Messages

1.  For the song selection, what if there is a piano version of the song created just for an anime or game series?  Can we use that?

2.  What do you mean by we're being judged on our appearance?  If its just J-pop, do we dress like the singer (which may be hard to tell the difference between singer and person, since the person is hardly known)?  Or just showing up and/or wearing clothes?

3.  Say we have both two different versions... can we test dampened and choose or is it choose and hope?

1. Yes.

2. There is no requirement to dress like the singer or to cosplay. Your outwards appearance is not counted in the Presentation score. But the audience might appreciate it!

3. Please test on your own before the con. (Search the older topics on this forum for how to find vocal dampening software for your computer). If you cannot do this, then try it during Open Mic on Friday night. Once you check in and submit your CD, no changes to your music!

oh..and a question...if there is no karaoke for a certain song, can i just burn the origina song to a cd and give it, and then you guys would dampen it?

Yes.

I would like to sing "Brothers" from Fullmetal alchemist, but I would like to sing the Vic Minogna version where he sang it in english.

Did Vic perform this version in the dubbed version of FMA? If so, it is okay. If it's something he made up on his own for fun, then no.

"gravity" by maaya sakamoto (from wolfs rain)

please? :wink:

I'm pretty sure we have this song already!

Okay, I'm slightly confused now.

You said no to another poster over "making" a karaoke track--, but if you were to bring the original, and then have voice dampening applied at Fanime, then wouldn't you technically be making a karaoke track?

My song in question is the EXACT same as the original, except it doesn't have vocals. Unfortunately with voice dampening, all the bass and drums disappears, so it wouldn't really work in my favor to have it done at Fanime. So if we simply do the voice dampening ourselves, or another person already has done it, is it still not allowed? There are no other changes made to the song, the only difference is the vocals are removed.

The Karaoke Contest is a singing contest, not a contest of who has the best audio editing skills. If your song is the official karaoke version of the original (as in, it's on the CD single or an album) then we would run it without the vocal dampening. But you cannot take the original and alter it to remove the vocals.

Vocal dampening does not make a new track; it is an effect applied to the song while it is playing that masks out what the computer guesses is the vocal track.

And my second question is basically that I'd like a better definition of "audio CD". If I were to burn the CD, what format should it be in? .wav? No mp3s, so no .mp3 files, right? Is there a specific file used that I can convert my mp3s from to make them karaoke appropriate? Basically, what file extension should my files have?

The "no mp3s" rule is primarily against audio players- we don't want to deal with a stack of iPods and I'm sure most folks would not want to risk losing them at the convention.

The CD should be audio (as in readable on a non-computer CD player) or it can have mp3, .aac, or .wav file formats. No .ogg files please.

If you are burning a CD for the contest and really want to help make things easier for the staff, name your tracks as follows:

Real Name - Song Title (Karaoke) Round.mp3

Obviously, leave out the (Karaoke) part if it is not a karaoke track.
Round is either PRELIMINARY or FINALS.

Do we have to list what songs we'll be doing when we sign up, or can we just bring a CD with a bunch of different songs and tell the sign-in desk which track we've chosen?

When you sign up, you do have to list your songs. This is so we can  adjust the contest order if more than one person picks the same song. However, you can change the songs when you check in for the contest. Once you have checked in, however, you cannot change songs any more.

Also, a lot of official kareoke songs I have are for the long version, not the TV version. Would it be better to chose a song that can be easily faded out, or can there be an exception to the no-song-editing rule so that I can edit a song whose TV version takes pieces from both the beginning and ending of a song.

Pick a song that can be easily faded out.

I suppose changing the key for a kareoke version isn't allowed, huh?

Nope.

I'm very new to this Karaoke area, so.....how are the songs chosen? I have a feeling that I might end up being dragged up by my friend (She did it the last two years), so I ask as some sort of heads up/precaution.

We have song books organized by series and artist that you can look through to pick the song you want. Or you can bring your own CD.

I have another time issue similiar to anime freak - I have a cosplay gathering at 1pm on saturday, so could I check in before 12:30 and then show up at 3pm for the prelims? In that case, should I select "Late" as my time preference when I sign up online? Thanks ^_^

Yes, exactly. You should also sign up on May 6 to assure that you get a late enough spot. The earlier you sign up, the later you'll be if you specify "late as possible"

Are Dance Dance revolution songs legit if they are least partly in Japanese?

Yes.

are the prizes the same as 2006? as in.. the winners get optional masq preformance and seats??

I am waiting for an answer from Masquerade on whether the contest winner will be able to perform this year. Otherwise the prizes are the same.

I plan on signing up on May 6, I just wanted to know if I needed to stay up until midnight to do it or not.

We do not know yet what time during the day the signups will be up. It could be in the afternoon, or it could be late that night. We'll try and give a heads-up a couple of days before.

When the time comes, signup instructions will be posted here on the forums.

Historically, it takes at least a few days for the signups to fill up, but I wouldn't wait too long!

But Rob did like.. the BEST Mononoke Ending I've like. totally ever heard!

