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home karaoke system
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Author:  chris2330 [ Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  home karaoke system
I currently have a Cavs 203g player, Optimus SSM-1750 mixer without effects, Optimus PA speakers, a Peavey XM-6 mixer/amplifier with built-in reverb, and a BBE 362 Maximizer.  I know Optimus isn't very good, but I didn't have to spend money on it and I'm only looking to set up a very small home system for my mother.  Anyway, I don't know much about karaoke setups and just tried to use some common to figure it out. I currently have the Cavs player going into  1/4" microphone input of the peavey mixer/amp.   The optimus mixer going into another 1/4" microphone input of the Peavey mixer/amp.  Finally, the BBE 362 Maximizer going through the "send" and "receive" inputs of the Peavey mixer/amp.  
The problem is that  the system has a "tinny" sound.  I was thinking of purchasing the Alesis Midiverb to see if that would help.  Like I said, I don't have a whole lot of knowledge concerning karaoke set ups, so I was hoping someone would let me know if the midiverb would do the job or not.  If not, what else do I need to purchase and should I hook the system up differently?  Thank you in advance for your time.
Author:  Lonman [ Thu Dec 29, 2005 2:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
The "tinniness" (sp) is partly because of the Optimus speakrs.  Not knowing much about the Optimus mixer, you say you have the mixer running into a Peavey mixer/amp , drop the Optimus mixer & run music & vocals into the mixer amp to start with.  The BBE going through the send/recieve may not be doing a whole lot since the send/recieve loop is basically a side chain not getting the entire signal.  Not doing a look up, see if your mixer amp has a pre-amp out & amp input & run the BBE through that - it will be mono only but will work better.
Author:  DannyG2006 [ Thu Dec 29, 2005 8:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
The Optimus speakers are ok for home use, although if you know how to really do audio, you can out do any system with any system. I know that is true because I ran circles around other guys who went with all the named brands with a pair of Radio shack 10's. I now have more named brand stuff as those speakers after nine years of use finally gave up the ghost, even after relegating them to rental or back up status for the last three years.  a couple of years ago I was asked where my old speakers went, told them that I decided to to retire them. They told me they sounded great and where she could get them. I told her they were no longer made and no I won't part with mine.
Author:  chris2330 [ Sun Jan 01, 2006 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
Thank you for your advice, Lonman.  I have a single 1/4" input on my Peavey mixer/amp that is labeled "pre amp out pwr amp in."  I am not sure if this is what your were referring to.  I did run my bbe maximizer through it, however, when I plug anything into the "pre amp out pwr amp in" I lose all my sound altogether.  Does this mean that the "pre amp out pwr amp in" is broken or is there a special way to hook it up?  I tried using a y adapter since there is only one single input.  The available inputs on my mixer/amp are effects return, effects send, tape in, tape out, and pre amp out pwr amp in. Thank you again for your time.
Also, is the Alesis Multimix 8fx mixer a decent mixer to use?  Again, this is for home use, so I don't need all the extra inputs, but I would like a decent sounding system.
Author:  Guest [ Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
The preamp out/power amp in is designed to allow you to send the mixer signal to an outboard vice the onboard mixer amp......Don't plug anything in there unless it is an outboard amp.....When you connect anything there it sends all main line outs to whatever you connected and bypasses the builtin mixer amp.

Go to the Peavey forums on their support page....Then select the pro audio forum, then "mixers"...Then ask your questions....Make certain to identify your exact mixer.

Those Peavey guys will help lots.....They can also link you to an instruction manual for your mixer. :)
Author:  Lonman [ Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
Keith01 @ Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:07 pm wrote:
The preamp out/power amp in is designed to allow you to send the mixer signal to an outboard vice the onboard mixer amp......Don't plug anything in there unless it is an outboard amp


That is wrong.  That Pre out/power in is exactly where it would hook in.  She needs the correct cable though.  She needs a send/return insert cable ie http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-HOS-STP202.html

Once connected into the BBE in/out it will resume connection to the internal amp routed through the BBE.

chris2330 wrote:
Thank you for your advice, Lonman.  I have a single 1/4" input on my Peavey mixer/amp that is labeled "pre amp out pwr amp in."  I am not sure if this is what your were referring to.  I did run my bbe maximizer through it, however, when I plug anything into the "pre amp out pwr amp in" I lose all my sound altogether.  Does this mean that the "pre amp out pwr amp in" is broken or is there a special way to hook it up?  I tried using a y adapter since there is only one single input.  


You can't just use a Y connector, it has to be a special 1/4" TRS (stereo) plug to dual 1/4" TS (mono) plugs.  http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-HOS-STP202.html.  The stereo plug goes into the pre out/power amp in on the mixer & the send goes into the input of the BBE while the return goes to the output of the BBE.
Author:  chris2330 [ Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
I will start by saying "thank you" for the advise you folks give.  It would take me forever and a day to figure this stuff out on my own.  Also, thank you Lonman for directing me to the correct cable for my  "pre out/power amp in" input on my Peavey amp/mixer.

This is my current home system (same as above except that I replaced the Optimus mixer with an Alesis MultiMix 8FX Mixer w/ FX
Cavs 203g player, 10" Optimus PA speakers, 2 SM-58 mics, Alesis MultiMix 8FX Mixer w/ FX,
a Peavey XM-6 mixer/amplifier with built-in reverb, and a BBE 362 Maximizer.

