Karaoke Forums

I always start by adjusting the high and low depending on male vs female. As they start, I tweak as needed. If they are a regular, I pretty much know where they will be. Once I am comfortable that the eq is set and their volume is ok and that they AREN'T cupping the mic (unbelievable how many do this), I am comfortable to leave the booth for a minute or two.

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

I couldn't agree more and having visited enough shows where the audio just plain hurt, I honestly do not think most KJ's have a clue how to listen to vocals and EQ them. The differences in mid-range between female and male voices is quite drastic. I have kind of general settings for men and women that I use as starting points when they come up and I can pretty quickly tell where the cut is needed the most. Unfortunately having only a single sweepable mid, there are those vocals that I just can't get everything right so then it's a matter of finding the worst offender (frequency wise) and pulling that back. I'd love to have a separate 1/3 Octave EQ for each mic channel, but my rack is already filled with enough outboard equipment.

I've seen too many KJ's who have the set it and forget it attitude. Locally we have one KJ who bought her system and had someone "tune it" (as she calls it) for her and she's never adjusted it again except for adjusting the level on the mic receivers for louder and softer singers (ugh). The first 10-30 seconds of a song I spend setting the input attenuation and EQ'ing the singers channels and the karaoke track since each song and singer are different. There's no other way in my book.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Thanks letitrip, with all of my regulars I can set them while they are coming to the stage and if I have to take a pit stop, I know they are set as soon as the music starts.
The Audio Technica's are definitely not as good as the Shure SM58's but with my budget where it is at and being in a poistion where the Shure's are being a problem at this time, being able to work the board and be able to put out a quality sound for $200 per mic is a plus for me at this time.
The distortion on the Shure's has been very frustrating and I've been using a Gemini VHS, the Audio Technica is a big upgrade!

Keep in mind that you should not use 698MHz - 800MHz (or there-abouts) for wireless mics anymore. I have seen a lot of used and overstock stuff in that band for sale cheap lately, but if you buy it you may eventually find Verizon/AT&T deploys a new service in your town and your mics no longer work. Also, it's illegal to use them now, so if you cause interference to licensed commercial services, you might get a visit from the FCC or a carrier. They can even fine you for it.[/quote]


Not quite right. New white space allotments allow EMS, DTV, and others to use these frequencies ( mostly 800 +UP), but that doesn't mean they WILL, and certainly not all of them in a given area. You can use mics within these frequencies, but it safer to make sure they are multi-channel.

Despite all the rumors, there is NO LEGAL ISSUE in regard to using these mics, anymore than there are for VHF ( where virtually ALL frequencies are used by hi strength stations somewhwere.), or RF toys, etc....this is just another

Why? Simply the range of transmission, measured at best in hundreds of FEET. Nothing you transmit will interfere with the higher strengh transmissions listed above. The issue would be their interfering with you.

And ALL frequencies will not be used in any area by hi strength tranmsitters. There will be a lot of open space to avoid overlap.

This misconception has caused some truly great deals to pop up on E-bay and elswhere. Go for multi-channel, and you will save a bundle.

You might go to the local RS and pick up the latest frequency guide if you stick to a single channel, and just avoid those used...

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Actually, this isn't accurate either. It's technically illegal to use any wireless microphone unless you have an FCC license for each frequency that you're going to transmit on. The FCC has not gone after folks using these devices because it hasn't caused problems (using the white space between television channels hasn't interfered with anyone) and they typically only act when there are complaints of interference as otherwise enforcement becomes a nightmare.

With regard to the 700MHz band, what's changed is now that the television stations no longer occupy those frequencies, they've been reassigned as digital transmission spectrums for emergency services and hi-speed internet (data communications). The white spaces between channels will no longer exist. Where you get the idea that wireless mic's won't interfere, I can't fathom. I've worked at festivals where a stage 1000 feet away had wireless mics interfering with wireless devices, do you honestly think that a police car sitting 100 feet away from your mic out on the road might not get interference. The new devices on the 700MHz band will be digital which means far less transmission power is required. Proximity is everything even when we're talking mili-watt trasmiters.

Also I don't know where you got the 800MHz and up but the long documented fight that's been going on for some time has been about the 700MHz band. So again you're complaining about people spewing inaccuracies but you're the one with the inaccurate information.

So if you continue to use devices in the 700MHz band, you do so at your own risk. There will still be lots of room because like you said, it's pretty unlikely that the entire 700MHz band will be used in any area so a frequency agile system could probably find an open spot somewhere. But if you cause interference, and they track it to you, you're in for a world of hurt. Not to mention, what KJ with any professionalism at all wants to risk having a police, fire or EMS vehicle drive past and cut off a singer mid song.

Folks if you don't believe this, then go look at Shure's website, or the FCC's or Audio Technica or just about any other manufacturer. There's tons of information about the 700Mhz band and how it was impacted by the DTV switch.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I'll take it anytime over muffled or scratchy. It's just a matter of getting eq'ed correctly for each individual singer. IMHO crappy mics don't make less than stellar singers better and good mics won't make them sound worse.

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

In practicality, not technicality, I am correct.. You can now take any VHF mic frequency and find that it is allotted to a major user somewhere. Yet still no problems with anyone. Depending on the mic, it may well have the FCC exemption printed right on it's label.

Yes, you may well get interference from longer distances, just like a 5w CB can skip overseas- it CAN happen. But the exemption is based on the factory rating. Most of the mics we use spec 160 - 300 ft .

As for songs getting cut off, to repeat: The smart thing to do is buy multi-channel ( even BEFORE the new allocations ), peruse the frequency guide for your area, and then choose a channel. Do this, and go get some great deals.

BTW- Have any of you still using your older mics run into a problem yet? If so please post.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Joe, i've never ran into a problem using my shure mic anyplace. Alot of hoopla over nothing. Hi Sound Escape, i see you are a novice poster, welcome to the forum. Sorry your post for advice got side tracked. Now back to your question. Not sure why you would send your mics back to shure??? Unless, i'm not thinking down your lines, did you know these mics had a replaceable capsule? I upgraded mine from PG58's to Beta58s, for $50.00 a mic. Like changing a light bulb, unscrew the bad cap in question, and screw on a new one. Might think about that before trashing your whole system.

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Sweet Little Me In Karaokeland........

What part number did you order that replaced the PG58 heads? I wasn't aware that the PG series wireless used the same design as the SM and Beta heads. I'd love to do this with the PG58's I've got.

EDIT: Nevermind, forgot that the PGX series are available with both the PG58 and Beta58 heads. I'm assuming the PGX series is what you have and made the switch on.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Thanks for the info, I'll look into it.

Personally I think the SM58 works better for karaoke than the Beta 58. The supercardioid pickup pattern on the Beta 58 doesn't tolerate karaoke singers 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 had been using Nady UHF10's at my shows....never had one complaint about them ever. The reception was good, and they were inexpensive. Can't get them anymore though. I will be looking for new wireless mics eventually, when these are dead. The battery covers crack and will eventually be worthless. I have an OM2 that I use on singsnap.com at home. I think it's AKG that sells a wireless adapter that can be used with any microphone with an XLR jack. I'd probably get some Samson R11s - I have one and think they are quite good for their price (but I do like the OM2 better).