Karaoke Forums

I am looking for a mixer all in one unit to hook up to my laptop for karaoke show.  I already have a Mackie 1604 but have been told I might want to invest in a all in one unit for simplicity.  I figure I could sell my Mackie 1604.  I am limited on money.  But I want something that will make it sound great.  I have seen Behringers on ebay and other systems, but am really confused.  Please let me know if anyone has any ideas.  Thanks Kimbers

You aren't going to get better sound than the 1604.  If you know how to use it - use it!  If you don't know how to use it, learn!  
You don't state what your budget is.  But you'll need an effects processor (need before a compressor).  And the amp is directly related to the type of speakers you have - you didn't state you needed speakers.

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I have TOA 240 watt speakers and I probably going to purchase at the end of this month JBLs 1500 eons from a friend.  Ok, if you say I don't need a all in one unit what would you recommend for an amplifier.  Please let me know.  Thanks Kim

I would stay away from powered mixers(all in one)...The one's worth buying are really expensive.

You already have a mixer that is better than any you will find in an inexpensive or even middle of the road all in one unit.

Just buy a decent amp to match your speakers....Add some fx with the money you save.

You will thank me later for it....And Lonman, too!

An amp rated at around 400 watts per channel into 4 ohms will work with the EONs nicely.  Focus on the EONs soon & drop the TOA - not a good speaker.  
For an amp i'd recommend the QSC RMX2450 or Peavey PV2600 or Crown XLS602 (not quite the rating but will work fine).
For effects i'd go with the Lexicon MPX110 - easy to work with & sounds great.

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The MPX110 is no longer made, but some etailers may still have one in stock.

Expect to pay about 200 bucks for it.

Be careful with buying one off eBay, tho.

The MPX 100 is no longer made, the MPX110 took it's place & is available.

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You can get the MPX-110 online at American Audio Center for $149-

http://store.americanaudiocenter.com/am ... uchpr.html

I'm going to play Devils Advocate here and take the other view:

Powered Mixers w/effects are LIGHTER / SMALLER / EASIER TO SET UP AND TAKE DOWN/ and generally "simpler"   You won't find many if any with a compresor but if depending on your budget  you can get a decent sound from some powered Mixers from Mackie ($$) Yamaha , Peavey and even BEHRINGER .  I have and do use both depending on venue and occasion.   If all your music is on laptop --adding a Powered Mixer will be a very simple set up.  It all depends on what you plan to do.

Individual amps and mixers will in most cases give you more options and flexability and more raw POWER for you money.  But it all depends on what your planning to do with it.

This is where I'm at regarding audio digital interfacing to computer. It seem's I have several options, and naturally I'd like decent quality, however this will only be for casual home use.  I'm not a KJ...It won't be used for 5 hours a night three day's a week out... it will likely sit near the computer, but won't see a "thrown around" scenerio where I have to spend extra $$$$ for really tough contstruction.

1) Audio digital Interfaces such as digidesign, M-Audio, Tascam, or even Line-6 ( for amp and instrument options)

2)  spend a few hundred more, and get a decent digital multitrack station with USB2 out  (I don't currently have a digital recording unit, yet I don't really need  that either, of course it might cost very little in addition to what I'd pay for the interface box to get such a unit with those features. It just seems when you get into the 300-500 range on the audio digital interface boxes, you are also in a range of desktop mixers, and digital recording studio's/mixers that seem to offer same features and more.

3) Another option if such an animal exists is a 64 key semi-weighted (piano type) keyboard controller that also enables me to add  balanced XLR microphone input's as well, and interfaces via USB2 to computer..Naturally has decent FX, and would consolidate features within a workstation controller that directly would run to the computer. and also of course run rack unit's too...via A/B feature...


Sorry,  The more I read, the more I wonder at what point a person should AND should not try to consolidate feature's at around the 500-600 dollar range, considering the 300-400 dollar audio interface seems to just offer features of a very small mixer...  I'd like to have the ability to put keyboards and guitar and vocals into my computer, so additional features would be wanted (depending on what they are) Amp and guitar samplers, as well as vocal tweaking ability on a unit would certainly be a nice feature, I noticed the line 6 POD's combined some interesting features, and take XLR, as in a DI box..Seems a few of these unit's exist for even less money than a more costly audio stand alone interface, yet offer a 40 gig HD, and CD feature, I might not need intricate trims on the audio interface assuming a mixer has that, or enough that'd meet my needs for just home midi computer use.....

Needless to say, where I am with this after a night of reading about what's out there for the home studio, is wondering  where a person should combine features in a home studio system, OR stop assuming one system can provide the features of the interface / mixer /FX unit/ even a digital studio, because there's no such decent animal out there. Unless a person will pay 3K,  which I don't want to do

If I were to purchase a digital studio down the road separately, and a semi-weighted controller separately, Yet today I buy the audio USB-2 interface,  (or maybe even firewire assuming my computer will accept such a hook up) it seem's I'd be spending more money buying these as separate components down the road...

Not sure I want to spend 300 on just the audio interface if 600 will get me the studio/mixer/ and interface with some onboard effects..  I guess that's where I am at this point.  No area music stores within a close range that have decent keyboard, or sound rooms anymore...

Thanks,  Reading about this stuff raises questions regarding where additional features should be purchased for not much more money in a unit..  or, why the audio interface alone for 300 if a digital studio/mixer offer's the same features and more channel's , and is more expansive for 400 ?

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Reading the review's for that Mackie 1604 mixer I wouldn't part with it.. 200 reviewer's give it an average of 8.5 out've 10 ?   That's a damn good mixer. Assuming I wanted to pay over 800 I'd buy one  LOL

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

It was a standard in many (even pro) recording studio mix down/mastering rooms for years & you'd see it in many venues & band rigs for live sound as well, still one of the best boards ever built in it's price range.

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I know at least 4 Kj's that have used the Mackie808m for 5 to 6years .. One I replaced the finals in (generic locally bought) another I replaced the filters in the amp... The Mackie 808 is to karaoke as the 30-30 lever action is to dear hunting..When I recommend it I am not guessing but know it thru and thru...

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