Karaoke Forums

Finally making the big step of going out on my own.  I have worked for another KJ, and spent some time KJ'ing a bar with a house system, but a bar owner finally managed to convince me to take the plunge and start doing shows on my own.

So far, I'm planning on using the following:

1. Single Deck Mixsonic CD+G/DVD/MP3 Player (will only be used when customer's bring in their own discs)

2. Standard Compliment of CD+G sets (Bulk of the SC/DK/MM Stuff)

3. Way more computer than I need, with said CDG's ripped to the drive, all the software figured out for karaoke and filler music, and a dual output video card (VGA + SVID)

4. Standard TV-on-a-stand setup we've all seen a million times.

5. Radio Shack Video Modulator for bars that would like the bar TV's tied into the lyrics output on a cable channel.

6. 2 JBL EON 15 G2's on stands.

7. 2 Sure SM59 Mic's (Will probably end up replacing them with cheaper mics if they get dropped very often)

8. Yamaha MG10/2 Stereo Mixer


It's a very competitive market, and will probably need to bring lighting / smoke / bubbles etc. to the table to compete with the existing companies, but for right now, I'm going to have a lot of leeway because of the nature of the bar I'm contracted with.  (At least for the first 6 months) Right now, I'm really worried about getting the sound right.  I'm used to working with a fixed installation for a huge club (about 8kW total power, and every DSP board and gadget known to man in the rack) and need to adjust for portable.  I haven't seen anybody use a monitor, and from what I've seen, it doesn't seem to make a big difference if the rest of the system is set up properly for the room.  I'm sure I could be convinced otherwise, though.

So my question is this...  Where do I go from here?  I highly suspect I'm going to need some basic effects, it seems like everyone asks for reverb, as overused as it is.  But am I really going to need a compressor on every channel?  I don't forsee myself playing anything over 5,000 sq. ft, and the EON's seem to be able to handle that without even trying...  Should I trash the mixer, and get one with decent built-in effects, or should I just use the Insert I/O on what I've got?  Any other ideas for making the system more flexible, or to just plain sound better?

5,000 sq ft rooms?  I'd probably be thinging about a couple more EONS & at least a couple subs.

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The big rooms are all the type where they want the music loud in the dance floor area, and quiet enough to hold a converstation by the bar.  Generally a mixed crowd kind of situation.  The 2 EONs were WAY more than enough the one night I tested it out.  In any event, that is an extreme case.

Generally, I'll be looking at 100 people max, sports bars, bar/restaurant type setups.

I may just have to run to Minneapolis, and see what the setups look like in similar situations down there, and pay more attention to the equipment.

Reverb and subs.

Learn how to add the reverb correctly.

Compressor on the microphones.    Not music.

Wouldn't worry about the lights right now - UNLESS the rest of the competition use them as well, then you may want a few par cans & maybe something for the dance floor.  Stay away from bubbles & fog, no need in karaoke - nice effects but can cause more probablems than they are worth.



So you are obviously experienced in sound engineering?  You should know good sound don't come cheap.  Don't use the it's only karaoke thinking, make your singers have an experience as close to live as most of them may ever get.  I would almost always run at least 1 sub in every room, a room that big, 2 subs minimum with proper power behind them & crossed over.  



Depends on the club (stage or not) & the crowd.  If they aren't used to monitors, then don't use them.  I know I prefer one as a singer.  I will always set-up a stage or singing area with at least 1 monitor with an individual mix from the mains.  I get people telling me all the time they are happy that it is there because sometimes they want more music, sometimes they want more vocals & they can have either without affecting the main mix.



A Lexicon MPX110 is a good unit that you can do some special effect tricks.  You probably already know this, but for those who don't, effects should only be used to enhance a sound, never the focus.  If you actually HEAR the effect, it is set too high.  You don't want to hear the effect (unless it's an obvious part ie 7 from Prince), but would definitely notice if it wasn't there.  



Just on your vocal channels.



That's up to you, I personally would never run a room without at least 1 sub., 2 for that size.  Fuller sound.  



Use what you have, the Yamaha is a decent board.



You sure you didn't mean SM58 mics?  The SM59's are designed more for desktop broadcasting & podium speaking type.
May want to consider a decent eq, dbx 231 is a great budget eq.
If you did go with an added sub, you could use something like the JBL JRX118 powered sub.  It's a good compliment to the EON & won't break the bank.  Has a built in crossover as well so you wouldn't need an external.

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Yup, I did mean SM58...  Apparently it was too late to type accurately on the laptop....

Thanks for the info.  I will probably get a dual channel compressor for the mic lines, and a simple FX unit.  It looks like the lexicon unit you mentioned is discontinued, but the specs look pretty much like what I've been looking for.

Yeah I forgot they replaced that earlier this year with the MX200.

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