====== LRC File Format ======

'''LRC''' is a computer file format that synchronizes song lyrics with an audio file, such as MP3, Vorbis or MIDI. When an audio file is played with certain music players on a computer or on modern digital audio players, the song lyrics are displayed. The lyrics file generally has the same name as the audio file. For example, **song.mp3** and **song.lrc**. The file .lrc is simple, like text, but it is quite hard to make. This can be done well with several pieces of application software.

===== Formats =====
==== Simple format ====

**Simple LRC format** was introduced by Kuo (Djohan) Shiang-shiang's //Lyrics Displayer//.  It was one of the first computer programs, if not the first, that attempted to simulate Karaoke performance (([[http://www.cdmi.net/a2player/lrc_center.html|LRC Lyrics Center]])).  It usually displays a //whole line// of lyrics, but it is possible to display a word at a time, such as one would see in modern Karaoke machines, by creating a time tag for each word rather than each line.

The Line Time Tags are in the format **[mm:ss.xx]** where **mm** is minutes, **ss** is seconds and **xx** is hundredths of a second.

  * **Normal example:**

 [mm:ss.xx] lyrics line 1
 [mm:ss.xx] lyrics line 2
 ...
 [mm:ss.xx] last lyrics line

**ID Tags** may appear before the lyrics((http://www.mobile-mir.com/en/HowToLRC.php)) , although some players may not recognize or simply ignore this. 

<code>
[al:''Album where the song is from'']
[ar:''Lyrics artist'']
[by:''Creator of the LRC file'']
[offset:''+/- Overall timestamp adjustment in milliseconds, + shifts time up, - shifts down'']
[re:''The player or editor that creates LRC file'']
[ti:''Lyrics (song) title'']
[ve:''version of program'']
</code>

  * **Example with ID tags:**

<code>
[ti:Let's Twist Again]
[ar:Chubby Checker oppure  Beatles, The]
[au:Written by Kal Mann / Dave Appell, 1961]
[al:Hits Of The 60's - Vol. 2 – Oldies]

[00:12.00]Lyrics beginning ...
[00:15.30]Some more lyrics ...
...
</code>

==== Enhanced format ====

**Enhanced LRC format** is an extension of **Simple LRC Format** developed by the designer of A2 Media Player((http://www.mediacommands.com/lyrics.html)) . It adds an extra Word Time Tag in the format: **<mm:ss.xx>**.

**Example of an Enhanced LRC file:**

<code>
[mm:ss.xx] <mm:ss.xx> line 1 word 1 <mm:ss.xx> line 1 word 2 <mm:ss.xx> ... line 1 last word <mm:ss.xx>
[mm:ss.xx] <mm:ss.xx> line 2 word 1 <mm:ss.xx> line 2 word 2 <mm:ss.xx> ... line 2 last word <mm:ss.xx>
...
[mm:ss.xx] <mm:ss.xx> last line word 1 <mm:ss.xx> last line word 2 <mm:ss.xx> ...  last line last word <mm:ss.xx>
</code>

===== Supporting =====

==== Hardware ====

  * [[http://www.tvix.co.kr/eng/|Dvico TVIX Media Players]] - Plays lyric files on screen automatically when found.
  * [[http://www.google.com/search?q=trio+mp3+8033a|Trio MP3-DA-8033a]] - Includes a sample song with simple LRC lyrics.
  * [[http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/watches/8e18/|MP4 Watch]] - Includes sample songs with LRC lyrics.
  * [[http://www.acorp.com.tw/product2.php?Id=51|Acorp MP560AOF]] - Lyric synchronization (LRC V0.2 format).
  * [[http://www.crintsoft.com|crintsoft.com]] - MiniLyrics synchronization and viewer.
  * **Meizu**'s M3 Music Card ([[http://en.meizu.com/product_m3.asp| Meizu: M3 Music Card]]) and M6 Mini Player ([[http://en.meizu.com/product_m6.asp|Meizu: M6 Mini Player]])
  * Creative Labs' MuVo V100
  * [[http://onda.cn/pro/product/product.jsp?Id=11418|ONDA VX858]] - Includes sample songs with LRC lyrics.
  * [[http://www.s1mp3.org/|Most S1MP3 Media Players]] - S1MP3 are the cheapest 'no-name' Chinese MP3 and 'MP4' players.
  * [[http://www.leadsinger.com/|Leadsinger II MVK2]] - Leadsinger II MVK2 karaoke all in one microphone that plays mp3's mp4's and most video formats (xvid, divx, mpeg1, mpeg2, AVI, DAT) and plugs directly into your T.V.
  * [[http://gp2x.co.uk/viewgp2x.html GP2X F200]] - GP2X F200 also has this feature in the built-in music player. F100 (any MK below) does not.
  * [[http://www.mio-tech.com/|Mio Technology GPS (C520)]] - Plays lyric files along with music in its built-in music player.
  * [[http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_controller.html|Squeezebox Controller]] - displays lyrics with optional, free applet, as do [[http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_squeezebox.html|SqueezeBox 3]] and [[http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_transporter.html|Transporter]]
  * Archos 5, when LRC file found with the same name as the song

==== Software ====

  * [[http://www.gnu.org/software/emms/|EMMS]], The Emacs Multimedia System
  * Foobar2000 - with [[http://gro.clinux.org/projects/ikiki/|foo_uie_lyrics]] component
  * [[http://www.karafun.com/karaokeplayer/|KaraFun]]
  * [[http://www.ideographer.com/karatunes/|KaraTunes]]
  * [[http://www.karaoke-lyrics.net|KaraokeEditor]]
  * [[http://www.kjams.com|kJams]]
  * KMPlayer
  * [[http://www.kugou.com/|Kugou2008]] - Chinese language, for PC and **Symbian S60** 3rd Edition
  * [[http://www.scriptsoftware.com/istar/|iStar Karaoke]]
  * [[http://www.lyrikproject.net/|Lyrik Project]]
  * MiniLyrics
  * [[http://nlyrics.7do.net|nLyrics]] (for Mac)
  * StepMania, Displayed while playing the corresponding song (the lyrics file must be in the same folder as the music file)
  * TT Player
  * [[http://www.vividlyrics.com|Vivid Lyrics]]
  * **XBMC Media Center** (for Linux, Mac, Windows, and the first-generation Xbox game-console)