Karaoke Forums

I've tried trawling through previous posts, but ended up more and more confused and overwhelmed. I'm looking to modernise my karaoke set up, and the main areas i'm looking into are offering good quality microphone/s, an improvement of the sound of my singers and finally a new screen.

We currently offer dual radio microphones (KAM KWM1940), which customers gravitate towards, although the quality is less than ideal in my opinion. They do take AA batteries which is a bonus. We also have two lead mics (e 825 S ) of reasonable quality which customers never want to use and one SM58 which again is rejected for the radio mics.

I'd also like a compressor... (of which I despite reading every post i can find about them, i still don't fully understand), and my main question is if the mics and compressor need to be matched and what compressor would people recommend for my budget. I've read about the BBE Sonic and investigated it on the net, and it sounds really good... but i'm wondering if it's necessary if i buy a compressor and also considering that my backing tracks are of good quality?

and finally it's time to replace our trusted TV, for a sleeker, modern look... and i'm rather confused by the technology out there, I'm curious can a AV cable be plugged straight into an LCD? and considering the cost of a LCD and stand, would i be better looking into buying another TV. (by the way i've looked at how you all have modernised stands and "wow"... but i fail miserably with any DIY so i would have to go with a shop brought method ).

Tragically, i'm in the middle of nowhere, south UK and have no way of testing out equipment, which is the best way to learn and investigate... So i'm at the mercy of the web and you kind people for advice, because the only way i can really do this is spend the money, see what the postman brings and sit and enjoy my new toys.

My budget is £500, and i'm happy to hold back on buying certain items, for the sake of purchasing the right products. May I also say thank you in advance for all of your replies.

As far as the monitor screen, I've often wondered here lately whether or not it might be easier or more economical to purchase a computer flat 19" monitor screen for karaoke purposes vs an LCD TV. I saw one in Wallyworld by Dell for $199 US and I guess the only difference is there's no internal tuner? Anyone?

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Yes -- you can connect one VGA directly to a laptop of course. I use the Monoprice VGA-->VGA,Svideo,RCA adapter to go to a second screen after that.

I just lost an LCD to mishandling, and replaced it for $69.00 new. Of course that is a 14" screen. I also bought a 19" widescreen for $129 -- both at Tigerdirect.com.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Compressor is going to help with the people that are soft, then loud then soft then loud all within one song. Helping keeping them (the singers volume) at a more consistant volume while not having to ride the mic fader. They work better if your mixer has insert jacks, but can be run inline with the mic to the mixer.
The BBE is a completely different unit designed to break up the highs/mids & lows of the mixer output & time aligns them so you get a fuller crisper sound overall. This is not a replacement for the compressor. Yes it can make a difference even if you have great quality tracks.

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Lonnie if I remember correctly you are using a DBX266. Are you, or can you, plug a couple of mics directly into that unit, and from there go into two mixer channels? Also is there any advantages to a 166 over the 266 for karaoke mic duty?

There's a 266 on CL right now...

I use 2 Symetrix 501 on the main mics, dbx 266XL on the backup mics & a dbx 166 on the main mix.
I prefer the 166 over the 266 simply for the fact that it has a limiter built in. Nice feature, but the 266 will do a good job by itself.

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Are you plugging your mics straight into them or are you using aux sends?

You can't use Aux sends for a compressor. You use the insert jacks on each channel - 1 per channel or you go inline from mic to mixer - not as effective as inserts but will work ok.

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Great advice thanks, having looked at the specific compressor you use has enabled me to find another question... "is a compressor more suited for instruments rather than voice? I've been looking at the reviews of the dbx 266 and whilst the comments all tend to be positive, there seems to be alot of emphasis on the word bass (so much so i wonder if the posters are refering to bass guitar).

Also in reguards to BBE Sonics, the idea sounds great... and what appeals to me is that they aren't really used in the uk, so i'll be one step ahead of the game. Looking on ebay, i've noticed a range of different rack mountable systems, one which enhances the use of sub woofers... since i run off two powered speakers, i'm concerned that I may be looking at equipment too advanced and not suited to my current set up.

