Karaoke Forums

Hi all,

there is so many kinds of Karaoke machines out there, it can be a bit confusing. I only have about $200 to spend, and wondering if anyone recommends a particularly good Karaoke home set up?

thanks!
Lisa

Really not much out there to recommend in that price range other than the 'toys' that WalMart/Target/KMart sell.

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

You might want to check out the one that Sams Club has.

--Tad

Hey Lisa, as you've seen now, most of the folks here aren't going to be real well versed in the types of units you're going to be looking for in that price range. Most of the folks here are professional hosts using equipment that totals in the 10's of thousands of dollars.

At $200 or less you're going to be looking at an all-in-one system similar to what you'd see at any box store (Walmart, Target, etc). There is one on Karaoke Warehouse (www.karaokewh.com) that would probably be pretty decent.

http://www.karaokewh.com/item_details.c ... raoke.html

It has support for 2 mics, will play CD+G's and has an aux input for an external source like a laptop or portable media player. It also has a key changer, effects and a built in screen. Additionally it has audio and video outputs so you could in the future connect it to a larger audio system and a TV for video.

If you don't like that one, here's some sites you can check out:

http://www.karaokewh.com
http://www.acekaraoke.com
http://www.karaoke123.com

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

If you can find a VocoPro Gigman, which I have seen for $200.00 on sale, that is going to be the best you are going to do. I own one, and while I wouldn't really gig with it, it is a lot better than the little $49.00 things from Wal-Mart.

When you outgrow it, you can use it as a super-duper boom box. It does that pretty darn well. Or you can use it as a small PA system for a speaker at a small local group -- it does that fairly well too.

The new package includes 2 mics and a couple of CDGs, so you can start using it the day you get it. I'd sell you mine except that I do actually use it from time to time.

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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.

Surprised nobody has suggested using your PC. Use autOKdj from www.autokdj.com , it's free, buy online from tricerasoft. If you need vocal effects (verb/delay), use Reaper from reaper.fm

If you absolutely need a disk player, RJ-tech makes a decent one called the RJ-100-PK for around $100, and it comes with a cheap mic. Plays DVD's, VCD's and CDG's. I did a video review of it a while back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK8K47ZGK9A

When I started singing, I tried several of the all-in-one plastic box solutions..

Most were marginal.. and suitable for pre-teen singers..

Now I use my Toshiba laptop..

and I did pick up a Yamaha powered mixer/speaker set.

The best karaoke add on was the inflatable guitars..

If you only have $200, you won't get anything more than the toys for kids, sad to say.

If you want to spend around $1000, you could have a very nice home system that your friends will rave about.

Save up!

I realize that most professional here will probably say you can't do much with around $200 because they are more experience in getting machine that plays for a big audience. Any lower quality and you'll get complaints because people paid money or drinks to sing. Since you are planning to use this from home. You don't really need to get a professional machine because of your budget. The best and cheapest way is not to go to walmart just because it's not as flexible. Use your computer instead. Since you can post your message here means you already have a computer.

Now, to get a little better quality, I don't recommend using the microphone input to the computer. Instead, get a mixer and you can get a decent wired microphone that sound pretty good. Some mixer also allow you to change the pitch or tone too. You can use your home stereo system if you don't really have money to buy one.

Now you need a software. There are quite a few out there but you don't need hosting software. You can give the program I write a try. You can get it here at http://www.walasoft.com/walaoke
It works like winamp but made more easy for karaoke. It has a playlist and everything play through a reserved list where you can reserve a song for playing. It can play MP3+G, MP3+LRC, MPG, VCD, KAR and use your own video as background. So, if you can buy your song in MP3+G or DVD or VCD. You still have no problem playing.

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Like karaoke? I just finished writing my first karaoke software. It supports .mp3 + .lrc and .kar file with video background. You can use your own video as the background also.

I'd definately say to go with the suggestion of going pc for now.

Some of the "all in one" systems are not TOO bad for home use, especially if you can plug in external speakers... I used one for years until I could save up to do better, and while it didn't have a "pro" sound, none of the partyers who came to my house for karaoke ever complained about sound. (most of whom are musicians of one form or another) I've never seen the Vocopro mcky is talking about, but that might be a decent choice for your situation.

While that's working for you, you can start buying the other stuff "one piece at a time", as Johnny Cash did:) (and... me too)

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

No one has mentioned IPOD karaoke yet. Don't know what people use for the sound system but I keep having people tell me that is what they are using for their home karaoke parties, lately.

