Karaoke Forums

I'm currently using the venue's small powered mixer, and I'm trying to pick out an unpowered mixer to build my own setup. What kind of effects, if at all, do you KJs use on vocals (delay, reverb)? Is it build into your mixer, or an outboard effects processor? Should I keep effects to just the mic inputs, or is it safe to run it on the whole downmix? Can I get by without effects for awhile?

Also, how do you achieve switching among stereo, mono left, and mono right? It was suggested that I run my little DJ mixer into 2 separate mono channels of a PA mixer, and dial them separately with the pan controls. Is it better to have this feature built into the player or mixer, and what is it called?

Finally, am I crazy to expect it to be rackmount without paying over $500? I saw the Alesis 12R, Numark 200FX and RM-6 that might fit the bill. The Stanton RM-100 is also in the running.

I use a Peavey 600G powered mixer PA head that has built in Effect's that work just great. I think the singers will appreiciate you having effects ...the better they sound the more they will like your show. My peavey was cheap only around $500.00 300 watts. Id like to know more about voice enhancers and how I would go about using one with my Peavey..there is no send and recieve inputs......anyone help here?

I think that using effects is essential but not to be over done. ever wonder why you like to sing in the shower? it's cause the accoustic's and natural reverb make you sound better

I run Mono X2

and have no rack .....(Im a guy) ...

Your singers want effects. They'll want to sound as good as they can & effects will aid in that. I run a Mackie CFX12 with built in effects which I use the reverb on. I also run an older Alesis Midiverb 3 for a hint of delay underneath the reverb. Certain songs require a blend of both - delay running into the reverb channel. When running your effects, you don't want them to know they are there, but you would definately notice if they weren't - make sense?
Yes keep the effects to the mics only, there is an occasion where the music can use a splash of verb, but not normally.

As far as your brand choices I won't comment - just not my favs for pro use. You can get a nice rack mount board for $500 or lower.

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You can use the Peavey 600G with external effects. This can be done with most all mixers. use a non powered output. maybe a monitor send. simply run from the non-powered monitor send ro the inputs of the effect unit. then output of the effects unit back into a channel on the mixer. Make sure that the monitor level for the input channel is turned off. There ya go. Most peavey equipment have a Pre and post in/out jacks. this is a stereo jack ring/tip/sleave that is a effects loop.

I currently have a mackie vlz1604pro 3 effect units. 2 Alesis Quadraverbs and 1 boss SE50. My Mackie board has 6 aux sends per channel. I use 3 of them for effects, and one for a wireless headphone system. I split off the headphone system and send a signal for singer monitors as well. the returns on the effects all go back into channels for mixing with the dry vocal and added EQ. I just got this board because I wanted more routing posibilites.. hehe.. It's got gre preamps and equalization. I used to use a Yamaha MX12/4..

I have to say that I have never liked the quality of "Built-in" effects on mixers. They never seem to give you the quality or enough adjustments. If your messing around the house or doing small venues, then a mixer with built in effects may be fine, but a professional singer/musician will always be able to tell the difference..

Hope this helps a little... send me a note at donandlisa@insightbb.com if you'd like to talk tech in more detail.. Take Care DonKaraoke

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Don't just say it.... Sing it...

You can use the Peavey 600G with external effects. This can be done with most all mixers. use a non powered output. maybe a monitor send. simply run from the non-powered monitor send ro the inputs of the effect unit. then output of the effects unit back into a channel on the mixer. Make sure that the monitor level for the input channel is turned off. There ya go. Most peavey equipment have a Pre and post in/out jacks. this is a stereo jack ring/tip/sleave that is a effects loop.

I currently have a mackie vlz1604pro 3 effect units. 2 Alesis Quadraverbs and 1 boss SE50. My Mackie board has 6 aux sends per channel. I use 3 of them for effects, and one for a wireless headphone system. I split off the headphone system and send a signal for singer monitors as well. the returns on the effects all go back into channels for mixing with the dry vocal and added EQ. I just got this board because I wanted more routing posibilites.. hehe.. It's got gre preamps and equalization. I used to use a Yamaha MX12/4..

I have to say that I have never liked the quality of "Built-in" effects on mixers. They never seem to give you the quality or enough adjustments. If your messing around the house or doing small venues, then a mixer with built in effects may be fine, but a professional singer/musician will always be able to tell the difference..

Hope this helps a little... send me a note at donandlisa@insightbb.com if you'd like to talk tech in more detail.. Take Care DonKaraoke

_________________
Don't just say it.... Sing it...

That helps a lot. So, where are the rackmount mixers, besides those? The Alesis would be great, but requires outboard effects, and their effects mixers are non-rackmount. The Yamaha MV1000 has FX but no pan controls or stereo mains (should I live without stereo?), and I can't find a Mackie rackmount. Of course, I'm trying to avoid Behringer and Vocopro but who else makes a midrange rackable mixer with FX? Nady or Samson any good? Maybe I'll just do a regular Yamaha, Alesis, or Mackie 12-channel and adapt the thing to a rack, but it would waste a lot of space...

I'm selling me Yamaha.. I've got rack ears on it as well. $200.00

Not to pick on Stereo effects from speakers.. But.. I'm big into surround and stereo effects, but not in a live performance situation at all. There's always people on one side or the other. running mono evens out the room a lot better. you don't have stereo effect in the room, but everyone hears everything.

Actually I currently record in mono too.. It's just easier with my current setup.

Take Care
DonKaraoke

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Don't just say it.... Sing it...

Mackie CFX12 is a rackmount.

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Hey Don Thanks for the tip...I shudda thunk of that.

I know the KJ only forum doesn't get checked often but wanted ya to know that I posted some information over there about a DVD/CDG/MP3+G player only available in europe and the UK... this is NOT CAVS... this is a player that will play mp3+g files directly off of a CDR or DVDR without having to convert to some proprietory format... it has ALOT of features not normally on karaoke players (key control, EQ etc)... if it lives up to it's features and plays raw mp3+g files (I think it will play them zipped too as one of the sites I found it on was in another language and it was all that I could decipher ) then it will be an AWESOME advancement for those who want to go to mp3+g but are not computer savvy etc... check it out.. PM me for the websites and more info as any links i post here will be deleted- tig