A karaoke machine has an audio input, an audio output and a way of changing the musics tone and pitch. There are karaoke machines that have the means of vocal suppression. The machine actually suppresses the original singers voice and allows the music to be feed through the machine; the results, it must be said, are not great. Generally, karaoke machines have a microphone input replete with Video CD, CD+G, Laser Disc, et al. Of these, CD+G possess sub code, a particular track that is used to encode lyrics and pictures that are displayed on the screen. Some places that offer karaoke have KTV, which is karaoke with the ability to display video lyrics.

Karaoke machines possess equipment to electronically alter the musics pitch, allowing the user to pick a key appropriate for his or her vocal range without any change in the tempo of the original track. A well-known karaoke game randomizes the songs that people can attempt to sing. In some karaoke machines, this game - known as Kamikaze Karaoke in parts of North America, is programmed to a particular genre so that all can participate.

Karaoke systems like boom boxes have a mode that alienates the vocal track from the audio CDs. A process called the center removal manages this. This unsophisticated approach often manifests itself in the low performance of voice removal.

Computer programs are being developed that serve the same purpose as a karaoke machine. In place of a normal recorded track, these programs use musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) instrumentation that provides the musical accompaniment. MIDI accurately defines each and every musical note in a musical instrument like the eclectic guitar and synthesizer, allowing computers and electronic musical instruments to swap data.