Karaoke Forums

Hey, been a while.  In the past y'all have given me great info.  I have a Shure wireless for myself, and have been using wired Samson R21s for the customers.   They have actually been a lot better than expected... And all still work great. (no casualties!)  I have decided to clean up my stage and get rid of the wires.  Time to move on to wireless for the customers.   I am going to be working a fairly rough (sloppy drunks) venue... so looking for something that won't break my heart if it gets destroyed.  The venue pays $100/125 a night so I aint looking to blow the bank, but want a decent quality mic.  I was considering one of those dual mic systems maybe... Thanks in advance.  

Currently running:
Compaq Craptop
Yamaha MGFX16/6 Mixer (thinking about upgrading to a separate FX unit)
DBX 266XL Dual Compressor/Gate
JBL MPro Speakers (x2)
Behringer EuroPower EP2500 Rackmount Power Amp
Behringer B300 300W Powered 15" Monitor
Behringer E1800EX Eurolive 18" Speakers (x2)
Furman M8-D Power Conditioner
Furman RL-1 Rack Light
SKB Gig Rig

audio technica freeway series 202.  $100 each.  great sound.  durable.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

Thanks, I will check into those.  

Anybody else have any input?  

Thanks

I hope I'm not crossing a line by posting the link to another Forum, but we had a similar discussion here:

http://www.joltforum.com/webx?14@206.d0 ... 1010747e/0

I've learned my lesson buying cheap stuff. You get what you pay for. You can't go wrong with Shure or EV.

I made a deal wiith my bar manager that they pay for my mics if a bar patron destroys them. I'm using wired sm58's because I hate it when a singer takes off and runs around the room.

And never give a wireless mic to Kid Rock, A DJ friend of mine hosted his after party and he took off with his wireless sm58. He was last seen boarding his tour bus and the mic was never recovered.

Good Luck, Mojo

I'm not talking like a cheapo garbage Ebay mic.  I would like a respectable brand... but something not necesarily "audiophile" quality.  We are talking biker bar karaoke here.  There are a few good singers, but nobody who is going to complain that the mics aren't good enough for them.  I also think that you can work with a lot of mics that other people may say are harsh or have overly shrill mids with tweaking of the mixer.  

Thanks for the replies.

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~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

Don't forget to check ebay for prices. although I don't use my wireless in the bar I got a incredible price for it on ebay. It's an Audio Technica.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Thanks.  I have checked evilbay a little bit, but there are just too many options.  A lot of junk on there too.  If I had a few potential options to hunt down I would be on the right track.  

I am thinking something like AKG or Audio Technica .... maybe in a dual mic per receiver set up?  Anything decent out there for a decent price?

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~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

I have been very fortunate and picked up cordless '58s on our local Craigslist...hard to be the first one to spot them, means spending countless minutes jumping on there and checking for them. I am very judicious about where the cordless mics are used. Some places don't qualify at all.

On the other hand, until I learned that, I had a cordless take a dive onto a concrete floor and believe it or not, Shure factory basically replaced it for me for $75. I have 2 cordless '58s and 5 corded ones - have never used anything but Shure and won't for karaoke. I do have an Audix that I used for lead singing in a band and it is pretty close to the Shure sound-wise but costs the same....and that is corded.

I am a real believer in going quality - there is nothing more frustrating for a karaoke audiophile (and believe me, there are a lot of them!) than a subpar mic.  Go for the best quality you can. If you're not in a hurry, keep scouting around for the cordless Shures.

K

After having the shures drop-kicked and seinheisers stolen for souvenirs, i tried and loved the audio tecnica brand. It's a vhf but i've never had problems with interference.
You can get them at radio shack for $114 last time i checked. Difference is they use 9 volts instead of AA batts. We get duracell 8 packs for $13 at costco.

Also tried the vocopro 4 mic system but once they're dropped, they have problems- all four of them. Go with the audio technicas for the biker bar i say!

I have tried many different configurations of the cheaper dual wireless setups and I have replaced many of them within 6-12 months. So I have spent alot of money over 8 years trying to find the quality solution. A year ago I purchased 2 Shure PGX SM58 wireless systems and have had no problems whatsoever. I have had them dropped with no problems except a dented wind screen ( which can be un-dented with a small rounded screwdriver handle inserted into it and minimal pressure applied...don't laugh it works..)

