Karaoke Forums

[font=Verdana] I know my preference if I am in a club, is to be able to hear the music, the person singing, and to hear the people I am with.
I know the younger crowd seems to think that the louder the music the better, but can anyone give me some opinions on just how loud a karaoke show should be? .When I sing at some shows, I can barely hear myself over the music, makes it difficult to sing your best. [/font]

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Dusty Rose
Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
More Sound! More Selections! More Fun!
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rule number 1: a person should be able to hear the music, the singer and themselves talking.
Rule number 2:If anyone asks for it to be louder refer them to rule number 1.

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

As far as the music vs the vocals. I play the vocals a hair above the music. I do this by setting it up so the music is at the right volume when it peaks on the last green light on the LED ouput, then adjust the vocals to where the loudest parts peak just one more LED more the first yellow. This seems to keep it pretty good.

As far as overall volume. It depends on your venue and your crowd, and as a KJ you should have a feel for your crowd and venue. My Saturday likes it pretty loud. The place is shaped like a rectangle and I am forced to put my speakers on the short wall, so some people are very close, some are pretty far. They learn that if you sit in the front rows, it is pretty loud. A lot less loud towards the rear of the room. For me I would sit in the middle, but some of my regulars sit as close to me and the speakers as possible, and love it loud.

Felix the KJ

Depends what your sound is like.
If it sounds sweet and full, you will get away with being louder than others.
If your sound is suffering... They will think quiet is loud.
(From experience)

I try to get the vocals just over the music.
As far as overall volume, as loud as the crowd requires. We tend to run a bit hotter because I want people to experience a live performance, so the sound reflects the levels that a live band might produce. We don't target older singers - although they are more than welcome, chances are they won't stay long usually because of the volume. Although like Jerry stated, a good system with good amps that match the power ratings of the speakers at higher volumes will sound much better than a system that isn't adequate - small amps that will distort & start becoming ear piercing when turned up to begin with. The latter is what I have experienced in many clubs in this area.

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

I think a nice smooth sound can be played louder, that's why I LOVE my EV

i walk to the bar. If I can have a conversation with someone in a normal speaking tone, the music perfect.

That said, some song require different volume... say "Herre for the party" versus "whiskey lullaby"

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Too loud for a lot of people is just loud enough.

f you have good speakers and get the mix right, you should be able to converse even when it is quite loud. Of course that depends on the style of music -- all bets are off with punk and heavy metal.

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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.

This is pretty much what I'm doing in my home room too. The show's specifically targeted towards those who aren't comfortable in the half dozen or so country and oldies shows in the area. It's not general purpose karaoke, although anyone is welcome as long as they're happy with the levels and the language of some of the material.

I keep switching speaker systems around in there but currently have floor standing Yorkville Elite E2204s along with triple 18" subs. These things will blow walls out so I have to really watch it. You can go over the top with this.

I place my singers in the mix where they want. Most of my crew want themselves back a little more like the original recording. But some veteran singers want themselves so out front it's ridiculous. But I do it.

To loud is when you see people putting their hands over their ears and complaining.

Of course it depends on your crowd, the song, venue and equipment, I can just tell you what works for me.

I like to keep the volume at a level people can still talk to each other without screaming. Of course if you are standing right next to a speaker this could be difficult. A complaint I hear a lot is bands are to loud and people can't talk to each other, so I'm careful not to make the same mistake. I'll stand in front of the stage then in the middle of the room several times night to check sound. It is very important to me to make sure it isn't to loud.

If there isn't a lot of people in the bar and the night hasn't gotten rowdie yet I keep it a little lower. I bring the volume up as the night gets pumping. Certain songs are just going to be louder, like Bodies. People don't mind a popular song that is by nature loud as long as it isn't every song played.

Most songs I keep the vocals slightly above the music. If I have a horrble tone deaf singer I'll try to blend their voice more into the music.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Just like sex, I want to be the only person to hear me screaming......why the he11 would anyone want to go out karaokeing, and be the only one to hear it....might as well stay home and sing by yourself....if you want to talk....go to a confessional, and yak your soul out to a priest.......

DITTO for me exactly.

#1 You should always be able to hear yourself --either with monitors or speaker placement.

Vocals should be above the music but JUST above as to blend.
Over all volume depends on too many variables --shape of room ?
But generally you should be able to TALK and converse in most of the room.
As mentioned well matched systems and properly located speakers only can add to the overall experiance

Those two are often not the same. If the vocals are *just* above according to the KJs evaluation and location, it still may not be enough for the singer to hear themselves adequately in their location.

One of the reasons I love singing at a system I set up is that I know I will be able to hear myself. Singing out at karaoke venues, it is usually less than 50% where I can hear myself well.

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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 guess that is true.. also if the singer is hard of hearing it could be difficult for the KJ to compensate or know that. and I agree that singing on a system you set up would be ideal

Like Lonman, I run my show like a live-music event.

No one walks into a live-music venue and tell the band they are too loud, and I have most of my patrons in that same mindset. I also like the karaoke to be "what's going on" in the bar. I have been to many karaoke bars with great systems and great hosts, but they allow most of the patrons in the bar to be able to ignore the karaoke. Because of this, they may be able to attract singers just fine, but have problems getting non-singers or potential new singers to ever give karaoke a chance. ON any given night, 75% of my patrons are non-singers, and a good chunk of those non-singers are regulars who come in for my karaoke/DJ show even though they don't sing or come in with anyone who sings.

My one rule of thumb with the volume is that I make sure that the back 25% or so of the bar are able to carry on a conversation without raising their voice. This back 25% or so of the bar has pool tables, dart boards, bar seating, and booths, so anyone that doesn't want to be fully immersed in the karaoke can choose to sit back there (even though they can still hear it!!).

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C Mc
KJ, FL

My turn eh? Well, since I have the Yorkies, I run my volume louder than any show I've been too. I've asked patrons if it is too loud. Only one woman complained, she was probably in her late 40s or early 50s. I received a lot of compliments in my 3 day extravanza. One guy who showed up in dreds said it's not a show, it's an experience!

Having said that, I don't think there is a correct volume or level. Depends on bla bla bla etc etc. I'm going loud and proud!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

The music should be adjusted to the singer. I agree that the singer should be slightly above the music. We've tryed helping a kj or two but they keep going back to the same darn thing. I know it's their show and they run it the way they want to. But if they don't want help then they are beyond help. Oh, and BTW, so many kj's are so arrogant they seem to know everything. Well, we're not one of 'em.

I try to make my show sound LARGE not LOUD.

Mojo

My personal preference as a singer is to be slightly in front of the music - there is no sense in singing if the voice blends into the background of the music. If I err at all it is to make the singer a little louder, especially good singers. The questionable ones get dropped back a little so as not to offend bar patrons (not being nasty, it is a fact of life at one of our venues - bartenders suggestion since he has to hear the complaining otherwise.) I like a full music sound and adjust the singers to match the overall recording of the music. There is nothing worse than having to strain your voice to be heard over music that is overbearing and too loud. I don't let it happen at my shows and will just sit down if it happens when I go out and sing somewhere else.

Obviously if people are plugging their ears and they're sitting 30-40 feet away from the speakers it is probably too loud - have to use your judgment - stand in front of the speakers at several points and see what is comfortable for your ears. It seems that naturally people who want to chat and aren't really paying that much attention to the karaoke will sit back further away but those who are active participants will position themselves to hear it all well.