Karaoke - Help/Advice required please

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

It's a long time since I did karaoke and I guess things have moved on rapidly in the last 10 years. I advertise as supplying karoke but if I get an enquiry I usually use the guy I have as a contact who is pretty awesome and has an absolutely huge library of tracks and I have had 100% positive comments concerning his work for me.

Anyway, because of this I have no equipment myself. Many many moons ago I went to an 'Alternative/Punk Rock Karaoke' in London and it was excellent. All it did was concentrate and 80s and Alternative/Rock/Indie etc. I always wanted to do something like this so with some of the money I will be earning over the christmas period, I want to get the ball rolling.

Now, I need some help.
Firstly, I want to get a karaoke player that will play most if not all formats. It doesn't have to be top of the range and if anyone has a spare one that is near on perfect condition then I will consider purchasing one for the right place. Mind you if there are half decent ones out there for a decent price then I may buy new? This is where I need your help obviously.

Secondly, I have been compiling a list of the bands that I need to get going and it's pretty big already. I have found a website called 'Select a Track' where you can compile your own discs. Now, that's a great idea BUT it's £2.00 a track and the first CD I created would cost £34.00. Are there any other sites out there that can do it cheaper?

When I used to do the karaokes using someone elses gear, I know all the discs were Sunfly discs. I don't want to purchase discs full of tracks that I don't want. I just want the tunes that I will be using as I do not intend to do full on karaoke when I have a great guy who does it for me. I just want to concentrate on the Alternative side of things.

I have already been given a whole bunch of dates for next year by one of my regular venues as I sold the idea to them last night when we had a meeting.

I already have a 4 channel mixer, enough mics and stands, leads, portable TV and stand and connecting leads.
I can start compiling the list of tracks on a spreadsheet and add the track details to it once I get the discs so that's not a problem.

I just need help with a player and a source of getting what I want on the discs.

Any help or advice would be great. I trust you lot!
(The sooner, the better please as I really want to get this up and running asap).

Many Thanks
Gary

[ppentertainments]

For the price you can't go wrong with this to start: http://www.emkaraoke.co.uk/newsite/index.html?target=dept_200.html&lang=en-gb

Very basic but good starter which can be used as a backup when upgrading.

I also use the same people for my discs. The select-a-track are good once you have your 'main' songs but as you say works out very expensive for bulk purchases. With karaoke you find you use the same 100 or so tracks.

I would be cautious about spending too much to begin with until you see how many bookings you get as keeping updated with karaoke discs can cost as much as your disco.

There are many people who use laptops for karaoke, but is something I have never got to grips with yet.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thanks for that.
I don't want to do the laptop thing and as I said, I already have dates booked fortnightly at one of my regular venues. I currently do the Request Fest every 2 weeks so I thought that alternating the alternative karaoke with it would be a good idea and they agreed. Regarding work elsewhere...well, I get a lot of follow on bookings from my alternative nights anyway and I think that having the option of karaoke too will help as I have had enquiries before about it.

[Steve the DJ]

Machine wise you will be wanting one of these chaps:

Bluelaser DVG-888 DVD/DivX/CD+G/VCD/MP3/Audio CD Karaoke Player With USB Port (http://www.images2.co.uk/Karaoke_Equipment/Karaoke_Players-Separates/DVG_888U_DVD_CDG_VCD_divX_MP3_KARAOKE_PLAYER_with_ USB_PORT_JC094888.html)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/318JUIMY8LL._SL160_AA160_.jpg

If you look on eBay you can normally find them on offer brand new with a starter selection of discs for around £140.

According to a friend who is a Karaoke geek it will play anything.

[501damian501]

karaoke :D

player wise yes, i would look at the bluelaser, probley the best player you can buy on the market, plays shed loads of different formats, also i would look into virtual dj, i think you already have this matey...

as the select-a-track gos, £2 per track is about right... i dont think you will find much cheaper to be honest with you.

the sunfly gold series are good, check them out, look on ebay for sunfly disks which come half price or so, cheers damian

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Cheers guys.
I have just done the list of bands and artists that I want and it tops 500. Some of those artists may well have 4 or 5 songs each so it's going to be pretty expensive but worth it.

[daz226]

http://www.proburn.com/index.asp?gclid=CLvp45KdzJcCFQkcHgodTSnA8Q

this is where i get most of my karaoke tracks and they are very good and super fast delivery

[Tommo DJ]

:) Hi i have a blue laser, which works well, i get my discs off ebay (sunfly) which are cheaper, you just have to spend time looking through them

Tommo

[Sarahjovi]

Hi,

www.singtotheworld.co.uk do there custom discs at £1.75 per track. However you may want to have a look on ebay for the Sweet Georgia Brown 68 disc set, which has a great range of rock tracks on them, mainly available from the US, but at these prices could save you a lot of money!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/68-Disc-Sweet-Georgia-Brown-Karaoke-CDG-CD-Set-Songs_W0QQitemZ190271180715QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item190271180715&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Cheers

Sarah:D

[DJMaxG]

Hi Shakermaker,

The most modern way is to run software such as Virtual DJ, or Karaoke programs, easily search for a song and wallah!

You'd have to purchase CD's at £9.99 each though containing about 12 tracks.

You then copy the CD's onto your laptop, and theyre there then.

You'd then connect your PC to a Moniter screen, with standard VGA cable.

An audio output somewhere from the laptop to your sound system.


Then use standard microphones through your mixer, dual wireless are easy enough.

[Excalibur]

Don't know if this helps, cos I'm no expert on Karaoke, but the ones I've seen and done recently, then laptop is the only way in my very humble opinion. Much the same as the MP3/CD debate I suppose. Sorry I can give no more detailed advice.