How to improve your singing voice for karaoke
When I think back to Karaoke at pubs and seeing friends who were not musically minded get up and holler down microphones, it was easy to see then that Karaoke is supposed to be free entertainment. However there are always regulars, or people who regularly attend the nights just to show off and impress the audience. Whilst this is a good thing because sometimes it can produce eye opening results with different versions of songs, it seems that most people try to sing a song which they either know very well or pick a song that suits their voice. These options however are safe but not wholly admired.
If trying to improve your singing voice for karaoke there are a couple of good points to consider before even attempting to try a song in front of strangers in a crowded pub.
1. If there is a song that you particularly like but don’t know the song completely, obtain the song from the internet such as iTunes or similar Mp3 sites which allow single songs on albums. Or alternatively ask a friend if they have a CD recording to borrow that song. There’s no point in buying a song when you can see or hear it free online and in this respect You Tube is also a very good site to view the original song, or new cover versions.
2. Don’t know the lyrics? Look up dedicated lyric sites which can often show the lyrics of songs and can be printed off to keep for future Karaoke attempts. Sites such as www.lyricsforall.com are ideal for on the spot reading and singing. I use sites like these for school as it enables students to attempt songs they like before branching out in different styles. The use of Google will also bring up songs if you just type the first line of the verse or the chorus if that’s all you can remember.
3. Know the limitations of your voice if you are attempting to sound or pitch the same song by the artist/s you are trying to emulate. Often I have judged at several karaoke competitions and given higher points for individual choices rather than hearing three Celine Dion wannabes try their luck at three different songs, or the same song being repeated one after the other.
4. Limitations are however not restricted to how low or high your voice will go, but also the style of which you want to portray. The more songs you attempt to sing on Karaoke the more a personality of your own voice begins to emerge and pronunciations will improve too due to the different lyrics of songs and the accents in which different songs use by famous singers/bands.
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SIP 101 – Session Initiation Protocol Explained
Session Initiation Protocol or SIP refers specifically to a language that various computers can communicate to one another in so that they can complete voice calls. It has become vitally important in recent years as it plays a central role in VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol. VoIP Is the rapidly growing technology which has millions of Americans throwing out their local and long-distance telephone bills and replacing them with free calls made over the internet.
While Session Initiation Protocol sounds like technobabble, it helps if you can imagine SIP as the common language that new generation operators use to complete calls over the internet. With SIP, however, the operators are no longer hundreds of people in a room somewhere connecting one call to another but simply your computer device connecting to the telephone or computer device of the person you want to talk to. The fact that there is no need for real operators, or even a central board to complete calls through, explains part of why SIP is so revolutionary.
SIP was intended to give ordinary callers like you and me all the familiar functions and features of what we expect from a phone call, such as a dial tone, a ringing sound, etc. So while all the communication from our end seemed exactly the same as before, SIP makes phone calls by communicating directly with the other person’s telephone device. Unlike traditional telephony, which was based on a cog and wheel approach in which the call you placed goes through a central location and then is routed to the person you are trying to call, SIP is based on internet protocol. This means that there is no need for a central cog to run calls through, but rather calls can be made directly from person to person.
The fact that the technology is based on internet protocol (IP) rather than a traditional cog and wheel also means that placing and receiving calls are no longer inhibited by location. To conceive of this more easily it is best to think of something like your e-mail. You can take your laptop and access your e-mail from your home, just as easily as you can plug that laptop into the internet at access your e-mail from anywhere. In the same way, you can plug your SIP phone into any access point in the internet and call a person who can be located anywhere in the world. Similarly you can receive phone calls from anywhere in the world no matter where you are, simply be plugging your SIP phone into the internet.
As you can probably imagine, this ability has some pretty remarkable applications. For companies or businessmen that work out of the office, moving your office phone number is as simple as picking up the phone and carrying it with you. There is nothing else to it. For those often staying in hotels for travel or business, this means always having the direct office line with you wherever and whenever you want. No need to forward calls or even to ever pay for long distance or hotel phone access again!
The SIP technology is already revolutionizing the way in which humans communicate. In recent years, literally millions of Americans have tossed aside their traditional land based phone lines and opted for the freedom and cheapness of VoIP. Empowered with SIP technology it is uniquely able to provide you with virtually free calling, anywhere in the world, anytime in the world, without having to forward calls, change your number, or rely on others to check important messages. It is truly a technology for the future of business as well as the future of communication.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is the highest level of professional certification that Cisco provides. CCIE was the first Cisco Certified qualification, and as such there were no other certifications that could be taken prior. The development of the associate and professional certifications was due to recognition of the fact that a CCIE is over kill for many networking personnel, and also for the vast majority of businesses who employ such people, and that certifications needed to be offered at lower levels. Despite the development of the lower certifications, Cisco has chosen not to make them formal requirements for the CCIE certification.
