Karaoke - Fun For The Family Or At The Bar!

Karaoke - The New System

Karaoke has been a favorite activity of people for a long time, though it has declined a bit from its peak in the 1990's. While there are still some all in one karaoke systems out there, the modern way of running a system delivers a much better sound for the same or less money than the all in one systems many people are used to!

No More Karaoke CD's!

Karaoke CD's are now pretty much a thing of the past - yet one more thing that the modern communication system that has developed excels at is delivering on demand content, and Karaoke songs are no different. There are huge amounts of variety on YouTube, but most online sources such as Apple and Google Play also offer huge amounts of karaoke material.

With your laptop or a tablet it is easy to stream the song in, and send the audio to a dedicated sound system while displaying the lyrics either on the laptop display or a TV set up as a second display.

 

There are several different considerations when it comes to Karaoke - the first, which we talked about above, is getting the song and video files.

The second is sending the music to your speakers, and mixing the microphones into the music so everything is coming out at the same levels!

Most home stereo equipment will not do this - home stereos are almost always limited to a single source, so either you would be amplifying the music or your voice, but not both at the same time.

This is where a mixer comes in handy - using a modern mixer, like the Yorkville VGM14 pictured above, allows you to mix the music signal (from the headphone output of your computer or tablet into an input channel on the mixer) and the microphones. With even a small board, running the music source and 2 - 3 microphones is easily accomplished.

Most modern boards also have build in digital effects and many offer both EQ on each individual channel and a main graphic EQ. 

If you are using a mixing board like the one above, getting powered speakers like the Yorkville YX15PC Powered Speakers pictured below is ideal - these are 15" powered speakers, which make a lot of very clean, pristine sound. They are perfect for professional applications or in your house, and have enough thump to keep the party hoppin'!

Of course, it is all a matter of size and budget - if you have a smaller area or do not need as much volume, a small powered mixer and several passive speakers will allow you to mix the mics and music together. 

The Yorkville MM5D with a pair of Yorkville CX80 8" speakers can supply a very good, full sound for less than $500!

So relax - it is easier than ever to build a small karaoke system, and the sound quality of the systems that are in use today are much, much better than the all in one karaoke systems of the past!

For more information, visit one of the music stores in Lincolnton James House of Deals & Pawn, and when you need the PA Gear Lincolnton players require, James House of Deals can make sure you get the right system for your needs!

Are You Getting Your Child a Guitar? What to do to Maximize Their Potential

Get The Right Guitar For Your Kid (Or Anyone Else You Are buying A Guitar For)

It is an old conundrum - you want your child to play the guitar, and it seems like that is what they want also, but until you spend the money there is no way to know whether they will take off on this hobby.

You can save money and get a better guitar by buying used, like this Epiphone acoustic guitar in Lincolnton

So, the rightful instinct is to not spend much money - the problem with this is, if you get a guitar that is difficult to play or that does not ignite the potential player's imagination you are actually decreasing the chances that the student will stick with it - and this is true of students of all ages!

The first step is to find out what kind of music your child (or friend/spouse/loved one) wants. If they enjoy playing traditional country or folk music, an acoustic guitar is ideal, but if they get into rock or metal, or even some more modern country, an electric guitar may be the best way to go. Remember, there is no 'right' first guitar, despite what some teachers say. 

If your potential player dreams of power chords and singing solos, an electric is the way to go. This is one of many used guitars in Lincolnton that make a great starter pack!

The best first guitar is one that will give the person learning the best chance of making this a lasting hobby - if the potential player hears screaming solos and power chords, an acoustic guitar is like throwing a wet blanket on their dreams - not that they can't succeed, but the chances are less.

However, if that person wants to be a singer songwriter like James Taylor (yes, I am showing my age) a good acoustic guitar is probably the best choice.

BUYING USED GUITARS CAN GET MORE QUALITY FOR YOUR MONEY

One thing that is true across the board is that by buying used guitars you can sometimes get more bang for your buck - a lot more! Whether you are buying used guitars in Lincolnton or anywhere else, make sure the guitar has a warranty, and site along the neck to make sure the neck is nice and straight - we will be doing a post in the near future on exactly what to look for in a used guitar, but you can get a better guitar for your money than buying new!

Go onto Craigslist, or find your local music store in Lincolnton or where ever you live to see what your market has in the way of good used guitars.

Remember, the best guitar you can get for your potential player is the kind that they really want to play - match the guitar up with the music they hear in their heads and maximize the chances of them playing for longer than a month or two!