|
Plug n Sing Karaoke DVD Microphone
|
|
|
Vendor Commercial
|
 |
ASOTVI Review
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 28, 2008
|
 What is it? A microphone that connects between a DVD player and a TV that functions as a Karaoke machine when used with Karaoke DVDs.
The product consists of a professional-quality Emerson directional microphone with a long cable that splits at the end into a “Y” cord. Each end of the Y-cord is separated into the two Left (white) and Right (red) audio RCA connectors. One set is labeled “From DVD” and the other “To TV.” Installation is a simple matter of connecting the two audio plugs to the DVD player’s audio output and the other set to a TV with an open RCA audio input. The yellow Video cable must be provided by the user that connects directly from the DVD player to the TV. If you use a separate stereo amplifier rather than your TV’s speakers, you would need to connect the “to TV” connectors to an available auxiliary audio input.
The way the product works is that microphone itself inserts its signal into the audio channel only, headed to the TV, which is mixed with the Karaoke audio channel so that the user’s voice is broadcast through the television speakers along with the DVD’s music. The microphone has two switches on it. The first is a mode switch with three settings: Off, On, and Echo. The On setting turns the microphone on only with a clean channel, whereas the Echo setting provides a Reverb effect on the user’s voice. The second switch is for Volume that can be adjusted to balance the vocal level to that of the music. In the instance of using a portable DVD player, that too can allow volume changes for the music, and the TV’s volume control can be used to adjust the entire mix.
The product we evaluated came with three sample Karaoke DVDs. To use the system, the user only needs to play one of the DVDs, watch the TV and sing. A menu comes up on the screen with the list of songs on the DVD. Select one and hit “Play” and you’re ready to sing along. The display on the screen is that of most Karaoke songs you may have ever seen, with the lyrics displayed and the letters of the words changing color as the singer is supposed to be at that point in the song.
We observed that the DVDs themselves were top quality. That is, the music was not just a synthesizer playing the basic melody, as many “free” Karaoke songs downloadable from the Internet are. These DVDs were full instrumentation versions of the songs, inclusive of backup singers. You’d think these were the original tracks of these songs, only missing the lead vocalist.
With Karaoke machines costing over $100, some hundreds of dollars, this product, with a price around $30, is a very economical way to enjoy Karaoke for parties, public performances, or personal entertainment. In our evaluation (see video), we used a portable DVD player, which can be found at local electronic stores for less than $100, should you not wish to hook this product up to your primary DVD player.
Although, if you’d like to hook this product to your primary DVD player, but don’t wish to have to get behind your TV and DVD player and make all the connections each time you want to sing, this product could be hooked up once and then available all the time, replacing your normal RCA audio connections. When the unit is in the Off mode, the cable is in bypass mode and your DVD player would operate normally. This wouldn’t be applicable if you use an Optical digital audio interface.
The product comes with three DVDs to get you started, with a wide range of genres and both contemporary songs as well as old standards and even some holiday songs. The product also comes with a catalogue for ordering additional DVDs of more song choices. We also observed that Karaoke DVDs are readily available from major electronics retailers and online. If you choose to buy additional Karaoke songs just be sure that they are DVDs and not just CDs. The DVDs will have the video lyrics you need.
We found this product works as advertised – and is a lot of fun.
|
|
| |
|
|
Product: DVD Microphone
Available From: Emerson / IXT
Summary:
- Fun, easy to use
- DVDs are high-quality with popular songs for the whole family
$27.99 and up + S&H (depends on the product)
|
|
|