still seeking advice

[Chilichili1]

I use all powered speakers, jbl 15s, EV sxa100s, mackies, and JBL G2s they all work well, but without a doubt I would recomend the JBL G2s.
I have just started using Hoster and am very impressed. I decided on a desktop instead of a laptop because they are easier to maintain. I am in the process of building a cabinet to house the computer, monitor, keyboard ect. to avoid the lengthy set-up time. I'll let you know how that works out.

Originally Posted by quaizywabbit

the nice thing about "desktop" models is that you can get inside the box and change or add components should they fail.

However, in the interest of keeping setups and teardowns quick and easy, I'd agree with the laptop scenario.

As for speakers: I have been thoroughly impressed with the Bose PS1.
It is self powered, requires no stands, and breaks down small enough to fit in the trunk of a car. The cool thing about them is that no matter where you are in the room, you hear the same thing, no phase cancellation. It has 4 input channels, so connecting to a mixer isn't a problem.

Up to Two sub-woofer units can be attached to the main unit( one is fine for most karaoke purposes)

My best advice is to go to your nearest Guitar Center and check them out.
Cost-wise they are equivelent to a set of powered jbl eons, with stands, and covers. Best of all, you get 60 days to try after you buy, so you can always return them and get something else if they're not for you.Bose's online forum has quite a few Karaoke related users with just this kind of setup, plus tips and tricks to adapt from the "traditional" stereo mode of thinking.....

[flipper]

MTU Portable PC or Rackmount PC are perfect choices!

I have one system with a Toshiba Laptop and one system with the MTU Portable PC. The first few times I set the Portable PC up it took longer but after 5-6 times I could hardly tell the difference (maybe 1min longer)

One thing to keep in mind....if you do buy a laptop and you intend to import your customers songs from their personal discs, you will need an external CD Drive this requires 2 more cords to hook up on a laptop not to mention the cost of the external drive. The Portable PC and The Rackmount units come with MTU certified internal drives which require no additional hookup. The importing time is about 40% faster than with my laptop and external plextor.

MTU uses top quality components. As stated earlier in this post, the components are easier and less expensive to replace than laptops.

When I add my third system I will purchase one of these units again. I'm so impressed with the performance and sound that I get from them. My customers absolutely rave about the difference. I'm going on my 4th month with the Portable PC and they are still talking about it.

One thing is for sure....you are best off to purchase a computer that will be used for Karaoke Only...and that it only has the programs that are absolutely necessary to run your business and show. I have Hoster w/MTU Suite, OtsDJ, Windows Media Player, MS Excel, MS Word. I do not use the system for the internet unless I go online to upgrade. This will keep your problems to a minimum.

Good luck with your system purchase!

Hope this helps a bit!

Flipper

[Part On!]

Thanks, Flipper. Your advice did more than help a bit, it helped me to make up my mind. Instead of building my own pc, I will buy the portable pc. It looks like it's light weight, and I will keep it dedicated to only kj/dj. Thanks for your help...

[Part On!]

just an update, system is running great.....these forums are an awesome resource...thanks to all!

[gotrich]

I have 2cents to put in here. I have never used amps or anything. I have my pc, mackie mixer, 15" flat screen, keyborad, mouse, and I put most of the cables wires and soforth in a duffel bag done it for a full year never had a problem.

I ALSO use Crete powered speakers. I noramlly have access to the outlets needed. I also cary 25 & 50 foot extention cords incase. Even with all this I even set up my own DJ table and all the frills and if I work slow it takes 45 mins if I work at a normal pace 30 mins is I bust butt 20 mins. I have found the sound quality is good from powered speakers and I have the better sounding system in the area.

My sound is different than most karaoke systems since I use a mixer and pc the echo or reverb is not the same. I can add what on my mixer is called delay. It gives it that reverb rich sound but it doesnt make the siger feel they are being overshaddowed by it. I have been told more echo can make a singer sound better but I disagree. I think I sound more like the CD or what you would hear on a CD than A Karaoke bar.

But the speakers I have I love yea they do weigh 60 pounds and go up on stands but I like em of course I have helped friends with amps but dont know dink about em.

[BooBoo]

As for equipment, There is only one option in my mind. Go to Carvin.com I run all Carvin equipment and you can't beat the value. I run both a DC1500 amp with two PM15s for main and a PM15a (powered) for the monitor. I have another name brand 1600 watt amp and the DC1500 seems twice as loud and much more clear (more important than loud).

Just my .02

[Monolith]

I have set myself up over the past several years with all the bits and pieces that I have.

As far as computers go. I found it better to build my own. You can have just about anything in it as long as it has a certified CD/DVD burner (usually Plextor) ample harddrive space and at least 1 GB of memory (I started with less and some of the memory intensive features of Hoster caused my DJ program to have short skips).

While you are at Guitar Center look at some of their rack equipment to keep all of this stuff.

I prefer a separate power amp, mixer, and speakers. Just for the simple sake of upgrades. Which I do all the time.


