Karaoke Forums

I bought this computer.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=5707025

I bought this video card for two lcd monitors but it does not say if it is vista compatible.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=5700425

I'm currently running virtual dj software and need to know if the video card will work before I open it and I want to run a second sound card for the sound system and use the computer sound card for queing up songs but don't know what to get.

Please help Thanks

It will work if your second screen has that "funky" connector. I would have gone with an ATI card with S-Video. Problem is when you try to hook up more screens or regular TV's in a bar. Your need a converter plug or something.

BTW, I've had the best luck with ATI cards with video out (S-Video). ATI overscan works better than NVidia's in my opinion.

For sound I have had the best luck with Turtle Beach. Sound Blaster is over rated and over priced. I use the Santa Cruz card in my main system and my back-up. They have clean sound, are durable, have a nice software package, and are half or less Sound Blaster. I bought an Audigy Sound Blaster USB for my laptop and I hated it. Paid $100 bucks for it and it's in the bottom of my laptop bag. I bought a Turtle Beach Amigo for $30 that is twice the quality and sounds great.

There are much better pro sound cards you can buy if you thnk you need that. Lonny can probably steer you in the right direction on that.

I'm looking at this sound card

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 6203598151

Do you think this will be fine?

Dennisgb when you say funky connector do you mean a DVI cable? I heard that you can run one monitor with the DVI and the other in analog. I just need to know if this is will work because I have one monitor with DVI and the other is analog or VGA.

I agree with the option to go s-video.

I had a video card that has a dvi... ended up using a converter on that for my needs.

That sound card will work fine. Don't know about the MP3 enhance feature. You'll have to let us know if it actually improves the sound. Most of the software ones I tried didn't do much. Problem is, you should have the ability to adjust your mixer to deal with any sound issues anyway. Price is okay tho.

Yeah, I was talking about the DVI connector. How exactly were you going to get analog out of digital? Only way I know is a converter. Then you have more stuff to buy and hook up. The ATI cards with S-Video already do the conversion internally. All you have to do is hook your TV up. They have dual monitor mode, so you have one as your computer monitor to work from and the other as the TV. Then, all the singers and patrons see is the Karaoke and your background.

I think you are going to have problems with just VGA and DVI.

This is what you need:

http://www.directron.com/ati9550agp256.html

If you need PCI:

http://www.wiredzone.com/itemdesc.asp?i ... =PriceFish

I bought that one as a simple 2nd card in my dj computer & it sounded like junk.  Static throughout - yes it was setup correctly.  Went back to the SB Live card that was built in & it sounds fine.  
My karaoke computer uses an M-Audio 192 Audiophile.  Great sound - blows the SB away, but it is a pro card & costs a bit more.

Agree with the others on the video card, check out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102428
Much better video card.  This is even a little lower (256mb) than I would go for shows personally, but I have that one in my home computer & it has never glitched.  For shows, you shouldn't skimp, if it's for home use, the card you mentioned may work fine.

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Dennisgb so if I use that graphics card will I be able to use both monitors? One is VGA/DVI this is my screen and the other is VGA only or do I have to use a TV with super video hookup? That card is pretty expensive do you have any other sugestions?

Hey Lonman I looked up that sound card at musicians friend after reading one of your posts the problem is that I really want to try and find this stuff locally so I can get this system running without to much expense and keep the wife happy.

Where are you located, if there is a Guitar Center near (around) you, that is where I got my sound card.
The video card I actually got at WalMart 2 years ago, but they don't sell the built by ATI cards anymore.  Find a local computer shop that sells the parts/builds customs & talk to them for the video card.  Remember, don't skimp on the video card, you don't want your lyrics lagging or glitching because you wanted to save a couple bucks.  The sound card you may be able to go cheaper, but the video, nah.

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Lonman I do have a guitar center near me but I don't need so many plugs all I need is a left and right. What do you do with the extra plugs on the M-audio 192?

I looked at best buy for that sound card and could not find it this is what it suggested. Will this work?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 2881770963

Finna,

If you are going to use a computer monitor for your karaoke (singers) monitor, the original card you showed will work. The problem is what if you want to expand and hook into club TV's? Most of us use a TV monitor for singers.

