If you have ever found a disc labeled CD+G at a thrift store or in an old karaoke collection, you have probably wondered what the extra letter means. CD+G stands for Compact Disc plus Graphics. It is a real, standardized format that hides simple graphics in the subcode data of a normal audio CD, which is why the disc still plays as audio in almost any player.<\/p>\n
A standard audio CD stores two channels of 16-bit audio plus a stream of subcode data used for track numbers and timing. CD+G uses part of that subcode to carry low-resolution graphics and text, usually lyrics that change color as the song progresses. The audio is ordinary CD audio, so a CD+G disc sounds the same as any other CD when played on a player that ignores the graphics.<\/p>\n
The graphics are basic by modern standards: a limited palette, blocky text, and no video. That is a limitation of the format, not a fault in the disc. The appeal is that the lyrics are synchronized and the file is still a Red Book audio CD.<\/p>\n
Most home karaoke machines with a video output support CD+G. They read the subcode and draw the lyrics on a TV. This is the simplest route if you already own one, and the remote usually includes key change and vocal channel controls.<\/p>\n
A number of DVD players include CD+G decoding, but it is not universal. Check the manual for “CD+G” or “karaoke” in the supported formats list. If the player has a karaoke mode and microphone inputs, there is a good chance it supports the format.<\/p>\n
With a CD\/DVD drive and the right software, a computer can read the graphics and display them on screen. This is useful for building a digital karaoke library, but it requires more setup than a standalone machine.<\/p>\n
DVD karaoke discs offer full-motion video, multiple audio tracks, and better menus. CD+G is older and simpler, but it has two advantages: the discs are cheap and plentiful secondhand, and the audio is standard CD quality. If you already have a DVD player with karaoke features, our guide to playing karaoke on a standard DVD player<\/a> covers that path in detail.<\/p>\n Karaoke lives or dies on the vocal mix. A few basics make a big difference:<\/p>\nGetting Better Sound<\/h2>\n
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