Karaoke Forums

I was at a family reunion today and found out that quite a few of my relatives enjoy karaoke. Many of them are relatives I don't see that much. We got to chatting about it and I thought hosting a karaoke party would be fun and even set a date three weeks away. I have a few questions that am hoping someone can help me with.

1. I own a Behringer PA system (PMH2000/E1520), but would need to purchase some type of CDG player. I don't want to spend a fortune on one, but would like something that comes with a key changer that doesn't also change the tempo of the songs if it doesn't add a lot of extra cost. I don't know a thing about CDG players. Do they all come with effects built in? Would I need those if my PA system comes with effects and EQ on the powered mixer? I think I can only use one effect at a time, though, and would need to choose between reverb and echo. Does anyone have any recommendations for a CDG player that would fulfill my need without being too expensive or have too many redundant effects features?

2. We have a TV we can use for the lyrics monitor. I'm not sure how I'd hook all of these components up to make them work, but can probably find someone to help me. I would even like to add a laptop to the system with a computer software player as well as CD-Gs I have on my computer but not on disc. I suppose I'd have to set up the laptop to monitor lyrics for songs not on disc and the TV for songs on disc. Would it be too difficult to change from one to the other depending on the song and the format I have it on or should I stick with only CDG discs? I really would like to use both but don't want it to be so cumbersome that it becomes a pain in the neck.

3. Is there anything else I need that I haven't mentioned? Of course, I have mics, cables and stands.

Hi.. I use a laptop for most all parties.. Your mileage may vary..

Others will lend a hand with their systems.

I also started out with a laptop. If you have one, this might be a good opportunity to run a ripper and input your CDG disks. (They do take a while, though.)

With regard to playing some CDGs, there are players that do that and include a key changer.

If you have a separate player, which I don't necessarily recommend, you will have to match up the output to make it easy to switch. There are video/audio four-way switches available reasonable.

If you lived close to me I would let you borrow all that stuff -- maybe some KJ here is nearby and will let you use one.

Good luck!

if they're into karaoke, many of them might have their OWN discs...

There are some cheap players out there.

ebay link to a cheap player

another

and another (vocopro DVX-880k yet it says 800k)

and that's just a start.

I'd PERSONALLY recommend going with the discs only... forget the laptop for now. Unless you're already laptop setup for home. Then all you have to do is determine the speakers you want, amp/mixer combination, microphones...

Best of luck Red!

If you have a laptop, you can connect it to a TV monitor with AV cables...which helps with crowding around a laptop screen. You may need to get the manual for the computer because the keystrokes to get it to go to monitor can vary by computer.

I use a free karaoke player called karafun. Its very simplistic and it works off either cds or hard drive files. I believe I downloaded it at the CNET site download.com. Hope that helps.
Missi

Definitely, the laptop route.

One more vote for the laptop way and funny enough, I use the same karafun player that alouette99 mentioned

I use a player called "KB Player." I'm not sure if that will read discs or not (if not, I thank you for the name of another player on computer I can try. Whatever I decide to do, I will have to have a way to include discs somehow because my cousins will undoubtedly bring some along to use. That would solve my problem, except for making key changes should anyone request that.

I also have a VocoPro duet karaoke machine but am not sure if I can hook that all into my PA system and get it to play through there rather then the speakers that come with it. Has anyone tried that? That does have a key changer which would come in handy for discs.

You should be able to do it from the pre-out.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

KBPlayer (Karaoke Builder's Player) won't read the tracks on a cdg for a computer.

(I've never tried karafun for the cd rom! Didn't know that!)

Whereabouts in CNY do you live? My mother-in-law lives out there, and I'm in WNY.

try looking on craigslist.com for your area and search for karaoke player.

You might find some good deals. Come back here and post the ones you think fit the bill and we will give you some input.

I would suggest going with discs as your relatives may be bringing theirs too and you will need a player for theirs.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Thank you all for your help on this thread. I see I have a lot of decisions to make and a lot of work to be done. I haven't even got a list together of karaoke tracks I possess, so I need to get started on that. I really appreciate the assistance! If I have more questions, I'll know where to come.

There's a really good directory printer which can print ANY files into a .txt format. Wouldn't make a good songbook, but you could get the .txt file and edit it to put into a spreadsheet, etc...

JDIRPRINT.exe

It's a shareware program, and you can find it out on download.com, or just do a google search. Many people keep them out there on available shared areas.

PowerKaraoke has Siglos player both a hoome version and a professional version. The only real difference between the two is the pro version has rotation and history capabilities. Both will play off the discs provided your laptop's cd drive can read the code- most new laptops can.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

When I first started I just used a memorex karaoke player from wal-mart and ran it through my mixer board and it worked fine for my family renunion. Since then I've put everthing on my laptop. I use the free audio grabber to ripp the CDGs to my hard drive and I use the free winamp with the autokdj plug in (also free) to play the songs. This was all free and works great for small gatherings. I like the winamp with autokdj because it allows for changing the pitch of the song, it also has a very easy to use search function. I've been using it for over a year now and I'm completely happy with it, and did I mention it was all free.

No prob... Invite me and Ill bring my epuip...I love parties!!