Karaoke Forums

This might sound strange, but how can I hook up a microphone to my laptop and have the vocals and music come out from the speakers. The speakers are an Altec Lansing 2.1 system that is self powered and plugs into the headphone jack on the laptop. I think there is a 1/8" microphone jack on the laptop right next to the headphone jack. I'm using Karafun right now and it has the ability to record, if I could do that too it would be great.

Thanks

Make sure that the mic option is ticked as one of the play back input.
To do that, go to vol control (speaker icon at the bottom at corner) right clik> Open vol control > option> property > playback.

Thank you, but I need a more detailed explanation. I mean right down to the actual cables, the mechanics of how it's done.

I'm not going to go through my mixer, I just want to plug one of my regular mics into the laptop if it can be done and have the music and vocals come out from the speakers.

I understand how to use my mixer etc. I just don't know how to do it without the mixer. My computer speakers plug into the wall for power and they are 2 small speakers and a subwoofer. They plug into my laptop just like I would go from the laptop to my mixer, right into the headphone jack on the laptop.

Do I need a special microphone or will my regular microphones work if I get an adapter?

Has anyone here done this?

Music: It is better if the music is ripped to the HDD as mp3g. You will need a software player to play it. ie winamp.

Mic: laptop mic input is 1/8"; you need an adapter to fit in your 1/4 normal mic jack. most mic will work.

Then follow the instruction I post above.

NOTE: The vocal coming out from your system will not be good. Clipping is very common and difficult to control. There is no good reason to do that other than trying to blow up your pc speakers.

Thanks Jian!!!!

I hope I don't blow my speakers! They only cost $20 off ebay, but I still like them and don't want to destroy them. They are basically like a tiny surround sound. If it works OK and I don't blow them up then I'll get something a little better, but still small and easy to move around like a couple of bookshelf speakers. If I keep my mic volume low maybe they won't blow?

The reason I want to do it is so I have a decent little system to rehearse with. I don't want to drag all of my equipment into the house and set it all up and then have to drag it back out to my van all the time. Way too much work. As I start getting more gigs this would be a real pain in the butt.

All of my disks have been ripped to the computer to MP3+cdg using audiograbber. That part is fine and I have no problems with that. I didn't realize that it's as simple as getting an adapter for the mic cable to 1/8". Wow, I'm surprised, I figured it would be more complicated than that.

I use my pc to practice my singing and record it at the same time. This way I can listen  to the recording to spot mistakes that need correction.

What recording software are you using? Any others that you recomend?

I'm thinking about making a CD of about 10-12 of my songs and giving them away like business cards.

REAPER is what I use at the moment, but for someone new, try Audacity.

Thanks

You may want to also put a disclaimer on those CDs that you send out stating, "Not Original Performer, For Demo Purposes Only,  Not for Sale" unless you contact Harry Fox and get permission to record these.

Just my 0.02.

k

Who is Harry Fox?

The guy who owned all the songs copyright in the US.  LOL





http://www.harryfox.com/index.jsp

So much for that idea...