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ikaraoke, ipod not included
iKaraoke

karaoke mic for the iPod

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iPod karaoke mic makes you a mobile American Idol

  • Jan 13, 2009
  • by
Rating:
+3
If you dabble in the karaoke arts but aren't prepared to spend a grand or two for a costly machine and CD-Gs (proprietary format for karaoke song discs), or even a few hundred bucks on Rock Band, iKaraoke is your best bet to become a mighty band of one. At around $50, it's the most affordable way to partake in your own American Idol-try.

iKaraoke (by iPod peripheral company Griffin Technologies) is perfect little port-a-mic that plugs into any iPod that uses the flat, proprietary connector and not the firewire. Ideally, you'd plug iKaraoke into an iPod connected to speakers and not headphones, since there's not much of an advantage to singing and hearing your voice funneled back into your ears only. You can't hear what you sound like and people will look at you like you've got voices in your head. Which you do! I like to use iKaraoke in the car, for long road trips and those hours I'm stuck in LA traffic (see video below).

In terms of setting up iKaraoke, it was intuitive to plug the audio out into the iPod headphone jack (nothing happened). But what you actually have to do is connect iKaraoke to the iPod, and then plug the audio out into the headphone jack on the end of the iKaraoke mic dongle. A little trial and error at first, but once I understood it was all good.

Once you work out all the circuitry, you need to choose a song you know all the lyrics to. Since you're karaoking from your existing audio mp3s, you won't have song lyrics, or sadder yet, a matching cheesy video. "Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe? "A Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler? If you really need lyrics, you can buy karaoke songs in mpeg4 video format from the iTunes music store.

The mic itself is simple and easy to understand– it includes play, rewind, and fast forward buttons, and a switch to let you mute out the vocal track. Mind you, you can't ever completely mute out vocals on a pre-recorded song since you don't have access to the original tracks. The iKaraoke mutes vocals about 80%, which isn't bad. For some unknown reason, the vocal muting works better with older, pre-90s songs. But when vocals are set to "off," the music sounds like a cassette tape that's been sitting on your dash all summer. iKaraoke is recommended for karaoke hobbyist, but not recommended it for hi-fi sound junkies since the sound quality is so unpredictable.

To get the full scoop, check out my video demonstration on singing with iKaraoke in the car:

More karaoke shenanigans here on my blog, Hit Me WIth Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide To Karaoke Domination!
ikaraoke

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July 23, 2009
Great review and of course the incredible demonstration. I guess someone could simultaneously download lyrics, no? I know of plenty of websites that do contain lyrics of any songs anywhere.
 
July 14, 2009
Impressive.. Not the IKaraoke, the review....Thanks for sharing....
July 20, 2009
thanks! yeah the iKaraoke aint all that, but thanks for making it through my review!
 
April 07, 2009
dude, the video is awesome! nice demo ... now I just have to find someone who doesn't mind chauffeuring around a tone-deaf wannabe rockstar
April 07, 2009
I'll chauffeur you around! As long as you don't mind a karaoke crazed back up vocalist. We can cruise PCH and blast it out the windows.
 
April 06, 2009
This is an excellent, excellent review. Bonus points for your video review. I do not want an iPhone... I send way too many emails and prefer the Blackberry's typepad. That being said, I could see myself driving around for hours singing with this mic. Good stuff.
April 07, 2009
Hmm but can your crackberry karaoke? I have yet to figure out a way for me to sing and drive with the mic, but perhaps when the headset mic comes out... Glad you liked the review! :)
 
April 01, 2009
LOL Funny review -especially since Im always belting out a tune w/ my "fake" microphone!
April 05, 2009
thanks! it just feels more "real" with a mic, albeit a tiny one
 
March 31, 2009
This makes me want an iphone even more!!! Great, great review!
 
February 26, 2009
I'm super glad to hear about someone's experience with this! I've been thinking about buying one--being a Karaoke lover--but wasn't sure if it would be as cool as it sounds...
 
January 21, 2009
You're so cute in your video! :) Nice song selection too!
 
January 16, 2009
Excellent, informative review on a pretty interesting product. I feel like I have a unique perspective on the iKaraoke since I'm usually the one driving while you sing! It does what it advertises, but only adequately. My biggest bugaboo is the amount of microphone feedback whenever the volume in my car is turned up, but this may be due to the crappy acoustics inside an automobile more than anything else...
 
January 13, 2009
thanks guys! rachel, don't tempt me! you know this review was just an excuse to get some karaoke singing on Lunch! go supporting media!
 
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About the reviewer
Raina Lee ()
I'm a writer interested in technology culture: video games, personal technology, mobile phones, and even karaoke. I'm the author of Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide To Karaoke Domination(Chronicle … more
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About this song

Wiki

  • Griffin iKaraoke Microphone for iPod
  • General Features:
  • Sing along to songs on an iPod
  • Connects to any iPod with a dock connector
  • Plug and Play
  • All-in-one microphone/processor
  • Power: iKaraoke receives its power through iPod dock connector
  • Audio output impedance: 1 kOhm
  • Audio output frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
  • Audio input signal level: 0.7 VRMS
  • Automatic shut-off function
  • LED ring
  • Vocals switch
  • Next button
  • Select (Play/Pause) button
  • Previous button
  • Includes 12-foot 3.5 mm audio cable

  • Works with:
  • iPod classic (80, 160 GB)
  • iPod Touch
  • iPod nano 3rd generation (video)
  • iPod nano 2nd generation
  • iPod nano 1st generation
  • iPod with video (30, 60, 80 GB)
  • iPod (4th generation)
  • iPod (4th generation) with color display
  • iPod photo
  • iPod mini
  • iPhone 2nd generation
  • Microphone Dimensions:
  • 5 x .6-inches
  • Regulatory Approvals:
  • FCC
  • CE
  • C-Tick
  • RoHS
  Package Includes:  
 
  • Griffin iKaraoke Microphone for iPod
  • 12-foot 3.5 mm audio cable (connects to line out on dock connector to stereo source)
  • User Guide
  Additional Information:  
 
view wiki

Tags

Music, Iphone Applications, Apple, Karaoke, Iphone App, Ipod, Mobile, Singing, Mp3, Griffin Technologies, Mpeg4, Ikaraoke, Mic
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"iPod karaoke mic makes you a mobile American Idol"
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