Karaoke Forums

My powered mixer owners manual covers a little on this subject, but it is directed more toward instrument input. My application is obviously Karaoke music input and mic input. Is there some reading resources someone here can link me to on setup and adjustment. I can get close, but I'm not sure how to set, or if I need to be concerned with, using the main EQ and monitor EQ on the mixer. I've considered ordering the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook, but if it deals with mainly instrument input, it may not be of any use to me.

I'm using a Yamaha EMX312SC powered mixer with music input coming from a laptop and a karaoke deck. I seem to want to constantly "fiddle" with the input levels from singer to singer. Maybe this is necessary?

http://www.nehp.net/~jimw/PA%20pics/

Thanks, Jim.

It is normal to fiddle with the levels (BigDog aside). Karaoke tracks don't at all have the same levels or fullness of instrumentation, so you almost always have to adjust the output of the backing track. And singers don't all sing at the same loudness, so it makes sense you have to adjust their level.

When I am practicing, I tend to keep my microphone at the same level, and adjust the music input level and master volume.

When I am doing a show, I adjust the monitor mix as much as the main, trying to get singers to get closer to the microphone. And I try to figure out the max I can boost the mic gain without feedback for reedy little voices.

Have you ever been walking one way and someone else is coming straight at you and in trying to avoid each other you end up doing a little dance?  It's the same thing with knob twiddling.  The singer hears something he doesn't like so he corrects on the mic while at the same time you hear the same thing and correct on the mixer and the result is worse than the problem you had in the first place.  Unless something is way out of whack I don't twiddle the knobs, I adjust the singer before I adjust the mixer.  It's is true that some singers can't be adjusted, but I would say knob twiddling is a last resort.

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Consider your player as an instrument and adjust it accordingly.  As stated with karaoke, music levels vary so you may be changing that channels setting for each song - level gains, eq's.  Just make sure you aren't overdriving the channel on your player and mics.

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My mixer lacks a gain control for each input..unless level=gain.

Jim

Well in that case the mixer has a set input level, so you adjust the music so it doesn't distort & same with the mics.  If the mics need to be louder, then turn the music channels down a bit & compensate with the main volume (provided you aren't already getting feedback).

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