Karaoke Forums

Greetings, all!
Figured I would do my best to play by the rules and post here first. I am trying to build a brand new show system from the ground up, and welcome all the advice I can gather. I am on about a ten-day timer, so I need to get crackin'. I have done enough basic research to realize that I need a laptop with dual video outs, but that sort of thing is apparently difficult to obtain "over-the-counter".

My needs are;
Rig for Medium-sized venues, maybe 1000 watts?
Prefer to rack-mount mixer and disc players, but am open to suggestions on reliable powered mixers (heads).
I have a digital song library at my disposal via a KJ friend of mine, so that's not an issue.
I could use a LOT of advice of laptop builds, including TigerDirect / NewEgg wish lists, if you have them.
Looking to get started for $2k or less, if possible. Good sounding and reliable starter system.
If you have a breakdown of your system you would be willing to share, I would certainly be willing to see it!

****Admins - if there is a good, active thread on this already, my apologies. Please to direct me there!***

Ok...Thank you!

Mishra, first welome to KS.
second I hope he is including the discs with the digital music or You might just get yourself in trouble.
Third, Ten Days is not a lot of time to get yourself ready.

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

DannyG2006,
Thanks for the welcome. Don't get me wrong, I'm not new to the process itself, as I have been a fill-in KJ for some time now, and built my own DJ system a couple of years back. Now, however, I am to build my own new Karaoke system, and just need tips and tricks as far as hardware, etc. One of my main stumbling points at the moment is the laptop; suggestions?
PS.
As for the ten days, I'd like to have the system set up and functional for a home party by then.

YOu might want to check these guys out:
http://www.usedlaptops.com/product/IBMT42_17_40.html

I got a compaq from them and it is a workhorse. The one that I linked you to is only $309. Rather cheap considering it is fast enough to run the winamp karaoke software and the Compuhost software. It has s-video out and is running XP Pro SP3

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

You'll get more help in the Tech Forum. This is more the intro section.

Welcome to the site

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

Welcome Mishra: I am in Arkansas also, Camden, AR. I am a newbie also. We started a thread titled "Need CDG player advise for purchase". You might like to see what my equipment list is. Just go to the that listing in "Technical Questions". I have learned a lot
in the last two weeks here. I'll be using an Acer Aspire 4720-4538 to run the program for Karaoke. Best Wishes in your new venture. I did purchase it at Wal-Mart. Tiger Direct and New Egg are both good online sources. Buying local can have some benefits.
You don't have to wait to get it. You can purchase a service contract and take it back to
where you got it. Office Depot is competitive as far as price. I don't have experience with Best Buy, or other big name vendors. I have made more purchases from Amazon
than anyone else on line. No tax and no shipping a lot of the time makes it temping.
From a retired electronics technician.
Lynn B

I use this scan converter to go from VGA to RCA Video: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6815117102

And sometimes this RCA to coax converter when the cable run from my position to the TV is long, or when I need to split to multiple TVs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882140001

I also have these wireless TV systems when necessary or convenient, but they are not of the highest quality and I would not use them for anything other than karaoke lyrics screens. Also, the audio quality over these wireless things can be poor. So don't use them for any audio stuff, just for sending video someplace you can't reach with a coax cable or whatever: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882145061

If you are buying things like the above, a laptop, etc. basically everything except music, and you are also expecting to get a professional audio system, it won't happen with a $2000 budget. Be prepared to compromise and upgrade later, or live with a crappy sound system.

I'd get a Behringer UB-series mixer with a built-in FX processor for around $300, some Sennheiser e835 mics 3-pack for about $230, a Behringer EP4000 amp at around $325, and a couple of Yamaha CM12V or CM15V speakers. Add speaker stands, cables, and a small slant-top rack and you already ate through the whole $2000.

Where do you compromise? I don't know. Kustom 15ML speakers instead of Yamaha perhaps? Cheap powered speakers? Don't bother with a powered mixer (IMO), you will end up spending the same amount of money as buying the items separately and you will be pissed off at yourself when it's time to upgrade.

I don't know if my post will be helpful to you or not. Your budget is pretty small. I hope you already have a TV!

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