Karaoke Forums

i have a karaoke gig and up until last week i was using a home reciver/amp, cheap wireless mic, and 2 Old Speakers.
i run everything through my laptop with Club DJ Pro. i was using a 2.5mm plug to RCA cable to run to my reciever.

well i saw the need to do something a little better so i went out and bought the following.
Gemini CM200USB - Mixer
Vocapro Pro Power 480 speaker set (1 sub and 2 speakers w/ stands)
19" rack mount case
berringer a500 amplifier
vocapro wireless rechargeable microphone system (4 mics)

ok i did my gig tonight with the new equipment with only like 20 min of prep time, due to the equipment not being shipped until earlier today.

well here is my issue

i didnt know that the 2 vocal speakers were powered, but i did know the sub was powered. i was going to run the sub through the MAIN out on the mixer, and i bought 2 XLR cables to run to the Amp then i was going to run 1/4" plugs to both speakers. well since the speakers were power i ran them straight out of the mixer board. well they did not seem that powerful. i had people telling me all night they were not loud enough. then i had an issue on feedback. anytime i turned up the mic to a certain level i got bad feedback.

i researched a feedback destroyer for that problem, is that what i need?

Also, what about the speakers?
do i need to get a 1/4" to rca to run from the Amp to the speaker amp? or would that be too much.
is it better to use a balanced XLR rather than a RCA? all the speakers have is a rca jack.

also the way i have hooked up now, mixer to speaker via RCA, i get static out of the main speaker. the main speaker has the amp and a 1/4" plug to run the other speaker. in that main speaker i get static only out of that speaker.

also with tha new mixer i am running a Dual USB hookup to play the music from my computer.

i did not know the 2 speakers were powered. that is why i ran a balanced XLR to the amp and i was going to run a XLR or 1/4" cable to the speaker. which way should i go?

Please Help

Sorry to say this & sure not what you will want to hear:
The first problem is you bought a dj mixer, not designed for live vocals for karaoke.  It also looks as there is no effect built into this board at all for the vocals, a must for karaoke.
The speakers you bought only push 90 watts RMS per speaker.  The sub pushes 120 watts RMS.  Most karaoke PA systems of today will have 1 speaker that will push around 300-400 watts PER speaker avg. - your entire system is pushing 300 watts total RMS.  This is the reason why it didn't seem loud enough.  When you turned it up it was most likely pushing into clipping - the point where clean signal turns into dirty signal, most likely why the static - distortion due to clipping or possibly bad connections.  
The feedback is mostly due to the mixer not being designed for singing.  A feedback destroyer won't help much in this situation, if anything it will make it much worse.
RCA jacks are not typical pro speaker connections, XLR is standard for powered speakers.

Any way to get a refund on all of this?  For the price you spent you could really get a good 'pro' PA system that will suffice in most rooms.

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could you recommend a affordable mixer and speaker?
i have been shopping at samedaymusic.com

the speakers seem like they are loud enough. right now i have a gig on a deck beside the lake and everyone on the floor can hear it, but up in the bar area people cannot hear it.

but for the people sitting right beside the speakers its a little loud.

also, the reason i got that mixer is because i dj as well as karaoke throughout the night and i liked the USB hookup since all of my real songs and karaoke songs on on my laptop.

do i just need to get another mixer for the mic's?

A different mixer would help.  You want something designed for live use which vocals are.  Also you'll want one with effects built in - unless you have an external effects processor which you didn't state, so assuming you do not.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=630139
Something like this will do the trick, however you will need to plug the computer into it as well for a proper mix meaning you'd need to use the computer soundcard or an external sound interface.
Not sure why you have the Behringer amp - oh sorry, you stated you thought the tops were passive speakers.  Can you return this amp & exchange for the mixer?

I'd still truly opt for a better speaker system as well personally.  What you spent on those for a little more, you could have a really nice speaker system that will sound better at regular listening levels & in clubs.  But that's just my opinion.

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I did a lot of shopping around for my system. Buying peace by peace hoping for the best! That stuff is now back up stuff! I spent the 1500$ on a complete system! Last night was my first night at a real Karaoke set up. A packed house! I did close to 100 songs! A big step for me. NOW My valcopro did very well! My "cheap" mics did super! I thought my feedback was going to be a problem but with this system I worked out!! I would get a system put together where parts are made for each other,, use the rest for back up!!!!

Hi Lonnie (and anyone else please),

I am hoping you could help me with karaoke setup for home entertainment. I currently have a 5.1 home theater setup for movie and music powered by an Onkyo Tx-Sr805 receiver. I would like to set up a karaoke system as well and was thinking about doing the following setup:

Karaoke player -> Receiver -> current HT speakers (this will be for the music only, no vocals)
AND
Buy 2 speakers for vocals only + an amp/mixer combo + mics
Mics -> amp/mixer -> 2 speakers for vocals.

What do you think of this setup and what equipment do you recommend? Would this mixer http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=630139 be appropriate for my setup?

Thanks

a couple of speakers and you would be good to go...if there is one thing I have learned being a part of these forums, its that home theatre is not cut out for live vocals, you run the risk of ruining your home theatre system

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."