The only thing I do not like about them is the battery compartment is fragile as it has a hinged clip that holds the batteries in place and makes replacing batteries a bit cumbersome. Other than that, they sound and perform flawlessly day in and day out.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Thanks, I am hoping to avoid spending 400 bones a pop but maybe I can find something used... hmmmz

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~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

I know what you mean about the 400 bones each!

I found a couple of UT4 SM58's on Craig's List Locally here for about 165 bones each. I use these when it gets real drunk

Karen is correct....It takes diligence but you can find them on Craig's List which allows you to see and test before you buy.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Im sure if you get two at the same time you could get the pgx units for about 350 possibly 325 at Guitar center. our guitar center is pretty good about working a discount on such stuff. I still think a corded sounds better and with a good 30ft monster cord you can have one for under 175. a corded sm58 will handle pretty much any kinda abuse your singers will dish out. also keeps them from wandering too much. the other night my new 58 got swung into the celing and the floor twice. I was not pleased, but no harm was done (except that gouge in the new drywall celing).

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

INFORMATION REMOVED
sorry as stated by Jian i can not tell you where to find good equipment or music you will
just have to fend for yourself - Good Luck"

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Karaoke Kyle
Good Time Karaoke
1-800-200-9935
Watch the Karaoke King Show Live Thursdays 9pm
http://www.karaokeinbakersfield.com
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Absolutely disagree. Another overpriced "karaoke mic". The kind that will pop with every sibilant.  I seriously doubt you can get a decent electret condenser for that price.

Go with something from a real microphone company like Shure, Sennheiser, AKG, or Audio-Technica. (No Audix wireless options I know of.) I own the WMS40 (still available) and the Sennheiser Freeport (no longer available in handheld). I paid $330 for both and they are far superior to the Gemini. Personally, I would recommend the Shure PGX with SM58 head -- that is the purchase I would make given another chance to spend my money. I would have only one mic, but it would be one I want to use every time out.

I also would recommend the $100 Audio Technica VHF mic. I've used them and they feel solid and sound good. I think for the sensitivity and sound quality it would be hard to find a better deal. I'd like to get one too, for myself, but I need to wait a bit until some money comes in. Audio Technica also makes a very good UHF mic for around $250. Sensitive and nice sound quality. They also have a very good distance range.  That's a lot of money to me. I could be happy with the $100 model.

If you want something that will last maybe a year that is really cheap, the Nady DKW duo can be found from time to time on ebay for around $50-shipping included- for two mics and a base. They aren't that sensitive but they are good enough for drunks to drop on the floor. They sound OK, but not great. Don't get me wrong, they aren't that bad, they're useable and almost disposable. Not for professional singers, but I would be very reluctant to hand a $500 Shure or Sennheiser to someone in a bar, but that's just me.

It is always smart to have some good "Drunk Mics" around when things get a little sloppy late in the evening. I have some SM58 wired mics in my bag that will take a pounding. If I feel uneasy I will hand them one of those.

I've had it with cheap mics that only last 6-12 months and then crap out. The quality of the vocals on the cheapies is nothing like a good ol' SM58.

Another really good wired mic is the Audix OM2 they are virtually indestructible. They are made here in Wilsonville Oregon. The replacement policy is excellent. They are about the same cost as the SM58.

One of the local pro sound houses here has a demo that they have been using for the past couple of years. The demo goes like this, they hold it straight out at shoulder height and drop it on the floor and allow it hit directly on the mic wind screen. Then they hook it up and it works like a charm. They do this demo several times a day and they are still on the same mic for the past 2 years. It's beginning to look ratty but it still performs. Audix makes some tough stuff.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

To my friend mckyj57, AUDIX does make wireless versions of some of their OM series they're just kinda cost prohibitive to the karaoke enthusist at close to a grand a piece. but why sennheiser quit making their FREEPORT handheld wireless I would like to know because in my opinion they were the best (budget) wireless made except for the antenna sticking out of the bottom.

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Man Must Know His Limitations -Clint Eastwood

Yes, I like that one too. I bought one, then decided to buy another and they were off the market. I bought the WMS40 single at $190 instead of $150, but IMHO it doesn't sound quite as good.

Neither, though, sounds as good as the SM58 wireless in my opinion. But I am sort of prejudiced -- I like the SM58 wired instead of my Senn. 945 wired, too, even though the 945 is supposed to be better.