Karaoke Forums

CURRENT SETUP

I currently have the following Components:

Yamaha HTR 5740 Home Theater AV Receiver
Bose Acoustimass 3 Series IV Speaker System
Velodyne VRP 1000 Subwoofer
JVC XV-N50BK DVD Video Player
RJTech RJ-4100 DVD Player with Karaoke

Most of my Karaoke music is currently contained on VCD's and DVD's, with very little music on CD+G Discs.

I was very happy with my JVC DVD Video Player, but then I got involved in weekly Karaoke singalongs at home and decided to get a Karaoke player (RJTech RJ-4100).  I am not happy with the RJ-4100.  The biggest problem is what sounds like an impedance mismatch when I plug mics into the two jacks in the front of the unit.  Using two different sets of mics (Pioneer DMV210 Laser Karaoke Mics or Leader DM-1200 Mics that came with RJ-4100), the audio sounds muffled or overloaded.

I do NOT not have a mixer (which could be the source of some of my problems) -- the audio from the RJ-4100 is connected to the Yamaha AV Reciever thru the Optical Connection.

WHAT TO DO NOW FOR $500 OR LESS?

I have a Compaq Presario X1000 Laptop w/ 60GB Hard Drive and 1.3 GHZ Centrino Processor.

I would like advice on setting up TWO different types of Karaoke systems:

1)  A computer based Karaoke System, and;

2)  A Hardware based Karaoke System

What specific components/software/hardware are recommended for BOTH types of karaoke systems?  I would consider scrapping the RJ-Tech 4100 Player if it is not wise to spend more money to improve its performance.

Thank You for sharing your thoughts/advice

First step?  Move the RJ Tech to an analog connection.  Often the mics either don't work at all or work marginally through the connections on the front if you're using the digital outputs.


I'd next spend a small amount of money on mixer.  Nothing fancy and well under $100.  It will make managing the singers and songs much easier.

I'd then consider a couple Shure PG-58 or Fender P-51 mics (both about $50) and a small pair of powered speakers, seperating your home stereo from the karaoke system providing better sound for each.



As for the computer based you can copy the VCD's to the computer and then connect the computer to the receiver or mixer above for playback.  Format shifting to a computer is mostly for a reduction in equipment transported and to protect the original media.  Given your not moving the equipment and it receives only occasional use I'd probably stick with the discs for now.  The DVD's would also require you to rip them and reencode which is VERY time consuming (figure anywhere from the length of the disc or more to covert DVD's unless you have a much faster system on hand than the laptop you mentioned).

most cases, anybody that hooks their microphones onto the front two mic stations on a home or pro player are going to be less than happy with the results!

Get a small mixer... you'll be very happy... you can make the home player louder or softer... and the same with the microphones.

Thank you both for your info.  Any suggestions for a small mixer -- somewhere at this site someone suggested a Behringer UB1002 and others mentioned products from Audio 2000.  I don't plan on using more than 2 mics at one time.

A couple of questions regarding mixers.  If I decide to use my JVC DVD Player instead of the RJTech Karaoke DVD Player, will the mixer allow me to cancel the voice and/or change the Key (digital key)?

Thank you

on your players, you have key changing... you can do that on the player...

as for cancelling the voices, depends on the player itself... that's a function of the player, not the mixer per se.

As for the mixers, check out zzounds.com for some good deals...

I personally have a audio2000 mixer amp (akj7050), but that's me. I much prefer having the one unit do my amp and mixing work, mics plugged into that, etc. It costs $350-$450, but I use it for my normal home stereo wattage, etc...

and it's the same unit I work with at my mobile setup, so it works best for me!

I use a Soundcraft Compact 10 mixer myself (a Compact 4 would work for you), but it doesn't allow for adding effects which you'll loose by taking the mics off the existing players.  Behringer and a few other companies make some inexpensive mixers that offer built in effects that would be acceptable.  Look for a basic mixer that allows for at least 2 mics (I prefer 3-4 mics, just in case), 2 stereo inputs, and built in effects.

If you want the ultimate Karaoke system... you can't beat the real thing like www.vod-home.com

Check it out!  You just can't get any better than this!

I post this message in another topic... I just want to share the wealth