Karaoke Forums

Things are going GREAT!!!

I have really started to bring out huge audiences, bigger than the bands are seeing around here.  I've finaly convinced this one horse town that everybody loves karaoke.

Thing is....   I've reached the point where the crowd and the expanded square footage is starting to absorb the sound.  I actually saw the peak lights on my mains during dance sets.  I need a couple of suggestions.

First off, to give you an idea of what I'm running now:

1.  Rackmount computer with 6 channel sound on two cards, a couple of outputs I don't even use yet.
2.  PV-14 mixer, all the effects I need for karaoke, and outputs to spare, or so I think..
3. Composer Pro compressor on the singer mic channels.
4. Deltafex effects for my mic channel
5. DBX 2 channel 15 band equalizer on the program output
6. 2 EON 15 G2 Powered Mains

Now, what I need to fix:

1. Subwoofer - I need to add bass, when working a multi-level establishment, I can't get the mains high enough to keep the bass working throughout the room when the lower level gets really packed (I'm on the lower level) so I know I need a sub.  Do I need a crossover, or do most subs have adequate built-in crossovers?  I'm not sure whether to go active or passive, but the active selection at musicians friend seems REALLY limited.  If I do go passive, how much amp do I need for the selected sub?  I see alot of Program/Peak/Base ratings, but which do I need to match up?

2.  BBE Maximizers - I have heard SO much about this I really need to ask.  Is this the same thing I get when I activate the "Countour" switch on the mixer, or is this really something I should consider to make the most of what I can afford?

3. Turning two mic inputs into a stereo input - they sell 1/4" jacks with RCA female connectors on the end- would this be sutable for turning a couple of mic jacks into a stereo jack?  It'd be great if I could pan each side to the right or left dependant on the channel it belongs in stereo would be nice, but I really just want to point an input from the computer to it, and use the monitor knob on the mixer to send it to the headphones for preview- I've already had singers that wanted to hear the key that a song was in before they sang it.  I run music in between songs (sorry bigdog) during which I would typically do this in.  is there any problem with this?  Electrically, I wouldn't think so, but I've found I'm wrong at least 10% of the time on things I think are so simple I would assume I was correct...

4. Cords - I've been going through mic cords a little faster than I care to.  Is there a decent brand that would last longer?  They seem to be having trouble on the mic end, and re-soldering doesn't seem to get me through more than a couple of shows.  Being more of a "stationary" kind of guy, I haven't had to deal with cords that are getting moved around alot and stepped on, etc.  so I've always had good luck with the step above the cheap stuff.  Any suggestions?  I don't want to spend ten times as much on a cord that lasts twice as long, but a good dollar per show rate would be excellent.

5.  Cordless....  Ouch! says the pocketbook.  I don't want to give up the SM58 sound, and all the shows I do are in the darn boondocks, I don't see too much in the way of radio traffic.  (there is one strong signal around 195.000Mhz, a pager company doing regional pages nearby, but it doesn't bother anything outside of a few megahertz)  what would you suggest?  In a perfect world, I'd like a unit that I can just stick into any microphone's XLR, that matches to a receiver, so I could mess around with the actual microphone all I want.  Do I really need UHF?  If it *has* to be a dedicated mic, what would I need to simulate an SM58, and still be able to get the sound of a more specialized mic, particularly a Shure green bullet.

6.  Most establishments don't want to give me the full space that they give bands, especially now that the dance floor is starting to fill up.  This often leaves me with the whole "speakers behind the mics" sort of situation.  I've been able to eliminate feedback with the equalizer and the compressor, but at the moment, I think the whole monitor situation is pretty pointless at this point.  Most singers are expecting the main output to be pretty vocal heavy, much like the monitor would be.  What do your singers want to hear out of the monitor?  Could I improve situations by just pumping a background heavy mix into the monitors to bring out the shy singers, and satisfy the "rockin the mic" crowd?  So far, I'm pretty pleased with the results, but if a monitor would allow me a little more leeway in speaker placement, I might be willing to place a 10" EON out front.  Any ideas?


I'm really appreciative of everyone's comments so far, lonman especially, and even bigdog, for all his diminuative comments.  At least when he runs me down, he gives SOME SORT OF HELPFUL INFORMATION.

Seems like you answered most of you own questions.

Figure out your budget.

I'd upgrade the mixer if you want more stereo inputs.

I posted reviews on subs somewhere on the site. Expect to pay about $1200 for a good sub. I'd suggest a RCF 18" or a Yorkville 18" I honestly would get 2.

Don't be cheap on wireless mics. Yes you need UHF, and you will thank yourself for buying two $300 mic's My Shure wireless are over 5 years old and going strong. even if they last a year $20 a month for good mics is not a very big expense. Buy them from Guitar Center and Get the no questions asked replacement on them.

Buy you mic cords from Guitar Center they have lifetime replacement.

If you buy a driverack for your crossover you will not need a sonic maximzer.

I agree, a better mixer would be the first thing.  I like Mackies.  Cords at Guitar center with a lifetime guarantee?  That's for me.  However, I found that a pair of cheap mic stands without booms will make you life easier.  The singer abuse the stands instead of the mics.  Go figure.  For your sound problem, find a place at the far end of the bar and put in a couple of remote speakers.  12s will due because it's the high end that gets trashed with a bunch of bodies.  Subs are not a bad idea either.  Sonic maximizer?  Probably not.  Monitor is a must.  A singer wants to hear the mix, so that they know how to use the mic properly.  If the singer is a bozo, teach them.  That's what you're there for.  That's my official two cents worth.