Karaoke Forums

I recently purchased a home and would like to invest in a decent system. I plan to use my computer to play the media but am in need of speakers, mics (preferably wireless), mixer, amp, etc. Any suggestions including configuration, bang for the buck components, namebrands to avoid, good places to purchase?

I'm definitely a newbie, so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I can say $1,000.00 is quite low for home based software & Hardware even with the drives unless you are singing with dvd based media.. and there are only a few karaoke media complaies out there that do DVD's.
as for wireless microphones, there several. then again depending how much you heve in your budget, and where you shop and how well you take care of them. VHF frequency microphones can start at as low as $100.00 and are prone to interference. UHF microphones start at around $450.00 and usually have multiple channels and most are considered professional quality again depending where ya bought them and the brand name.
Some of the DVD software you might wanna consider are Sound Choice and Priddis. They both have manufacturer websites.

Good luck.

_________________
Brian D.
(BHB)

Thanks for the response Brian. I probably should have mentioned this in the first post, but I've got a Plextor drive for my computer and have been playing CD-G's via WIN CDG for a couple of years. Over that time, I've also purchased most of my favorite songs. Therefore, I'm mostly looking too add some ooomph in power beyond what my computer provides, multiple microphones, etc. The $1000 will be used strictly for hardware not additions to my software collection.

Thanks everyone.

Then it's best to directly ask those like Knightshow and the like who use such peograms. I have used Mtu's hoster and PCKJ which put it pretty much out of that price rance but use 8 in and 8 out Firewire audio interfaces.

I wish you the best.

_________________
Brian D.
(BHB)

For $1000 I wouldn't go wireless. You are going to spend 1/2 of that money just on the mic.

Get yourself a pair of PA speakers with 12 or 15" woofers. Get yourself a little mixer, and if it is unpowered also a power amp. Get youself a live mic. In addition you need cables (XLR, speaker cables, signal cables.

For this amount of money you could do like I and consider E-bay for some of the parts.

For reference this is my home system:

- Carvin 1584 speakers (three-way with 15" woofer) on stands connected to the power amp with speakon connectors.
- Carvin DCM 2000 and DCM 1500 (power amps, 2x425Wrms and 2x300Wrms in 8 ohm)
- Carvin C1644 mixer (16 channels, switch mode power supply=no hum)
- 2 Shure SM-58 mics with stands and separate pop filter for recording
- RSQ tripple tray player

Next purchases are:

- Subwoofer (18" woofer), since the main speakers are on stands which reduces bass level
- Electronic crossover or Driverack
- 1/3 octave eq (not needed with Driverack).

Morten

I was here several months ago. Wanting to set up a mostly home system for $1000. I failed becuase I decided to do bar gigs. It can be done though. I used ebay a lot. Some would say it is too risky but I have had good luck with it. If you use a computer there is lots of inexpensive software out there to do Karaoke. Dot and Sally is one ($35). And you can rip the cdgs to mp3+gs using audiograbber which is free. Then you just need a mixer and amp or a powered mixer. Small Peavy's go for under $150 on ebay all the time. I got a Mackie 604 for $350 including shipping. I also got a pair of "bullfrog 12 inch trap speakers for $250 inc shipping. These sounded great. You can also get the Yamaha 12 or 15 inch for 350 to 450 a pair new. I got a radio shack wireless vhf mic. It was $100 and so far have had no interference problems and it sound pretty close to a Shure PG58. Cables are a lot cheaper on ebay but can fail. At home that is no biggie. So it is possible to spend $300 on the amp, $400 on the speakers and $150 on 2 mics - one wireless - and $150 on wires and some budget space to overspend. By the way after the songs and a upgrade to a Mackie 808s and Yamaha 15 inch and jbl powered monitor, 5 working mics, I spent $3300. I use a triple tray jvc but am going all computer now. Another $600 with software. (ebay again, home constructed)