How to use and troubleshoot the CPK545 - Carpool Karaoke: The Mic

Key features

  • Bluetooth music playback from a phone or tablet
  • FM transmitter to play through a car radio
  • 3.5 mm Line Out for AUX connection to car audio, headphones, or other speakers
  • Built-in light modes (sound reactive or always-on)
  • Microphone volume and echo controls

What’s in the box

  • Carpool Karaoke: The Mic (CPK545)
  • USB charging cable (Micro USB)
  • 3.5 mm audio cable (AUX)
  • User manual

Getting started

Important safety note

This product is intended for passengers only and is not intended for drivers.

Charging the unit

  1. Plug the included USB charging cable into the Micro USB port on the bottom of the mic.
  2. Plug the other end into a computer USB port or a USB charging adapter.
  3. Charge for about 4 hours for a full charge.

Connecting to your car stereo (FM method)

  1. On your car radio, find an FM station with no signal.
  2. On the mic, press FM + or FM - to match the mic’s FM frequency to your car radio.

Connecting to your car stereo (AUX cable method)

If your car has an AUX input, you can connect using the included 3.5 mm audio cable.

  • Plug one end into the mic’s Line Out jack.
  • Plug the other end into your car’s AUX input (or another audio device).

Connecting a phone or tablet (Bluetooth)

  1. Turn on the mic.
  2. Put the mic into pairing mode.
  3. On your phone or tablet, turn on Bluetooth and select the mic.

Light modes

Press the Lights button repeatedly to cycle:

  • Mode 1: Lights react to sound (speaking or singing).
  • Mode 2: Light show stays on (does not react to the microphone).
  • Mode 3: Lights off.

General troubleshooting

Vocal delay (echo / lag)

Some car audio systems can delay vocals. If you notice delay, try using the AUX cable instead of FM.

No power

  • The battery may be empty. Charge the unit and try again.

No sound from the microphone

  • Make sure the mic is turned on.
  • Confirm the mic is connected to your car audio (FM match or AUX cable).
  • Raise the mic volume (it may be set to minimum).

No sound from your car audio

  • Confirm your car radio is tuned to the same FM frequency as the mic.
  • Raise the volume on your car audio (it may be muted or too low).

Bluetooth won’t pair or connect

  • Turn off other nearby Bluetooth devices to avoid accidental pairing.
  • Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on the phone or tablet.
  • Restart pairing by pressing and holding the Bluetooth button.

Music plays on my phone, but I can’t hear it through the mic

  • Confirm the phone or tablet supports the A2DP Bluetooth profile.
  • Raise the volume on the phone or tablet.

Using the Singing Machine app

Stream karaoke directly to your device

The Singing Machine app is the recommended way to access thousands of karaoke songs. Pair the app to your device via Bluetooth and stream high-quality karaoke videos with on-screen lyrics.

What you get with the app:

  • 100,000+ songs — Access a massive karaoke catalog with new songs added every Friday
  • High-quality videos — Engaging karaoke videos that keep the party going, or choose lyrics-only mode to save bandwidth
  • Ad-free experience — No interruptions while you sing
  • Optional lead vocals — Toggle lead vocals on or off to sing solo or get vocal support
  • DJ mode — Queue up to 100 songs and control the playlist from your device
  • Easy pairing — Quick wireless connection between your device and the mic

Getting started:

  1. Download the Singing Machine Karaoke app on your smartphone or tablet
  2. Create an account
  3. Pair the app to the mic via Bluetooth
  4. Browse the catalog, select songs, and start singing

Subscription options:

Purchase an in-app subscription to unlock unlimited access to the full catalog. Certain plans include a 30-day free trial.

Download the app:

Available for iOS and Android devices. Visit singingmachine.com/pages/download-the-app to get started.

Missing or broken parts

Your product should have included a USB charging cable in the box. If this cable was missing or is broken, please note that we no longer stock original replacement parts for this legacy product.

However, the microphone uses a standard Micro-USB to USB charging cable, which is very common and easy to replace.You may already have a compatible cable from another device, such as an older Android phone, a portable speaker, or other personal electronics. 

If you need to purchase one, they are widely available at any electronics store or online.

Downloads and resources

Still need help?

Contact Singing Machine support:

  • Get help quickly via our chat bot, click on the chat bubble in the bottom-right of our help page.
  • Send us an email by submitting a request here or clicking the link at the top-right of our help page.
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