How to Make Your Own (Better) Karaoke Machine

If you want to try karaoke, do you really need a karaoke machine? Not exactly. You need a karaoke system. The all-in-one products known as “karaoke machines” are often very cheaply made, don’t sound good or loud enough, and aren’t useful for much else. Really all that karaoke machines offer is that they hobble together the things you need for karaoke into one product. Luckily, professional audio companies like Mackie make everything you need to make a much higher-quality karaoke system. After all, karaoke is really just a form of live performance. Live sound and performance are what we do!

So, what do you need for karaoke? Short answer: mic, speaker, mixer (with effects) and karaoke app. The longer answer is this article! Whether you’re a venue owner, gigging DJ, party host or just want to try karaoke with your friends, you’ll find the right gear for a professional, high-quality karaoke system that meets all your needs using Mackie’s trusted products.

What Is a Karaoke Machine?

A karaoke machine is an audiovisual system that contains everything you need for karaoke, including a mic, speaker, mixer, effects and karaoke software. However, the highest-quality karaoke “machine” is not usually an all-in-one system. You can do much better. Especially if you’re a professional or want a high-quality system you can expand and customize, you’ll want to build your own setup using separate components. Luckily, it’s really quite easy, since all the parts of the system are designed to work together.

Karaoke Speaker

In a karaoke system, the speaker is how the singer and audience are able to hear everything (duh). What kind of karaoke speaker you need will depend on the space. For small rooms, like in your house, you can get away with studio monitors. For larger spaces, use one or more loudspeakers, which are the kind of speakers used in music venues. They come in different sizes and power levels. Some are portable or battery-powered. You can find one that’s perfect for your plans—even if those plans involve karaoke in the middle of nowhere.

Karaoke Microphone

For a karaoke microphone, you’ll want something that’s durable and forgiving. Karaoke singers are likely to move around and have fun, not necessarily keep their mouth at the perfect distance from the mic. There’s also a good chance there will be a drop or spilled drink here and there. That’s why you’ll want to use a classic dynamic vocal microphone. It’s the #1 most popular type of stage microphone for a reason: it sounds great, it’s affordable and it’s famous for ruggedness.

Karaoke App on Phone, Tablet or Computer

You have your speaker and microphone. Now, you’ll need a source for the music and lyrics. It can be as simple as using YouTube on a tablet, or a smartphone with a karaoke app. Your setup can also be more complex, with a computer running professional karaoke software, a large-screen television, colored lights, fog machine, etc. It really depends on your needs.

Karaoke Mixer (With Effects)

The final thing you need for karaoke is an audio mixer with effects. You’ll need the mixer to bring the three other things together: mic, speaker and karaoke app. More specifically, you’re mixing the mic sound with the sound from the karaoke app. Then, you’re sending that mix to your speakers. When choosing a mixer, you’ll want to consider three things:

Microphone inputs: Make sure the mixer has enough mic inputs (also called preamps) for however many mics you want to use. Duets are almost always a hit at karaoke.
Phone, tablet or computer inputs: Make sure the mixer has a way to connect to the device you’re using for music and lyrics. These can be simple aux inputs that connect to the headphone jack on your device. Some mixers have USB or Bluetooth®.
Effects, effects, effects: If you’re doing karaoke, you absolutely need some kind of reverb or delay effect. That’s where you get that flattering “rock star” sound that people expect from karaoke. Hearing your own raw vocal track is rough, especially when you’re not a professional singer. Luckily, many mixers have built-in effects.

The Essential Karaoke Machine

Thrash215 + Mix12FX + EM-89D

If you’re looking to do karaoke on a budget, you don’t have to get fancy for the results to sound excellent. You just need a high-quality loudspeaker, mic and mixer. You’ll get tons of volume from Mackie Thrash215, our no-frills loudspeaker that focuses on nothing but sound quality and raw power. For the mixer, Mix12FX has everything you need and nothing you don’t, with four mic inputs, reverb effects and aux inputs for your phone/tablet/computer. And for the microphone, go with the classic (and wildly affordable) Mackie EM-89D.

The Portable Karaoke Machine

Thrash212 GO + MobileMix + EM-89D

Karaoke can be a blast just about anywhere, even unexpected places like campouts or beach vacations. For a mini karaoke machine that can run on 100% battery power but still has plenty of punch, combine the Thrash212 GO loudspeaker and MobileMix mini mixer.

Mackie Thrash212 GO is simple and powerful like the rest of the Thrash series, but adds the ability to run on battery power for up to 10 hours. The rechargeable battery is swappable, so you can even grab a spare battery to extend the battery life even more.

Mackie MobileMix is a clever little mixer that runs on USB power, like from a rechargeable battery pack or a laptop port. If you use a rechargeable battery, there’s a slot underneath the mixer for storing the battery in use. Connect your phone or tablet and use the built-in slot to prop it up, so the singer can see the lyrics. Add up to two EM-89D mics. Turn up the reverb. Put the mixer on top of the speaker and you basically have an all-in-one karaoke machine that’s super portable and sounds better than any all-in-one option.

