Karaoke Forums

I am attempting to go digital with karaoke, running off Dell Inspirion B120 laptop. Sound volume is poor, only half of sound that plays off my board. I use a numark mix2 with an american DJ V1500 amp. I am running a Y cable off headphone jack into red/white RCA jacks. I have made sure volume is all the way up on computer and that connections are secure. Anyone have any idea of why I'm getting such low volume?

Get an external USB sound interface!
You might be using the wrong "Y connector as well since you say you only get hald the music. Headphone outputs aren't known for great sound quality though.

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or their connection isn't pluggin in just right. I've had a couple computer systems do that to me before.

But I agree totally with Lonnie... go usb!

A USB device shouldn't make a hugh difference on volume but on the sound quality versus the onboard audio chip Your laptop has a decent audio chip, I would double check my connection and download the latest audio driver from Dell.

PS. You should be using a 1/8" male to a left 1/4" & right 1/4" male cable for your mixer, avoid any kind of adapter or spliter...

A venue that had recently gone computer, an old hangout of mine, had asked me to come in and offer some advice on what was going on. I took a look at their 1/8" headphone connection to a RCA hookup for the mixer, and just winced.

I went out to my van, and hauled in my soundblaster mp3+ device along with my NON gold plated rca cord... turned on their system with my stuff and Viola... no more static, and was a much clearer sound.

Now it WAS an older PC. Mik's right in that the newer laptops and desktops have SUPERB sound chips. I just like the clear connection this offers... with NO adaptors on my wires. USB to the device which has RCA connections. THat to the mixer.

Thanks for the reply. I am a total audio idiot, however, and don't know what a USB sound interface is. Can you send me a link to a webpage that sells them so that I can see what you're talking about. Also, can you explain why you think this would help?

There are a LOT of ways to accomplish this.

I use a discontinued item... the old Soundblaster MP3+ Device which hooks into the computer and goes out to RCA. You can still find used or discontinued ones on Ebay from time to time.

Barring that:

one of the options is Behringer's simple usb to RCA:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHUCA202

Another would be to use a regular mixer that has USB connections.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MACPROFX8

Or for a 2-channel mixer, no mic effects, with USB
http://www.zzounds.com/item--NUMM1USB

Lonnie or others can give you information on the Delta card for the PC...

Don't forget to mention that going USB may eliminate some noise issues associated with laptop audio outputs.