The CCIE what CISCO describes as its “premium networking certification†is widely regarded as having one of the toughest, most demanding exams. It includes both a written exam and a day-long lab exam. This certification is aimed at senior level networking professionals who design, build, implement, maintain, or troubleshoot complex enterprise networking infrastructures. CCIE recipients can specialize in routing and switching, communications and services, security, or voice systems and technologies.
CCIE Routing & Switching
Routing and Switching is by far the most popular track, and covers a wide range of subjects, such as: LAN, WAN, Ethernet, TCP/IP, OSPF and BGP,IPv6 and many more.
CCIE Security
The Security track concentrates on network security and covers subjects such as ASA, IDS, IOS security, security and many others.
CCIE Service Provider
The Service Provider track focuses on networking in the service provider industry. Subjects include Optical networks, DSL, WAN switching, Voice over IP, Content Networking, Broadband Cable and Metro Ethernet.
CCIE Voice
The Voice track concentrates on voice solutions for the enterprise and includes subjects such as QoS, MGCP, Call Manager (Cisco’s VoIP PABX), Cisco Unity (Cisco’s Unified Messaging platform), Unity Express and IP Contact Center Express.
CCIE Storage Networking
The latest addition to the CCIEcertification tracks is the CCIE Storage Networking track. As the name suggests, the Storage Networking track concentrates on storage networking topics, such as Fiber Channel, iSCSI, FCIP, Intra VSAN Routing and FICON.
Reselling- a Simpler Business Option in VoIP
Connecting to people worldwide has never been as easy as VoIP has made it to be. VoIP is providing better connectivity and enhanced productivity and that too at cost effective prices. Not only this but the features that are being provided by this wonder called VoIP, is much more than what the traditional PSTN provides. More so the cost of these enhancements is absolutely nothing whereas PSTN providers usually charge a hefty amount for it, thereby making the cost of using them raise the total cost of using PSTN.
As the knowledge about the services of VoIP spread across the globe, increasingly large number of corporate houses are opting for it. This precisely is the reason for large number of companies becoming resellers for VoIP. With the benefits that VoIP has brought along with it, it is the ideal choice for corporate companies specially call back service providers, contact centers, call shops, ISP and ITSP providers, system integrators and network and hardware providers. If you are one among them VoIP is an area that should be navigated by you if you are looking to increase your profits and expand your business. For instance contact centers work essentially involves making international calls. Without VoIP it would prove to be extremely costly for them to provide services to their customers. ISP or ITSP service provider can enhance their product range by giving the addition service in the form of VoIP to their end-customer. It builds your brand image and thereby brings a competitive edge to your business.
Thus recognizing this growing need for VoIP, resellers have started collaborating with VoIP service providers to further resell VoIP minutes to customers. It is almost a sure shot way of earning profit for resellers. Resellers around the world seem to have recognized that voice over Internet protocol has arrived big time and this time around it is here to stay. Moreover a reseller doesn’t have to spend on costly equipments and the complicated infrastructure needed for this technology. It is better to subscribe as a reseller than perhaps a service provider for VoIP if you do not have enough technical know-how of VoIP, which has definitely become a phenomenon to look out for. Also all the back-end work is done by the service provider. So the reseller can reap the harvest without actually sowing the seed.
Top 10 VoIP Service Providers
VoIP is the new technological phone system. It is highly valued for its competitive prices and cost effectiveness. It offers many of the same calling features as regular landline services at typically no cost. VoIP allows users the freedom to use their high-speed Internet connection to integrate their phone, audio, video, and web browsing capabilities into one application. Because of these new trends, VoIP providers are adding new products and services daily. Here is a list and description of the top ten VoIP providers.
Skype
Skype is famous for their slogan, “The Whole World can Talk for Freeâ€. Skype is a free download and users can make free calls via, Skype to Skype. For a fee, you can advance your Skype to Skype Out and make calls to landline phones. Skype In will let your choose your area code and phone number. This way, friends and relatives can call you locally, if you select the same area code. Skype is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Pocket Pc operating systems.
Vonage
Probably the most well known VoIP providers, you may be surprised to discover that Vonage is also one of the more expensive providers. Vonage offers two plans, residential and small business. Residential users may choose between the Basic 500 plan and Unlimited. The Basic 500 plan offers 500 minutes of talk time for $14.99 a month. The Premium Unlimited residential plan costs $24.99 per month.
The Small Business Basic plan costs $39.99 per month and allows 1500 minutes. The Small Business Unlimited plan costs $49.99 a month and provides unlimited calls throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Dialpad
Dialpad and Yahoo have merged services. Currently, Dialpad offers three plans- Dialpad Monthly 300, Dialpad Monthly 500, and Dialpad USA. The cost for Dialpad Monthly 300 is $7.50 per month, Dialpad Monthly 500 costs $9.99 per month, and Dialpad USA costs $11.99 per month.
