TERRY Gowshall could well be the king of karaoke.
And this 43-year-old is playing at a venue near you.
Not only does the new Wyndham Vale resident have a passion for performance; he has programmed a system to revolutionise karaoke as the world knows it.
The karaoke jockey doesn’t use discs, he can find any song from his 5000 plus database in less than 10 seconds, as well as record your voice close to studio quality.
And with such a superior product, Terry doesn’t know why people aren’t shoving one another to get through the doors at his Friday night gigs at the Bridge Hotel in Watton St, Werribee.
While living in Perth over the past three years, the father-of-three “programmed to perfection” his own prototype computerised karaoke machine.
He started with a normal PC and basic web software and fine tuned it.
Terry describes the new technology as the future of the popular pastime, which first soared to popularity in the 1980s, in Japan.
“I took the best features from multiple software packages and merged them into one complete karaoke package which uses only a dozen keys,” he said.
So, if you step up to the microphone all you have to do is name a song, or artist – and the lyrics and sound will appear.
Some songs are even programmed with their video clips.
“I took away all the dangers a normal karaoke jockey has, and made it safer to repair and update standard everyday computer components.”
This means he doesn’t have to worry about scratching, or having tracks stolen, or worn out – unlike his competitors who often use illegally burnt music.
“I used to carry two briefcases of discs wherever I’d go.”
Now Terry can log onto any computer in the world and install the software from the armchair of his house.
Terry started getting into karaoke just before his daughter was born in 2000.
Within a year he became a karaoke jockey, and by 2003 he had started remodelling a basic computer system.
“By 2004 I had it running absolutely perfectly.”
The machine operates by using a dozen-programmed keys on a computer keyboard.
So Terry can pause, change the tempo or the key, and even burn a CD of the singer’s performance.
It can also remember your favourite songs, out of more than 5000 which are just a key search word away.
“Most of the other karaoke jockeys are using discs, which takes up to 45 seconds to find and change,” he said.
And the best part of all, it’s all completely legal, as Terry said he has permission from the karaoke distributors to use his advanced technology, as long as he owns the disc.
You can catch Terry and his wonder machine on Friday nights from 8pm at The Bridge Hotel, 197 Watton St, Werribee.
Terry also performs private gigs at $50 an hour, usually for a minimum of four hours on 9734 1406.