As for the monitor i'm still trawling the net for 14" lcd to no avail... I have considered a computer monitor, but scared of the technology and plugging in different leads. . . I'll deal with this fear, when/ if the price is right. For now, it's off to look at my Argos catalog.

Compressors are good for any signal that fluctuate in volume beit vocals, drums, bass (guitar) or need to even out levels. Instruments benefit much from compression, especially bass (guitar) & drums. But these are live uses, vocals will get compressed as well - equally important.

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Unless you are using subs, you would not need one with the sub crossover, and if you are using subs, then you probably have it crossed over somewhere already.
I would look at the BBE 482. Run it inline from the mixer to the amp, making it the last processor to the amp (if you run a crossover, then right before the crossover). If your system is all balanced connections, then use the BBE 882.

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I know you are in the UK, which makes it harder than for us in the U.S.

I just received the $69.00 monitor, the "Synapse" brand. It works great for karaoke presuming you don't put a mixer case on top of its padded holder and then drive it in a hard-riding van. We now have a standard that the monitor and the PC go in their own storage area in the van. 8-\

I did find this for UK purchase:

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/Sea ... &CatId=907

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Is there a difference between BBE 882 and BBE 882I? and where would I run in the system to get to the powered speaker? is it as simple as connecting it from the output on the desk and then into the speakers?


PS. Thanks mckyj57, thats a lot more cost effective than the ones I was looking at.

The only difference between the 2 are cosmetics mainly. Their audio chip from the early unit to todays units haven't changed much if any. I have an older 422A (1993) & a newer 482 (2005) & there is no significant audio difference between the two.

Where it will go in the signal chain is the last thing to the powered speakers. Mixer - BBE - Speakers. If you run an eq, then Mixer - EQ - BBE - Speakers.

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This is more a question for mckyj57 (mainly because I have a lot of respect for his opinion, and also he is one of the few hosts who wouldn't sing with a poor quality mic), though everyone else please feel free if you have any input. As a female vocalist, i could care less how much the mircophone costs and the quality at a karaoke (providing the host knows his mixing desk), but i'm aware the mics i use do not flatter the lower range vocals...

can anyone offer suggestions of what mics would be the most productive to buy... I'm hovering with buying two SM58's, ditching the radio mics and forcing customers to use them, although personally I am not a fan, i am happy for people to change my mind if need be (i think they are too good at their job and owing to that they become unforgiving of a bad singer and make a good singer phenomenal) .

I like the SM58, which is a good all around mic. It is about my favorite except for the EV ND767. Both are good for low-voiced males, particularly when you roll off the low EQ to 10 o'clock like Lonman taught me. (If you get someone singing Johnny Cash or Josh Turner, you nudge it back up some. I actually turn the eq up temporarily for well-known low notes like "Friends in _low_ places".)

I have good wireless mics, but *choose* to use the wired microphone because I like the dynamic of people coming to the stage and singing. I especially don't like it when people take the wireless mic to their chair and sit and sing. To me that loses the show aspect -- you are much more likely to get people rocking and dancing if someone is up front.

P.S. The SM58 is about as economical a microphone as you can find. It is indestructible or the next thing to it, and you can keep it looking great by buying replacement balls/grilles for $5-15.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I converted to a 22" monitor. Monitors are quickly taking over the world . Most are HD and just make sure your computers graphics card can handle duel monitors, that your fans and system is free of dust and gunk (blow em out with end dust) and like others said, get a good case or something to keep em from banging into things.

If you don't have a computer you can get a digital upconverter from just about anyplace now (digital tuner that will turn a analog RCA signal to a digital HDMI). This will lag the image a bit so be sure to tune your system accordingly.

If you want to split an HDMI cord you can also get those at provantage, tiger direct etc. and they are 20-50 bucks. Although I found karaoke stuff is wayyyy low def... larger monitors are easier to get now.

Ooooh just realised i may be making a mistake... simple question... when buying the BBE 482i... do i need to make sure it's suitable for our plugs in England?

Before I buy can someone just say "good idea or bad idea" to this?

thank you.

They come standard for 110-120 volts. But can be purchased as 220-240 volt models. May have to contact them directly to find out where to get them.
http://www.bbesound.com/

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