Broadvox Direct
Broadvox Direct offers residential and small business services. Their residential services include the Residential Choice Plus plan for $9.95 per month. The Residential Choice Plus plan includes 100 outbound minutes and unlimited incoming minutes. Their Residential Unlimited Plan costs $29.95 a month and includes unlimited calling anywhere in the US and Canada. The SoHo Small Business Regional Plan costs $34.95 per month and includes 1500 monthly minutes in the US and in Canada. The SoHo Small Business Unlimited Plan costs $44.95 per month and includes unlimited calls in the US and Canada and also includes a free fax line and Yellow Page listing.
Galaxy Voice
Galaxy Voice offers two plans, Residential and Business. Their residential plan costs $19.95 a month and includes unlimited calling, Voicemail, Caller Id, Call Waiting, Call Return, Three Way Calling, and Call Forwarding. Their business plan costs $39.95 per month and includes unlimited calling, Free Voice Mail, Free Call Transfer, Free Call Forwarding, Free Repeat Dialing, and Free Caller ID block.
Voice Pulse
Voice Pulse has three plans, America Unlimited, Local Unlimited +200, and Business Unlimited. The America Unlimited plan costs $24.99 per month. The Local Unlimited +200 costs $14.99 per month, and the Business Unlimited costs $45.99 per month.
VoIP American
VoIP American has three different plans. These are the VoIP American PBX plan, the VoIP American Voice plan and the VoIP American bVoice plan. The VoIP American PBX plan cost $19.99 a month for a private line and $44.99 a month for unlimited calling. The VoIP Voice Residential Basic plan costs $14.99 per month and the VoIP Voice Residential Unlimited plan costs $29.99 per month. The bVoice Business plan costs $34.99 per month.
Packet 8
Packet 8 not only offers phone plans, but they also offer videophone plans. Their residential plans are the Freedom International and Freedom Unlimited. Both of these plans cost $19.99 per month. The Videophone plan is the Freedom Unlimited and that too is $19.99 per month. Their business plans consists of three different plans. These are the Virtual Office service plans, the Virtual Attendant Service plans, and the Business Phone Service plans. The Virtual office phone plan costs $19.95 per month, the Virtual Attendant service plan costs $14.95 per month, and the Business Attendant service plan costs $34.95 per month.
Sun Rocket
Sun Rocket offers their signature service for either $24.95 per month or $199.00 per year.
Speakeasy
Speakeasy offers many different plans ranging from Home Office, Small Office I, Small Office II, and Small Business. Their Home Office plan costs 79.90 per month, the Small Office I plan costs $560.00 per month, the Small Office II plan costs 1,039 per month and the Small Business plan costs $2,349 per month.
VoIP Publications – How Can I Keep Up With The Latest In VoIP ?
If you are interested in keeping up with the changing technology of Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP) you can do so with the many publications that are available today. Not only can you find publications on the Internet that cover the latest advancements, you can also monitor companies that do not meet high business standards. If you already have VoIP service in your home, business, or both you may also subscribe to a VoIP publication through your provider. They will keep you informed on the latest updates and if there are problems that you need to be addressed.
You can find publications regarding VoIP news and features, events and opinions. Look for products and quote comparisons, along with provider directory. If you want to receive information about VoIP Internationally, you can also subscribe to publications that focus on the International market. Here is a list of publications to peruse:
* Computerworld VoIP News
* Internet Telphony Magazine
* Pulver
* SIP Center
* Techie VoIP
* Telephony Online
* VoIP Action
* VoIP Watch
If you are interested in VoIP publications that focus on research of Internet phone service, consider the following:
* Frost & Sullivan
* Gartner
* iLocus
* Juniper Research
* Parks Associates
* Zelos Group
Many people are interested in VoIP Trade organizations; if this is you, consider one of the many publications that pertain to VoIP Trade:
* Comp Tel/ASCENT
* International Packet Communications Consortium
* IP Centrex Roundtable
* SIP Forum
* Telecommunications Industry Association
* United States Telecom Association
You can information on facilities-based carriers, global integrated communications, and supplier partners. In addition, you can find information on the companies that are involved in the development and deployment of VoIP services, and much more.
Are you interested in VoIP publications that concentrate on technology organizations? Then consider the list of publications who offer information on cable development, International, and wireless standards. Read information on more than two hundred universities working on developing the next-generation Internet. You can find this information and much more in the following list of publications:
* CableLabs
* Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
* Internet Engineering Task Force
* European Telecommunications Standards Institute
The Internet provides access to thousands of publications pertaining to VoIP services. You can choose to be part of a mailing list that receives email publications, or purchase ezines. Whichever method you choose there is a VoIP publication that ready and waiting for your to read.
