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                         Welcome to MCI Karaoke
                         ----------------------
This readme file contains important information about MCI Karaoke, read this
entire file.

To get extra tech info and help apply to the address:

    galchenko@yahoo.com

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CONTENTS
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1. Installation and removal
2. Running and configuring driver
3. About karaoke
4. Information for developers

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1. Installation and removal
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  The driver has been run and tested on Windows 95, 98, NT 3.51, NT 4.0 and
  Windows 2000.

  In order to install driver run Windows Explorer from Start menu and
  find the file win16/karaoke.inf - if you are running Windows 95/98/NT 3.51
  or win32/karaoke.inf - if you are running Windows NT 4.0/2000. Click right
  mouse button on the file karaoke.inf and select menu item Install.
  That's all.

  If you like to remove driver, open Control Panel and select Program
  installation and removal icon. In the list of installed programs select
  MCI Karaoke Driver and push button Add/Remove. That's all.

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2. Running and configuring driver
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  To start singing open Windows Explorer and double-click on a file with
  .kar extension.


  To configure driver run Media Player activate Karaoke device and select
  menu item Properties in the menu Device. A dialog box will pop up before
  your eyes. Customize karaoke as you like.

  Note: new settings will take effect on the next file.

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3. About karaoke
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  Q: What is MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) file?
  A: MIDI file, in short, is a sequence of notes to perform on a device such
     as internal or external synthesizer. The majority of the modern
     soundcards has its own internal FM synthesizer which allows you to
     play back MIDI files. Normally MIDI files have extension .mid.

  Q: What is Karaoke on the base of MIDI files?
  A: MIDI file format allows to save song lyrics with the music, and time
     when a particular syllable should be sung. In the Internet MIDI files
     with text have usually extension .kar

  Q: What is MCI Karaoke driver and why do I need you?
  A: The program you are considering is a MCI (Media Control Interface)
     compliant application. In other words, once having installed the driver
     you are able to play back karaoke files as easy as .mid, .wav, .avi and
     so on. All those files may be played by Media Player. Karaoke driver
     adds a new device to play .kar files same way.

  Q: What is Wavetable and its emulation?
  A: Unfortunately FM synthesis offers you rather mean quality for MIDI
     music. You can improve it by installing a daughterboard of wave-table
     synthesis. If you don't have money or desire to buy wavetable daughter
     board you can acquire program emulation for it. There are certain
     programs which do the same as wavetable boards, however, as every
     program, they consume CPU time and weak machines (like 486s) may prove
     to be unable to run both wavetable emulation and MIDI player. But
     Pentium 133 is quite enough. Example of this wavetable emulation:
     
     Software WaveTable Synthesizer WinGroove
     Copyright (C) 1996, Hiroki Nakayama
     

  Q: Where can I find karaoke files?
  A: The easiest way is to download from the Internet. Here are some links:

  [1] http://www.karaoke.com
  [2] http://www.midi.ru
  [3] http://www.karaoke.ru
  [4] http://www.yahoo.com   - just type Karaoke files

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3. Information for developers
-----------------------------

  Developers can send a request for sources of the driver. They are written
in C++ and are distributed FREEWARE! Apply to

  mailto://galchenko@yahoo.com.
