Karaoke Forums

Hi all. I am a first timer on this site. My husband has recently gotten into Karaoke and is pretty good. I would like to get him a Karaoke machine for his birthday in August for use at home and am looking for some advice.

We previously bought a system from our local Costco Warehouse store that was a microphone with a chip in it (and the chip has all the songs on it), which plays through our sound system with the words on our TV. It is kind of crappy because the mic stinks and the songs are not very close to the original versions. Still, it was good as a first system. That is how he practiced.

What I want to get him is a nice system that has a good mic and can play regular Karaoke discs. It might be nice to be able to have a mobile system that we can bring to partys, but that is not a must. Don't want to spend a fortune, but I would be willing to spend a little to get a good system (rather than cheaping out and getting another crappy system). Any advice will be appreciated.

Another question is: What do you think are the best dics, as far as sounding the most like the original version. Somebody once told us that DK is the best, but it apears they no longer make DK discs. I was recently told by a KJ that Sound Choice is good. Opinions?

And finally, anybody from Massachusetts here? We live in Quincy MA and are always looking for new Karaoke bars.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Budget is going to be the first question? What is your budget?

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As far as the budget is concerned, I really have no reference point for what these things cost, so don't laugh if I am totally out of the ballpark. I would be willing to pay between $100 and $400. Obvioiusly I would prefer to keep it on the low end.

If a $400 system is 400% better than a $100 system, then I would consider paying that much. Since he is not a professional (just a regular guy with a pretty good voice, singing in a dive bar), I am thinking we won't need a top of the line model. I guess I would want to know what was better about a $400 system than a $100 system. If I went on the high end, I would want to be sure he could appreciate the difference.

We have a sound system with speakers at home and we have a lap top, if any of that matters. Also, I would consider a second hand system or maybe second hand components. I am really not sure at all. Just throwing things out there.

PS - I know this is off topic, but is there a forum (that does not cost any money) where you can find out places to sing karaoke in various states?

Yeah that's pretty low for something really good sounding. That price range you are going to get 'toy' like quality.
For an all in one unit, you might consider something like
http://www.acekaraoke.com/vocopro-dvd-c ... ystem.html

For just a player that you connect to the stereo (not recommended BTW as you can harm your regular stereo speakers with live vocals), you could go with something like
http://www.acekaraoke.com/rsq-csu-222-c ... eader.html

But most players of today I won't recommend honestly. For home use, they would probably suffice, but still leary.

For that budget I would use your laptop or exisiting PC. Get a CDG compatible USB drive to rip your cdgs to the computer. Get a small mixer to plug the computer audio & mics into & a basic karaoke software that will play the files. Most laptops have a secondary video out to connect to the tv for the words. Maybe even an external USB sound interface is possible for better sound for the music.
You can easily get a nice little package (still would need to plug into your stereo - again not recommended) for about $400 or less. You would probably need a mic or two as well I am assuming.
If this sounds like an option, let us know. There are some free programs you can get that will run karaoke.

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My first system was a VocoPro Twister. It was priced about $1,100 but is a great system. I bought the system in 1998. It is a workhorse which still works great. It's portable, with the Kareoke system and speaker cabinet in one and it's on wheels for great mobility. It is a little more than $100 but will last many years.

The work horse model sounds great, but $1,000 is quite a bit more than Iwas planning to spend (my daughter is getting married this year, so my budget is a bit tighter than usual). But I also don't want to pay $300-$400 for something with toy- like quality. Is there something in between? Maybe $500-$800? Or is the $1,000 range that much better? If so, I may just wait until after my daughter is marreid and get the better system. I am leaning toward an all in one system or something that does not require me to hook it up to my home sound system (do not want to risk harming my speakers).

What about second hand?

$1000 for VocoPro anything is a mistake in my opinion, anyway.

Face it, you aren't going to get much that sounds great for $400. You can find a "GigMan" for $200.00, and it will put out some sound and play some disks. But if you want to have something that sounds better, try a small portable like the Fender Passport PD-XXX or Yamaha Stagepas. I think you can get the PD-150 for $500.00.

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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 found this on Craig's list in my area. Is it any good (assuming all components are in like new condition as advertised)?

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/msg/1210420353.html


This is all a bit confusing to me, so it would be totally awesome if someone could direct me to a place on the web (or even here perhaps) with the ABCs of choosing a system, geared toward somebody green, like me. The all in one unit is not as confusing but builidng a system with individual compenents is a mystery to me (like, what is a "mixer"?).

