Karaoke Forums

Okay, So i've been researching quite a bit for a decent home system and I've decided on getting a mixer + vocal processor fx + compressor. I still might not have any clue about what I'm doing.

I'm leaning towards:

Soundcraft Compact 4 (Is a bigger mixer really necessary for two mics at home?)

TC m300 or m-one (Are these 2 channels? or do I have to buy 2? Can I split the stereo and use as 2 mono?)

TC C300

Can I use home stereo floor loud speakers with power amp? boston acoustic vr950? Don't want to have bulky speakers in the living room. I will if you guys don't the the bostons will not work.

Any comments will help.

TC M-One - recommended , stereo and dual mono modes, needs FX send (post fader) and FX returns on the mixer or use a spare stereo channel for the return signal.

The Soundcraft Compact 4 has no FX send or return !

C300 - good choice too, simple to setup, 2 channel, needs inserts on the mic channels.

Finding a mixer with the inserts and a post fader aux output for the FX can be a problem in a small mixer format. For home purposes I settled on a Phonic MM1202 with 4 mic inputs with inserts, 1 pre (mon) & 1 post (fx) aux, 4 stereo input channels.

A Yamaha MG82CX would do it and without the need for the outboard compressor and FX though outboard units would give a superior sound.

You could add these later, if you wanted to, with the MG82C (compressor only model) or the MG82CX (compressor and FX) and the MG8/2FX (FX only)

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Gadget's Karaoke : Boldly singing what no one has dared sing before.

Thanks gunghouk. I guess I have to get a better board.

Do you have any idea if I could run the boston vr950 with a qsc power amp or even a denon home theatre receiver so I can also use as surround sound.

Is my best bet to keep my karaoke sound seperate with my home theatre system and go for the bulkier pa loud speakers.

I have about a $1000 budget, but 2 wireless mic, probably the shure pgx will take up a big chunk of the budget. I'm planning on buying second hand on ebay and craigslist.

Thank you for the fast reply!

Personally I'd just buy a pair of Mackie SRM350 or SRM450 and tripod stands. Powered speakers are the simple way to setup a modest home system with a decent small mixer.

There are plenty of others here with perhaps better suggestions for speakers. Peavey , Yamaha and EV make some nice ones.

Wireless mics in a home system could cause feedback problems once singers start wandering around. For a lot less money I'd buy a couple of Shure SM58 and cables or Sennheiser E835 mics. I'm sure you could purchase a very nice system with your budget of $1000

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Gadget's Karaoke : Boldly singing what no one has dared sing before.

Quanabee,

Hey, just a few suggestions:

#1: Definitely go ahead and invest in a mixing board or mixing amp that has the compression and FX built in. I can tell you are going for something compact that isn't going to be an eyesore at your house, so I'd recommend a mixing amp.

#2: Just because they are PA speakers doesn't mean they have to be big and bulky. Though the majority of PA speakers are 12" or 15" woofers, they make plenty of really good PA speakers in smaller woofer formats with smaller footprints. Just like home theater speakers, as a rule of thumb bigger speakers can handle higher SPLs (clean high volumes) and usually have better bass responce. BUT, if you just intend on using them for karaoke at your house, and don't need to crank the volume or have a ton of bass, a set of good 8" PA speakers will do the job.


Given your needs, here is what I would do in your shoes:

#1: Mixing amp WITH compression and effects:

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i- ... 312SC-LIST

#2: Two 8" PA Speakers (about a 10" by 11" footprint):

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ELE-ZX190-LIST

Buy these two items, and you'll be set for years and years. You can skimp and go cheaper, but you'll end up having to replace things that break. These are high quality. If you see yourself enjoying karaoke at home 5 years from now, you'll save $$ by investing in these quality items now. If you want to upgrade in the future, just add a small powered sub and you'll have a professional level system that you could even use in small to medium bars/clubs.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I have to disagree with the 8" speaker route. It will not give the live-music "presence" I want for a karaoke party. If you can live with thin and tinny, then fine. But I don't want to -- I want my parties to rock out.

Otherwise I agree with TopherM on the Yamaha powered mixer. Nice unit -- combine it with BR12 speakers and you have a perfect match.

For my parties, I use two wired mics and one wireless "couch mic" for those who want to sing along. I also agree with the recommendation to buy good mics. If you are looking to save money, get one SM58 for the main mic, one Behringer XM8500 for a secondary mic. That is $120 for two mics, and you will never have to buy them again.

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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 use a Yamaha BR12 as my monitor speaker, and I would definitely recommend them as well. I was just recommending the 8" speakers because you were concerned about size. The BR12s are about 3X the size of the EVs I linked, but they have about 3X the bass response, so it is all about your needs.

But DO NOT use your Boston Acoustic speakers for karaoke if you can help it!!!

Those are some REALLY nice home theater speakers, but home theater speakers ARE NOT designed to handle the peaks of live vocal performance, and you'll likely fry them the second someone drops a mic or screams into a mic. HT Speakers are intended for PROGRAM material that has been produced and normalized within a set audio spectrum, live vocals doesn't always fall within that high-fidelity spectrum, and could very easily fry the drivers of the HT speakers.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Buy a corded SM58 Shure and get a cheapie as well. Either get a decent used wireless on ebay or online somewhere or buy a cheap new one. Really, corded sounds just as good and for home should be good enough.

I hate to say this but I have a lack of experience when it comes to speakers in your price range but since it is for a home set up, behringers aren't that bad. My back up equipment is set up at home with one behringer 215A and it is just fine for home use. Even parties would be ok with this.

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

Who knew there were so many choices. Thank You all for responding. I think I will go for a couple of 12" powered speakers.

I really want some wireless mics. but i might just go for the corded 835's. We use them at church and they are great.

I have looked into the powered mixers. Remember, it is a living room and style is almost as important as sound. I'm really thinking about the a&h zed 14 for my mixer (mainly because its allen & heath and because it looks nice Any comments on that? Not many reviews online.

I had the Zed14 for a while, nice mixer, but I had some USB clock noise on the audio from the computer so I bit the bullet and bought the A&H MixWizard3 12:2 SUPERB !

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Gadget's Karaoke : Boldly singing what no one has dared sing before.

Hi gungho
how you find that next to the zed? mixwizards are quite expensive.

It was a real improvement over the Zed14. A more noticable imrovement than my change from the Mackie CFX12 to the Zed14. Got the mixwiz on Ebay of course £470. Awesome !

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Gadget's Karaoke : Boldly singing what no one has dared sing before.

EBAY!!!! dont know wher your on about ,never heard of it .
lmao.
well the wife wishes I didnt know what it was

When I started my first basement karaoke system oh so many years ago, I bought a pair of BR12's and sat them on the floor (gasp!).

You know what? They rocked my basement. Sounded great and started me down the road to doing it as a business. I still have them and use them occasionally. Very rugged, affordable, good sounding speakers. Are they hi-power "club thumpers"? Not by a long shot but sometimes when I am doing an intimate private party in someones living room, I still bring them along.