Karaoke Forums

1st, I'd like to start out by saying how impressed I am with the level of knowledge and friendlyness I'm finding on this board.    It seems the members and staff around here are top notch and absolutely wonderful.  I look forward to learning all I can and contributing to the discussions going on around here.

2nd, A little history about my Karaoke career.. I've been doing Karaoke for years at my house and a few parties for friends.  I have a wide selection of CDG's and three or four machines (two "The Singing Machines", one big honker from Radio Shack, and a few small machines)..  This was until my sister requested I "do karaoke" for a party she was throwing at a local bar a few months ago.   The party was fine and the bar owner actually asked me to start doing it on a regular basis.. MY FIRST GIG! and without trying..  So far, I've been using my karaoke machines and CDG's but it's been a hassle to carry it all back and forth.. and I'm getting requests from other people to do parties and all.. it seems I'm in the Karaoke Business!!

3rd, My problem:  I want to convert to a PC System for doing the shows.  I'm a computer guy and pretty knowledgable about Desktops and Laptops, but completly over my head when it comes to seeing up a PC KJ system.  I have ripped my CDG's into MP3+G's and stored them on an external HD.  I have an IBM Thinkpad laptop with a P3-800 mhz processor and 256megs of Ram.  It has an Svideo out port and a VGA port for an External monitor.  I'm not opposed to buying a newer laptop to use with the system, but of course, if my current one will work, I'd rather use it.

That's it.  I need to get everything else for a good sounding system for small to medium sized clubs and private parties.

As for software, I currently do everything by hand (CDGs, of course I do it by hand).  I was thinking I could just use WinAMP with a Karaoke plugin. I purchased "Music Books Deluxe" for making my song books.  If there is a better alternative, I woud be welcome to hear about them.

Currently I only play filler songs when I need to take a break or when there isn't someone who wants to sing (could be no filler, could be lots depending on the crowd at the bar).

I'm sure you've all heard these questions asked before, probably a thousand times.  But could you please help with suggestions on hardware, sources for said hardware and software recomendations..

Thanks!

It sounds like a plan to me. Put it together and see if it humms........

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

I wouldn't attempt any kind of non-amatuer level show with less than 1 gig of ram... 512 you MIGHT be able to squeak by, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable. Also, that size processor... I'd personally want to upgrade it.

Definately don't do anything BUT karaoke with it. No outside apps open or on, no antivirus, NOTHING else!

The problem with MBDeluxe or KJPro, is the error factor. If you're happy with the books as is, then stick with it!

I'd like to say you're the most knowledgeable newbie I've seen. Congrats on doing the research you've done!

I agree with Knightshow about his comments. I think you may be stretching the processing power and definitely memory if you want to use that. I am more worried about the memory since Karaoke software seems to hog more memory than other apps I noticed. If you are running a professional show, I would err on the high side, more memory than needed, more processing power, etc.

Laptops work fine but one other thing to think about is the screen real estate. I have looked at a couple of software for evaluation and I personally find that more screen space is better for me. Some of the software will take up more than what you can display on your 14 or 15" screen. It's doable but not comfortable. I use 17" screen with 1280x1024 and it seems just right for me. Remember, on LCD screen, you should run native resolution for best viewing and you can't get higher resolution than the native resolution like you can with analog monitor. Your singer monitor is not really a problem.

I personally use 3U rackmount system I built myself and it works great. Just a personal opinion.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

I'm with a desktop. Like Eban's rackmount, you can get in and work on it in a crunch, something most laptops really aren't built for. And in a mobile situation, you really want to go with something more solid.

That 800 CPU might be a problem, then again it might not.

Let's find out!

Try installing some of the various KJ hosting trial versions and see....If it does exhibit hangs and stalls, then double your ram, and try it again.....And like the other guy said, disable all other apps.

Some hosting software developers claim that their software is not a process hog like a few of the others....I think you are the perfect guy to test those claims for us....

Without changing anything, install MTU Hoster trial version and see if it will perform smoothly, then try same with Winamp and whatever else you use presently....You might discover you are ok with one but not the other.....If the machine operates well with MTU Hoster but not Winamp, then you might want to use Hoster and save some big money on hardware.

Eitherway, I think you are making the right choice starting out PC based. Your computer background will help you get thru the learning curve much faster.

Welcome to the club!

Thanks for all the advice so far..  I'll try MTU hoster as suggested and see.. My laptop is older and it maxes out at 512megs ram.

What about sound cards?  Do I need to upgrade my sound card on my laptop with a USB or PCMCIA?

Also, since I currently use the "big honking" Radio Shack machine as my speaker, I need suggestions on how to get the sound from my computer to my audience.. Speaker suggestions.. and mixing boards.. and DACs.. I really don't know what I need.. I'm a computer guru.. but know next to nothing about DJ/KJ setups..

I could like to spend as little as possible, but still get equipment that I won't outgrow in 3 months.. or that I can upgrade without losing my initial investment..

Thanks

I started off with a 655 Dell with win98se and Cavs..In fact I know a guy that ran one similar for 3 nights/week for about 3 years. And I suffered thru every burp and problem...


In fact most of the the original tweaks  still apply now..

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How is it  that all this advice has been given and yet no one has asked which operating system he/she's running?  Dahhhhh....
Your laptop is plenty big, in fact it's overkill for karaoke, but it won't run XP very well.  Processor is too slow and not enough RAM.

Microso?? has to keep selling you new software or they go out of business.  Intel and AMD have to keep selling chips or they go out of business.  The software requires faster hardware and the bigger hardware accomadates bigger software.  But, is the end user really gaining anything???  Not in the case of CDG based karaoke because that standard has not changed in decades.  For your laptop go with Windows '98 SE or ME, put some retro software on it , never take it surfing and kiss your problems goodbye.

I have ran karaoke in a pinch, on a PC with less power than your laptop.  I totaly agree with WEED on this one.  It is my personal preference to use a computer as stripped done as possible.  That way less likelyhood of problems occuring.

Also, it seem that the more $$$ you spend on software, the more powerful of a computer you need.

But make up your mind yourself.  If you are going to try out hosting software, give em all a try, that all let you demo the programs for a certain period of time.

As for PA equipment.  Check out other DJ/KJs in your area and see what they are using.  Then go to your local audio shops, and give some setups a try.  MOst of all don't by on the spur of the moment.  Before the wife an I bought new equipment we researched, and listend to a lot of systems.  It took about 1 month, but we finaly made a decision, and have not regreted it one bit.