Karaoke Forums

So there is no issue with going from headphone jack to mixer for now. I'll just be happier with a more robust output when I get something similar to the Lexicon Alpha?

Again that mixer might already have a good USB interface built in, if so, that is what you'd use. If not, then yes get an external like the Alpha. It's cheap, professional and a literal night to day difference in the sound quality of the music - even mp3 quality

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

I also use the Lexicon Alpha and have to agree with Lonnie, the difference is like night and day. Well worth it and very reasonably priced.

You could use the headphone jack to go to your mixer but if you do, here's what might happen...

• The sound is going to sound like sh*t.
• You're going to get disgusted.
• You end up smashing your computer to pieces.

So, avoid all of the frustration and do it the right way and invest in an external USB interface like the Alpha.

Thank you, thank you very much.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

I also use the Lexicon Alpha. I would absolutely never go back to not using it (or something similar) ever again. When I bought mine, I spent $59. I think the regular price is still the same, but I have seen it go on sale quite often for $40 at various places. One of the best investments I have made. Just like Lonnie and Alan, I highly recommend it.

Another vote for the Lexicon Alpha... I have four of them. One with my regular rig. One with the back-up unit. One in my man-cave / rec room set-up. And a spare in the cable room.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I just added one on my stereo to burn my vinyl to digital and found a kick (@$%&#!) pop/click remover http://www.clickrepair.net/ Not that this has anything to do with karaoke....but same gear used.

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

You guys are turning in to gear geeks!

I've been using the headphone out jack from laptop to mixer and never have any issues other than having to add a simple GROUND LOOP Isolator at most.

Alpha this Alpha that... argggg!

I too have an Alpha unit. I feel the sound is great and it has another level of volume adjustment.... which I like. What most I like is the USB connection into my laptop. A USB connection is way stronger and much less prone to breaking the laptop case. Then from the Alpha I have choices of RCA or 1/4's. It was not a lot of money and worth every penny!

It can also be used as a recording interface.

PS KNF, I have only used Winamp AutoKDJ and Karma, and two sets of speakers in 15 years, How many different KJ programs have you used, how many different speakers, how many processors, etc. ?

Unfortunately there's no direct in connection for the laptop via USB. The built-in USB is designed for flash drives only. He'll have to use an external sound card going through an analog input. The xr18 is the only model with a true USB interface.

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

If you actually had any clue about sound and actually TRIED it before judging, you'd know there was a drastic difference in sound quality vs a headphone jack that isn't intended to be used for but 'HEADPHONES'.

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

I definitely concur with Lonman. I did a test for three weeks. I played through my headphones between the two weeks that I played using my external sound card. I only asked a friend of mine who was a musician if he noticed a difference in the sound but not to tell me until after I finished my test. Three weeks later I told him that the test was over. He tasked me what I did. Told me that the vocals were impeccable as usual but the music lacked something the show in the middle. He left convinced that having an external sound card is absolutely necessary for Karaoke.

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

So my laptop runs Windows 10. There are a bunch of comments in the reviews that the Lexicon Alpha doesn't like Windows 10.

Opinions?

Is there a solid other option for Windows 10 PC?

Thanks

I'm running Windows 10 on my laptop and have absolutely no issues with the Lexicon Alpha.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Same here.

If you're worried about the alpha, try the Behringer Ucontrol external sound card. It works fine with Windows 10 and is very durable. I still have the one that I bought in 2008.

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

Blah, Blah Blah... Old school computer geeks experimenting with old analog toys.

Carry on. I know nothing.

I'm all digital.

I thought that the signal from a headphone jack was analog and the USB port delivers a digital quality? Lonnie?

Yes the USB carries a Digital (From PC to Mixer) I use the USB connection to the Bose T4S USB input. No need for Alpha.

finally... SOMETHING that is true from you.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

And once again it comes down to perception. Anyone can hook a zillion different devices to a computer in a zillion different ways and claim there's is the best and that anyone that disagrees with them simply "has no clue about sound quality."

To me, it doesn't matter as long as the singers are happy. Lonnie can pick apart anyone else's sound system and tell them what he believes they're doing wrong and why their sound doesn't measure up to his.

I can do the same thing when it comes to Lonnie's system. If you really wanted a system and your singer's to sound the best, you'd be using a 24 channel mixing board, studio condenser mics, 40 channel equalizers and isolation booths too. But that's really not necessary for the average "John & Bob's Bar -n- Grill" venue is it?

It's all a matter of preference and there is NO "single perfect way" to set up a sound system for karaoke.