Setting up a Professional Karaoke System

• Traditional Karaoke Hardware: Now mostly a thing of the past for professional users, a Karaoke machine was the core of your setup, responsible for playing back the karaoke tracks and displaying lyrics. These CDG karaoke players often included voice effects, pitch control, and video effects. The special CD+G discs were a collection of WAV or MP3 audio files with the addition of VGA graphical intro screens and lyrics, which required a monitor or TV to be viewed.

• Modern Karaoke Hardware: The death of physical media and the switch to either stored MP3 files or subscription-based song services basically replaced every other format due to convenience. So instead of having to transport 100s of CD’s and be constantly adding to that number with the latest song releases, it's all digital, done using a laptop or tablet device with your chosen karaoke software.

• Karaoke Songs: As already mentioned, the older format was special CDG discs which you would buy regularly for the latest songs. These could be played on a CDG player, or loaded onto a laptop for playback to an audio system and screen. This has mostly been superseded by downloads or online services for convenience.

  The subscription services available are ideal for professional karaoke jocks, giving them instant access to a huge library of songs in the best quality with no need for local device storage, allowing a gig to be operated from anywhere using a laptop or tablet with an internet connection.

• Microphones: Investing in professional-grade microphones ensures that your vocals are clear and precise. Wired microphones offer a cost-effective and reliable option, and are the standard for all types of vocalists. Vocal microphones come in many different quality levels depending on their specifications, with cheaper plastic body designs or metal types serving different requirements.

  Wireless microphone systems provide performers with the freedom to move around and are ideal for those more enthusiastic karaoke singers without the worry of tripping on cables.

  For live singing, you will always want dynamic microphones for their direct capture pattern that helps remove unwanted room noise, and for their overall durability. Depending on the type of karaoke gigs you may wish to have a mix of good quality mics alongside some tougher low-cost ones for any kid's parties or those more carefree performers to use.

• Mixing Desk (Mixer): Regardless of how you decide to play your karaoke tracks, you will need a mixer. An audio mixer allows you to connect your source audio signal and blend it with the vocals from however many microphones you may wish to use, then send that to your speaker system.

  A mixer allows you to add vocal effects such as echo or reverb (if it has them), and easily adjust EQ settings. Most importantly, it gives you volume level control over each connected microphone, meaning you can adjust the output quickly to suit everyone from experienced singers to slightly drunk shouters. For a karaoke system, a mixer with features like reverb can greatly enhance the singing experience, giving that desirable depth to vocals.

  Ensure the mixer you are considering has enough input channels for the number of microphones you wish to connect, and that it includes any other audio inputs or outputs you may need. Many modern mixers include Bluetooth for handy audio streaming from a phone or tablet, which can be useful when taking a break for some fill music.

• Active Speakers: These have built-in amplifiers and simplify the setup process. Active speakers are available in various sizes, power ratings, and overall quality to suit different budgets, venue sizes, and performance expectations. They can be connected directly to the mixer output, and many now include handy features such as DSP and Bluetooth connectivity.

• Passive Speakers: The more traditional format of PA system. Passive speakers require an external power amplifier to operate. They might be preferable in permanent installations where fine-tuning of audio is required, and many people still prefer to keep the electronics out of their speakers for durability. Passive speakers are physically lighter than active speakers, so that can often be a deciding factor for some.

• Monitor Speakers: Depending on the venue, and how serious you are about your karaoke events, a stage monitor can be a nice addition to the PA as it gives the singers an immediate reference of their vocals. Though not strictly necessary for karaoke, the use of a foldback monitor helps with vocal timing and pitch.

For larger venues, consider speakers with higher SPL ratings to ensure sound covers the entire area without distortion. Smaller venues or home setups might not need as powerful speakers, but for professional work, it's always best to go for speakers with more power than you actually need as it allows them to run more efficiently. Prioritise speaker models that provide clear mid-range frequencies to enhance vocal clarity, with 12” being the advised choice for the best blend of capability and clarity.