Gotta admit, that was quite a memorable rendition!

Ah, kk, thanks for the info. ^^ And, where is exactly is the karaoke room?
Sorry..><

Hall C in the Convention Center.

Ok, I have a couple of questions. ^^

1. Is there an age limit for the karaoke contest?

2. How many rounds in the karaoke contest are there in total?
Or is there only a preliminary round and a final round...

3. The people who get into the final round, where are the results put? (For e.g. In front of the door or something like that)

4. So, we are not allowed to sing only one song for the whole karaoke contest?

5. For the preliminary round, do we HAVE to get there by 1pm? Can we just drop in like at 3 or something?

6. For "Cool" points, how can you be "cool?" I just don't get that. Lol. Like you need to be all smooth, good looking, and etc? o.O!?

7. For the karaoke, what happens if it isn't really official. Because I know this guy online, who made a karaoke out of a famous song. But it isn't really official, but can I still use it? Because the official song does not have an official karaoke.

Sorry, it just seems blurry to me. ^^ Thank you for your time.
Good luck to anyone who participates~

1. No.
2. Two rounds (preliminary and finals)
3. Sign outside the Karaoke room.
4. You cannot sing the same song in both rounds.
5. When you sign up, you will pick when you want to go (early, late, or don't care). Then I will post the contestant order. As long as you are there when your name is called it's fine.
6. It's up to the judges. Generally it's things like singing a particularly high note well. Think of it more as bonus points for a good performance.
7. Official songs only- no "homemade" karaoke tracks.

[Note To Moderator]

Note To Moderator: Please sticky this topic and unsticky the 2006 rules. Thank you.

Alright, here are the rules for the 2007 Karaoke Contest. We're expanding the contest to 35 acts and there are a few minor changes and clarifications from 2006, otherwise there should be nothing earth-shattering. Any questions, pls post or PM.

Contest Overview
The Fanime Con 2007 Karaoke Contest will take place on Saturday, May 26. 35 Individuals and Groups will vie for the right to be crowned the best singing act of Fanime Con! The Preliminary (qualifying) round will be from 1pm-4pm, and those who qualify will sing in the finals which are at 9PM. Contestants do not need to be present for the entire Preliminary round.


Eligibility
You must have a valid Fanime Con badge for Saturday.

Fanime Con Karaoke staff, Guests of Honor, and Industry members are ineligible to compete in the contest.

If you compete as a group, all members of the group must perform in both rounds to be eligible for a prize. You may not add or change group members between rounds. All members of the group must sing during both songs, either as lead or as backup.


Signing Up

Contest pre-registration will start on Sunday, May 6. Stay tuned to the Fanime Con Live Programming forum and this web page for more information on online pre-registration for the Karaoke Contest.

To keep the length of the contest reasonable, the number of acts is limited to 35. Signups are first come, first served.

We will accept up to 30 spots before the convention. An additional five spots will be reserved for at-con sign-ups. Online sign-ups close once we receive 30 valid entries. Any at-con sign-ups in excess of the five allotted spots will be placed on a waiting list. Note that every year, we get some cancellations and no-shows, so even if you are on the waiting list, your chances of being in the contest are excellent.

Contestants who pre-register for the convention must check in no later than 30 minutes before the start of the qualifying round. Failure to check-in could result in loss of your spot in the contest. Once the contest starts, the MC will only call the names of those who have checked in. To check-in for the contest, bring your Fanime Con badge and your contest music (see below for more detail).

Check-in and at-con sign-ups for the contest will be taken in the Karaoke room (Hall C in the San Jose Convention Center), starting when the Karaoke room opens on Friday evening. To sign up, please bring your Fanime Con badge and your contest music CD.

Selecting Your Songs

Songs must be from the following categories: Anime, video game, or J-rock/J-pop.

English songs which were not originally created for an anime series or video game, or straight covers of such songs (for example, Fly Me To The Moon) are not allowed. English songs which are significantly changed or adapted from the original version (for example, rearranged and has Japanese verses) are okay. If you are in doubt as to whether a song is acceptable for the contest, please ask us before signing up, and we will make a ruling.

Original English or other non-Japanese songs from the dubbed version of an anime series or game are okay. (For example, the American version of  Sailor Moon, or songs from Robotech.)

No a cappella singing.

You should follow the song's original lyrics. Folks who want to write and perform their own original lyrics should sign up for our Original Lyrics Contest, which is Sunday night.

If contestants bring their own music, they must provide their own songs on an audio CD. No MDs, mp3s CDs, cassettes, or mp3 players.

We will make a reasonable effort to return your CD to you, but are ultimately not responsible for lost or forgotten CDs. It is the responsibility of the contestant to claim their CD after the contest. Unclaimed CDs may be disposed of at our discretion after the convention. If your CD is hard to replace we strongly suggest you claim it immediately after you have sung.

Contestants who sign up at the convention may choose songs from our open mic library if they cannot provide their own music. However, this is done at the contestant's own risk. We are not responsible if the song sounds different from what the contestant was expecting, and we do not guarantee the availability of any particular song.

