Karaoke Forums

Am I ok with buying the following equipment?  

01.  RSQ MV333 CDG VCD Triple Tray
02.  Behringer PMX 2000 Europower Powered Mixer

Also I need advice on which speakers are suitable.  I'm not a KJ but I want to buy quality equipment.

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Singing just for you

Ed
Good Move taking back the Vocopro.   Now speaking from EXPERIANCE

The RSQ unit is a GREAT choice, you will find this unit has been the standard for professional KJ's for years.  I've had both this unit and the JVC version which is its sibling twin.   IF you're not KJ'ing you may want to go with the SINGLE tray unit and save some money.  Thats a personal choice of yours.

Similiar to Vocopro you will get very mixed feelings on the Behringer line of Pro-Audio Equipment.  Behringer is steps ahead of VOCOPRO but on the lower chain of the PRO AUDIO spectrum below names like MACKIE, YAMAHA & PEAVEY just to mention a few.

I have and use the PMX2000 MIXER and dollar fo dollar one of the best box type mixers out there.  I use it for small to medium size venues and it has all the features, effects, inputs and flexiability you could want in a POWERED MIXER.
The units from Yamaha Peavey and Mackie have an upper hand when it comes to reputation and quality.  But you also pay very handsomely for that $$$$.  You can easily spend double for a Mackie unit offering the same as the Behringer.  SO again this is a personal choice you need to make . Will you be happy with the Behriner . I am ...I'm even thinking about buying their top of the line powered Box  Mixer for those jobs I need a little more power and a quick and easy setup.  IF I had money to burn ...I'd go with the MAckie --BUt then again I'm driving a Dodge and not a Lexus ... Both get me where I'm going .........

it is possible to save a lot by going to the single tray, but I tell ya, even as a home user, I love having the trip tray!! Many times, my karaoke player was being used as a standard cd player for the family, and it's very kewl to have three cds ready to go, to swap one out while a cd is still playing, and having the convinience of karaoke to boot???  LMAO  It's a blast!

AND you can find the triple tray players on sale every now and then. I personally got the gold edition (JVC505) and I think it's even BETTER than the black one, because of the illumination factor!

And for home, I gotta tell ya, I'm a huge fan of the AKJ7000 and 7050 line. They ARE a bit more than the mixer you mentioned above, but are just PERFECT for home use!

I have to agree with Knightshow.  The AKJ7050 or 7000 is excellent for serious home use.  It's easy to use, has plenty of power, and sounds good.  I have this unit, as well as the JVC triple and they have served me well.  Moreover, the AKJ mixer amps resemble home audio equipment.  If there is a wife acceptance factor involved, this unit fits the bill.  You can place it in your entertainment center or wall unit and it resembles an a/v receiver or amp.  I have upgraded from the AKJ, but I have packed it up in its original packing material and I am saving it.  Maybe I will put in up on Ebay or use it to power a monitor.

Cheers

I would also agree if your trying to incorporate Karaoke into your home audio system then the powered BOX mixer is not the way to go.  If you're going to be setting up a seperate system and "studio" for you Karaoke and plan to occasional host some personal parties away frome home or outside then the behringer unit could be the way to go.

Any suggestion on which speakers to go with - I if do any kj it will probably be for our church or our city picknics.  Also where do I get an education on mixing.  At this point in time all I can see is one heck of a lot of knobs to turn.  At all the k shows I see the kJs adjusting the mixer but I have on idea what he's adjusting for when he does it.  
                                        Jackson

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Singing just for you

my personal opinion is that to learn music, the best way is to apprentice yourself to someone. Either KJ, DJ, or sound engineer. You can take classes in college too, but that's a bit much.

READ the manuals... on the various mixers. They'll tell you what the GAIN is, the PAN, etc. I'm no novice to it, but am the first to admit when Tig offers advice to me that it's time to shut up and listen.

And it's a compliment when he honestly tells me he enjoyed my show... sound and video wise. Because I know he's got an appreciative ear. He's going to be filling in on my normal gig for a brief bit, maybe more, and the first thing he started talking about was the room's sound field. he asked permission to "play with it" and attempt some minor corrections. I told him "GO for IT!!" EAGERLY!

When I go up to Lonman's show, it's usually the thing I'm watching and talkin' to him about.. SOUND, man... SOUND!

Check out the Peavey PV115s or the Yamaha BR12s for some good quality PA speakers for your home.

As far as the mixer, you probably won't really need to tweak it much to get good sound at home. Here's the barebones basics:

#1. Turn all of your volume silders/knobs all the way down and put all your equalizer knobs at nominal (usually designated by a slash mark about halfway).