• Cables and Stands: Connect the speakers to the amplifier using as heavy-duty speaker cables as possible, with the connection options usually being bare wire, 6.35mm(¼”) jack, or Speakon plugs on higher performance systems. then connect the amplifier's line input to the mixer's main output using the best connection method available (XLR preferred, but RCA is fine).

  Microphones of any reasonable quality will be using balanced XLR cables, either directly from the mixer to the mics, or from the mixer to the receiver unit if using a wireless mic system

  You will need to connect your audio source to the mixer too. This will usually be in the form of a stereo RCA connection with whatever device-specific plug or plugs are needed. For a laptop this will usually be a 3.5mm jack from the headphone output, or you may be using some form of HDMI connection for audio and visuals, which will need an additional analogue audio stripper device to convert the audio into something the mixer can accept.

  Microphone stands and speaker stands are also crucial for a professional setup, ensuring that equipment is securely and optimally placed. Speaker stands especially are a must-have as they get your PA off the floor and put it at head height, which helps with both clarity and room coverage

• Audio source to the Mixer: Whatever is playing your main audio, so either an older CD+G player or a laptop, will be putting out a standard stereo line-level signal, which can be RCA to RCA from a CDG player to the mixer or will be a 3.5mm stereo minijack to dual RCA connection from the laptops headphone/line output to a line input on the mixer.

• Microphones to Mixer: Unless using very low-cost mics with unbalanced 6.35mm (¼”) jack plugs, connections from your microphones to the mixer will be done using XLR cables. They offer the best noise reduction and signal quality and are extremely durable. If using wireless mics, connect the receiver unit output to the mixer, again which will be via XLR or unbalanced jack.

• Mixer to Speakers: Connect the mixer’s output to your sound system. If using active speakers, this will be a direct connection to the speaker's line input using either XLR, TRS jack or stereo RCA cables depending on your equipment, with XLR being the best choice due to its superior noise rejection.

  For passive speakers the mixer output will go to your power amplifier, again using whatever the most durable connection is offered on that unit. Line-level audio can have different connections at each end, it doesn't matter, so use whatever cable type best suits your mixer and amp. Between the speakers and the amplifier, you will need good-quality speaker cables, again with the best end connections that your amp and speakers allow for.

  Most PA power amps and professional speakers will either be using a latching NL2 style plug system, or 6.35mm (¼”) jack plug connection, though lower-cost units may only provide terminals for a bare-wire hook up, or a mix of the two. Again, speakers are a positive and negative connection, so can have different plug types at each end to suit the equipment.

Displays are crucial for showing lyrics and can range from a simple TV screen to more elaborate projector setups for larger venues. Consider the size and layout of the venues you are likely to play when choosing your display solution. Due to the age of their design, many CD+G players only offer the much older composite video output, which will usually require some type of adapter for use with a modern TV or display.

Laptops or tablet devices are much simpler in this regard as they can output an HDMI signal that can be fed directly to a modern TV or projector system. As previously mentioned, you will likely require a splitter/conversion adapter for this type of setup as it will allow you to separate a stereo audio feed from the HDMI output signal so it can be taken to your mixer.

If using a digital setup, choose software that is reliable and easy to navigate. Options like KaraFun or PC DJ are popular among newer professional users who prefer subscription-based song libraries and a modern interface, while the ever-popular Sunfly software allows playback of your stored CD+G and MP3+G files, along with its own monthly service for downloading new tracks.

Ensure your music library is extensive and diverse. If applicable, include multiple genres (and languages) to cater to a wide audience, and regularly update your library with new tracks to keep your content fresh and engaging.

There is also a huge number of karaoke songs and channels to be found on YouTube, and this can be a great source for home parties, but it’s not something a professional would be using as it is illegal for public use due to the songs not being licensed. Using a pro karaoke song provider ensures you are within the law, alongside a venue's PRS license that allows the performance of live and pre-recorded music to the public.