFORM with keyboard arrangers do so for one reason ....... to sing with musical accompaniment. Playing is of no consequence nor does it eliminate the definition of Karaoke as I have read it.

If one did not want or need accompaniment by a "device" one would be playing a CP 300 or RD700 or Casio Previa! Many do in Piano bars.

I don;t care whether you are sitting down or standing 10 miles from the source you are singing to an arrangement......

Studio vocalists are singing to pre recorded arrangements for Gods Sake!!!

I think the problem is not so much with the word Karaoke as the culture.

The think that REALLY makes Karaoke "Karaoke" in a commercial and negative to many musicians is the voluntary and necessary handing off of the mike to any audience member without regard to their abilities,Therein IS the "entertainment" whether good or funny.

IF you play to a Drum bass part, that can be considered an "arrangement"



MY wife despises Karaoke to the point where she had to be cajoled into using a Harmonizer. (but takes no issue using tracks in many cases, because without the human voice it's no Karaoke) But I think what she really despises is a total non professional becoming the unpaid "primary entertainment" while the KDJ just spins tracks for $50+ an hour. The same issue bands have with DJs,

Evey song played live on an arranger that would require more than two hands and one player that is sung to can be considered Karaoke by definition. whether sitting down (hiding the arrangement I suppose). Or standing up away from the keyboard to interact. Live concert performers use tracks ie "a device that plays instrumental arrangements. Just because you add a live instrument does not change the game. A voice is a live instrument...........

I wonder how many gigs people here would gwt if they showed up with just a 76 key "piano" and dispensed with the "device that plays accompaniments"

Karaoke is a lot closer in definition to arrangers to a Tyros than Motif a PA2x than an M3 a G70 than a Fantom.......in fact any of the former in every case plays musical accompaniment to a singer....I suppose if you don't sing it would not be Karaoke by definition,

Karaoke is not the bad part......Joe the Plumber singing NY NY is, and what gives KAraoke a "bad name" But make no mistake I sell PA gear to one guy who has no less than 6 KAraoke gigs going at the same time. He hires K DJs for $60a night and pockets $140.

This is the real reason "musicians" don;t like Karaoke. It puts them out of business and the UNTRAINED UN TALENTED audience Karoke DJ in the game. Some are not so bad......others are laughable but that's the idea...Entertainment whether comedy or serious business, is entertainment or Karaoke would have died a long time ago.....like live cover bands today who's places are being taken up by OMBs with Arrangers.




[This message has been edited by Kingfrog (edited 10-19-2008).]