Karaoke Forums

To get the sound from our laptops to our speakers goes through a chain of devices each having their own level/volume controls. For example, there's my laptop, Lexicon Alpha USB Audio Interface, stereo output on my mixer, amp or powered speakers, etc.

Are you guys (and gals) maxing them out and controlling everything with your mixers? So, here are some questions:

Laptops - I have mine set at 80%. Should it be set at 100%?
Lexicon Alpha - I have mine set at the 1 o'clock position. Should it be fully clockwise?
Powered Amp (when I use passive speakers) - I have this fully maxed clockwise.
Powered Speakers - Using the 12 o'clock position right now.

I have thought about this and the right way to do this and I think we may have touched on this before but I want to see what you all use. Is it better to set volume levels for all devices on full (Unity Gain) and control everything with your mixer? How do you determine the best settings for each device?

Nobody? Okay then, but I'm not the techie expert around here, but anyway...

Computer volume on max, Lexicon set at 12:00 (or 1:00 when the bar is really packed and noisy) and the computer's channel on the mixer at zero, give or take for each track. By zero I mean the zero setting printed next to the slider, about 3/4's of the way up.

The amp should be as high as you can get it without seeing any red -- red means sound distortion, so back off. That's generally around 1:00 or 2:00, but varies a whole lot depending on what amp and what speakers, so just keep an eye out for that red peak indicator.

I have my laptop volume at 100%
12 oclock
If only using the 1 amp, then yes, wide open. If using multiple amps (bi/tri or more amp system) then each amp will be adjusted accordingly.
About right, more if needed - since it's considered 'the amp'. You are controlling overall volume from the mixer.

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My settings are similar to what's been posted...

Laptop..................85%
Lexicon Alpha........1'O Clock
Powered Speaker...12'O Clock
Mixer Input channels (music from laptop) 12'O Clock
Mixer Master Channel..."0"

Everything (mics and music) is then adjusted by the mixers sliders.

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

I've always understood that the laptop's volume control should normally be set at 50%. Otherwise those noted above seem right to me.

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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've always set mine wide open. But I also use an external card. Built in cards sound like crap at any volume IMO.

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

I use a Lexicon Alpha also, but still set the laptop at 50%, and it seems to work fine for me... so now I'm assuming it may not really make a difference. I wonder what, if any, technical differences there might be.

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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]

50% is way too low unless you are running the main volume of the mixer and the speakers or amp at 100%. Unless you have perfect placement of the the speakers you run the risk of feedback.

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

Feedback? From a music source? . That's some miced up stuff there!

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

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

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

So many opinions.. Which is exactly why you go to some shows where the sound is off the chain perfect and others where the sound is absolutely horrible. I promise you that some of those on here giving advice can not run sound to save their a$$ but believe they are the best while others commenting here have their sound on the money.. It really just depends on your hardware. Each laptop sports a different brand of internal sound card and they are not all the same. Same goes with external sound cards. Truth is, if you have a good ear, just tweak your settings and get a sound that is right for you and that your singers like. There is no one size fits all recipe.

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A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.
"William Shakespeare"