Karaoke Forums

I have been reading messages on this board for quite a while and I want to say 2 things up front:

1. This is not the same old "I'm setting up a new system and I don't know what to spend or what to get or whether I'm gonna use it for home or try and work gigs at the local bar" thread - I have gone through the archives and none of my specific questions have been asked/answered.

2. The people who frequently post responses on this board (you know who you are) seem to put out consistently well-thought-out and extremely helpful information, so thanks in advance.

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Background: my wife and I started going to some karaoke bars about a year ago and fell in love with it. We go all the time. Since we were having so much fun, we bought a REALLY crappy machine, and have amassed a collection of approx. 2000 songs of decent quality (learned early on that nutech and sweet georgia brown aren't the greatest). We have it hooked up to my home system. My front channel speakers are really crappy and 1 is now rattling presumably due to karaoke use. I don't crank the karaoke really loud, but if you saw my machine, you'd understand.

Here's what I want:
To have fun singing with my wife at my house (approx. 1 x/week), and occasionally have some friends over (approx. 10), have a few beers (or more) and have even more fun singing. I am not planning on using this as a professional.

So here's what I have:
Amplifier - Harmon/Kardon 200 series (50 w per channel RMS clean - much cleaner and louder than my old Sony POS which claimed 125 watts per channel)
Speakers - Bose 601 in the front, Bose 301 in the rear
Sub - Klipsch downward-firing 10" powered sub (something like 150 W RMS)

*** I am fully aware that home theater equipment does reproduce canned music mixed with live vocals as well as the professional equipment, or even as close. However, I do not want to make a major investment on new speakers (such as those yamaha ones that several of you have posted links to). In the future, if I am having as much fun later and if I have a bigger house with a room dedicated to musical stuff, etc, I will buy this professional quality speakers/amplifiers ***

Here's what I want:
A decent sound (remember, my frame of reference is far lower than you guys') that will not hurt my existing home theater equipment.


** Here are my questions **

1. I know that my home theater isn't the nicest stuff in the world, but it is decent. First and foremost, I don't want to hurt it. I believe that if I got a decent mixer, I could adjust the levels and keep my current home theater system in good shape. I have looked around extensively, and my budget will allow this the Mackie DFX-12, which was spoken of very highly by one of the KJ's on this board.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=634264

I know it's overkill, but it's something I can grow into (e.g. for a band, etc), plus it allows lots of mics = lots more drunk buddies singing with me. Is it logical to think that using a mixer like this properly can preserve my home theater system from damage?

2. I am replacing that POS karaoke machine with a component system. Most I see are around $200 on ebay. I realize that Vocopro is a totally sh*tty brand from what everyone says. However, if I buy the following Vocopro DVG-399K

http://www.expresskaraoke.com/store/pro ... id=DVG380K

and use it only to read CDG's, I am only using the capability of the machine to read a CDG. All other functions will be handled by my mixer (e.g. mics, mixing, effects). So my question is can I save $100 by just buying a crappy machine and using it only as a reader? It won't be used on a nightly basis, remember. I just want to know if the vocopro will actually read the music and provide that much crappier of a signal than a $200 RSQ or nicer brand.

3. Also, I have looked around for regular DVD players that read all sorts of other formats - DIVX, MPEG, MP3, JPEG, etc. No DVD players seem to only play CD+G. Is this because manufacturers assume that you want mic inputs (e.g. that you want an actual karoke machine)? If you have read this far, you will understand that I just need a CDG player. I don't need mic inputs.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time everyone.

p.s. I don't really want to spend more than $500 - this is just a toy for me, but I am willing to buy the nicer mixer because of potential for other uses.

The DFX12 may be overkill for your imediate needs.  Look into the DFX6, same board - just less channels.  As far as your home theater equipment, it is perfectly fine for what it's designed to reproduce & you are presumably right as far as the rattling your speakers are exhibiting now - live vocals can destroy home grade equipment, including amps.  http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Live/Sound/Mixers?sku=634263&src=3SOSWXXA



I think there are better machines out there, but some of the cheaper ones may work fine for home use occasionally.  The cheaper machines MAY exhibit more graphic garble & could skip easier due to lesser quality components inside than a better brand designed for heavier use.



Actually there are some DVD players out there that DO play cdg's.  Most of them won't even say they can.  If you have a Playstation 2, that will even work (at least mine does).



Even for hobby use, I would still recommend saving up for some real gear designed to withstand the live vocals.  It don't have to bought all at once nor be a budget breaker.

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

Lonman -

Thanks a lot for the input. You answered all of my questions concisely. I appreciate that.

Instead of buying the vocopro, I think I may just take a CDG to the local Best Buy and try it out on the machines. If it works, I'll just buy the player.

Thanks again

While I'm not a technical person, I HAVE heard the Bose 301's used for small venue, lower (but by no means soft) volume vocals in a nearby club and IMO they sounded quite good !  I was suprised. The bar had (4) 301's positioned around 7 feet up in room corners, and given this particular layout, they sounded quite good, and handled the mix nicely. My guess would therefore be that the Bose 601's can also work. Since they'd handle even more.  I've personally used the 901's for voice... As to the rest of your equipment, I honestly don't know..


What would cause the rattling ?  Damage from clipping ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Yeah - I actually mis-typed that last part -

The rattling was coming from my center channel speakers - a pair of old crappy polk audios that I had set up in series. None of my bose speakers were hurt (or so I can notice when playing movies at a pretty good level).

I assume the damage game from clipping because my current setup had a lot of power going to those little front channels.

