Sing along like a star with help of a computer.
When most people think of karaoke, they think of it as being something only professionals can afford. That's because the karaoke equipment found at many bars is quite expensive. However, it is possible to create a karaoke setup at any place you want by simply using a laptop computer along with some other equipment. Learn take your laptop and create a karaoke setup that only costs a couple of hundred dollars instead of thousands.
Instructions
1. Check that your laptop meets the minimum requirements outlined in things you'll need. Your laptop should have at least 1GB RAM (this can be checked by going to Start, Control panel, then System information) and an 80GB hard drive. This will ensure that your laptop is able to run the software necessary for karaoke.
2. Download and install karaoke software. Most people choose the free karaoke software Karafun, although there are many free and paid karaoke software available for this purpose.
3. Purchase karaoke CDs and ZIP files. Once you've purchased them, open up Karafun and insert the disc. It should begin to play both the karaoke music and the words on screen. If it doesn't, it means you've purchased discs that are incompatible with your computer.
4. Purchase a stereo with at least 50 watts of power and an aux-input. This will be used to play your karaoke music. Most stereos with these features will cost about $100, as of 2010.
5. Purchase a 3.5mm stereo cable that will be used to connect the stereo to the computer. You'll probably want to purchase a cable that is at least 10 feet long.
6. Purchase a USB external soundcard. This will serve as a middle man between the laptop and the stereo, and will protect the laptop's soundcard from being wrecked by the stereo. Most external soundcards run around $50.
7. Purchase a bass amplifier with at least 20 watts, a microphone and mic cable. The amp will cost you roughly $100, while a decent microphone and cable will cost less than $20.
8. Hook the microphone to the input jack of the bass amplifier using the mic cable. Turn the amp on and perform a sound check--be sure to get the mic volume at a decent level before proceeding.
9. Hook the USB soundcard to the laptop computer and right-click the sound icon on the bottom right of the screen. Select playback devices and then click the icon for the soundcard and select set as default. Make sure the volume on the computer is completely down. Then plug the 3.5mm cable into the output jack of the soundcard and plug the other end into the stereo's aux input.
10. Hook the RGB cable into the TV and the laptop. You should now see the laptop screen on the TV. The TV will serve as your karaoke monitor.
11. Play a karaoke track and adjust the volume slowly on the laptop and the stereo. Also adjust the amplifier volume so that the vocals are louder than the music. After a few minutes of adjustments, you should be all set to host your own karaoke parties.
