Karaoke Forums

I have been digital since 2001.  Using my laptop along with a Mackie system,(CFX12/450's/1500-1) I have been pleased with my sound.  Lately though I have been hearing of many latop users going to an external sound card.  i.e. "Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS, notebook PCMCIA sound card.."

My question is, will I get an even better sound with an external card; and if so, is this card a good one to go with, or this there something better suited.

Thanks,

Kelly

Which software are you using to run your show ?  Do they reccomend an external sound card?

I also use a laptop and have been using an external sound card
A GIGAPORT AG - USB

This device was reccomended by the software company and works and sounds great.

Using MTU Hoster.  Don't recall them mentionung one.

Kelly

Ok Im sitting here with a 3.2 gig pent 4 with a M-Audio Delta 44 sound card, a presario 5105 laptop and a Griffin Imic...Using Winamp, Media Player or Real Player I can compare the 44 with onboard sound or imic on the the main comp. The Fx and the 362 and 104 have to be turned off to see a significant difference Then with the onboard and imic on the laptop..Same thing I can use any of the sounds and actually in conjunction with each other and blow 80-90% of the systems around out of the water No brag just fact..

There is a big difference between sound engines If I use a sound engine like Cakewalk it blows the above players out of the water. Any music FX on or off same with procs... I have the same suspicions about Mtu Hoster It probably is a better sound engine though I have never tried it.. In other words a good balanced system that is tuned right is the key...

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Kelly

If you are happy with the sound you have, then you don't need an extrenal sound card. But you should probably just get one test it out and if not satisfied return it

I agree that a gigaport will give you an increase in sound quality. You have gone so long without a sound card my question is how do you mix music or que music with ounly one sound card?

The gigaport will have less latency than your onboard sound card and offer multiple outputs, you can use 1 for music 1 for music cue and a third for your karaoke player.

I like having 3 outputs at my disposal.

I tried it, it did improve the cuality of the sound as compared to my built in sound card on the lappy.  I did think it sounded a bit "tinny".  And I paid $90 for it at the time, I feel it was over priced.

You may want to consider trying a "pro" level sound card.

Thanks folks.  I use a Mackie cfx-12 to "mix."  I just do karaoke and I must admit I do have a great sound.  Just one of those things you always want to try and improve.

The Prostar I got from MTU has a Realteck AC'97 Audio.  I presently simply going from the earphone out into the mixer.  As i said it sounds great but if there is something out there that would make it better,...I'm all for it.

Kelly

Unless you paid top dollar for your laptop, I'm guessing the internal sound card was the cheapest thing they could put in it.   Like the video card and everything else.

This is where all of the illegal computer hacks make their big mistake.   They buy the cheap hard drive and the cheapest laptop going.      Makes for good business for me.

The laptop can barely make sound on it's own now.   And they want to put out quality karaoke without spending any more money.  LMAO  LMAO

Cheap laptop, shoe box speakers, 2-$50 microphone and we're KJs.    Sounds like crap but who cares, I'm a KJ.  LMAO  :O  :shock:

Bigdog, where in the H@ll are you coming from.  You seem to assume everyone is beneath you.  For the record:
I have been doing karaoke now for ONLY 6 years.  The bar I am currently working in is in a town of ONLY 62,000 population.  There are ONLY about 10-12 OTHER KJ's in this town. My club has ONLY been voted the best bar in town for the last two years.  I ONLY have the longest running show in town.

Now for my biggest down fall .....My equipment:  CFX-12  Mackie Mixer. 2- 450's 1- 1501 sub.  My computer is a Prostar.  (Not cheap)  9,800 Songs.  No dupes.  80% sound Choice.  $15,000 in music. LEGAL!

Oh I forgot to mention my CHEAP mics.  Mics:  4- Shure 87A wirless.  1-87A wired.  3- Shure Beta 58A's wired   1- Shure 55SH.

