Karaoke Forums

Hello! Well I figure this is the place to get help for my dilemma. Trying to get home karaoke for Christmas. I really like the "Magic Mic" made by Entertech. The only thing holding me back is that it is MIDI format. I am unable to listen to samplings of their music, but from what I have read, MIDI sounds like elevator music. Although they claim that their music is highest quality passing even strict Japanese standards. Whatever that means.

So, I've also read that MP3 sounds like the actual song and is the latest format for Karaoke. Which is great, but I get overwhelmed when trying to figure out what to purchase for our home that supplies that format!

Here is what we would like: Lyrics on our TV (not too picky about graphics), decent sounding tracks, don't want to spend a fortune buying tracks all the time, easy to move from 1 song to the next (as opposed to switching CD's after every song).

We do have a home theater already in place. Do I add something to that and some wireless mics? Are the tracks that come on the "magic mic" not THAT bad? Should I get a all in one karaoke box? Do those even connect to the TV? Or should I connect our laptop to TV and buy some wireless mics? If I do that, do I buy CD-G's or use downloads? And are CD-G's MP3 quality?

I appreciate any help. You all sound like you know what you're doing. I don't even need the name brand, I just need to know what direction to go. Like I said, I like the simplicity of the "magic mic", I just don't want cheesy, crappy sounding music.

Thanks so much!!!!
 :worship:

I doubt you can get magic mic help here -- we are pretty focused on pro-level sound and equipment.

You mostly will get the suggestion to buy a small PA system like:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ZZOPA3

Or a whole list of them at:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pa-packages

Bottom line is that home theater systems can't really do vocals well. A lot of people blow their systems up...I have been lucky so far, but I also now have two of the above packages (or their equivalent).

First, forget the Magic Mic.  It's a child's toy.  The selection of songs available for it is limited, and it works like the toy it is.  Forget Midi, for sound reasons ( pun intended)


  Now.  Most decent new CDG systems will also handle MP3 format.  However, if you are bothered by disc changes, just go to a licenced online company such as Sound Choice or Chartbuster, and they will make you compilation discs with the songs of your choosing. A lot less changes then.  

  The fact is, if you are new to home karaoke, I would recommend that you start with a Disc based system for both quality and ease of use.   Later on, if you get way serious about it, THEN you MAY try running karaoke off of your PC using MP3s.

  I would add that I'm a professional host, and I prefer discs, even though my laptop is set up for karaoke, and loaded with MP3s....

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Ok so I understand that Magic Mic is for kids.  I'm still lost with the links provided.  Tell me in plain english what is the basic set up I need to have decent karoake at home.   What different components do I need for a PA/CDG system at home?
Can someone explain the different parts and their functions like the mixer?  What is it and what is it for?  The PA system?

Here are my specifications:
-I'm not that picky about sound quality for now.  I actually have a Magic Mic now and I think it's pretty decent.  Please NO Flaming. it's unproductive.   My only complaint is that it doesn't play vocals in the background so it's extremely hard to learn songs you don't already know.

-Like to get a system that allows for the vocals to be played in the background while I sing so that I may learn new songs.

-I like to spend less than $1000 for everything if that is possible.

Also someone touch on the topic of playing Karoake DVD's in my DVD player.  What is the pro and cons of this.  I know someone briefly mentioned that I can blow my speakers out.  Is this true and how likely is this to happen?  Even if I don't crank the volume way up?   I'm asking b/c it seems like an inexpensive way to go plus I heard that some Karoake DVD's have the lead vocals in it.  This is what I need.  I want the lead vocals in the background so I can learn new songs.  Are the Karoake DVD's an appropriate choice for a newby such as myself.   Please refrain from turnign your nose up and saying it's for kids.  Maybe it is, but I don't need the top of the line system for now.  I'm a far ways from that.  

TIA for any help.

Danish, welcome to the site. Try to read a lot of the tech threads when you can, as well as the retailers usually have good explainations (other than the techie stuff)... in many cases, the research is there as others have asked similar questions.

this isn't a flame, but nearly all the members on here sing to the more "pro grade" type of karaoke... so you won't find any help with the magic mic stuff.

having said that, there are some fairly decent "all in one" type of karaoke PA setups for home, many of which have RCA OUTS for hooking up to home theaters or additional speakers.

check out the advertisers at the left side, bottom of the purple bar "karaoke site links" such as acekaraoke.com, and click on their "all in one" stuff. You'll see fairly expensive units, and the ones for a few hundred.

