Encore Karaoke vs OpenKJ

Encore Karaoke is an open-source karaoke player for computers that uses music supplied by the user; a song library is not included by default. It works best with MIDI and MP3+G files and also supports popular audio and video formats. An audio mixer can enhance a singer’s voice, video recording captures performances, and advanced scoring gives real-time feedback on pitch and timing. Encore Sessions lets people create karaoke rooms, while EnMoku allows song queuing, chat, and cheering from a machine without installing an app. The player can romanize Japanese and Korean songs automatically, and users can place their own background images or videos behind lyrics. The latest listed release describes OBS scene automation and overlays for lyrics and the current setlist. The setup menu is PIN-protected and starts with PIN 0000, which users can change. The listing includes Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with desktop support varying by release: Windows for versions 1.0.0–1.3.1, Linux from 1.4.0, and macOS from 1.10 onward. The plan costs nothing.

OpenKJ is open-source karaoke hosting software for karaoke DJs, built and tested for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It integrates with OpenKJ Songbook, which supports web-based song search and submissions. Singers can use Songbook apps for iOS and Android to browse or search a songbook, submit songs with requested key changes, and save favorites. The web submission site can also serve as a venue kiosk, and sign-up requests are sent directly to the host computer. Songbook can optionally display download-vendor catalogs; the project says these are updated daily. OpenKJ SongShop supports purchasing and downloading karaoke files on the fly, with PartyTyme listed as the only available vendor. OpenKJ Tools provides utilities for ReplayGain adjustment, archive handling, zip compatibility, and filename capitalization. Those tools are marked experimental, and the project recommends backing up the library before using them. OpenKJ is free; Songbook starts at $9.99 per month and has a one-month free trial.