Karaoke Forums

Greeting All,

This is my first ever time on any forum.
I am sure a similar question has been answered else where, but please excuse my ignorance/lack of knowledge.

I've been driving myself nuts researching on the internet trying to work out how to setup a karaoke system and didn't get very far.

I want to build a system for my bedroom. My bedroom is about 5m x 3.5m.
I have a pretty new, quick PC. I am planning to use my computer for the karaoke system. I would use a simple player like VanBrasco's Karaoke Player and load .kar files.

The hard part is I have no idea what hardware to get. I want to be able to use the system for listening to music and watching movies as well as using it for karaoke.

The only thing I am decided on is I am buying a Shure SM58 mic.

I guess I have two options, 1 would be to buy an audio interface card and connect it to some studio monitors or the other option would to get proper PA speakers with a mixer.

I am starting from scratch so if any of you guys have any ideas for, brands, equipment, please share the knowledge.

I am from Sydney, Australia by the way. My budget is about $1500 US.

What do you guys think I should do?

For a room that small, I'd look at some small powered speakers, probably powered monitors. 2 Mains plus a sub would be good, however if you want surround sound for movies now you're getting a bit more complex (and expensive). Shure makes a USB interface that you could use to connect the microphone. Then all you'd need is a good sound card for the output.

Hope that is helpful.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Thanks for the quick reply mate.

So you're saying to buy a pair of studio monitors, do these have the sub built into them? I'm not too fussed about surround sound.

When you say Shure has a USB interface, do you mean this is how the microphone is connected to the computer?

I've got the standard sound blaster audio card at the moment, it's your typical sound card I guess, did you mean get an audio interface card something like from M-Audio that also has Mic input?

Are you able to recommend some brands/models of what I can possibly purchase?

Cheers

I think the wisest move for me would be to get a set of studio monitors and an audio interface to connect the karaoke system.

My reasoning behind is so I can use the setup for every day things like watch movies and listen to music from my computer.

I wanted to ask you guys for your opinion on some hardware.

Audio Interface:

A friend of mine whose into audio production recommended the following interfaces:

1. http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProFire610.html
2. http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ultralite-mk3/

What do you guys think, any other suggestions?

I would like to have some effects such as echo, reverb, etc.

Studio Monitors:

This is the hard part, choosing a pair of speakers. The same friend is offering to sell me his Alesis M1 620’s used for $400 AUS, I think it’s a bit pricey?

I was told to stay away from Behringers. I am after solid studio monitors.

My budget for the audio interface card and the studio speakers would be $1500 US.

Would I need a mixer just yet, or can I get away with the audio interface?

Thanks

If this is going no further than your bedroom, then a couple studio monitors should work fine.
Maybe a pair of these.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--KRKRP8G2I
or
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MACMR8 are also good for the price

I would personally opt for a small stand alone mixer to connect the mic & music to - you will achieve better mixing control & sound overall. Something like.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMMG82CX

You already have a good mic in mind, then a nice I/O interface, I use a Lexicon Alpha & it sounds great & won't break the bank.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--LEXALPHA

Total $850 US. Plug the mic & Alpha into the mixer, then your computer runs to the Alpha via USB. This is how I get my laptop to my regular PA system & it sounds better than my internal pro-audio card that I paid almost 3x as much for.
Then the main output of the mixer runs to the active monitors & you are set!

The used Alesis are too much (not sure the price conversion) they go new for $400 US per pair.

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

Thanks Lonman,

Geez we really get ripped off for speakers here in Australia.
The KRK's and the Mackie's are both over 1000 AUS dollars which is like 920US.

I will need to source the speakers from the US or something.

The Lexicon is pretty much an audio interface but just simpler to what I was suggesting, is that correct?

I like the mixer, the mixer really looks good.

Just wanted to ask if I did want to take the system outside my bedroom say to friends house or whatever sometime down the track and needed a bit more power.

For example if I was to buy proper PA speakers, can I hook them up to the current mixer/interface ?

Thanks

Yes the Lexi is an audio interface but a decent one for the price.

