Karaoke Forums

I am setting up a karaoke system in my home. I have a rather decent computer and a 47" monitor to display the lyrics on. I'm running a 600 watt surround sound system through the computer which sounds great, and is plenty loud enough for karaoke. I find Karafun to be a great program and do everything I need. I have everything set up, my only issue is that I need a good recommendation on a pre-processor for the microphone to create the reverb/echo/compression, that I can run between the microphone and the input on the soundcard, as I want to do everything through the computer.

All that's available locally is the Soundcraft COMPACT 4, for anything in my price range ($150ish.) I live in Alaska.

Would this do the trick, or would I be better off finding something online with better processing versatility, or possibly something Chinese, for my price range? I know one person in here mentioned they liked one of the Yamaha stuff.

I just would like a little clean up on the mic input. Something that's not too bulky, nor too expensive, that will just do the job and provide enough reverb to a halfway decent singer. I used to find the old JVC karaoke machines built in vocal processing to provide sufficient for my tastes.

Thanks in advance.

howdy driver welcome aboard...that mixer doesnt look to have efx built in. Soundcraft is a reputable brand but if you want one product to assist you with mic preamps and efx you will have to look at another mixer. I started with a small alesis and they are quite reasonably priced...they also have one that plugs straight into usb which in many cases gives better recording if you intend to do that.

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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."

Not looking to record much, just want something to clean up the mic and offer me a little reverb before the signal goes into the computer. More than anything something that karaoke guests will appreciate. If it sounds fake, yet clean on its higher settings and its better than the Soundcraft model here, I'll just wait and order it online if anyone has betterr suggestions. My issue is that i notice most the stuff out there is designed to pre-process the microphone and the music. I just need something that will process the mic signal. and would rather spend my money on something more emphasized for that than an altogether mic and music mixing preamp.

why would you want it to go into the computer if you are not going to record...if you are storing your tracks on a computer then it will be coming out of the computer to the mixer then to the speakers...your voice will not go into the puter unless you take a line in to record

unless I am missing something here...could be it is 3am

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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."

microphone-->vocal processor-->line in on soundcard-->mixed with music on computer---> output to amp/ speakers...

?

I think I will leave this to someone else as I think its an a rse about face way of doing it good luck

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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."

Another route to do this (and IMHO I think would be better for you) is to look for a small (6-8 channel) mixer with effects such as a Mackie DFX6 or a small Yamaha mixer with effects, or for that matter even a Behringer mixer with effects. You should be able to find a used one in your price range ($150)
Then you would go:

microphone-->pre-amp on mixer
line out on soundcard (music)-->mixer
the above would then be mixed at mixer(with effects)and sent to the PA system (amp-->speakers)

Just another option for you to consider.

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

hey RLC thats what I suggested last night...seems he doesnt like that idea much

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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."

This would be a much better & cleaner sound for you. No reason to run the mixer into the computer then back out.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I guess that's possible as well. Thing is, that I use the computer/amp speakers for much more than just karaoke. If the mixer had a optical or cable digital in/out it wouldn't be any big issue to do it that way because it would be one press of a button to bypass the mixer when I didn't need it. But it really sounds awesome as it is. Just more interested in which vocal processors give the best reverb sound for the price.

Could get the Mackie PROFX that uses a USB I/O interface. Plus has built in effects for your reverb and delay.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

for $150?

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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."

No but with the mixer he chose plus an outboard processor he'd need to get the reverb effects he wants, it would run about the same price or more as the Mackie and not be as computer compatible.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

If you can find it, the BMB Ninja mini-board will give you everything that you need for under $50. I still see them on e-bay from time to time. Keychange, echo, delay, pitch, two mic inputs, EQ, etc...a beautiful little beastie. I use it on the mics for my shows..


The question is: If you're using a PC anyway, can't you use the software to mix vocals as well? ( I'm disc based, I really don't know.)

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Depends on the software however I haven't seen one yet that does a good job.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I tried software based processing, and unless you delve into a high dollar sound card and ASIO/VST software, there's really not much out there that works well in real-time.

As far as mixing goes, I can do the actual mixing of the voice channel within the PC, as well as through he karaoke program, though. I have 3 different gain adjustments for the microphone.

The local music store has the Mackie ProFX-8 for $255. From what I can tell, that should do everything I need to do, and also work great if I decide to go portable and use my laptop to plug into something else. I can deal with paying an extra $100, based on how nicely everyone says these things work.

I'm sure you will very happy with the Mackie.

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

What kind of audio card are you using? The Audigy cards from Creative (Sound Blaster) comes with EAX console, it has everything you need, reverb, compression... you choose the line in input for the FX only and you're done You basically only need a simple 2 mic preamp for connecting your mics

I haven't really looked into the sound blaster cards. The question is, can they do real time processing (reverb, ect) of the mic input completely separately from the karaoke music?

I used to use one, but I never tried karaoke through it.

Of course, you can apply the fx on your selected input, in this case, it would be the line in. EAX also offers some great fx like; man vocal to female or vice versa, the Cheer effect... There's really no limit and it's all done in real time, no latency problem