Karaoke Forums

How would one record karaoke singers to CD? I used to record to casette but I want to do CD now. I need a one touch solution without installing a new computer in my system. What are you all doing?
CJ

Illegally!  But that’s not the point.

I have 2 soundcards in my computer. The output of the mixer is connected to the line in on one of the cards. I record all the singers. They then “donate” money and will come back the next week, where I will be at the gig waiting with their CD’s. Another nice way of keeping the clients coming back!  :wave:

That sounds about right and I've considered that. However, there is a new local here doing it and is able to give the CD to the singer right after singing the song and also adding on to the same CD until it's full. I will have to do some recon to see what equipment they are using but I wanted to check with you experts first.

thx
CJ

It's only legal to do this if they purcase a copy of the CDG or currently own a copy of the CDG you're recording them on.

Alternatively, you can also purchase the licensing directly from the manufacturers for this by talking with them about 'karaoke booth' type licensing.

OK, enough for the legal crap... how do you do this?

Any CD recorder (component style) will work just fine for this sort of thing.  The problem is properly setting the levels for the recording.  I've recorded using minidisc and it works quite well.  You can do the same a couple different ways.  If you want to drop the disc to them right away you really need to use a component style player or record and burn the disk on computer.

Feel free to ask if you still have questions....

Eish, I was worried about that. I've been pricing those recorders and they are very expensive. $579 was the cheapest I've seen so far. I will remember the legal aspects of this also and think twice.

thx
CJ

Stop looking at professional quality recorders.  Think consumer level devices.  You can go through 4-5 consumer level devices before you hit the price of the professional units.

Even the higher priced consumer units like the sony RC-DW500C is only $299.

I'd pop into the local pawn shops and also check out DVD recorders to see if they also support doing audio.  I saw one local pawn shop that had a DVD recorder for under $200.

On a side note, does anyone know if the JVC 3 tray DVD player also does CDG's? (JVC XV-M567).   I saw a pair of them at the local pawn shop for $87 each.  I could easily add them as backups for my RSQ 333 if they do CDG's for that price.

I have a Phillips CD Burner that works just great for this.  It's got digital OR analog inputs in the back, so I can simply run a line off my mixer's "REC OUT" jacks and into the recorder.  There is a recording level indicator on the recorder, and as long as I keep it in the accepted range, it works great.  

The thing is that in order to listen to the disc in a regular player, it has to be finalized, and once it is finalized you can not record to it any more.  Therefore, if I'm recording singers, after they finish singing I hand them their disc, or set it on the side.  Then, when they are done recording for the night I finalize the disc and they can listen to it on the way home from the show.  

I bought the recorder on ebay for right around $150 and it has held up well for over 2 years now (knock wood!)

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

That sounds cheap enough. What model is that recorder? I have also started experimenting with recording with my laptop using Audacity. I really like that program and to have instant Mp3's is very cool. I will certainly use that in my home studio but I'm still torn on the mobile solutions. You guys are great.

thx
cj

Wow, what a great information. Can you also provide me with the model number please? I would assume this is an external unit with it's own power supply? Almost all the CD-R unit I have seen has audio out but not audio in. Did you need to finalize the CD on a PC or does the unit does it by itself? Thanks in advance for the answers.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Apparenly they don't make the unit I have anymore, but they have a newer model.  I'm sure you can still find the older ones on ebay though.  Read all about the unit I own here:

http://www.srtl.co.uk/srtl/cdr870.html

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Spreading the karaoke gospel