I'm starting to think I might want to wait and spend a bit more to get something halfway decent.

You aren't going to get much endorsement for anything like that here. Will it work? Maybe. Will it sound real good? I doubt it. Will it sound good enough? Depends on you.

Anything that is "all in one" is probably going to be a disappointment sound-wise to anyone here. Will it be a disappointment to you? Maybe not after a "Magic Microphone".

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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.

Again, for that budget you would be much better off getting a small mixer & use your laptop!
For the PA you could get something like
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=630486
Then use your laptop - try the internal drive first, many work today. If it doesn't work, then you'll need to get an external USB drive to rip the cdg's.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=483
Then a free ripper to get your cdg's to the computer.
http://www.karaokeware.com/CDGRip.html

Then you can use something as simple as Winamp to run the files.
http://www.winamp.com/ - the actual program
http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details/100775 - a plug in for Winamp to play the newly ripped files
http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details/12689 - another plugin for Winamp to adjust the speed & key of the song.
http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details/147664 - another plugin for Winamp to be able to play cdg's directly from your computer without having to rip them.

Cost of all this software to load in your laptop - FREE!
Total cost of PA & all software - including if you need the external - UNDER $400! And will blow anything away as the small portable units in the same price range!

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Thanks so much Lonman! That sounds like it might be the way I want to go.

So all I would have to buy is the mixer and possibly an external usb drive? A quick look at the Power Pod package looks like it comes with speakers and a microphone. This may be a stupid question, but would the words display on the laptop?

Another question, would this in any way harm my laptop? I sometimes use it for work and would not want to risk ruining it. I would consider buying another laptop though if the potential for harm to my current laptop existed.

I really, really appreciate your help!

That package does come with speakers & mic. You really don't want to use your stereo.
The words can display on the laptop, but most laptops today have a secondary video output - up to a couple years ago they were typically S-Video. Connect that second output to your tv & set the display properties to extend the desktop to the tv & drag the words to your tv from the laptop. It sounds more complex than it actually is. So now your music is playing through the PA & your words are on the screen while leaving the laptop open to look up/cue the next songs!
No chance on harming the laptop - just before installing ANY program, make sure you have a restore point that way if anything did happen where the program wasn't compatible, then you can restore your computer to the point before you installed! 75% of the members here (guessing) are computer users & most use laptops for their players nightly.

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Great. I feel much better now. I am going with your advice.

A million thanks!

Is this set up work for play MIDI Karaoke?

Midi karaoke will play on any pc system, you need the proper karaoke software along with the midi sequencer like the Rolan Sound Canvas to make the file sound better

Hey Lonman - a bunch of non-techie questions for ya...

1) So the Phonic Powerpod 620 PA system that you recommended CAN be connected to a laptop? How? RCA plugs?

2) Can I hook this PA system to a karaoke dvd player instead of a laptop as in your recommendation?

3) If I want to record my bad singing (with the music from the dvd) for prosperity, then what additional equipment(s) will I need to get with this set up (PA + dvd player + mic)?

4) If I want to manipulate the sounds in my recording, then do I need to buy another mixer (as the PA system that you recommended already has one)?
.
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1: yes it can. It depends on the soundcard's output. You could either go in via the RCA tape in jacks or split an rca with phone adaptors into one of the line ins(what I do t better control eq settings)
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=330870
2:Yes ypu could but if you don't already have the player then that's more money you have to spend. If you have the laptop already then it will allow you to save that money.
3:If you use a lapto you can always go in through the line in jack of your sound card from the record out on the mixer/amp.
4: Not sure what you are asking but if you record into your computer you can manipulate it with a program like Goldwave or Audacity.

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

So, is the link you provided an "RCA tape in jacks" OR "split an rca with phone adaptors"?



So the mixer in the PA system let you manipulate the sound BEFORE it's being recorded. Once THAT manipulated sound is recorded into the computer, programs like Goldwave or Audacity allow you to manipulate the recorded sound even more before burning it onto a disc. Is this correct?

The link I provided is to adapt the RCA cable to the phone jacks on the mixer. I go from an external sound card to my mixer with a regular RCA cable but the inputs on the line I am using is two phones like your mixer amp so I have to adapt the RCA to phone jacks using the adapters I linked to.


The only manipluation I can think of is using Goldwave or Audacity in the computer after creating the songfile. You can use those same programs to record.

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

Once it's in the computer you can manipulate the song with basic compression.normalization/effects to make it sound better before you burn to disc!

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