Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a low-cost disc playback system which reduces the time the user has to wait for a disc to be played back. To achieve this objective, the system mounts a disc, added to the rack 1, onto the player 2, reads the beginning part data of the disc, and stores it in the fixed disk unit 5. The user gives a disc playback instruction from the instructing means 6. Then, the system reads the beginning part data of the requested disc from the fixed disk unit 5, and sends it immediately to the outputting means 3. While the beginning part data is being played back, the system mounts the requested disc onto the player 2 and starts reading data from it. The system switches the beginning part data, sent from the fixed disk unit 5 to the outputting means, to the part of data on the disc corresponding to the beginning part data when they are synchronized.

Abstract: A holder is provided for a remote controller of a karaoke machine. The holder causes the remote controller to be removably held to a handle of a microphone. The holder comprises a portion of an elastic material, such that the portion can tightly fit an outer surface of the handle of the microphone. Further, the holder comprises an approximately C-shaped portion or an approximately ring-shaped portion which matches an outer shape of the handle of the microphone. The remote controller comprises infrared-ray-emitting diodes for emitting a signal in response to a user operating the control buttons to the karaoke machine. A signal-receiving means receives the signal emitted by the signal-emitting means, the signal-receiving means then outputting a relevant signal to the karaoke machine for amplifying a voice input through the microphone, adding accompaniment to the thus-amplified voice and outputting a resulting sound.