For amps I swear by Crown. My CE 2000 gets the heck beat out of it every time I use it and it just keeps coming back for more. Tons of power and sounds really clean.

Mixers are pretty much standard in the higher end names like Mackie, Behringer, Yamaha, etc. Usually you will get better features on a 12 channel or better. Just make sure you have a listen to it before you buy it.

Speakers. I swear by Peavey. The SP-5G is what I want but the price tag is a bit high for me at the moment. Their PR-15 and PR-12 speakers sound really good and are very light. The Peavey brand is well built and durable and their sound is as good or better than many of the other brands out there.
I use the Peavey PR-10 speakers for monitors and on occasion when I need to tighten up the bass I will daisy chain them off of my PR-15's so I have the best of both worlds in the bass category.

One thing you want to consider also are microphones. One name should come to mind at this point (in my opinion) Shure SM-58. Others will say that there are better sounding mics out there. but how much better do they really sound and can they stand up to this kind of abuse. My oldest SM-58 (8 years old) sounds just as good as the new one I purchased a few months ago. You can get them with or without wires. There is a clone of this mic which is the SHS OM-500. I've taken both apart they are identical but the SHS is a lot less expensive. A good choice for someone starting out or who doesn't have much money to work with.

Please understand folks that these are my opinions and not stated facts by any means. This is just what works for me.

Jon
Monolith Entertainment

[Part On!]

Hi All,
Just an update, I've been up and running for 10 months now, and my business is growing by the day. I do a lot of dinner cruises on the Cornucopuia Princess, which is just on more reason I'm so glad that I'm totally digital (lots of waves make life hell on the boat for djs still using discs). These forums have been great, and I appreciate all of the advice.
The quality of my karaoke show is awesome. the crowd loves the fact that I come out into the crowd with my wireless mic, giving some people a chance to sing who may be to shy to go up and sing a song. I could never play to the crowd and have such fun if I were searching for discs.

[admin]

Originally Posted by flipper

One thing to keep in mind....if you do buy a laptop and you intend to import your customers songs from their personal discs, you will need an external CD Drive this requires 2 more cords to hook up on a laptop not to mention the cost of the external drive. The Portable PC and The Rackmount units come with MTU certified internal drives which require no additional hookup. The importing time is about 40% faster than with my laptop and external plextor.

MTU uses top quality components. As stated earlier in this post, the components are easier and less expensive to replace than laptops.

One thing is for sure....you are best off to purchase a computer that will be used for Karaoke Only...and that it only has the programs that are absolutely necessary to run your business and show. I have Hoster w/MTU Suite, OtsDJ, Windows Media Player, MS Excel, MS Word. I do not use the system for the internet unless I go online to upgrade. This will keep your problems to a minimum.
Flipper

Thanks for the MTU plug!

I would also recommend you add ZoneAlarm Pro software to your computer. This is a very nice firewall and Anti-Spam in one. One customer attached his computer through AOL, you know, the "we take care of you" claims, and instantly had a virus!!!!

We are now working on live updating your Import Database over the Internet. This will be a feature you want to use, and it requires Internet connection. So, we will be making recommendations, and probably adding ZoneAlarm Pro to our standard computers to make it that much easier.

Everyone will need to be on-line by the end of next year. We simply can't afford the support demands to continue Floppy-Disc registration, and CDROM is not feasible. Our installation by the end of 2005 will require the computer to be on-line. It is the way of the world today.

BTW: I just posted the Thread for Hoster 3.0 Beta-5, which we hope is the final test, expecting to release next week. It is VERY feature RICH!!!

[jdavia]

Everyone will need to be on-line by the end of next year. We simply can't afford the support demands to continue Floppy-Disc registration, and CDROM is not feasible. Our installation by the end of 2005 will require the computer to be on-line. It is the way of the world today.

To be sure I understand what I think I read from the above.
Our installation by the end of 2005 will require the computer to be on-line.
I think you are talking about the installation of the program only, or do you mean we have to be on line to be recognized that we are registered in order to use the program as well. Can you make that real clear.
The post following yours has me confused,
http://forum.mtu.com/showpost.php?p=34583&postcount=23
Where it is mentioned that we can't operate without an internet connection.
If that is so, and no connection is available, we'd be better of not to upgrade. So that statement doesn't seem to be right!!! Please clear this thought.

[mikedomi]

he is saying that if you want to reinstall or install your up grade or hoster
the unit that you are using for hoster is going to have to be on line to do the
install or the up date

the way it is now the hoster unit does not have to be on line
you just have to have a floppy you can take to the internet
and take that over to the hoster unit and finsh the install with that

i hope this helps you under stand
(installation of the program only)

[jdavia]

Thar's what seems right to me. It's why I questioned to be certain.
Thanks

[flipper]

C. Staley -

I was referring to importing your customers song from their personal discs that they bring to your show to sing. There is a feature in Hoster that allows you to import the song for them and place them in the rotation. Once they sing the song it automatically dumps it from your Hard Drive.

So if this is a feature that someone wants to use they will need an internal or external HD