The card you showed in your last post will work also. If you want to do VGA and DVI why not get an ATI with VGA/DVI and S Video like the one Lonny & I showed you. Then you can do your plan, and later set up for TV's.

Also, check out Turtle Beach sound cards. They are not that expensive and you should be able to find them at Comp USA or Circuit City.

It actually doesn't have anymore plugs than a standard sound card, it is just broken up for individual connections.  Meaning most sound cards use 1 little mini headphone jacks for the left & right output but if you think about it, you need to take that output & it divides into 2 outputs so you can hook it into your stereo or PA system.  Same with the line input, 2 actual lines are condensed into 1 mini headphone jack - so that is 4 plugs right there.
The M-Audio card is a pro style card that uses 1/4" balanced connections.  It has 2 main outputs (left & right), it has 2 line inputs (4 plugs), it does also have 2 outputs for monitor (for recording purpose) which are the only 'actual' extras that a regular sound card don't have.  The midi outputs most have, but need some sort of connector/interface, these are just included - you may not use them, but they are available on most soundcards.



Well no you won't find the sound card I have at a Best Buy, only at pro music shops like Guitar Center/Musicians Friend/American Musical/Zoom/Sweetwater/Pro Sound & Stage Lighting/and hundreds of other online sources for pro sound equipment.
However, that's a video card you linked to?  But it costs even more through Best Buy than the ones we linked you.  Again, find a local computer shop that builds computers or computer supply store, you could more than likely get a real nice video card for cheaper than the box stores.  But here's another from Best Buy that is a real ATI (not just 'ATI powered')
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 6235562550

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I'm sorry Lonman for that link but thanks to all you guys and gals for the help I really do appreciate it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Creative-Labs-Sound ... dZViewItem

Use That for your audio to the mixer! It's what I use!

Knightshow,

Why would he want to use an external sound card? He's got a desktop computer.

I find the usb - rca connections much of a pure sound. I've been running computer karaoke for a few years now, and it's honestly the best I've tried yet. I respect the opinions on the Delta card, just haven't tried it. So far, for karaoke uses, I've not liked ANY sound card I've tried. This usb device solved all my audio problems!

I noticed that with this card I need a 300 watt power supply but my power supply is only 250 watt is this ok? I only have the software that was already on the computer (factory) still on the computer plus the vdj program. I have the computer running on the high setting in power saver mode. All of my Karaoke and mp3 are on a external drive that has its own power supply.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 6235562550

Finna,

If your talking about the computer PS, it could be a problem if the spec is for 300 watt. I run my cards in a SFF (small form factor) Dell, that has like 135 Watt PS, and it hasn't been a problem with the configuration I have with ATI and Turtle Beach, but I have an older ATI card. I tried to put a Sound Blaster card in my spare computer and it wouldn't run.

Thats the same specs in my rack comp. That box uses the Asus motherboard which is top of the line Actually the onboard sound is realteck and should put out decent audio. I use the M-audio delta44 which is a tad better than the onboard sound. I do have to turn the audio procs off to hear the difference.

Most monitors including flat screens have rca video inputs so i woukld opt for a brd with rca out..With s-video you need a s-video to rca adapter Mine was broke setting up one night so I dashed down to the shack $30!!!

I use an old ATI Radeon 700 for second display On the second display in props you want to set the resolution to the lowest setting.

I would install XP on that box and tweak it for audio. link In display props set to classic view.

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s-video adaptors to rca can be found very cheap.

I found one site that is a discontinued items site a long time ago that had s-video to a rca (2" cord) for like .50 cents each! I ended up buying them out!

A simple search on google showed this...

http://www.svideo.com/fsvfrca.html
"S-Video to Composite" video converter is only 1 inch long and has female S-Video jack and female RCA jack. It is also available with a male S-Video plug and female RCA jack and with a female S-Video jack and a male RCA plug.

$5.95

Yup Thats why I fell wheh the gal said $30!!!!

Actually all it is 25 cent 450pf capacitor that puts the burst (color sync) back on the video.

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