I have a set up in my basement. Been singing on it for years. Have had many karaoke parties using it. . I sing on it all the time. Its a JVC-22 player with my mic thru it directly connected to my home stereo---a pioneer 200w home theater system amplifier( I got at a garage sale for $20.00) using Klipsch Heresy front speakers and Klipsch KG2 (with 50w radio shack repalcement woofers for rear). All four are 20 years old.  A 100w linaum center channel speaker.  I only get rattling if I put too high a level through the cneter speaker causing clipping. I play it loud enough so it vibrates the ceiling and you can hear it out to the driveway of the house. Have never had a problem with overdriving vocals thru the JVC. Its also routed thru my puter so I can record songs for subs on SS and make my own CD's, and then play it back thruough  the home stereo. It sounds to me that your rattling speakers are due to an overdriven center channel causing clipping--or these speakera are not high enough wattage so they distort. I'd maybe try backing off the cneter channel level and maybe getting a higher wattage speaker for the center channel. And possibly adjusting your mic level or not singing too close to the mic itself. But for home use the JVC mic level control gives me plenty of level control. YOu can hear waht it sounds like on my sub on Singers showcase. It was recorded on my puter through the JVC with the pioneer and klipcshs playing the instrumental music.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Myself, I got 5000 watts and pro stage cabs set up at home....I roll it outside whenever I want to really get loud and stupid....but I live out in the sticks and don't bother anyone cept the horses and dog.

If it was me I'd say go full bore pro all the way....I ain't never regretted a penny of what I paid for any of it.

Yehaw!

Hey, while you are at it put up a dance pole like I did.  You would not believe how many women love the idea of a dance pole at a private party....you can't keep them off it!

Keith, you need to invite me to your next party man. I am so willing to fly out there to enjoy the southern women and the dance poles. Make sure you send an invitation....  :D

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Seize the day and SING!!!

You got a deal....You bring me a California blonde and I'll fix you up with a cajun brunette....I like swapping.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Heck, if I can find a decent CA blond that you deem even decent, there is no reason for me to make the trek down there Keith. I mean, I know my wonderful post got deleted due to someone posting some bad links, but you know I can't find decent women folk around here. I heard about them Cajun women being wild due to the local food/drink they consume. Set me up Keith. My plane ticket is waiting...  LOL

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Be prepared Eben.  You might end up returning home with more than you anticipated.  Not just a woman or two,  but also a Stetson hat, and a Horse.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

You have no idea how true that may be. I actually own a pair of cowboy boots and at one point had a stetson. I used to do merchandising for my friend's country western band. So, I had to dress the part so I had an outfit that I would never wear in public otherwise. Stetson was lost, but I still have the boots.

One problem with the stetson I had. I have a big head (literally not figuratively, at 7 and 7/8") so any hat on me looks kind of funny. So I try to avoid hats as much as possible. Most of the country types here in CA, usually don't wear a cowboy hat. Some do but some don't.

A horse, I am not sure about. I never rode one but I am gamed. Maybe rather than flying back, I can ride one back from LA to CA. How many miles is that? Do I have to carry a pooper scooper? Man, that would be a size of shovel, wouldn't it? I would have to carry extra large size garbage bag too. Hmm, I would have to think that through.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Here's some follow-up to those people who are interested:

I took Lonman's advice to heart and went to Best Buy and looked through their DVD players. For some odd reason Best Buy displays their DVD players with power but no video or audio output, as if somehow seeing the unit with power will make the consumer purchase the device. So, I had to go home and bring in my own portable DVD player, and I hooked up RCA cables from all of the devices I tried to the video input of my portable device. The first 5 I tried (Sony x 2, toshiba, and a couple crappy brands) didn't work, but I found one that did:

Philips DVP3040/37 plays CD+G format. And the kicker: all for $49.99



To anyone trying to emulate what I've done and create a karaoke venue suitable only for a basement, please remember that this machine does not have any mic inputs (I am getting the mixer for that). So I miss out on pitch control, but to be honest, neither my wife nor I have ever requested a song be played in a different key, and if we do get that good (or theoretically bad if you think about it for a second), we can add on a peripheral device or just buy a real karoke player for that matter.

Thanks again for all of the constructive comments from everyone.

Eben,  A few of the Horses Keith has (or had) might still enable you to fly back to Ca (but likely without the horse) on a Parabolic type arch. It would save you air fare back,  but better attach some lights to your body.  Face the horses muzzle towards the direction you wish to fly back to, or would it be opposite the direction (not sure how a horse throws a person off)  show's how little I know about horses  LOL .  My feet are EEE, not sure I'd fit in most cowboy boots...

I better leave the tech forum.  My yacking aint welcome here...


Are "best Buy's" electronics refurb, new, or do they carry both ?  Not sure. I know many don't mind refurb at all, in fact a few I guess like refurb on certain models... I'm just wondering, because I wouldn't want to pay even lower retail on a refurb model.  My preference would be to pay less...

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

The player I got was new - I don't think best buy carries refurbs, I think they get BB has a deal to ship them back or throw them away with the manufacturer.

However, if a customer buys something and returns w/i 90 days and claims the item works, they will shelve it and sell it for a couple bucks less as an "open box" - I would avoid those like the plague (been screwed before).

Thanks again to everyone who helped!

I prefer machines with all of the important buttons right on the front panel.   I hate having to use the remote.   Just me though.

I hear ya bd.

I have the RSQ505 machine, and while the buttons on the machine will do what you basically need it to do, if you have other things to do, like set the machine up to autoplay the next track, you have to use the remote to do that.

Such a shame about RSQ eliminating their current production on players in favor of their NEO player... cause it just hasn't sold me!