Karaoke

[OPI0127]

Hi, I am building a new house and hired a dealer to install Control4 for home automation, and a theatre. I want to setup karaoke, but I’m not sure how to go about doing so. I didn’t realize how closed the Control4 system was (in the the sense that, we the consumers are not allowed to change or setup new devices ourselves, it has to be done by dealer/installer). I read Karaoke using YouTube was an inexpensive way of getting Karaoke set up at home for parties. Chromecast is a great way to queue songs on your connected device and cast the list on your TV. I heard you could also use your smart tv to do so. But here are things to consider:

 

1) Would integrating karaoke with Control4 and using the existing in-ceiling speakers for karaoke be a good idea?

2) What do I need to set it up?

3) should I separate karaoke entirely and localize it to just an area with a tv? Would Vocopro’s SmartTVoke http://www.vocopro.com/products/product_info_m.php?ID=810 be an easy and good choice to go with? 

4) should I worry about feedback?

5) if FB will be an issue, how can I avoid it?

6) are home theatre in-ceiling speakers going to break if we use it for karaoke?

7) other things to consider?

 

Any help would be appreciated! 

 

PS. I am in Canada.

 

[C4tune]

I am not an expert, but I would imagine feedback will be a tremendous hurdle.

[Cyknight]

1 hour ago, Zenikul said:

1) Would integrating karaoke with Control4 and using the existing in-ceiling speakers for karaoke be a good idea?

2) What do I need to set it up?

3) should I separate karaoke entirely and localize it to just an area with a tv? Would Vocopro’s SmartTVoke http://www.vocopro.com/products/product_info_m.php?ID=810 be an easy and good choice to go with? 

4) should I worry about feedback?

5) if FB will be an issue, how can I avoid it?

6) are home theatre in-ceiling speakers going to break if we use it for karaoke?

7) other things to consider?

1) No. Speakers need to be aimed away from the mics

2) Uhm. Set what up? You mentioned about 3 different ways to do karaoke....

3) Those aren't bad. Now, we've 'integrated' similar devices to act as a source but generally leave controlling the actual device out of it. Unless 'conterol' is just a standard IR remote. We've also setup some specialty setups for Karaoke using existing equipment so that it was easier to do 'one or the other' for the user - ie, have a virtual room where we selected the 'cast as a source for the same TV but using different speakers, or forced fronts only on a surround system etc

4) Yes, See 1

5) Separate speakers

6) Not before your mics...and ears

7) A different hobby? On a serious note - Karaoke is something best done stand-alone. You can use C4 to 'start it' much like you would a game system, but keep it away from the main setup.

One neat thing we once did though is feed the karaoke system into the main audio matrix, to have it play everywhere ELSE in the house. (setup was in the Home Theatre room that was pretty much a 'dead' room for sound passing in or out of it)

[OPI0127]

22 hours ago, Cyknight said:

1) No. Speakers need to be aimed away from the mics

2) Uhm. Set what up? You mentioned about 3 different ways to do karaoke....

3) Those aren't bad. Now, we've 'integrated' similar devices to act as a source but generally leave controlling the actual device out of it. Unless 'conterol' is just a standard IR remote. We've also setup some specialty setups for Karaoke using existing equipment so that it was easier to do 'one or the other' for the user - ie, have a virtual room where we selected the 'cast as a source for the same TV but using different speakers, or forced fronts only on a surround system etc

4) Yes, See 1

5) Separate speakers

6) Not before your mics...and ears

7) A different hobby? On a serious note - Karaoke is something best done stand-alone. You can use C4 to 'start it' much like you would a game system, but keep it away from the main setup.

One neat thing we once did though is feed the karaoke system into the main audio matrix, to have it play everywhere ELSE in the house. (setup was in the Home Theatre room that was pretty much a 'dead' room for sound passing in or out of it)

Thanks for your responses!

 

CyKnight, so my dealers setup a 5.1 system in the red room, but it’s only speakers in the ceiling. Shouldn’t there be front speakers too? There is only a subwoofer that’s going in the front. The cabinets are not in yet, so they haven’t installed the subwoofer yet.

 

If I have karaoke setup in the theatre room, we can force front speakers for karaoke setup, but can we use chromecast to stream YouTube as well? I’m not very familiar with how theatres are typically setup in Control4. The equipment rack is in a different room next to theatre. So I would need a mixer and wireless mics? Are you able to recommend the equipment I need to have that setup?

[OPI0127]

CyKnight, what do you think of this?

[Cyknight]

11 hours ago, Zenikul said:

CyKnight, so my dealers setup a 5.1 system in the red room, but it’s only speakers in the ceiling. Shouldn’t there be front speakers too? There is only a subwoofer that’s going in the front. The cabinets are not in yet, so they haven’t installed the subwoofer yet.

'front' speakers can be put in the ceiling as well - but it's a poor choice for karaoke where it's best to be behind the speakers, or at least out of direct throw range.

11 hours ago, Zenikul said:

If I have karaoke setup in the theatre room, we can force front speakers for karaoke setup, but can we use chromecast to stream YouTube as well? I’m not very familiar with how theatres are typically setup in Control4. The equipment rack is in a different room next to theatre. So I would need a mixer and wireless mics? Are you able to recommend the equipment I need to have that setup?

Sounds like they're doing that correctly at least - as for using Chromecast for it, there should be ways to make that work, though a 'dedicated' cast to a Karaoke amp might be a better choice to prevent sync issues. They're cheap so cost then is minimal. That said I can tell you little without seeing the setup myself, this sort of 'special' setup is one of those things that is difficult to judge sight unseen - too many variables

[Cyknight]

10 hours ago, Zenikul said:

CyKnight, what do you think of this?

Understand that I am no Karaoke 'specialist' by any means - I'm not the right person to suggest 'good equipment' for you. I have simply been in situations where I've had to figure out how to incorporate karaoke devices into C4 a number of times.

[OPI0127]

On 10/6/2018 at 11:59 AM, Cyknight said:

Understand that I am no Karaoke 'specialist' by any means - I'm not the right person to suggest 'good equipment' for you. I have simply been in situations where I've had to figure out how to incorporate karaoke devices into C4 a number of times.

Hi CyKnight,

I completely understand. I was merely wondering if that would work given the right combo of equipment to go with it. I don’t believe my dealer is a karaoke expert either, which is why I was seeking advice here. I’m not quite sure how to proceed. 

Thanks for your input though. Truly appreciate it!