Karaoke Forums

I am currently using the headphone output on my computer (1/8" Stereo Jack) to two 1/4 mono male jacks into my mixing board. A friend advised me that there is a better way of doing this and it will improve my sound, However he was unable to be specific. Does anyone know of a better method?

A USB sound interface will improve the sound quite a bit. There are cheap ones available, but I prefer the Lexicon Alpha. Very nice sound plus gives professional 1/4" 'balanced' jacks to plug into your mixer.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--LEXALPHA

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

Thanx Lonman,

I have a USB sound interface that Behringer supplied with the last board I purchased. soooooooo I tried it and it does work.

I'll give it a go at my gigs this week and see if the sound is any better. I appreciate your input.

BTW i like lexicon's stuff, so I may end up going with your suggestion.

I use an external Creative Labs SoundBlaster X-Fi sound card and it produces really good sound as well, if you wanna check it out. $60.00 at Wal-Mart. It is an external sound card, not an interface like some people use, but it does the same thing, just no 1/4" outputs, only RCA.



http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... u=10248077

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I use the Behringer U-control interface. Very cool, as it allows you to record as well as just play. Nicer still, the cost is only $30!

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA202.aspx

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

that U202 card has been rumored to be well... cheaply made, and prone to breaking down.

I use the discontinued MP3+USB from Soundblaster. Have like four of them! ! Never had one go bad, but since it wasn't made anymore, I got others on Ebay when I had the chance!

A cheaply made product from Bheringer, say it isn't so

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Hey don't knock it if you haven't tried them. The u-controller from behringer works ike a charm. I own two of them, and haven't had a hint of an issue from either. It's in-expensive and easy to hook up, and takes up very little space. What more do ya want?

I now have mrscott's permission to knock this device as I did own one and try it which qualifies me to knock it. I gave it away. The one I had must have slipped past Quality Control.

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

MrD is kind of in the middle. I will agree that it is a cheaply made product (for professional use), I do own and use weekly. It has given me no trouble to date. For the $...it does the job and I don't have NO complaints. I do want to purchase the lexicon, but can't right now!
MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

Me too! I found it not very clean sounding, admit it was better than the built in so I will give it that, but it was (and still is) only a 16 bit converter and most are 24 or better these days. Plus it didn't have pro connections, RCA only. Why I went with the Lexicon - much better sound & pro balanced connections.

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

Well, for right now this seems to work well. The recordings I've made are nothing short of incredible. The way the singer's faces light up when they hear themselves says it all. Granted, the Yamaha MG166cx mixing board I'm using probably has more to do with that then the sound card, but its the simplicity of it I like.

Other interfaces seemed to be made primarily for instrumental recording and balancing, the the DJ audio function as a secondary consideration. The stereo input/ REC OUT on my board is RCA too, so balance connections are not an added benefit.

It makes for very neat connections, and I have no complaints about the sound production.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

U202, me too. Didn't hear any difference in the sound and it gave me lots of problems. If someone is looking for one, I'd sell it for 5 bucks.

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

All I can say is holy cow! I tried the Behringer interface that came with my FX1222 board and didn't notice much difference from using the headphone output. so I'll take a look at the Lexicon and some of the others mentioned.

Just to be clear, I'm not knocking anyone, however (and I say this as an owner of a number of Behringer components) Behringer is a budget brand these days in most areas. Their compressors, when still American made, where actually quite sought after back in the day. Unfortunately, they have since become an entry level brand and it does show in their quality.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Dang It NOW....I wish I had one that I could try side by side...I'd pry buy it on the spot!
When I do "finally" get the lexicon, I'll post my oberservations!
MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

My lappys have good sound cards. when i bought the mackie Pro efx 8 i could hear no or almost no difference. decided i liked my powered mixer setup better and went back to it and the headphone out. I do have 5 big outdoor karaoke shows at the county fair next month. I will use the pro efx for that.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

QC @ Behringer That's a good one