Karaoke Forums

What do you use to display the words for the singer?

I see a number of options, but none of them seem to be quite optimal. Does anyone know of a better solution?

Option 1. Old-school CRT TVs

Heavy, bulky, and you can't buy them anymore. You can't hook them up to the VGA connector that you find on most laptops today. (But of course, you can buy a converter to go from VGA to S Video... but this is another piece to lug around.)

Option 2. Computer display

Computer displays are pretty cheap these days, for example, this one is $80:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=164.

Computer monitors have VGA input, so they hook up to the computer easy enough.

Then you have the VGA cable. Another $35 if 25 ft is long enough.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=4483

But what about a stand? I bought two that were similar to this for $70:
http://www.expresskaraoke.com/store/pro ... id=AST4208

We are at $185 (acceptable, I guess.)

The biggest problem I see is the stand. You need tools to break it down and set it up, and it's bulky and heavy. In my opinion, the ones I have are over-designed.

I have modified a standard mic stand to mount to computer displays (one for the singer, tilted up, and the other for the audience, which is generally not tilted up (assuming the singer is on a stage). This is a bit under-designed, but within my limited mechanical capabilities. And it is less bulky and easier to set up.

Option 3. Use the TVs that are on the walls of most bars now.

This is nice in that you don't have to lug around displays, but the cable gets expensive. (Are people running S-Video?)

My own experience is that you can't count on being able to easily hook into their TVs.

I tried this at one of my gigs. The place has a zillion TVs all over the place. I found out that I couldn't hook into the main system that ran all the TVs, so I tried to hook up just one TV, the one closest to the stage. I bought a VGA -> SVideo adapter box. (This silly thing required a remote for goodness sakes! OMG, one more thing to loose.) I bought a 50' length of RCA to RCA cable. I gave up after 15 minutes of futzing. I am sure that I could eventually have found the right combination of settings, but... I decided just to bring two monitors.

I went to someone else's karaoke show where the KJ never did get the bar's TVs to work. They didn't have karaoke that night. At least not by the time I left.

Another drawback to using the bar's TVs is that the singer has to face the wall to read the words, rather than facing the audience.

Option 4. Use a "all-in-one" karaoke system

I see a number of these systems available, and I really don't think they make sense for a professional system. The KJ has to get in the way to reach the controls, and the speakers (such as they are) are in one box, not up on a pole, and often pointed in the same direction as the display.

http://www.acekaraoke.com/singing-machi ... ystem.html
http://www.acekaraoke.com/acesonic-road ... chine.html


Does anyone have a better solution? What are other people using?

I use a 13" CRT screen on a tv tray stand (kind restaurants use for their serving platters) for the stage. I also connect into the bars tv's as well for the audience.
I am most likely going to get myself a small flatscreen (no bigger than 19") to replace the stage monitor. I had a custom built computer so the only available dual mode out is an S-Video that I run into an RF converter switchbox (for the players as well), then split the cable signal to where I need the run to go. I could replace the video card for something newer, but there is no need.
BTW you can still buy CRT tv's, not the big ones but I still see them new up 19" for under $200. Would one want to? I don't see why when the flatscreens are just as cheap in many cases.

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I use a 20" flat screen on a flat screen stand. My regulars (and others) love it. I also try to connect to a second (big) screen at the venue for the crowd (that is if there is one).

Sevarin, what do you use for a flat screen stand? Are you happy with its weight, stability, portability, ease of setup, the space it takes, cost, etc?

I use a 19" flatscreen on a stand for singers, another 21" flatscreen on my table for either audience, or myself, and also hook up to the bar bigscreen. The stand I use is an Acesonic flatscreen stand. I have a cover that goes over my monitors, and just leave the monitor attached to the stand, and pull the pin, and lift the top half of the stand off with the monitor attached when tearing down. For setup, just slide the top half into the stand, and insert the pin.

Rosario
Serenity Now Karaoke

Ps. You could see it if you had a chance to come to one of my shows, I'm in Port Washington.

19" Inch LCD that has a composite video input.

I use this one here...

http://www.expresskaraoke.com/store/pro ... id=AST420X

I think it's awesome. Sturdy but light weight. As long as your monitor uses the VESA standard for mounting, you're set to go. It even has two mike holders at the sides. Very reasonably priced, too. I love it!

I use them with Samsung flat panel LCD monitors. This stand and monitor combo presents a very professional look.

I use your option 2, and usually bring another display with me (I have a van, so it is easy to transport extra stuff). If I can hook to the venue's display as well, I do it, but if not I usually use another free-standing TV along with the VGA monitor.

I use the Monoprice VGA-->VGA/SVideo/RCA adapter to provide the ports.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

I actually have three different monitor stands. One is based on a music stand, another is the standard VESA mount. The one I use is an adapted CRT stand I like because it rolls better and the mounting plate is easy to attach.

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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 the same stand as srnitynow, Acesonic. It's a good stand, light weight and sturdy.

