Karaoke Forums

Every once in awhile I slap this up here to see if more KJ's are getting it.

It as always been my belief that KJs should take some sort of electronics course, whether at a school, by mail order, or self-education.

The costs of doing business go down DRAMATICALLY with the acquisition of some knowledge of electronics, and it doesn't have to be a degree.

It's not just about a quick "in-show" repair that might save a night, but about maintainance and repair as well.

Why pay someone big bucks for what may be a ten cent part replacement? Why send to a shop for 3 weeks when you could fix it in ten minutes?

Why buy a new item that can be repaired easily?

Anyway, since I don't know how to do polls I'll simply ask:

Can you troubleshoot most of the problems that you might encounter with your equipment?

Do you recognize what each component is ( resistor, capacitor, diode, transistor, chip type, etc...)?

Can you read a schematic? Use a multi-meter? Solder?

Just for fun, another question:

If you DON'T have any knowledge of electronics, do you think you should, or do you think it's just easier to let someone else fix the problem?

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I have an electrical engineering degree and a minor in computer science. So yep...

I am a US Navy-trained electronics technician, and for years was a product development engineer working in single-board computers and related peripherals. I am now a computer programmer.

In other words, I know enough to appreciate the knowledge of many here. I also know enough to laugh at the claims of others who make ridiculous statements suggesting they have qualifications they don't.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

None. I would like some, but there are no courses nearby that I can go on, so everything I do is done on self education which is why if it's broken and it's not a fuse I replace it or give it to a professional to look at.

I do visual checks nightly and clean all equipment weekly so I can properly in good light check everything for signs of wear and tear.

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'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

I have a backup box of AA batteries..

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Yes, We do That... Computers, Web Sites, Networks, Antique Cars, NASCAR,
Tour Guide, Stunt Double, Romance Lessons, Hyperbole, Humor, Modesty.
Karaoke too...
Quotes on request... Jerry Dixon

One of the advantages to being a computer based KJ is that the only "moving parts" are the internal fans that cool equipment + the few sliders and knobs that I have to adjust. Those I know how to replace. Everything else requires more expertise than is necessary for me to do my job effectively. The "parts" in question are plentiful and cheap so keeping spares for the items that would likely cause downtime is not an issue.

I choose to educate the people that work with me on basic computer + software security, patching, and diagnostics. Much better bang for the buck.

-Chris

ps....Go learn about electronics...



heheheeh

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-Chris

I'm an industrial engineer, and I was the head process engineer at 2 tantalum capacitor factories (Hilton & Mallory) for 6 years....so yes "I CAN DO".

I faked my way through two six-month electricity and electronics courses shortly after joining the navy back in the early sixties... To this day, I still can't figure out how those little invisible electrons got from here to there through a solid copper wire.

Of course, back then there were no such thing as integrated circuits, and the only "computer" we had filled a 30' X 30' room.

If I see a broken wire, I can solder it fairly well, but anything more than that either gets tossed, or goes to a real technician.

I suppose, if I really thought about it, I likely know just enough about electronics as to be hazardous.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I have little to no electronics knowledge....

It probably is very useful, but I think I'll leave the electronics work to others.

My recommendation for "side knowledge" is programming. A lot of people don't think they have what it takes or have no interest in programming. But, what has happened over the last decade or so is that higher level languages have made it so much easier to learn. At the lowest level, programming is all 1's & 0's, but higher level languages provide methods & functions with simple key words. It's just about as easy as learning MS Excel or Access.

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I'm not a cheerleader, but I paid for my pom poms with my own money!

I am an engineer but I have no degree and my area is lean manufacturing, so little knowledge. I've used google to my advantage, members of this forum and my local music store as well. I've got a sub there right now after trying myself for a while to get it right.


I have no desire to go back to school, already did that for 6.5 years while raising a family and working 55 to 60 hours a week. I have someone now I can lean on heavily and I will find another when my move up north is complete.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

89-90 did the computer analysis, didn't get enough component level theory so in
91 did the component level - video/audio course
95-96 re took the computer systems/networking course.

and have worked as a component level electronics tech ever since...

i have have some mad surface mount skills....

but in my old age i do need bi-focals to work on such small devices....

so yes, i can read schematics and repair all my own equipment to the component levels.

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It's all good!

I have some basic electronics 1 year. I used to be able to troubleshoot some minor problems, could tell you the value of a resistor just by looking at the bands - today, not so much. I know people that are far more experienced in that area.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

The need to use a soldering iron on most any piece of electronics today is not only unnecessary, but practically impossible. You would need a hot air re-work station and magnifying equipment.

For better or worse, 99% of electronics today are disposable. The only thing I use my soldering iron for anymore is cables & connectors.

On modern electronics, a resistor looks like this:

No, that's not my finger.

Exactly. Although in some electronics today, like you said, the parts are so small - they will replace the entire circuit board instead of a specific part. Carvin is nice for that, their amps are completely modular in that respect - just unscrew, unplug - insert new, plug in & screw down! Although leaky/popped capacitors are still the biggest cause for a lot of electronics issues, these are still fairly easy to get to in a lot of boards without needing the magnifier.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I do have a hot air rework station and a bga rework station. and know how to use them both.

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It's all good!

IMHO, to say that one should have formal electronics training in order to be a better Karaoke host is akin to saying a person should be a mechanic in order to drive a car.

But I'm not so sure. Hell, I don't even change my own oil anymore.

To me, it's much more important that I concentrate my efforts on knowing how to drive/operate my vehicle and music-related equipment properly.

There's no doubt a decent knowlege of electronics is a bonus in this avocation of ours, but I certainly don't feel it's essential.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

electronics knowledge - no...

a basic understanding on how to hook up your equipment,
so i don't get a call 15 minutes into your show saying:
"i can't get this to work, can you come over and help me out?"

and basic soldering skills to fix bad wires.
or just be able to identify bad ones.

i have even marked wires with colored tape and their corresponding connections
with the same color. just so they could always hook back up the same every night.

but i don't offer my services as freely anymore. cause usually i get noting in return.
and dropping everything to run down and help someone elses show just is not good
business for me.

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It's all good!

Yea I learned to stay away from capacitators or better yet how to discharge them!

Good old days of "points & condensers". Charge a condenser up and toss it at someone...9 out of 10 times they will try to catch what you throw them, and get a BIG surprise!

...Have always enjoyed electronics. Took a class during my freshman year but that was a very long time ago. I still want to go back and take a refresher course and further the knowledge.