Karaoke Forums

Hi,

I am looking to buy a mixer and an effect processor for home Karaoke. The effect processor I am looking at is TC M350 or Lexicon MX-200. Both of them has two audio input - L and R. But most of the compact mixer such as Mackie 802-VLZ3 only has one Aux Send. Based on the effect processor manual, I can just connect the mixer Aux Send to the L audio input. (effect Return is always stereo, no problem there)

More expensive ones like Mackie 1402-VLZ3 has two Aux Send. Then I can connect to both L and R audio input of the effect processor. I am wondering for Karaoke purpose, do I really need a mixer with two Aux Send to fully utilize the potential of the effect processor?

Thanks in advance.

Most mixers that are suitable for karaoke have two. One is usually marked FX, and is post-fader (or selected to that by default). The other is usually called AUX, and is pre-fader, such as makes sense for a monitor wedge.

If you are going to eschew the monitor, the Yamaha MG82CX is a decent choice. BUt better is a Yamaha MG124CX, which has two AUX and compression.

At the low end, the Alesis Multimix 8 USB has two AUX. I own one, but don't like it whole bunches. I prefer the Yamahas.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

So I should connect FX, not AUX, to the effect processor like TC M350, correct?

Thanks

If it has an FX send, yes. I am not sure the VLZ3 does.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Actually 802-VLZ3 only has one send, but it is called AUX send. Will it work?

A question about Yamaha MG124CX, should I connect both of its AUX send to the effect processor? Does it matter whether I connect AUX1 to Left and AUX2 to Right, or vice versa?

Yes that will work.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Yes the Aux send will work, send it to the mono input on the effects processor & run both left & right channels back to the mixer, I prefer to run them to individual channels personally over the effects returns.

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

No, you just use the Aux 2 which is the post-fader send marked FX. It goes to the Left/Mono input of the MX200, and I bring the left/mono out back into a channel instead of an AUX return. That allows me to EQ and use a fader on the returned signal.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

You can, it won't make a huge difference to use both inputs in most situations.

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

There's no need to send a left and right signal to the effects processor unless you're specifically doing some wierd stuff with panning. Remember your mic channels are a mono signal so unless you have some panned to one side and others panned to the other side there's no need for a stereo send. Just use a post-fade aux (or efx - really the same thing) send into the mono input of the processor and bring the stereo return back in on a stereo channel or in your console's stereo return. Like Lon, I prefer the former method (bringing it in on a stereo channel) as it's easier to use a fader than a knob and it allows you to EQ the effects as well.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

If I bring the stereo return back in on a stereo channel, how do I prevent the feedback? I am afraid it is going to be sent to the AUX send and to the processor again. Should I turn the AUX knob on this channel all the way down?

If you send it back to a channel, you don't turn the Aux send on that channel up - so yes make sure it is completely turned down, only turn up the Aux on the mic channels.

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

I know the MX200 has a mono-input, stereo-output mode; and the TC unit should as well. If not, you can still use a single AUX output to supply both processor inputs by using a splitter cable like the YFMM part at this link:

http://www.audiopile.net/products/Mic_I ... heet.shtml

The MX200 is a nice unit.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

And most important about the MX200, it has a USB connection which allows you to use the unit as a VST plugin with your studio software, that alone makes it worth buying it