Karaoke 5 vs OpenKJ

Karaoke 5 is a karaoke player, lyrics synchronizer, and tool for singers, DJs, and karaoke hosts. It supports K5, MIDI, KAR, KFN, MP3, WMA, CD+G, and video formats such as MP4 and FLV. Dual-screen mode sends lyrics to a second monitor or TV while the operator runs the program on a computer. Guests can use smartphones to request songs, message, vote, and chat. Its voice assistant searches a user's database, a P2P network, and YouTube, with support for eight languages. YouTube tools include search, previews, and downloading tracks into a database or playlist. A real-time vocal remover can make a karaoke backing track from an original song, and a music quiz generates questions from the user's library with multiplayer and multiple game modes. The free player and manager costs nothing but excludes synchronization, YouTube downloads, mobile management, and the quiz. Annual subscriptions start at €35 a year for HOME on one PC; PRO annual subscriptions cost €75 a year for three PCs. One-time licenses are also listed.

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.