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Thanks to the Internet, you don't have to buy a Karaoke Machine, or go to a public bar or restaurant and sing in front of everyone to get your share of Karaoke fun.

Whether you're practicing for American Idol or you just want to have some fun with your friends, all you need to find free Karaoke online and get a party started is your computer, an internet connection, a microphone, and a set of decent speakers.

In some cases, if you're looking for your 15 minutes of online fame, a webcam will also come in handy on some community karaoke websites. Use the tips listed below for hours of fun, or if you're serious about singing, to hone your skills.

Cantanding & YouTube

Cantanding takes the hard work out of finding good Karaoke videos. The front page features a list of the latest songs that have been sung, and the top 10 Karaoke 'requests' on the site. If you have a specific song in mind that you want to sing, use Cantanding's search feature to see if you can belt it out to the song of your choice.

The only limitation to the site is a direct result of some of YouTube's settings. Some YouTube uploaders prefer that their videos cannot be embedded, which means not all Karaoke videos can be played directly within their site.

The simple solution to this would be to just search YouTube for free karaoke videos online and it couldn't be easier. There are even specific YouTube channels dedicated specifically to this purpose such as The Karaoke Channel and Music Factory Karaoke.

There are also a few YouTubers known for putting up Karaoke videos for you to sing duets with them such as SinginDork888. Just search his channel for a few duets that you can sing along to.

If you want to record your songs - there is no end to audio recorders that can get the job done. Audacity is a perfect example, and it's multiplatform, so whether you're a Windows, Mac or Linux user, there's a version for you.

Audacity will pick up the sound from your speakers as well as any sound coming through your microphone.

SingSnap

If you're looking for a more elaborate free Karaoke experience online, SingSnap has a few extra features that come with signing up for a free account. With SingSnap, you can record your greatest Karaoke moments, and if you're so inclined, share them with the site's community members.

An interesting feature that SingSnap offers is the ability to create duets using other member videos. Of course, only specific songs are available for duet, so not just any of your videos can be used. If you don't want other people using your videos at all - be sure to switch off that option in your settings. The free accounts do have their limitations, the most significant of which is a limitation on the choice of available songs.

SingSnap also has a webcam feature, meaning you can not only be heard, but also be seen by anyone who listens to your recordings. Luckily, for the camera-shy, this can easily be disabled.

Another online karaoke community that deserves a mention is Karaoke Party.

The Karaoke Channel

As mentioned before, songs are available on YouTube through The Karaoke Channel, but they also have their own website with free and paid accounts. Like SingSnap, there is a limitation on songs available to free accounts, but there are still enough to have a fun Karaoke party with your friends.

The Karaoke Channel also has quite the community built around it, and allows you to record and share your songs with other members. Like SingSnap, you can choose whether or not you want to keep your webcam on for your performances. Members can comment on and rate each others songs, as well as nominate them for categories in the Hall of Fame such as Best Performance, Most Touching and Best Impersonation.

Each member has a user page with a detailed profile, listing all of their recordings. As far as backing vocals and music quality, The Karaoke Channel  has some of the best songs out there.

Do you have any tips or tricks on where to get your free online Karaoke fix? Let us know in the comments.

Image Credit: Chris Metcalf