Please DON'T use you home stereo unless you want to buy a new one. Home stereos are not made to withstand live vocals and you will quickly ruin your speakers and be shopping for new ones.
You should be able to get a cheap mixer and set of speakers from your local music store. They may even have a set used which will save you even more. You will need at least 3 channels on your mixer, assuming you want to run 2 mics. One channel should have left and right 1/4" inputs for your computer (you will need an 1/8" to 2 1/4" stereo adapter, about $2), and 2 xlr (mic) inputs for your microphones. I believe you can get an unpowered 4 channel Tapco mixer for about $60 new. You don't need anything huge since it's just for your home. Let the salesman know that and they should steer you in the right direction.
Good luck
Oh, and I use autokdj for my hosting software. It's a winamp plugin and integrates nicely with it. You can get it here:
http://www.autokdj.com/?q=node/29
I highly recommend you explore that site as well. Lots of useful info!

And most of the rest of us!

I actually have one of those Caddies.

Did everyone here just decide to ignore the fact that the OP is looking to spend $200 or less? How are you going to do PC based Karaoke for that. You need speakers. If you think home stereo speakers are going to have an issue, how the hell do you think little computer speakers are going to fare? What about microphones? Either you need to use crappy PC microphones which aren't even fit for speech let alone singing or you've got to buy a pre-amp (there's your $200 right there) and buy actual dynamic mics. Now throw in the fact that you're telling a newbie with no mixing experience to use a PC based mixing application, yeah that'll be an easy learning curve. I'm honestly dumbfounded at how little folks take into account the needs of the OP when responding to things like this.

The suggestion of the Vocopro Gigman is a good one, I didn't realize they got that low in price but that would be a great setup. You could probably find one used easily for that price. That'd be far better than any Walmart style all in one.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I think we were shooting for less. This is a home system. There's going to be a learning curve no matter what they get, and the OP already owns a PC (or maybe they're posting from a mac, I dunno) As far as using reaper to add effects, I can teach them in 10 minutes or less. In fact, after I type this I'll follow it up with a video showing how.

Mics: Audio Technica ATR20 Cartoid Mic.

$20 at best buy. It almost sounds as good the $99 SM58's I use at work.. The only reason I can't use an ATR20 at work is they aren't as sturdy as the SM58. Reviews of the ATR20 around the net speak for themselves. Amazon.com has both the ATR20 and the SM58 rated at 4 stars.

All low end sound cards with a "Mic in" have built in pre-amps.

Speakers: Marathon MA-10P

Just a quick google search shows these are retailing for $169.99 at the low end. These are loud enough.

So altogether we have
$169.99
$20.00
_______
$189.99.

No tax if bough online, but the shipping charges would ream the OP. If bought in at Guitar Showcase in California with 8.25% tax the total is going to be $205.66. $5.66 over. Sorry OP, I'm going to push this another $4.44 over so you can get a stereo Y cable for a grand total of $210.

Still though, not a 1/2 bad home system for the price. OK, now for a quick video on adding effects with reaper

http://www.facebook.com/v/204497270215

1m:49s

Anyone care to give my tutorial a try?

I understand that you shouldn't use your home stereo system for live vocal but for under $200 budget, you'll have to use all available resources. I've been using my home stereo before I can afford a real one and I had no problem with it. It even sounded pretty good. You just have to be very careful about your settings. Karaoke at home sometimes in a really small room and that mean you don't need to play very loud.

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Like karaoke? I just finished writing my first karaoke software. It supports .mp3 + .lrc and .kar file with video background. You can use your own video as the background also.

A much more useful post that the first. This is an actual solution. And yes I'd agree fully, far better than an all in one. Still a much steeper learning curve over a simple all in one system, and you're limited to only one mic, but if the OP thinks he/she can handle that, this would work.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Last night after my gig, I caught up with the wife who was at one of her friends home christmas parties, already in progress. They were doing "home-brew" karaoke and honestly, it wasn't half bad. It was basically a CD+G player hooked up to their big screen TV, using the home theater speakers/system for the music, and a cheap mic plugged into the hosts old guitar amp for the vocals. I got up and did "Talk Dirty To Me", and killed. No effects, no mixer and very raw...but people were singing and the crowd of intoxicated 40-something moms & dads were loving it.

It was an interesting approach...but it worked.