Karaoke Forums

I am looking at starting a karaoke business.  I would like to have a PC based system, using a laptop computer and an external hard drive to store the song files.  I need to know what equipment and software I need to purchase to integrate the system and the laptop.  What special ports or software will I need for the laptop? I plan to do fairly small to medium venues.  Some ball park figures for the gear would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

D.J.

I would suggest going to MTU.com.  Their Hoster program has served me well for almost 5 years now.

Kelly

dJfrank
Welcome!
You ask a very broad question for your first post !  :whistle:
The way I see it you have to look at pieces of the puzzle individually

1) PC Software - This is the program to PLAY you mp3+g's and to do any type of show hosting.  This software may or may bit include a "ripping" program to take any CD+G's and convert to your PC hardrive
Suggestions to look at
*PCDJ/KJ
*WINAMP
*MTU HOSTER
*audiograbber

2) PC Hardware - Self explanatory - Check you min software requirements
and whichever software you choose they have Q&A boards on the web site or do a search here and you wll find PLENTY of info

3) MUSIC - will you convert cd+gs to mp3+gs?  or DOWNLOAD direct

4) Prod-Audio - again self explanatory

Start researching the software  first and go from there





2) PC - Hosting/karaoke

Altho I don't like MTU for personal reasons, you should consider them first.

They offer a "turn key" laptop already loaded with the special software you need including all the special computer hardware required....It truely is a great system and will get you started instantly and painlessly-no learning curve required and no expensive mistakes.

Once you have their laptop all you do is rip your music into it using their software that is included....The same computer also includes their hosting program.

All you would need then is a PA to play it thru.

I TOO recommend MTU for the novice computer user... it's a turn-key operation, but you PAY for it as well.

With my pro equipment, I have only $600 in the computer... what's funny is that's NOT much more than the normal Triple-Tray player!

I've just converted to a PC based show with more than a little help from knightshow.  Here's what I've got invested:

~Toshiba Satellite laptop computer (1.1 GHz processor, 20 gig HD, 256 MB RAM) from ebay  $380.  Be sure that the machine has a video out port in the back, or an S-video port otherwise you'll need a converter from the VGA monitor as well.

~RAM upgrade from 256 MB to 1 gig from ebay  $172.

~External HD 250 gig from ebay $137

~Sax and Dotty's show hoster software about $42.

That comes to right about $700.  

Now, you may not need the external HD.  I got it because I also use this machine for DJ work and wanted the extra space for that.  I'm just over 5000 songs and they fit comfortably on the 20 gig HD on the laptop.  

The sax and dottys hoster is also optional, I purchased it to help manage rotation, but it is not necessary.  

The RAM upgrade was also not necessary, but I'm like Tim Allen...MORE POWER!  I look at this computer as a tool for my job, so I wanted to have as much speed as possible to make sure everything runs smoothly.  The software ran ok at 256, but if I queued singers when a song was playing there would be a skip.  I went to computer to avoid skips and garbles so that was unacceptable.  The RAM upgrade solved that problem nicely.

Gotta tell you that ripping the discs SUCKS @SS!  Took me the better part of three weeks to rip and convert (again, just over 5000 songs), and that was with this being my only job.  If you're part timing it and ripping in your spare time it may take months!

So that's $700 just for the computer setup.  I just hook into my mixer as if the computer was another player.  You'll still need to get the rest of the equipment you'd need if you weren't a computer KJ though, amps, speakers etc.

On a side note, Matt--where are you buying your triple tray players?  I could get 2 brand new ones in the box for $600 and still have enough left over for pizza and beer!

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

MTU is a great choice for ease of operation and great online support. They have a great laptop turnkey system. The laptop is expensive, or so it seems, but it is built like a tank with the best quality components available (trust me they don't skimp on quality) it comes with a external plextor burner. It is very impressive unit...but the price point is around $2500 which was a little too steep for my pocketbook for my first buy at the time.        www.mtu.com

I have two computerized systems for Karaoke:

1. Toshiba Laptop P3 w/80gig HD 512mb ram and External PCI Soundblaster Card
   this unit cost me about $1150 from Best Buy w/3yr extended warranty. And about
   $179 for MTU software.

2. MTU Portable PC 120gig HD 512mb ram, Plextor Burner w/LCD Flat Screen Monitor
   this system cost me $1500 + $200 for Monitor This price included MTU software.

I agree with Big Mike your laptop must have external S-Video

Out of all of the Laptops I have purchased (non MTU) for Karaoke and commercial applications Toshiba has been an excellent choice with regard to dependability and warranty.

There are many different choices out there. I spent about a year researching and plugging into various forums before I chose the components and software. It was worth it!  Good luck with your search!

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Thank you all for the great info.  

I currently have a Dell Laptop 2.4ghz, 30g hard drive, 256mb ram, cdr/dvd. I want to purchase my song files via download online.  I am thinking that the files should then already be in the proper format, depending on what software that I use to host?  I am looking to carry at least 20,000 songs, as a good local KJ I know has over 30,000. (although I think he probably has a lot of junk that nobody ever sings)  I am thinking I will probably need a little more ram, and a huge external hard drive.  

I sing karaoke myself, and seem to prefer sound choice versions.  Can anyone vouch for the quality of any other brands of karaoke song versions?

Thanks again,

D.J.

Sound choice are very good, but I wouldn't get too caught up in the numbers game.

I'd put up my 5000-6000 songs up against most 20-30K companies any day.  It's quality not quantity.  If you have no music right now, and are visiting this forum you are in GREAT shape.  I'm not gonna hijack this thread, but I'll start another one about new KJ's buying discs and I hope you'll read it because there is some very good advice on this board!

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Cool, thanks.  I am open to all advice and suggestions.  

Mike,

I use the GOLD triple tray players... I feel that they're better for dim lighting ease of use... I've worked with both them and the jvc black triples... and it's a total difference between night and day.

The normal price on those is around $450! I think I bought both of mine on sale at k.com for $375 each.

I was being a bit facetious about the costs...

Also, advancing technology is a biyatch... I'm seeing 1GB 3200 DDR memory for $79.00 at Outpost.com! WHOO HOO!

I'm actually into the reinvention game again. I found a great microatx box at a local vendor, so I'm getting a motherboard / cpu combo for that,  additional memory... and basically I'll give my old computer setup to my g/f..

I'm not aware of any place you can download karaoke files (legally) already converted to the format you want to use. This may happen in the future when they figure out how to keep people from file sharing (piracy).

As Big Mike says its a pain in the rear to Rip all of you CDG's as it is very time consuming. But once it is done you never have to do it again provided you do proper backups of your converted files.

Take your time and get plenty of input on what songs to buy. To have 20,000 songs is impressive but can be an overkill. Don't get caught up in competing with other shows for number of songs. I have over 10,000 unduplicated and to be honest only about 20-30% of my songs ever get played. Several years ago I started listening to what my customers wanted me to have and now purchase only those songs to add to my library.

Concentrate on having the best quality versions (usually soundchoice) and focus on the customer base you are going to play for. There is alot of experienced KJ's on this forum that will have excellent input.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

There is a place where you can buy and legally download tracks.  Top hits monthly sells them for download in a mp3+g format.  Unfortunately I can not remember the addy.  Their song selections were also quite limited if I recall correctly.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Thanks again Matt!  I will check them out.  :worship:

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I like the Voco pro 8000 going to Pro-Tools for recordings.

ya won't find TOO much support for the vocopro 8000 unit! glad it works for you!