iKaraoke...iLikeIt
Like to sing along with your music? Now, Griffin (griffintechnology.com) has
made it possible to experience "the thrill of karaoke on your iPod." The
device is a really neat brushed metal microphone attached to a four foot
cable ending in an iPod docking jack. Simply plug it into the dock
connector on your iPod, then press a button on the mic to configure the
device to play through an FM radio station or line-out to your speakers.
You're set to find a song and sing along. The iKaraoke has another button
to allow either the entire sound track to play or to eliminate the lead
vocals — which you then supply.
The device is a cylindrical five inch microphone on a cord; the mic is about
an inch taller than a full size iPod. Toward the top of the mic is a ring
that lights to let you know when you are in a settings mode. Setting up
iKaraoke is simple: plug the jack into the dock connector of your iPod and
turn on the iPod. Pressing and holding one button shows the setup menu on
your iPod screen. The settings permit you to determine whether the output
mode is an FM transmission or line-out; the dock connecter end has a line
out jack built in to it for easy connection to speakers or a sound system.
The other settings permit you to set a reverb level, music or PA level, and
the FM frequency for transmission mode. Changing settings is no more
difficult than a press-and-hold of one button to enter a mode, then pressing
another button to make changes. All of this is clearly visible on the iPod
screen.
Once the settings are completed (no more than a minute at most), then choose
your playlist, music, or song. Start the music using the iPod controls as
usual. There are three buttons on one side of the mic that permit you to
play/pause, skip tracks both forward and backward, and to scan within a
track if held. Essentially, you control the iPod via the microphone. Turn
the mic 180 degrees to find the vocals switch which permits you to damp down
but not completely eliminate the lead vocals. That is, once you have chosen
your song, play it, engage the vocal switch and sing along karaoke style.
The idea is to give you that special feel for that you would achieve using
a larger machine or perhaps making a fool of yourself in a bar. A push on
the switch in the other direction brings the full volume of vocals and
background music back again.
So how does iKaraoke perform in practice? Well it's certainly fun but a bit
flawed! First, imagine that you have connected your iPod to a set of
speakers or stereo system through the line out connection of the iKaraoke
jack. Set it up to play in this mode, turn on your speakers, choose your
song, and belt it out. Actually on some songs, the entire lead vocal is
eliminated leaving you to do a complete solo. Yet on other songs, the music
and vocals just sound damped like you are wearing ear plugs; yes you can
sing to it but the experience isn't great. The manual states, "Note that the
effects of the Vocal Switch can vary from track to track, depending on how
the music was recorded." I went through several dozen songs and couldn't
find a pattern of what worked best — perhaps more trial and error is necessary.
If you have karaoke tracks on your iPod already, then this is not an issue
at all. Next, I reset the iKaraoke controls for FM transmission and to a
frequency that I know works well in my house and car. I played and sang
through the home stereo receiver and thankfully the neighbors did not call
the cops or SPCA. Next out to the car: the device did play through the car
radio for my sing-a-long just as it did in the home.
Performance was the same as in the line-out mode except as with any FM
transmitter and iPod, you suffer static, hum, and occasional loss of signal.
How would you use iKaraoke? Vanity first: you can sing sing sing and win
your Grammy or American Idol championship sans Simon the critic. On a long
trip, with a car load of kids, you would probably run yourself off the road;
but you'll all roll merrily along. At a party, you can set it up to play
your children's music, Macarena, chicken dance or hava nagila. At Christmas, all
of your favorite carols can play through your speakers as you pass around
the microphone. An added bonus: in PA mode, it will allow you to address
the crowd through your speakers in both line-out and FM mode.
Would I buy one? Yes I would! I checked the street prices on the Internet
and found the device as low as $30. It would be both a fun and unique gift
as well.