I'm sorry Bigdog that I haven't been doing it as long as you have.  Sorry my equipment isn't up to your standards.  And I'm sooooo sorry that I'm not afraid of or worry about my competition like you do.

To the rest of you, I apologize for coming across as "bragging" like You Know Who!

Bottom line is however, it's not the price or make of equipment that make a KJ sucessful.  It's how they use it and how they treat the customer.

Again to everyone else I apologize.

Kelly

 My main comp has the realteck AC 97 It isnt real bad... In comparison to the delta44 there is a difference You might improve on it in the long run...   In the laptop I have the Conexant AMC which is awesome. It almost compares to the delta44... My bro has used it for about 6 months on another Compaq  no complaints... The best way is try something for awhile see what it does...  The ac97 codecs have improved in the last few years a bunch..   Keep abreast of the updates....... Im like you though Im always looking for improvement.......


I still say the sound engine makes more difference I know it does If you were here Id show you Im not guessing.....

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Thanks karyoker!  I think I will try "something" just to see how much of a difference there is.

Kelly

First of all, I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about my illegal neighborhood hacks running around here.    They get a $5-600 laptop and think they are going to sound great.    With a generic sound and video card.   Yea right.

Second of all, the specs on your sound card should have been available to you.   So you would have known if it was a good one or a piece of crap.  

Thirdly, quality isn't cheap.     Anyone that thinks it is, is only fooling themselves.   The singers aren't fooled.    I have hundreds of singers running around that know crap when the sing on it.     I hear about crappy sounding KJs everyday.     Mostly from disgruntled singers.    Believe it or not they get tired of wasting their time going to shows that suck.    They can suck at home.  When they go out they expect to sound good.

Fourth.   10-12 KJs isn't competition.     I have that many on one block.    How about 100-200 or more.   That's what's running around this city and surrounding area.    99% are total hacks.     4 of them use to work for me.    20 or more of them were singers at my shows.    My ex wife has one of my systems and I sold another one.    That's two more to add to the list.    I had 3 new illegal computer KJs and the one that sold them everything, at one of my shows in the last 2 weeks.    Sniffing out my singers.

It's very, very competitive around here.    There are only about 10 really good ones around the entire area.    I wish I only had 12 to worry about.    I'd be a millionaire.  :O

I never said the specs to my sound card weren't available to me.  I know exactly what my card is.  I said I LIKE the way my laptop sounded.  It isn't a piece of crap. I only asked for an opinion on an external one.  Try listening "reading" for a change.

Kelly

For my laptop, I use Echo Indigo DJ and I like it a lot. First of all, I think it sounds better than most if not all of built in audio. I think it sounds better than Creative Labs Audigy, which I recently sold on ebay. One thing I like about the card is that I also do DJ work as well and it has two channels build in and from my DJ software, I can queue one channel while playing on other channel and fade between the two. Works welll.

_________________

Seize the day and SING!!!

You were asking about comparing your sound card to the Creative one.  :yes:   Therefore specs will need to be looked at to compare all of the frequency things and distortion ratios and all that crap.    Then still the only real test will be made side-by-side.     Unless you are an electronic/ schematic genius and can do a paper comparision.    I would have to hear it and make a desision.  LMAO

I never said you had crap equipment.    :hug:

Thanks eben.  That's the type of info I was looking for.  From those of you who actually use the things I'm talking about.  Again thanks.

Kelly

Ok Im going to dust the cobwebs out of this old mind, drag out some software and the old scope and and run a spectrum analysis on the sound boards I have..

At my age the hearing isnt the way it used to be in fact I know 3k+ is dropping..

The software I will be using is this

Dont hold your breath itll take awhile to learn again and do it.. But this is the only honest evaluation or comparison of audio gear including mics, speakers etc.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Thanks karyoker!  That would be great.

Kelly

Fo those using realtek ac97 codecs I did find some good drivers If your drivers are before 10/13/06 download these


They made a big difference with mine It boasts a signal to noise ratio of >90db..

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!