| On the road to getting the karaoke equipment to suit | | | | will need to bring together a microphone, mixer, |
| your needs, the first fork you will encounter is a | | | | amplifier, and speaker, along with a player for the |
| decision between the all-in-one karaoke machine and a | | | | music and lyrics. |
| pieced together component system. Like any other | | | | This flexibility in your equipment, of course, comes at a |
| choice you face, each side will have both pros and | | | | cost. Purchasing each of these pieces separately will |
| cons, so you will need to make a decision based on | | | | usually add to the cost, making the least expensive |
| your own individual needs and preferences. | | | | bundle of components cost more than many of the |
| An all-in-one karaoke machine is just what it sounds | | | | more expensive all-in-one machines. |
| like. It is a device that you purchase that has | | | | But if you are considering using this equipment as a |
| everything you need for karaoke right out of the box. It | | | | karaoke jockey (KJ), you will probably find that this |
| will come with a microphone, and probably some music | | | | flexibility is well worth the cost. It will allow you to tie |
| as well. The only external component you might need | | | | into existing sound systems using your components to |
| is a television which you would plug it into to view the | | | | fill in the gaps. And it will allow you to upgrade individual |
| lyrics if necessary. | | | | components without having to replace the entire |
| Typically the all-in-one solution will be the less | | | | system. |
| expensive option, at least as far as the initial | | | | Also, with the right mix of equipment you will be able to |
| equipment. Additionally, this equipment is already | | | | mix in multiple players so that you can have the |
| together in one package, so you don't need any | | | | flexibility of using any media for which you have a |
| specialized knowledge regarding equipment to | | | | player. A notebook computer can even be tied into the |
| purchase and how to connect everything together. | | | | system and using specialized software can become a |
| However, once you have this equipment, you may be | | | | player for you as well. |
| stuck purchasing accessories that are compatible with | | | | And finally you can control the quality of each |
| this device, limiting your choices for things such as | | | | component when you put them together yourself. This |
| microphones or headsets. | | | | can allow you to start out with a less expensive but |
| You will also typically need to replace the entire piece | | | | usable component system, and purchase higher quality |
| of equipment if you wish to change the media used | | | | replacements for equipment as the need arises or |
| for the background music and vocals. In other words, if | | | | money allows. |
| your karaoke machine is designed to use CD+G, which | | | | So you will need to decide what your priority is for |
| is a special kind of CD that has a track to encode the | | | | your karaoke equipment. Do you want the lower cost |
| lyrics for viewing, you usually can not play songs from | | | | and simplicity of the all-in-one machine? Or do you think |
| MP3, which are readily downloadable. | | | | that the greater flexibility and control over quality will |
| On the other hand, the component system will give | | | | better suit your needs? If you are using it at home or |
| you nearly infinite flexibility regarding your karaoke | | | | to entertain friends at a party, you will probably go with |
| equipment. There is a general standardization across | | | | the first, but if you aspire to be a KJ, you should |
| components because these are generally the same | | | | probably dive right into a component system. |
| items a musician or disk jockey (DJ) would use. You | | | | |