The music sounds great, but the vocals are tinny and doesn't have the resonance or fullness that I'm looking for.  I thought about replacing the Optimus speakers, but when I hooked up my dad's API A-801 mixer/amp unit I was very satisfied with the sound of the vocals from the Optimus speakers.  The API A-801 gave me the resonance or fullness I was looking for and the tinniness wasn't there.  It was a very simple set up since I hooked the SM-58 mics directly into the API A-801 (didn't use the Alesis mixer, Peavey amp, or BBE Maximizer).  Anyway, I'm wondering if I'm better off reselling my equipment that I currently have and purchasing an API A-801 mixer/amp.  Or could it be that I just don't know what the hell I am doing?!!!!! (LOL)  Or is it possible that the mixer that I have is the problem?  I have listed the specs for the Alesis Multimix 8fx mixer below.  I would really appreciate your comments and advice on hookup and settings for the mixer and the BBE 362 Maximizer.  Again, you folks are great!!!!!

MultiMix-8FX Key Features

4 microphone/line inputs with up to 50dB of preamp gain – gives a boost to microphones and instruments with weak levels.

2 stereo line inputs – great for line-level instruments

Internal digital effects processor with 100 preset effects and an easy-to-read display – includes a variety of reverbs, delays, choruses, flanges, a pitch transposer and combinations of these.

3-band EQ per channel – a potent tool for sonically shaping each channel to get that perfect mix.

1 pre-fader aux send per channel – gives you control over the level of the pre-fader signal being routed to an external device.

1 post-fader aux send/effects send per channel – a control for the signal being routed to another external device or to the onboard effects processor.

Control room output level – provides control over the separate control room output

2-track send and return – lets you mix your audio to tape or other media and to add a tape deck or CD player to the mix
Author:  Lonman [ Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
As I suggested before, you already have the Peavey mixer/amp, plug your mics & player directly into it completely eliminating the Alesis.  There is no need for the mixer before the mixer (so to speak).
How is the Alesis hooked up to the Peavey?  Going from the main ouputs of the Alesis to a couple channels on the Peavey>?
Author:  chris2330 [ Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
I had the Alesis mixer going into the 1/4" tape input of the Peavey mixer/amp using a y adapter since the Alesis is stereo and the tape input is mono.  I did do what you recommended (thank you) the first time, but realized later that I had the treble and bass set too high.  I think I had the BBE Maximizer set too high also.  It does sound a lot better now.  I originally wanted to add something to the system, so I planned on picking up an Alesis midiverb so I could have better effects (chorus, hall, etc.).  I found this Alesis mixer on ebay that had built-in effects (cost about the same as an Alesis midiverb, so I thought I'd try it out.  I was mainly looking for the effects such as chorus, hall, etc.
I do have another question.  If I wanted to add something to my setup, would I be better off investing in a new, better mixer or would I be better off investing in new speakers.  If so, what would be your recommendations?  My current system is set up in a very, very small room, so I would need relatively small, but good speakers since I run into the problem of the mics being too close to the speakers.  Also, my Peavey amp is rated at 150 watts.  Thank you again for your input.
Author:  Lonman [ Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: home karaoke system
chris2330 @ Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:41 am wrote:
I had the Alesis mixer going into the 1/4" tape input of the Peavey mixer/amp using a y adapter since the Alesis is stereo and the tape input is mono.  


Well again, the "Y" connector is the wrong cord to use, it can damage the internal circuitry of both the Alesis & the Peavey.  You would want to use the same cord as the BBE uses for the Pre amp loop.  Although I would just use 2 channels on the Peavey myself with the bass & treble straight up - no adjustments on the Peavey other than the gain then leave it alone.

Quote:
I did do what you recommended (thank you) the first time, but realized later that I had the treble and bass set too high.  I think I had the BBE Maximizer set too high also.  It does sound a lot better now.


Yeah you don't want to overdo any eq'ing.  You want to start everything at the 12:00 oclock (or zero) position & work from there.  If you find you are turning up the bass too much, it's time for a more powerful amp to give your speaker the added fullness without having to eq much.   

Quote:
I originally wanted to add something to the system, so I planned on picking up an Alesis midiverb so I could have better effects (chorus, hall, etc.).  I found this Alesis mixer on ebay that had built-in effects (cost about the same as an Alesis midiverb, so I thought I'd try it out.  I was mainly looking for the effects such as chorus, hall, etc.


You didn't really need to get an external mixer with effects, you could have just bought an effects unit & connect it to the Peavey via the effects send/return loop.

Quote:
I do have another question.  If I wanted to add something to my setup, would I be better off investing in a new, better mixer or would I be better off investing in new speakers.  If so, what would be your recommendations?  My current system is set up in a very, very small room, so I would need relatively small, but good speakers since I run into the problem of the mics being too close to the speakers.  Also, my Peavey amp is rated at 150 watts.  Thank you again for your input.


If it were me, i'd probably drop the Peavey altogether, get a nice power amp & use the Alesis mixer going through the BBE (a good eq would be better, but the BBE would work to start).
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