Karaoke Forums

Well I guess I've already miffed up the rules....I posted w/o posting here first. Sorry!
I'm from a small town in Indiana, just recently purchased a system from my cousin who used it for several years, several years back. I bought it for a Halloween party we have every year and I've just been doing a bar gig since September, as a side job I guess. Sort of fell into my lap. I thought I was a great singer until I started running the show. I’m not even worthy of being called a KJ or a DJ, but I’m learning. I probably have more trouble than anything with a feed back problem and getting certain singers to sound better. About the time I think I have it figured out, something goes left.
All in all I’m enjoying it, and so far in our small town I’m at least getting a little crowd at the local establishment. I’m hoping that’s keeping my head above water. (I posted part of this on another thread earlier.)
I'd like to be much better than I am and hope to get some great advice from here to help me along on that journey.

I woud like to upgrade to a laptop computer, and would welcome any and all advice on that. I like to think I'm technologically capable, but I find myself overwhelmed by the options.

I grew up on a horse farm, still live in the town I've always lived in. Married, have a daughter (just turned 7..omg) and a step-daugther who's 14 (double omg...).

I hope to make some friends here and learn lots. I sometimes have the knack for being a bit sarcastic, and over enthusiastic about things, I hope I don't offend anyone, b/c I really don't mean to at all!!!

Thanks for your time! Can't wait to "meet" y'all!

This little smiliey is similar to my favorite from another board...I use it in the utmost kindest way!!
[schild=8 fontcolor=8B0000 shadowcolor=C0C0C0 shieldshadow=1]wtf![/schild]

Hey there fellow Midwesterner, welcome aboard. You will find that this is a good place to get some questions answered and make a few new friends. Most of us don't bite and those that do usually just means they forgot their medication.

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

Good to know & nice to meet you.
I forget my meds sometimes too....
Constantly reminded by hubby...

welcome Lori

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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."

Hi Lori, welcome to KS.

Mornin glori..... ...welcome.....I, along with my wife and four adult children....live in Dyer.........

I'm not sure where Dyer is johhny, but something makes me think up north? We are 30 mi. south of Indy. Nice to meet you!

Warning: Long post to follow!!

LondonLive has been nice enough to befriend me and ask me if I have specific questions and what my goal is….this is my response I’m posting in order to get more feed back from the board!! Any/all suggestions welcomed. Thank you so much.

I say: Specific questions....! I probably have too many to be specific. My ULTIMATE GOAL is to computerize the karaoke part. I'm running dj music thru my iPod and it seems to be a pretty good fit for me. But I'm guessing I'll be able to do that from the computer too...
I’m just computer literate enough to get myself in trouble and still get very overwhelmed with options and cables. But I want to do it! I think I’m leaning towards Siglos Karaoke Professional as my hosting program, but have some free trials of other hosting programs still to try. I already own the Power CD+G burner program and I’ve had good luck with it. I can get a discount for already owning that.
Hosting software is probably the least of my worries with all my “equipment” fears…but in the long run if I don’t like how it works that will suck.

My biggest problem is I just really don’t know where to start with all the laptop/cables/soundcards/etc. available. I would like to get the best bang for my buck (duh) but yet not have to upgrade in 6 mo.

I have 2 external drives already holding some of my music, (in the processes of ripping 400 cdgs) so I think I’m good there, and don’t need to pop for tons of internal hard drive mem. I (think) I know that I need to be particular about the processor speed and RAM to run the programs with out hiccups. So I’m open for suggestions.

What I have no clue about is how I hook all that up to what I have. I have to be honest here and tell you that I’m not even 100% sure WHAT I have. It’s basically all “hand-me-downs” that I got a really good deal on from distant cousin. My sound board is a Mackie micro series 1402-vlz 14 channel mic/line mixer, the CDG player is a vocopro 8000 pro. I have a converter box to hook the TVs in the bar up to a via coax cable. I have an amp, a mini disc player and a couple other boxes I have no idea what they do, but in order to get sound they must be on. SO now that I’ve said all that “out loud”, I’m feeling pretty silly for even wasting your time, but I’ve spent my time typing, so I’m going to post anyway. I promise to look at everything I have later today and make a list so that the good people of the board actually have something to work with to give me advice. I’m sorry!
On another note….
I actually had a pretty good night last night at my little bar gig.
Not too much feed back (which only seems to happen when they aim the mic towards the floor (why do they do that?!) and stand directly in front of a speaker (again why?!) I have a hard time getting enough volume w/o feedback on quiet singers who don't know how to use a mic (hold it up to your MOUTH for God’s sake, your chest can't sing). And of course they expect me to make them sound like pros.
I keep one mic designated for me (small show, I sing a lot sometimes...) and if I’m feeling congenial, I'll let some of the better singers use it, someone I know is not going to drop it, as has happened multiple times with the others.
Sometimes my volume seems to have a mind of its own and one slider seems to run the one next to it along with itself.
Sorry this is so long…I’m windy today! Part of my family didn't get in until very early this am from out of town, and are still sleeeeeppppppping.....so I'm trapped here at the computer this being the most quiet thing I can find to do at the moment!!
(I'm NOT good a being quiet! [schild=8 fontcolor=8B0000 shadowcolor=C0C0C0 shieldshadow=1]wtf![/schild]
Thanks so much for your time!!!