#2. Slide your main volume slider/knob to about 15% of the overall range. This will allow you more flexibility in the mixing stage. Once you main volume is set, leave it there throughout the entire mixing process!!

#3. Turn your mic channel volume up to a comfortable level. Sing into the mic and adjust the equalizer knobs until you get the sound that sounds best to you. If you have volume a gain knob for the mic channels on your mixer, make sure they are at nominal as well. I personally have the lows at about 9 o'clock and the mid and high at about nominal (12 o'clock), but it is really all personal preference. If you have 2 mics, you only have to set up one then set the other channel to the same settings.

#3. Turn down the mic volumes all of the way and turn up the channel associated with your CDG player. Put it at a comfortable volume and tweak the equalizer knobs until you have the sound you want out of the music. I usually have the low at about 3 o'clock and the highs and mids at about 1 o'clock.

#4. Now that your equalizer settings for each channel are complete, you can start setting up the mix. Basically, play your CDG player and sing into your mics and set the volume for each AS LOUD as you can anticipate that you are going to need once you start signing your karaoke. Once you know the max volume you are going to need, then listen to the mics relationship to the music and arrange the volumes to where you can not really distinguish one being louder than the other. Basically to where you hear the two MIX together into a cohesive unit instead of being discernable. If your mic channel has gain controls, set the volume on the mic channels to nominal (0) and adjust with the gain control as noted above instead of the volume. Once you have the mix you want, you are ready to go!!

You can not adjust the overall volume of the mix with the main volume slider if you need to. If one singer sings at a higher volume than another singer, simply adjust the volume or gain on their mic channel slightly to tune their singing volume into the mix.

This is the basics of mixing!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

"You can not adjust the overall volume of the mix with the main volume slider if you need to. If one singer sings at a higher volume than another singer, simply adjust the volume or gain on their mic channel slightly to tune their singing volume into the mix."


That "not" should be a "now." Amazing how one mistype can drastically change the meaning of the paragraph!!

You can now adjust the overall volume of the mix with the main volume slider if you need to. If one singer sings at a higher volume than another singer, simply adjust the volume or gain on their mic channel slightly to tune their singing volume into the mix

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Geez Topher, I said to read the manual, and here ya are damn near quoting it!

Well after all the advice this is the equipment I've decided that I'll purchase.  Unless one of you let me know that the different components are not compatable.


01.  RSQ MV333 CDG VCD Triple Tray
02.  Behringer PMX 2000 Europower Powered Mixer
03.  2 each PV115 Speakers

I live in a codo - the guy upstairs that is always bragging that he has a right to play his tv as loud as he wants in the evening is in for an eye opening experience.

If you don't mind, I'll probably be driving you crazy with "how to" questions.  I really appreciate all your help.  I've belonged to several forums in the past including the alarm association and believe me when I say that this is the most professional forum I've had the pleasure to visit.

One more question before I go, can you suggest a good Mic?

             Thanks again,
                                    Jackson

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Singing just for you

I had just tried a Sennheiser microphone and they are good ;better than the sm58. I think it was a E835 or an E845; can see the model without my reading glass!!

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Sennheiser 835 is a great mic.  I have the wireless version and I do prefer it to the Shure SM58..by far.

Cheers

Well, I've ordered the equipment and according to the suppliers all of it should be arrive here sometime next week.  My only problem now is that I've become one of the now generation and I hade waiting.  I see it, I want it, I buy it.  This note is just to let all of you know that I really appreciate your help.  

                                             Jackson

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Singing just for you

I have a vocopro dtx 5000g mixer/cd-g decoder. the echo isn't worth nothing! the microphone pre amps produce a lot of distortion! Not worth the money
as for a good and reliable dvd/ cd-g player: try the new Philips DVP3010 it does read cd-g as well, has progressive scan, dvx compatible and only costs 88 euro!

VOCOPRO is by FAR, the most unreliable piece of trash allowed on the market today. Yep, I had my own personal "war" with the rep from that company, up to the techs, past them, then as far as a "district manager". I got (and saved them all) a bunch of emails from them in regards to their "product". ( 7000 mixer) I had one for two days..sent it back. They agreed to replace it, got it, sent that back. The problem was the digital key changer would reset DURING a selection. Ultimately, they acknowledged there was a problem BUT, were not going to upgrade the chip used for that function because of financial concerns  :shock: . Well that did it for me as far that "company" was concerned. Just thought I'd share that little tidbit just in case others are contemplating purchasing their"products"

                             Donny "B"

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It's a wonderful life!!