melvimbe
FRF Addict
I'm looking into something resembling a karaoke system into the truck. Yes, I know, not what the truck is for, man card, all that. Just something fun in the car for kids and other passengers, if it can be done without breaking the bank.
Some background, I already have an aftermarket audio system in the truck. I also have the phoenix audio tablet (PX6), so getting access to lyrics on a screen or karaoke tracks through youtube is already taken care of (though not really a priority)
Option 1: Use a standard karaoke machine with mics and such that has aux output. Aux input into the PX6 and your done. I don't care for this setup though as you aren't utilizing the PX6, would be bulky to manage in the truck, and wouldn't be that easy to control.
Option 2: Add a sound mixer somewhere in between the PX6 and my aftermarket amp. That would mix in the audio from the tablet and audio from mics. One concern I have with this is that I'm messing with my existing setup, which I'd rather leave alone. As I understand it, I'd also have some DSP issues, since DSP is currently built into my amp. I should have DSP done before hitting the mixer (in terms of summing anyway) then do other DSP functions at the amp.
Option 3: This is an idea I got from the shop that put in audio system a couple months back. Since I'm not using a center channel speaker now, build a second audio system for the mics using the center channel speaker as the output. This is the idea I like the best, since I wouldn't be messing with the current setup and should be better overall than option 1. No mixing would be required.
If I went with option 3. the first thing would be choosing the mic system. That's going to be a challenge as I wouldn't want cheap junk nor would I want expense stuff either. It would need to be designed to not pick up background noise much so that it's not picking up audio from the main speakers at decent volume. Wireless would be preferred, two handheld mics for passengers and headset for the driver.
Next would be preamp, if it's not included with the microphone package. Most of what I've looked at so far do not, and can't be plugged in directly to an aux input.
The amp is next. It's not too hard to find a mono amp for around $100, with way more power than needed. I thought about trying to use the existing Sony amp (which is still in place behind the seat) but there is a mess of wiring and splicing back there for the new amp (which is under the driver's seat) and not sure if that can be changed up. I don't think I could use that amp properly just to power a center channel speaker. The original sub is back there though, which can be removed, so there is plenty of space for a mono sub.
Last is the center channel speaker. the wiring is still in place and I still have the factory speaker, which hopefully is good enough. If not I can get replacement speaker.
A bonus would be if the there can be a switch between the mic system and the new amp system. That would I could run the mic audio through the main sound system if I wanted to, or possibly to a bluetooth speaker outside of the truck. Second bonus would be if the system can be used just for conversation between front and back passengers when the music is fairly loud.
Thoughts? I know there's lot of knowledge of audio around here, and probably some folks who have worked with mic systems before.
My two biggest concerns are that the cost is going to be higher than I want to spend. I'd like to keep in around a few hundred at most. Next concern that mics won't work well in the vehicle with music playing do to feedback and such. I suppose a 3rd concern would be if the center channel speaker location just won't work well enough to give decent audio.
If it won't work, no big deal. At the very least, it's a fun project to think about.
Some background, I already have an aftermarket audio system in the truck. I also have the phoenix audio tablet (PX6), so getting access to lyrics on a screen or karaoke tracks through youtube is already taken care of (though not really a priority)
Option 1: Use a standard karaoke machine with mics and such that has aux output. Aux input into the PX6 and your done. I don't care for this setup though as you aren't utilizing the PX6, would be bulky to manage in the truck, and wouldn't be that easy to control.
Option 2: Add a sound mixer somewhere in between the PX6 and my aftermarket amp. That would mix in the audio from the tablet and audio from mics. One concern I have with this is that I'm messing with my existing setup, which I'd rather leave alone. As I understand it, I'd also have some DSP issues, since DSP is currently built into my amp. I should have DSP done before hitting the mixer (in terms of summing anyway) then do other DSP functions at the amp.
Option 3: This is an idea I got from the shop that put in audio system a couple months back. Since I'm not using a center channel speaker now, build a second audio system for the mics using the center channel speaker as the output. This is the idea I like the best, since I wouldn't be messing with the current setup and should be better overall than option 1. No mixing would be required.
If I went with option 3. the first thing would be choosing the mic system. That's going to be a challenge as I wouldn't want cheap junk nor would I want expense stuff either. It would need to be designed to not pick up background noise much so that it's not picking up audio from the main speakers at decent volume. Wireless would be preferred, two handheld mics for passengers and headset for the driver.
Next would be preamp, if it's not included with the microphone package. Most of what I've looked at so far do not, and can't be plugged in directly to an aux input.
The amp is next. It's not too hard to find a mono amp for around $100, with way more power than needed. I thought about trying to use the existing Sony amp (which is still in place behind the seat) but there is a mess of wiring and splicing back there for the new amp (which is under the driver's seat) and not sure if that can be changed up. I don't think I could use that amp properly just to power a center channel speaker. The original sub is back there though, which can be removed, so there is plenty of space for a mono sub.
Last is the center channel speaker. the wiring is still in place and I still have the factory speaker, which hopefully is good enough. If not I can get replacement speaker.
A bonus would be if the there can be a switch between the mic system and the new amp system. That would I could run the mic audio through the main sound system if I wanted to, or possibly to a bluetooth speaker outside of the truck. Second bonus would be if the system can be used just for conversation between front and back passengers when the music is fairly loud.
Thoughts? I know there's lot of knowledge of audio around here, and probably some folks who have worked with mic systems before.
My two biggest concerns are that the cost is going to be higher than I want to spend. I'd like to keep in around a few hundred at most. Next concern that mics won't work well in the vehicle with music playing do to feedback and such. I suppose a 3rd concern would be if the center channel speaker location just won't work well enough to give decent audio.
If it won't work, no big deal. At the very least, it's a fun project to think about.
