Karaoke Forums

I have a karaoke computer that i built connected to my home theater system. The musick sounds good but vocals sound pretty bad. I wanted to upgrade my system for better vocal sound and needed your expertise on which route i should take:

1: keep the music playing through my home theater system and get dedicated vocal speakers and amp.

2: get a powered mixer/amp and vocal speakers and just cut out my home theater system

Also as for speakers i wanted to go with these: BMB CS-450V - 450 http://www.acekaraoke.com/hbmbsp450i.html. Are these really good speakers or could i find better karaoke speakers for that price or find speakers that will perform the same for less?

Last if you recommend a power mixer/amp or just an amp which would be best for my price range?

Thanks in advance

P.S.

This system is for home use only but i would like the best quality sound that i can afford. I'm willing to spend about $700 give or take a few.

Anyone who wants a p.a. for karaoke home use, should check into the Fender Passport systems.  They are relatively affoardable and for home use have a great sound.  Go with a Shure SM58 mic or a Beta 58A  for a little more, and I think you will be more than pleased.

Kelly

So you recommend option 1. Do you think i'll get better results with that then option 2?

that link is gone... it redirects you to the homepage. You have a period in there


I THINK the one you're trying to find is http://www.acekaraoke.com/hbmbsp450i.html

No way would I attempt karaoke with those kinda speakers...

Definately cut out the home speakers. For vocals alone, they're just not built to handle the serious highs and lows of live mic work. Eventually, they'll give on you. Or just create distorted sound like you're discovering.

I thought those speakers were made for karaoke (atleast thats what it says)? So which speakers would you recommend? Will good karaoke speakers handle both vocal and music well or just the vocal portion?

I honestly suggest you leave all home theater/home stereo stuff to what it is best suited for....connect it to your TV and DVD and leave it out of your karaoke system.

Karaoke is 'live' as soon as you connect a mic to it.....Live sound needs pro level gear to properly reinforce it and handle it....Pro level gear uses different levels of components electronicaly....They are not necessarily better quality, but they do differ in their needs electronicaly. Pro gear uses what is called 'line level' inputs and outputs. Home/consumer gear does not interface properly with line level inputs.

About the only piece of home/consumer equipment you can use with pro level is a CD player, but even then you may have problems with it being too 'hot' on it's output.

Build yourself a standalone system for karaoke...The center piece for karaoke is a pro level mixer....Start with it and then match it up with amps and speakers intended for pro level signals.

Ok that makes sense. So i have my computer as my karaoke player. It is connected to the tv via s-video cable. As for sound i have a sound blaster live sound card which is connected to the audio out via a rca splitter (forgot what it called). So now what exactly do i need for the rest of the setup?

Plug an M-Audio delta 44 pci interface card in the computer right next to the SoundBlaster card...Then connect the Delta card to a pro mixer and pro amp and stage grade speakers...Jack in a pro level mic and you are good to go.

Leave the TV set up like it is.

What is you initial budget?  A small pa system dedicated to karaoke is what you want for home - like Keith said, keep it out of your home theater system.

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Did you get my PM?.....You need music, did you understand what I described to you in that reqard?

Forget about most anything that's specifically "made" for karaoke.

You know, for live mic speakers, I went to a local guy that builds and is a licensed repairer of them. Told him I was in the market for speakers, and immediately he asked me "for what?" When I told him DJ and Karaoke use, he went further and said "How MUCH DJ and how MUCH karaoke? I've got a general use speaker that would work for both... however for live mic usage, the woofer is made of a more flexible material... this makes for a tiny bit LESS bass sound, but the speaker will last a long time. In fact, you might want to buy TWO sets of speakers, one for DJ and the other for your live mic use..."

So we tested what he had. I was a bit embarrassed singing into the mic at his place, but I went a full range of two songs (had my cdgs with me, but of course had no video... so I stuck with two I remembered). In the end, I chose his initial recommendation, and actually liked the bass part of how they sounded.

I've been using these for three years, in a weekly gig. (now granted, I'm NOT running 7 days a week the way Lonnie is!!).

I liked them so much, I went and bought a second set six months after my purchase, to the chagrin of my ex-fiance. My then partner Dave kinda gave me a PFFFtttt attitude when he saw them, but his face changed when he heard them. Totally blew away his Peavy speakers (which had seen a lot of years, and man they were fuzzy sounding.

I liked these speakers so much and the guy that built them, that I went and bought TWO sents of much smaller speakers for home use... 6" woofers on those.

I had done a lot of research online, talked with various kjs in my town, and across the nation.

I still can't believe how good these suckers are.  I gave away my newer second set to settle a debt, but I can tell you, when I get a gig back here in KC, that the FIRST thing I'm going to do is contact that guy back in Portland, and see if he's got a contact around here. At the very worst, I'll buy the new speakers and have that dude ship them to me!

He makes a great monitor speaker too!

<<edit>> I went ahead and ordered not only a second set of speakers, but also a floor monitor. S&H is about $30 each.

Yeah i got your PM, i'm going to try it out. Thanks for the info!

knightshow thanks for the info also. I wish making decisions on what parts to buy would be cut and dry but i guess i have to do a lot of research to get the equipment that fits me best.

Go to your local music store and tell them you want to see their PA systems.   Listen to the different combinations of mixers and speakers.   Take your player or computer and hook it to them, to see how they can make it sound.    Sing songs into it.    Don't guess at the equipment you need.  Go to the pros.      First class is better than the cargo hold.

I have never seen any advertisements for weekly livingroom gigs.   Most of them are in noisy bars.      That is the kind of equipment you need.  Anything less is wasting your money and time.  

What does the M-Audio card do and whats its for? Do you need that?

for output from computer to mixer, I just use the Soundblaster USB mp3+ device to change my sound to RCA, cleanly. It's basically an external sound card. Works like a champ, and I use it for pro-level shows.

$40 !

The Delta 44 is a professional audio interface that properly connects your computer to your mixer and PA. It uses fully balanced 1/4" jacks unlike Soundblaster and comes with necessary patching/routing software to avoid conflicts. It also works at pro level vice consumer level electronicly for much better dynamic range and headroom over the Soundblaster grade stuff.

Soundblaster type stuff is made for computer and home audio speakers, not pro level PA systems that require 'line level' inputs and outputs...Altho the Delta 44 is the least expensive PCI interface M-Audio sells, it is not 'entry level' grade equipment. It uses the same hi-grade components of their most expensive devices, it is only limited in connectivity, but limited to exactly what a KJ needs.

The delta 44 provides 8 1/4" balanced input/output jacks to allow you to both play and record up to two separate stereo tracks in either direction.

Check it out.

sweetwater dot com has a sale save $50 on Delta 44 unit.   Hurry

Say hi to andrew for me while you are there!

Keith, you're talking about the cards, NOT the USB MP3+ interface.

In my opinion, it's definately pro level use.

I agree on the SB cards, though!