Yes you would need a little more power for outside the bedroom, regular powered PA speakers would do the trick & hook up just like the above hook up substituting the monitors for the PA speakers.

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

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I do a have a question for Lonman regarding the Lexicon Alpha. Currently my laptop connects directly to a Phonic Powerpod 620 Plus via the headphone jack. I got an Alpha yesterday so do I then connect: laptop to Alpha, then Alpha to Powerpod? If so, what cabling do I use and what settings should I have on the Alpha. Do I need to hook up a mixer somewhere there? Sorry for the ignorant questions, and thanks.

Ok, hijack ended...

Dr J

Computer to Lexi via USB. Get balanced 1/4" cable to either balanced 1/4" for the mixer side (if the mixers 1/4" input isn't balanced, then get a balanced 1/4" - XLR male cable). Run the Lexi to the mixer.
The computer will see this as another speaker setting in the control panel - sounds playback. You want to select this for your primary output. Run music through & set the monitor mix to playback on the Lexi. Output to maybe 9 oclock to start. Then adjust your mixer from there as you would now. Lexicon output may need to be turned up or down.

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

Thank you sir! I'll give that a try.

-Dr J

Hi Lonman,

After looking at where to attach the Lexi to Powerpod, I got a little confused. I have 2 channels that have 3 inputs on each: one is marked Mic (with an XLR input) and two that are marked Line 1 & Line 2. Is this where I'm supposed to connect them? Powerpod manual says the two 1/4" Lines are balanced. Thanks again.

-Dr J

p.s. I attached a pic of the inputs

That is a stereo input in which you can plug both the left & right output to that 1 channel via the 1/4" balanced jacks. This allows you to control the eq/volume on both channels with only one cahnnel strip as opposed to using 2 channels & 2 separate controls. So yes you can use the line 1-2 with a balanced 1/4" cord.

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

Cool! Thanks!

ok guys I've been doing some looking around in the local shops here in Sydney, not much variety.

I am thinking of just getting an audio interface and 8" speakers for now.

The speakers I am looking to get are:
http://www.djwarehouse.com.au/fostex-pm ... itors.html

The audio interface is as follows:

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.html

My friend who records music is off the opinion that I can get my mixing effects through software such as cubase and don't necessarily need a mixer.

What do you guys think about the components.

I like the yamaha mixer suggested above but I cant seem to find it anywhere here and ebay and amazon doesnt ship to australia.

The software like Cubase isn't great for giving effects on the fly - it's more a recording/post production software for adding effects later to recorded tracks, not so much a live vocal which karaoke would be. Maybe the software has changed since I last used it, it was a couple years ago.
Sorry about not being able to find the mixer over there, even a Behringer would be better than not having one IMO. You just are not going to get the sound quality for a live vocal without one - but again, with the small setup for the bedroom, it may not make that big of a difference. The Fast Tracks product is nice - overpriced but nice.

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

Lonman, your last comment makes a lot of sense.

My friend is into production so I see why he is recommending that.

I think I need to get a mixer after all, are you able to recommend something similar to the above yamaha, perhaps a different brand with the same options/effects.

Looks like the yamaha one is discontinued

what did you think of the speakers ?

You are better off with a mixer. A multitrack recording software is that; a RECORDING software. If you are still not convince try singing karaoke in your friend studio and ask him to mix on the fly with cubase.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I totally agree, I'm just having trouble finding something that will work well for a reasonable price.

Can any of you guys recommend me some mixers with decent quality like the yamaha so i can have a look and see if the aussie stores have it?


What do you guys think of the speakers? should i go for something else?

Can any of you guys recommend some other mixers.

I'm pretty much set for everything else I know what I'm going to get.

Is there something out there that is similar to the Yamaha MG82CX?

Preferbaly similar price range.

Here's a suggestion since you don't seem to have Yamaha available in Auz. I own one similar to this one at this link.
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/4 ... th-fx.html
Since it is British they may have it or a similar one in Sydney. The one I have doesn't have the effects, it's the older NotePad. Hope this helps.