Contestants must provide their own song lyrics, if needed, except for contestants who use our song open mic library.

Songs must be in their original format as on the released CD and may not be edited, altered, or remixed by the contestant or other party in any way. Remixes which have appeared on an official released CD (for example, one of the many different remixes by Ayumi Hamasaki) are okay.

All contestants who do not have karaoke versions of their songs must perform with vocal dampening turned on. We want to hear you, not the original vocal track. Vocal dampening has been known to have unexpected effects with some songs, so if you don t have the karaoke version of a song, we strongly suggest that you test out the song first at home.

You may not use the same song in both rounds of the contest.

Songs are limited to two and a half minutes (TV version, or one verse and chorus) for the Preliminary round, and five minutes for final round songs. Songs longer than these limits will be faded out when the limit is reached.

Scoring
Contestants will be scored on singing merit (67%), and presentation/showmanship (33%).

In addition, "Coolness Points" can be earned. Coolness Points can be earned for anything which, simply, in the judge's determination, is cool, and can add up to an additional 10% bonus to the score.

The top 10 scoring acts in the qualifying round qualify for the Finals. In the Finals, the winners will be determined by the sum of their preliminary round score and their final round score.

In case of a tie in the preliminary round, all tied acts will advance to the final round. In the event of a tie in the finals, the final round score is the tiebreaker. If the final round scores are the same between the tied contestants, then a vote of the judges will determine final placement.

All decisions made by the judges are final.

Conduct
As a convention for anime fans of all ages, Fanime Con has certain standards of behavior which all convention attendees should abide by at all times. Karaoke is no exception.
All aspects of the act, including, but not limited to: costume, conduct on stage, and song lyrics, are to abide by no worse than a PG-13 standard. If you re in doubt as to whether something is suitable, just ask yourself: Would you do this in front of your mother?  If you're still in doubt, please email or post and tell us what you have in mind, and we'll make a decision.
If any violations of this policy occur, Fanime Con Karaoke staff reserves the right to disqualify offenders from the contest and/or terminate the act in mid-song. In extreme cases, offenders may also be subject to convention penalties including loss of badge and removal from the convention.
During the contest, no interaction with the judges or the MC is allowed. Contestants may not touch or approach the judge's table. Contestants may not go into the audience or use a audience member in their act. Actions that encourage general audience participation as a whole (such as asking the crowd to clap along to the song) are okay.

The only persons allowed in the performing area are the MC, Fanime Con Karaoke staff and guests, judges, and contestants.

I'm 99% sure we already have Gravity from Wolf's Rain. We also added a lot of Hello Project songs last year if I recall correctly.

Keep those suggestions coming! The more specific, the better.

Contest signups won't start until late April or Early May. An announcement will be posted here when signups are starting.

P.S.
Mikey: :P

hehe!  i'm excited.  my friends and i are gonna actually go to the karaoke room this year.

I am pleased to announce that karaoke has its own room for this year. We'll be in Room C of the convention center.

Do we HAVE to bring karaoke files? XD;;....Or will they provide it.

You can bring your own music if you have it. If you don't, you can choose a song from our song library when you sign up for the contest. If the music is not a karaoke version (i.e. it has the singing voice) the vocal track will be filtered out. If it's your own music be sure to test this at home first, because the filtering software can have weird effects on the song.

2. Can we listen to the real singer, while singing with the karaoke? Like, listening to the real singer in the ear phones, while the karaoke is not<---meaning by everyone can hear the karaoke?..

If you are using a karaoke version of this song, obviously there would be no real singer. If using a non-karaoke version, the original singer will be filtered out by the software we use.

3. Is the karaoke contest usually on Fridays?..I heard that last year, it was on a Friday.

Yes, it was Friday last year. I will make an announcement on the day for this year when the rules are posted at the end of this month.

5. Does it go by first come-first serve basis in the karaoke contest? Like there are 30 reserved places? After 30 people, you can't join?..o.O...

All signups are first come first serve.  We will take 25 people via online signup to start in early May, and 5 people at the con. After 30 people, we'll take a waiting list.

6. Do you get a prize for winning?..XD;;

All finalists should get something, subject to prize availability.

7. Are there first, second, and third places? XD;;

The finalists are ranked first place to tenth place.

8. Can you have lyrics? If they do give it, is it in....romaji? ^^;;

For the contest, it is up to the contestant to provide lyrics of their own. We  do not guarantee that any particular song lyric will be available. Web search is your friend.

End of the month is the current estimate. At this time, I am not anticipating any major changes.

Not everyone gave me their mailing addresses at the con! So, if your mailing address is different from the address you registered for the contest with, please send me a private message.

I'll also email this reminder out to the prize winners.

They are song requests made by various people. We made a best effort to add them to the library.

Moderator: okay to close and un-sticky this thread.

Karaoke Contest signups are now closed until the convention. To sign up at the convention, please come to the Karaoke room between 3:30PM and 5PM on Friday.