Karaoke Forums

After many all nighters (I take forever when I'm trying to decide to buy something) I think I'm finally at a decision and wanted some input. After working for someone else doing KJ'ing 10 years ago I'm either going to partner with someone or go it on my own. I'm going to either have a laptop based system or build a rack mount computer for the job.

I decided to spend more than I initially intended to on the board and was planning on going with the Mackie DFX12. I was going to go with Behringer but after reading the various comments elsewhere I decided against it, not to mention the fact you really have to get one of their higher boards if you want the inserts the Mackie has. I just had a lot more confidence in the Mackie pre-amps I suppose. If someone wants to show some love for Behringer and talk me out of it let me know because I would prefer a rack mountable mixer and I'll have to get creative with the DFX12.

Since I spent more on the board I need to cheap out somewhere and for me that was the effects. I didn't read anything negative on Behringer here so I was looking at the Multigate Pro XR4400 for compressor/gate duties. I'm going to have four mics hooked up in "the plan" (my mic and three singer mics) and the XR4400 would go on the inserts for the first four channels. I thought it was the best solution since I'll have four channels on one rack space for $130.

Although the Mackie has on board effects I heard on board effects generally blow (though I've seen nothing specific on Mackie) so I was going to give the Behrlinger DSP2024P a try for reverb and delay duties and put it on one bus.

That leaves us with amp and speaks. I went back and forth on this one at least a 1000 times and am planning on going with the B-52 Matrix 1000. First reason is portability (I'm a car guy, wish my sister hadn't totalled my Volvo wagon about now!) and second is simplicity. With 400w to the 15" sub (admittedly a smaller woofer) and then 150w each to the 8" sats I thought it was a pretty dang versatile little system that I found with stands and cables for under $1000. I figure this will handle all but the largest clubs (like school gym I'm thinking) which I can always rent an amp and speaks for if need be. I thought it was a better option than a cheap 400 or 600w amp and 12" mains. Eventually I'll add a powered monitor, might even have room now in the budget.

To stay within my $2000 PA budget I picked the part that can easily be replaced to really cheap out on - mics. I saw a real good deal on an Audix three mic set - read some good comments on them for vox and they look tough enough. Then I was going to grab a clearance Samson vhf headset for my mic. I saw a nice 3 mic Shure deal for a bit more but I'd need cables for all of those so it would more than triple the Audix set when done.

BTW, I've been trying to size up competition and aside from being unengaging as all hell most have no clue how to set up audio (woofer wobbling super bass doesn't help vocals too much) and would likely have no clue what a compressor is other than part of their car's AC system.

Comments solicited!!

--Guy