I have a few technical questions to ask you since I'm building a system to replace a U-Best DA-168.
If you're not familiar with that product, check it out on
I have the manual if you need more info.
The key for my customer is that he wants a solution where the hard drive can easily be backed up. I.E. a computer solution???
Also, he's fed-up of inputing his CDG titles with a little remote and would rather a keyboard (which the U-Best DA-168 does not yet offer). Again this seems to be pushing us into a Computer based solution.
I'm currently evaluating the Advantages/Disadvantages of 3 of your most popular software choices (From the posts I've seen of what you guys use). MTU's Videohost, Invicion's Compuhost & Tricerasoft Justkaraoke. I'm also considering Tricerasoft's Swift Elite 4.0, Latishawsystems Karma & Unify
I'm not keen on the winamp based solutions; sax & dotty's etc, as I believe that an integrated all in one karaoke player solution is bound to have less longterm problems (from potential software updates) as opposed to these (custom frontends for winamp's backend) solutions. That's why I ruled them out.
However, here are my questions to you: Given that my customer has always benefited from the convenience of a remote control, which of the 3 major players (MTU, Tricerasoft justkaraoke & Compuhost) can be keymapped? Which of these can be controled by a remote controler such as the Snapstream Firefly?
Next. I've read on some of your posts that you absolutely need a Mixer for a karaoke system to work. But how about just using a M-Audio Fast track Ultra which has 4 Mic Preamps with individual gain knobs and here's the key point: It has an onbord DSP mixer with effects which they call "MX Core™ DSP technology"
I like the onboard DSP mixer because it is software based and can be controled by a mouse instead of physically being next to a mixer to mix. Do you this this kind of setup could work???
Also, I'm not clear as to what a sound compressor is and what it does. Is it necessary/important to have in a karaoke rig? Does the M-audio Fast Track Ultra have one?
I'm curious as to which of the 3 Main software players also could be setup so that my customer could setup his show beforehand, press play and let the show run itself while he sings and "schmoozes" with his croud?
Next question (actually getting back to a previous one; lol): If you judge that I still should get a physical mixer and not just the M-audio fast track Ultra. Which setup would you recommend? An all in one solution (USB soundcard, Mixer, 4 Preamps, Compressor, Equalizer, Effects Processor) such as the Behringer X1222USB which you mentioned in previous posts? Plugged in directly via USB into a desktop (with no sound card). Or plugged into the motherboard soundcard (i.e. why would I need a USB in that case???)
Or
Get a more basic exterior soundcard such as an M-Audio Fast Track Pro and a regular Analog mixer with 4 mic preamps with compressor and FX?
Which setup is better; Reliability, Functionality and sound quality wise?
Please keep in mind that although I'm trying to keep price within $2000 (without the music), this is still going into a home theater (the real thing with theater seats lol) that the customer already paid $50000.
This Is why I can't afford to give him an "amateur" setup. And while he is quite computer litterate, I have to keep the setup simple since I'm competing with a U-Best DA-168 with a remote (it doesn't get simpler than that). I'm also hoping to improve his sound quality & give him more functionality with this Computer based setup.
Also, here's some food for thought: What if you wanted to remote control your Karaoke Rig from a loptop or even better a touchpad?
If you have a computer at your rig with a wireless router setup, you could use another laptop, use Remote desktop connection to connect to the computer at your rig and control the karaoke hosting software there. Also, if you have the software based mixer found in the M-audio fast track ultra, you could also control your mixing from your remote laptop. Cool Eh?
Or, let's say you don't have a computer with a router at your rig. You could technically run hosting software from the remote laptop and send the audio video feed to the mixer at your rig using the following IO gear GUWAVKIT kit
So guys tell me if I'm nuts and in dreamland or would these two scenarios be feasible?
Thanks again for all your help & input in this matter.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)