Karaoke Forums

Anybody have experience using two single tray CD+G players? Both are RSQ and work well but I would like to speed up the wait time between singers and be able to set up the next song. I can get the audio to the mixer no problem but the video from both units doesn't play well together. Would just a simple A/B type splitter on the RCA video outs do the trick?

Thanks for any info.

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-Kona

I do it all the time. It's actually smarter than using a multi-drawer, because you have instant back-up.


You didn't mention the type of mixer, but if it's a mixer/amp combo, many have more than one audio/video in/out with the switch built it. If not, then yes, you can use an A/B switch- not a splitter because you will still have video input from both, whether playing a disc or not.

You can get an isolated swither inexpensively anywhere, even radio shack. In my case, my preamp is actually an amp mixer with several in- and outputs. Just a matter of turning a knob.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

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Gator

I don't know what you mean by "A/B splitter". That is a contradiction in terms. What do you mean "doesn't play well together"? And why won't a regular A/B switch work? They are a few dollars.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-st ... TCH/1.html

This is one of the rare situations where an actual karaoke mixer could help. I have a VocoPro mixer which does audio/video crossfade. But unfortunately you have to put up with the poor sound to get the function. If you just used it to switch the music audio out, and plugged the feed into a normal mixer, it might work.

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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.

if you are trying to use a splitter that is why you are having video trouble
An A / B switch is what you want just take the video outs from the players into the switch and take the video out from the switch to your monitor

I use an RF Modulator, sorta the same thing as an A/B switch, but has video/audio inputs for each piece of equipment necessary. I picked mine up at Wallyworld for about 24 bucks, but they no longer carry the same model. The new models have different outputs, but would work too. They just dont have coax outputs for the video. But most tv's these days have other ways of hooking up video.

I agree that using a multi-tray player is a much more efficient and faster way of doing things, but if 2 separate players is what you have, a switch or RF Modulator is the cheap and easy way to go.

This is the way I prefer to run a disc based show. As soon as the current singer starts & adjusted, get the next cued up & ready. Current singer leaves, call next singer up & start their song - repeat cycle.
Both player will have their own channel on the mixer, this way you can fade one into another then the video straight to an RCA video A/B switch. Then you take the RCA output of the switch to the TV or RF converter to the tv. I also use two cue monitors in which I split the video signal from each player - before going into the switch & plug the other into the monitor - just a couple of small 7" monitors. Don't need anything big.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882190027
Don't use the DVD player that comes with that package so can't comment on that, but the monitors work great.

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

A multitray player isn't as fast as having two players. There is still the time in between the current song playing & stopping, then unloading & reloading next disc to start. With two players, you have one disc loaded & ready & can start while current song is ending. MUCH faster.

This is actually the video switch/RF Converter & use now - probably the same as yours from MalWart.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00013 ... e=&seller=
Eliminates the need for a separate RF Converter & allows 4 sources to be switched - still run the audio direct to the mixer though.

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

Lonnie, my modulator is different, its a Phillips, but will do exactly the same thing. I attach my modulator to the side of my rack using Velcro (its my friend,hehe). Velcro on the inside of the rack as well for transporting. The Phillips is also a 4 channel, has s-video,rca and coax in's (the coax "in" is just for 1 tv/vcr though) For the "outs", it has s-video, rca and coax as well. Can't seem to locate a picture of one, sorry.

When I ran a disc based show I just used an A/B Switch, and a mixer with a crossfader for filler.... Thus I used THREE discplayers. The CDGs were hooked into the same audio channel via the A/B switch, and the other channel was the CD player that I crossfaded into for filler music.

Thus, at the end of the track I crossfaded to music and called up the other singer. That person's CD was already in the tray spinning and ready to go... all I need do is hit the a/b switch and play on the CDG player.

I like the cross fader because if I wanted to fade out a song with a long ending (after the singing stopped) I just faded into filler and hit the a/b.... no abrupt stops and silence. Now my computer does all that...

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Thanks for all the great replies. I purchased a splitter off Ebay for $7 including shipping!

Both players are RSQ. One is newer RSQ NEO NK-2000U and has a USB port. Both work very well but as for the NEO+G...gave up on that idea shortly after messing with it. As mentioned in an earlier post, the time it takes to make discs and the slow load time, it just didn't seem worth it.

The USB port is a nice feature though. So far we just use it for mp3 music tracks before and after show but I can see future use of an external HD.

I like the idea of using separate mixer channels for each CD player. The mixer we use is a Yahmaha MG124CX and can easily be setup to use CH9/10 for one player and CH11/12 for the second player and I still have 2TR IN for additional filler music.

For those interested in Mackie powered subwoofers, do I have a story. Its late tonight but I will put it out soon. All I can say is,
Pretty much in that order too.[/img]

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-Kona

You do NOT want a splitter, you want a switch! A splitter will not work!
Not sure what your Mackie story is, but chances are if you are hooking up your video wrong, it might be that you were hooking up the powered sub wrong!

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

Opps! It was late when I posted. What I meant to say was I purchased a switch. It has a selector with RCA L/R/V inputs for each position (1-2-3) and one set of RCA L/R/V outputs.

As for the Mackie Subs, I will post in new thread.

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-Kona