Jahern,
Several of us on the forums are using MIDI's. Don't cringe
Most midis get a bum rap seeming to sound rather crappy, but it's due to the limitation of the midi player in the p.c..Most only receive 8 or 9 instruments or so.
The Edirol Virtual Sound Canvas. is a midi editor that can process GM1, GM2, or GS formats. It is equpped to handle 16 parts, 128 voices,and 902 sounds and drum sets.
You can replace instruments with different instruments, or enhance the quality of an existing instrument. You can totally remove lead instruments leaving true background instrumentation for Karaoke use. I save tracks both ways, one for demo tracks ,and one for Karaoke.
The software converts your finished product to .wav, and it's amazing what some of them sound like. Some of these guys do take a lot pf pains sequencing their work. Too bad the midi players built in to the pc's don't do them justice.
With this product you would be limited in making your own cdg's only to the availability of Latin music in MIDI.
This product coupled with an audio editor such as Goldwave truly
lets you construct Karaoke tracks exactly as you want them. I know you're familiar with audio editing. I believe I've seen you refer to it a time or two.
The VSC and Goldwave are perfect compliments to KhP.
Another thing I've done to some degree of success is to use instrumentals and take out or reduce the lead instrument with Vogone. It doesn't always work, subject to the same limitations of vocal removal, but when it does work, it's great. No need to compete with the lead sax.
Hope that partly answers your question.
Take care,
George