Karaoke Forums

I'm a newbie & have a few questions!

I want to use my laptop computer for karaoke.  I know I can just plug in a mic and record but I want a more professional sound (reverb, effects, etc.). However, I'm totally lost as far as what equipment I need!

I listen to some of the recordings on here & other karaoke competiton sites and they sound GREAT!   I want that sound!  

My husband doesn't really know about this stuff (he's a gamer not a singer!), but he's thinking I need an external usb sound card that I can plug into my laptop, a good mic and headphones and I'll be good to go.  

Is he right?  Would I plug the mic and headphones into the external sound card? I want to be able to sing and hear myself singing with all the good "effects" live.   Some of the sites I go to have streaming karaoke (like Bix)  and I want to hear myself singing in my speakers or headphones - not just after it's recorded.  

I also want to mention that I own the this mixer:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MultiMix6FX/

I just don't know what to do with it!  LOL!

If you guys can recommend exact products (sound card, mic, headphones or whatever else I need) or point me in the right direction I would REALLY appreciate it!

Thanks so much!

Jennifer

Jennifer,

The problem is, there's so many ways to sing and record yourself. There's no one "solid" rule on how to do it.

What I'd recommend is to contact some of the singers and see how they do it. Some use CEP (Cool Edit Pro 2), Audacity, and other kinds of computer recording. Usually this involves a better card such as the Delta44, better mic, etc.

The way I've recorded myself in the past is to do it on a pro-type of system, say at one you'd do at a karaoke show. I have a second computer for that, and yes, I DO use a USB sound device to take my karaoke files and make them playable to the tv and to the system. Mixed on a board with my mics, the output from my mixer I send to my cd recorder. Then I rip that to my computer for that audio. Hardly what the other folks on here do!

So if you see and hear a really good recording, I'd ask the experts directly! Take good notes and then get with your husband on what you'd want to do!

It used to be one had to setup a DAW (digital audio workstation) and dedicate it for audio only with only the software necessary. Now thats different this laptop Im typing on now I use for everything and use it for a backup and have actually used it for all nighters with no problem. We have recorded with it but nothing serious however with the right usb sound brd with multi-channels one could make some very decent tracks. One of the reasons I didnt use a laptop for years was because my rack comp uses a delta 44 I will give a short blurb on the use  multi-channel brds

Here is the cntrl panel of a delta 44. panel

With the recrd source in cntrl panel set for delta multi whatever you have selected in the panel will be recorded. I have the breakout box mounted in the rack and mic 1 and mic 2 are routed to HW IN 3/4 respectively. This gives several different combinations The best is 3/4 (vocal) and WavOut 1/2. This tracks the vocals live and tracks the digital music before it even leaves the computer. I rarely use because its impossible to record with FX but HW 1/2 is hooked up to the record out on the mixer. The best at live shows is track vocal only then later using software import the music and mix and master Even with roxbox we can do this We can even track a singers vocal and transfer it to a flash drive then they can mix and master it later at home.

For software I woulud suggest something like Cakewalk music creator Right now you can get it on Ebay for less than $20. This will give you a feel for tracking with a DAW and what the advantages are. I graduated from this years ago to home studio pro then wanting more and better plugins (FX) bought Sonar 3 .Unless you are writing music and getting very serious home studio or CEP is more than adequate for  hobby recording

It is possible to get a fairly decent recording with any sound brd or setup but for consistency or tracking for making cd's that play on any player takes more sophistication. It is a matter of experience and experimentation with what you have.

This forum is the best for learning the whole process and I have used it for years.  This is an area whereas in later years has given much pleasure.

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Prewarning Dont walk on eggs in the above forum They will chew you up spit you out laugh and then give the best advise there is. most here have pro recording studios. They are just a bunch of partying musicians who like talk about the thing they love!!!

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