If you're looking to learn songs you don't know, then I highly recommend many of the "monthly" type of discs, from Top Hits Monthly or Pop Hits Monthly, and Sound Choices Star Series, or the 6+6 type of ones that Chartbuster puts out. These have 'demo" versions of the same songs that have NO lead vocals.


To answer some of your questions, I applaud you looking into the PA type of systems... for you don't want to damage your home theater sound system with hooking up microphones and jamming the karaoke stuff... We've talked a few times with many newbies, and they don't realize how that screws up their systems... sometimes fairly soon, other times, down the road. The home theater stuff USUALLY isn't RATED to do LIVE MIC.

the [highlight=gold]mixer [/highlight]is what the names says. It mixes the various inputs, from microphones to multiple machines, and allows you to send the output to the speakers, or an amplifyer which would in turn go out to speakers.

There are stand alone players, amplifiers, etc. Look, you can even do this with your pc if you know how to rip the cdgs and you have the right burner.

Personally, I'd stay away from the dvds, unless they specifically come with the lead vocals. A few of the old Pioneer had them, but they needed to be played in mulitplex mode to remove that lead vocal (or go left channel, right channel - with the lead vocal on the left channel, and the music on the right channel). MOST cdgs out nowadays are NOT in mulitplex.

For newbies, I'd stick with the cdgs, and rip to mp3 if you want later. Keep it simple so you can learn, and then begin to experiment.

And as always, pay for your karaoke music directly from the karaoke retailers... if something sounds too good to be true, like the loaded drives on Ebay, it usually IS.

Are you talking about hookups or music?

Midi music is always going to sound like an elevator music rendition.  Oh yeah, that kinda sounds like a song i know.

Real karaoke music discs will sound like the songs you want to sing along to.

I've mentioned this before in response to other queries about getting a home type system. I am recommending something like the Gigmaster - it is a one-piece setup, is portable so you can take it anywhere you want (to parties, etc.), the sound quality is decent, and I believe you can hook it up to external speakers.  For home use, I wouldn't spend $100 on SM58s (which I believe are the industry standard as far as quality) but don't scrimp on mics either - you will never sound as good as you can if you are singing through a cheap microphone. Go to Musicians Friend or SameDay Music, one of those sites, and they often have decent mics on sale. If you're really serious about singing, you'd be satisfied with the Gigmaster - there are two models. I don't know about the less expensive one, but I have sung on the more expensive one. For fun purposes, it is better to invest in music and at this point spend a little less on your system.  

I have a garage full of expensive, professional equipment and could go on and on recommending mixers, speakers, etc., but it sounds to me like you would be best served by something a little less complicated at this point. Of course I could be wrong on that count.  You can order the Gigmaster and have it at home and playing in a few days. It is simple to operate and I think for a home karaoke player, it'd be hard to beat.

Midi is just a format for computerizing music, basically it is just a timeing system of when to play a sound sample of whatever note+ instrument is needed for the song at the time.

What goes for midi karaoke for consumers is generally very poor quality because the sound sample that is used for the midi is generally just a low quality "sample" thrown in as an afterthought in the computer operating system, and the sample selection is often quite small and the subtle differences that can be made in how a note is produced is missing, and the notes are mostly "generic".

If hooked up to a studio quality good "sample" of the instrument in question midi can and is used for high quality music, but that involves a highly experienced sound technician and a huge library of sound samples to choose from. To do it "right" is often going to be harder than just finding a real musician.

Most of what is distributed (mostly illegally) as Midi karaoke is basically home made stuff and not up to the quality standards of most audiophiles. Some good commercial karaoke songs out there were probably done as midi (all or in part), but if done well it is not noticable. No companies are going to advertize the fact because of the large amount of very low quality midi songs avalible give the technology a bad name.

Even when you go to MP3 or Cds for your karaoke songs different companies have very different reputations for quality. See some of the other threads on this forum.

Thanks so much for all the help. We really appreciate it. I think we're going to get the Gigmaster. That will be perfect for us.