But I just saw that Alan B's link to the "other" monitor stand, is pretty much the same as the Acesonic one, the only difference it is black and a lot cheaper. So if I were you, I would go with that one!

Buying and selling 'puter stuff, 15 inch LCDs are $20.00 wholesale.. (Bought 5 last week)

They work just fine.. My laptop had SVGA out, with a $5.00 converter to RCA.. (TV)

Singers love the LCD screen..

The venue I'm at supplies the monitors. 4 projection screens, 2 above and behind the stage and 2 over the dance floor that the singers can see. There is also a CRT on a stand on the stage. For private shows, eventually I'll get a flat screen but for now, I have a couple of Commodore 1802 Monitors that I picked up dirt cheap a few years ago that work just fine (Some of the old 8 bit computer stuff still has uses, I still have my old Atari 800 ).

That's funny I use to have a commodore monitor I use to use when I was disc based. I now use a 13" regular TV.

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

I use the same converter as mickey with a 20" comp monitor that i sit on a table along with some other items to take up space so that i dont just have a table with a monitor on it, and then also plug in to the venues tv if that is accessible via the rca out on the converter. one output from comp to multiple displays is a good thing in my opinion and that converter definitely makes things easy.

I have 2 different flat screen LCD tv's, one 19", one 15". Both are set up very similarly. I bought a sheet music stand for the conductor. One with collapsable and foldable legs and is telescopic. Only cost me about 30 bucks each. I cut the top down to fit the tv itself, using the four screw pattern that was already on the tv itself. Very simple, light weight, is stable, portable, doesn't take up much room for storage or set up. They simply ROCK! For transportation of the tv itself, I put the tv in on top of the song books in a plactic tote. I really couldn't be happier with how they turned out. Bottom line, simple, inexpensive and very functional.

For my singer's display i use a 23 inch lcd visio flatscreen tv i got for $250 from Bestbuy. Big words, bright and clear, and perfect for our dark club/dance atmosphere.

Nobody squints anymore from our former 19 ich tv, and previous 15 inch tv which was ridiculous to have something that small and expect older people to see it from MORE than a foot away. I highly recommend BIGGER is better and mount it on a music sheet stand with professional grade velcro. At the end of the night we pack the tv into it's original box and fold the music stands legs in for easy transport.

For the audience's display, we use the bar's 2 42 inch tvs that svivel and long ago i ran 2 rca video lines to those tvs across the ceiling, so i just plug-in the end from my rig into those every night, easy as pie.

I have that very stand with a 17" computer monitor attached. Not at all bulky or heavy. In fact I don't even fold up the legs when I move it. I just remove the entire stand from the base and load them separately into my van.

The downside to that stand is that the casters are cheap. I had two break within a few months. I replaced them all with larger, stronger casters over a year ago and have had no problem since.

Thanks to all for your responses. Individual comments below...



MrScott, JohnReynolds, mnkyj57,

I like the idea of a music stand. I'm gonna pick one up and try it.

Bazza,

I was breaking this stand itself down the same way. Call me a wimp, but I thought the base was awkward to carry. I also was taking the monitor off the "shepherd's crook". I did this because the monitor and crook were even more awkward to carry and to fit into my little car. (Yes, I don't have a van.) BTW... that pic looks an awful lot like a gig I had last summer!

Srntynow, Sevarin,

I am guessing that this is the stand you are using?
http://www.acekaraoke.com/acesonic-lcd- ... stand.html

$100? Not cheap, but within reason. It doesn't have the awkward shepherd's crook of the one that I have but don't use anymore. But it still has somewhat cumbersome legs. At least compared to a fold up tripod.

Alan B,

Yours is cheaper than the Acesonic one. But still I am being finicky. Must be time for my bottle. or a nap.

mckyj57,

Thanks for the tip on the inexpensive, simple video converter.


John

I use the audio 2000s shepherd's crook stand with updated 'BESTA' casters from IKEA. I converted them into quick release for the flat screen by adding flush 100mm VESA wall mounts from monoprice. For the actual screens I've been using whatever flat screen I had lying around, either a 15" or 17" 4:3 VGA.

For my actual rig display (I don't use a laptop) it's a 19"LCD with DVI input which mounts on an inverted under-cabinet mount, again using the monoprice wall mount to make it quick release.

I try to hook into venue TVs wherever I can, taking the VGA output through a VGA-RCA converter (monoprice).

I have recently picked up a 19" Insignia LED-LCD from Best Buy ($200) which I am using for my rig display but the idea is to get more to use as singer display and also screen facing the crowd. The reason for using the same display for everything is simple, if one fails it can easily be switched out.

For the audience I created a mount which will either slip on a speaker stand underneath a speaker or on the singer monitor. I simply use some PVC waste water pipe with pipe clamps attached to..... a monoprice wallmount! This then slides over the speaker pole before the speaker. By using the same wallmount adapter on each fitting everything is interchangeable.

Pictures may be added later!

- Jonn

I actually use that "crook" to carry it! I leave the monitor attached 24/7, but after having loaded it a few times in my car, I can totally understand.

I look forward to seeing your handiwork!