Overview
Karaoke, a beloved pastime enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide, offers a unique opportunity for individuals to unleash their inner superstar. Whether it’s a night out with friends at a karaoke bar or a cozy gathering at home, karaoke promises endless entertainment and unforgettable moments. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to setup their own Karaoke at home due to its expensive cost. But did you know that you can easily set up a karaoke experience right in your own living room using your TV and YouTube? A setup which will only need a few cheap devices but will give you even better Karaoke experience. With the vast library of karaoke tracks available on YouTube, you can sing along to your favorite songs without ever leaving your home. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to transform your TV into a karaoke machine using YouTube. But before that, here’s why you need to setup this YouTube Karaoke System:
Advantages Of YouTube Karaoke Over Typical Karaoke Setup:
- Given the abundance of vloggers on YouTube, you have the option to subscribe to any or all of the Karaoke YouTube channels, providing access to a virtually limitless selection of karaoke songs.
- New Karaoke songs are already available in YouTube which are not yet available in conventional Karaoke platforms
- This setup is more economical compared to a standard karaoke setup as it requires low-cost devices.
- The music backgrounds of Karaoke in YouTube are more authentic and realistic compared to typical karaoke setups which means a more realistic Karaoke experience like singing in a live band.
Disadvantages Of This Setup Over Typical Karaoke Setup:
- No Scoring of Karaoke performance at the end of each song. But personally, the scoring system of a conventional Karaoke does not accurately gauge the skill of the singer. In some cases, singing too loudly can result in a higher score. Therefore, the presence of a score board is not a concern for me.
- There is no pre-existing songbook available for YouTube Karaoke therefore you need to manually search for the song title that you want to sing.
- YouTube has Ads but base from my experience, these Ads only appear before the start of the song so it may not interrupt your Karaoke experience that much. But if you want an Ad-free app you may need to subscribe to monthly premium account but comes with cheap subscription.
Now if these advantages weighs more significant than those of the disadvantages and still want to proceed with your own YouTube Karaoke setup, here’s what you may need:
Requirements:
- Smart TV with Audio Output (“Line Out” RCA or Optical), YouTube App & Internet Connection
- Audio Mixer (link here)
- Microphone
- Speaker with Amplifier
- Digital-To-Analog Audio Converter (If your TV has no analog audio output or RCA output and has optical audio output only, then you need this device) Here’s the link.
- Toslink Cable or Optical Fiber Audio Cable (This is only need if you are going to use a Digital-To-Analog Audio converter) Here’s the link
- RCA to 3.5mm Jack or RCA connector cable (depending on the audio port of your speaker)
Now that your equipment are complete, let’s assemble our hardware setup.
Hardware Setup:
Step 1 and 2
To start, let’s establish a connection between your TV and an internet source. This can be accomplished either wirelessly via WiFi or through a LAN cable. In my configuration, I opted for a LAN cable connection by plugging one end into the RJ45 port of our router and the other end into the LAN port of my TV.
Step 3 and 4
Next, connect your TV to a Digital-to-Analog Audio Converter (DAC). Nowadays, the majority of TVs available in the market are digital, lacking analog audio outputs at the rear where RCA cables can be plugged in. Instead, most TVs offer digital audio outputs, typically in the form of a Toslink or optical audio port located at the back of the TV. And since my LG TV is a digital model, I require this DAC device in my setup. However, if your TV still features analog audio or RCA outputs, there is no need to utilize this device. So to connect your TV to DAC, simply use a Toslink cable and plug the 5V adaptor of the DAC that comes with it to power it up.
Step 5 and 6
After that, establish a connection between your DAC device and the Karaoke Mixer. The DAC device features two analog audio outputs on its front panel, denoted by the left and right audio (Red and White). Utilize RCA cables to link the DAC to your Karaoke Mixer at the uppermost RCA output under the Music Panel at the back. Your Karaoke mixer plays a vital and central role in this Karaoke system. As the name suggests, it blends the Karaoke Music from YouTube with the microphone input to synchronize them. With its controls, you can adjust the balance between the music and vocal audio input, and even regulate their volume, echo, and tone. The DAC device utilized here offers 2 microphone inputs, allowing for duet performances in Karaoke. Simply insert your microphone jack into the front panel and plug the 12V power adaptor of the mixer to power it up.
Step 7 and 8
Lastly, connect your Karaoke Mixer with your speaker. The speaker I used in this setup is a Platinum sound bar which is equipped with a built-in amplifier, making it compatible with low-voltage audio input signals, such as those from the Karaoke Mixer. To connect them, I used an RCA to 3.5mm plug cable since my sound bar’s audio input port is a 3.5mm jack.
Now that your hardware connection setup is complete let’s configure the TV for Karaoke setup.
TV Configuration:
Step 1
First set up the TV to route its sound output not through its built-in speakers, but through the Toslink port or the optical digital audio out. Access the TV’s Settings menu, navigate to the Sound tab, opt to Use Wired Speaker, and select the Optical Out Device. This step is for LG TV so it may vary according to TV brands.
Step 2
For LG users, merely adjusting the audio output to optical does not finalize the setup. From my personal experience, I encountered only noise from the external speaker initially when I did it so I explored in the advanced settings of the sound panel and found that enabling LG Sound Sync was necessary.
Step 3
Next, navigate to the YouTube app on your smart TV or streaming device. If you don’t have the YouTube app installed, you can usually download it from the app store provided by your TV’s manufacturer.
Step 4
Once you’re on the YouTube app, use the search function to find karaoke tracks of your favorite songs. You can search by song title followed by “karaoke” or “instrumental” to find versions suitable for singing along.
Step 5
To streamline your karaoke session, consider creating a playlist of your chosen karaoke tracks. This way, you can easily queue up the songs you want to sing without having to search for each one individually.
Step 6
Before you start singing, make sure to adjust the volume levels to your liking. You can adjust the volume of both the karaoke tracks and the microphone using your TV’s remote control, the settings within the YouTube app or in the Karaoke mixer.
Step 7
And Voila! With everything set up and ready to go, it’s time to unleash your inner rock star! Sing along to your favorite karaoke tracks and have a blast performing solo or with friends and family.
Final Thought
Setting up your own Karaoke at home should not be expensive so following this guide will give you an affordable Karaoke experience and most of all setting it up is quick, easy, and incredibly fun. With just a few simple steps, you can turn any night into a memorable karaoke extravaganza right in the comfort of your own home. So gather your favorite songs, grab a microphone, and get ready to sing your heart out!
Salamat mga Ka-Butingting! If you find this post helpful, please share it with those who also might benefit from it. And don’t hesitate to share it too to your social media networks. God Bless!