Cool, your sarcasm is welcomed here, in fact personally I almost prefer it. I wouldn't worry about offending anyone on here, some get their panties in a wad quickly but mean well. Just always keep an eye on the tech forum and you learn alot and quickly learn who to listen to. Good luck and have fun learning.

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check this tutorial out....I've bought a few Svideo to one rca(12 ft.) from them...

http://www.svideo.com/displayvideo.html



their products link from here.
For audio, you can start with a simple head phone(1/8 ) to a left and a right rca cable. Cheap at target or K-mart. Some people prefer a usb to left and right rca cable.
Some people are not satisfied with the sound card in their computer, so they use an external sound card hooking to the usb port. Start out cheap, and play with at home before trying it out in public.
Also download some trial karaoke programs, and see how you like them before you buy them.........

Is there a place for FAQ's? I know this is a common topic, and don't want to rub anybody the wrong way for asking same things over and over. I'm asking for recommendations on computer equipment to convert to laptop.

From what I've gotten so far reading past threads. I need a laptop with quite a bit of RAM (1G or more?), and a pretty quick proscessor. Hosting program...trying some demos now. I have 2 Seagate 320G USB external drives to hold my music files
I need to learn more about external USB sound cards? Cables to connect all this stuff together so I can use tvs as monitors.

I plan on having my discs as back up and keeping the cdg player in the setup so if I need to play other things i can. It's already all in the case together anyway.

I made a list of what I have:
mackie micro series 1402-vlz 14 channel mic/line mixer
vocopro cdg-8000 pro
BBE sonic maximizer 462
Peavey 550watt PV-8.5c amp
radio shack stereo audio selector & rf modulator
B-52 SR 1515 800 wt speakers

the mics are 2 v-tech uni-directional dynamic mic vt-1040 imp.600 (which have been dropped a time or twelve)
and a peavey pvi100

I want to continue to run everything thru my mixer, although I don't think it has the "effects" every one is always talking about. I'll not be replacing it anytime soon though.
I'm hoping to find a used or referbished laptop b/c I'm really partial to WinXP instead of Vista.

Lori,
You might try copying and pasting that last response in the tech forum and ask for opinions. You might really learn something useful. Although, be prepared if you do that, there will be 5 responses telling you "this or that is junk, this is better" for every 1 useful response as to why. If you have thick skin against a couple of stupid responses I guarantee you will get some extremely helpful replies.

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welcome to the site Lori! Good to see yet another midwesterner!

Hola Lori!

I'll second the "post in the tech" section sentiment. There is a lot of information already there and generally there isn't too specific a problem one of the folk here can't help with it. There is a couple of current discussions regarding the use of laptops and hard drives so read up and ask questions on them.

Cheers!

Thanks a bunch!! I'll post in the tech part. I didn't want to make anyone mad asking the same question again. But since my equipment is specific to me, I guess I'll take my chances!!
Hello fellow midwesterner knightshow!!

+1
Ugh... we were supposed to read rules?
I'm Stan, Florida, near Daytona Beach, happily married with children, but an empty nest.
I'm not a pro KJ, but was a pro musician and singer for 20+ years.
Now sing karaoke for fun.
I gave up the entertainment industry for a good stable 9 to 5 job, but was laid off right before Christmas.
Might get back into entertainment, don't know yet. If I did, maybe KJ. I guess I also need to look around the tech section. Have all kinds of PA gear, but no pro KJ technology.
So far, looking around here... nice place. I also have track bikes as a hobby, hang around motorcycle racing forums, so you'll have to excuse my weird sense of humor.
(going racing this weekend)


+1

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