The Bar Karaoke Machine

Thump215 + Thump118S + ProFX12v3+ + EM-89D

Bar karaoke is a different beast, because your business is trying to compete with other bars and venues that do karaoke. Your setup needs to sound really good, even in a crowded bar where people are talking amongst themselves. During karaoke, your bar essentially becomes a live music venue. When the chorus hits in a popular song, and the crowd wants to feel it, not just hear it. So, for bar karaoke, you’ll want to combine your loudspeaker with a matching subwoofer.

We recommend the Thump215 loudspeaker and Thump118S subwoofer, part of our best-selling Thump series. Use as many as you need to fill the room with sound. You can conserve valuable space by mounting the speakers above the subwoofer with the dedicated pole. Besides excellent sound quality, Thump speakers also have a useful Feedback Eliminator, which prevents mic feedback automatically. When a drunken karaoke performer drops the mic in front of a speaker, the people in your bar won’t experience an ear-piering squeal.

For the mixer, Mackie ProFX12v3+ does everything. There are enough inputs for seven EM-89D mics. The inputs in the ProFX series are our top-of-the-line Onyx preamps, known for their clear, low-distortion sound. The effects are professional sounding, and the Delay + Reverb option is perfect for karaoke vocals. You can connect to any device for the music and lyrics, with Bluetooth®, USB and aux inputs. It’s also easy to record the performances to a computer in the Loopback mode. (Be warned: You may not like your performance as much after you’ve sobered up.)

The Mobile DJ Karaoke Machine

Thump GO + ThumpSub GO + ProFX10 GO + EM-89D

If you’re a DJ looking to add karaoke to your repertoire, or you’re starting a mobile karaoke business, you’ll want a karaoke system you can use anywhere. Ideally, you’ll be able to perform when you don’t have a power outlet. Our recommended karaoke setup for mobile DJs can run on battery power for hours, opening up new kinds of gigs in more remote places. Plus, it’s always a nice backup to know that you can still keep the party going even if you encounter power issues. (“Remember that time the power went out and we did karaoke all night?”)

Mackie Thump GO, ThumpSub GO and ProFX10 GO combine to make the first complete battery-powered PA system from a major audio gear company. The speaker and sub are designed to work perfectly together, with floor-shaking bass and sparkling vocals. ProFX10 GO has all the features from other ProFX mixers, including four mic inputs for the EM-89D and effects, including the Reverb + Delay effect that couldn’t be more ideal for karaoke pop songs. For extra peace of mind, you can get spare rechargeable batteries for the speaker, sub and mixer, so you’ll never have to worry about battery life.

The ‘Overkill’ Karaoke Machine

DRM12A + Onyx24 or DL32SE + EM-89D

If you asked us what you needed for karaoke, would we recommend our top-of-the-line DRM12A active line array speakers and our insanely powerful 32-channel digital mixing console? Probably not. But venue owners and live sound professionals rely on this gear every night for shows all over the world. If you run a music venue with line arrays and a big sound board, you technically have the biggest and baddest “karaoke machine” out there. Maybe even consider adding a live band instead of pre-recorded tracks—"live band" karaoke is a popular form of karaoke that's easier to do when you already have a music venue. You would blow the other karaoke spots out of the water. Make Tuesday nights a tradition and share your stage with the townies. Make them feel like a real star!

The 'At-Home' Karaoke System

ProFX6v3+ + CR3.5BT + EM-89D

If you’re a content creator or musician, you might already have a karaoke machine nearby and not even know it. It’s really just a speaker, mixer and mic. Home studio musicians and bedroom producers are basically already kitted out with what they need to do karaoke. It’s a great way to entertain guests and have fun. If you already have what you need, it’s also free!

While our “recommended” karaoke setups all use loudspeakers, any speaker will do, as long as it’s loud enough for the space. For example, a pair of small desktop speakers like Mackie CR 3.5BT studio monitors can work just fine for a small room. If it sounds good, it is good! (CR series even has a tone knob that you can crank up for more bass and high end—great for pop songs. There’s also a switch for using the speaker farther away, like you’d need for karaoke.)

Our desktop ProFX6v3+ mixer is popular for content creators and musicians—if you have that one or a similar little effects mixer, it’s all you need to connect a mic and your speakers. Stream from your smartphone with Bluetooth®, using YouTube for the karaoke music and lyrics. You can use any mic, even if it’s just a condenser mic or broadcast mic you use for your podcast. So, don't let the need for gear get in the way of trying karaoke. You might already be equipped.

Mackie Is the Brand for All Things Audio

Mackie gear makes it possible to build the perfect karaoke setup for anyone. The same is true for live sound systems, events, venues, home studios, casual listening setups—Mackie is the brand for all things audio. Our gear has been trusted for decades on stage and in the studio. Our new products are always making new things possible for musicians and creators. Keep up with the latest Mackie news and audio advice on the Mackie blog.

← Back to blog