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How to Do Karaoke at Home – A Step-by-Step Guide

31/12/2024

One of the most popular kinds of parties, karaoke is an incredibly fun way to get all your friends together and have a great time. But sometimes you don’t want to have to reserve a space at a busy bar to have a sing-along with your friends. That’s where at-home karaoke comes in. And the best thing is that it’s super easy to set up.

In this article, we’ll teach you how to do karaoke at home, giving you recommendations for the equipment you need and the things to consider when setting up.

Secondhand live gear

In a hurry?

Here’s everything you need for a karaoke party.

EquipmentRecommendation
Karaoke machine (optional)Easy Karaoke Ultimate Bluetooth Karaoke Machine
Microphones (at least two)Sennheiser e835
SpeakerBose S1 Pro+
Sound mixerSubZero SZ-MIX04 4-Channel Mini Mixer

Things to consider when throwing a karaoke party

Before you start purchasing equipment, think about where you’ll be setting up and how big you want your party to be.

Firstly, what size is your living room? Supposing this is where karaoke will be held, you’ll want to ensure you have space for your karaoke machine and speakers and for guests to move around and sing. Luckily, you can get some compact karaoke equipment that’s easy to set up and put away when not in use.

Secondly, consider the number of singers that will be performing at any one time. Usually, a karaoke setup will have two mics – which is what we’ll stick to in this article. But if you want a setup that allows for more performers, make sure to look at the number of mic inputs on the karaoke machine or speakers.

Depending on how many people will be at your party, chances are, there will be varied music tastes. So, make sure to have a song list that covers a range of genres, with all those classic karaoke tracks as well as more obscure options. In this respect, it’s also a good idea to have a mix of tempos as, at some point in the evening, you might want to break out into a slow ballad!

Finally, everyone will need to clearly see the lyrics. Whether you display the graphics on your TV or the screen of a karaoke machine, make sure they’re large enough that performers aren’t squinting to read them.

How to do karaoke at home

1. Plug in your karaoke machine (if you’re using one)

Easy Karaoke Ultimate Bluetooth Karaoke MachineThe heart of any karaoke setup, the karaoke machine is where you’ll play your CDs or CDGs (CDs that display graphics on screen).

They can be fun, multi-coloured, light-up machines and include various features that make for an easy karaoke experience. For example, the Easy Karaoke Ultimate Bluetooth Karaoke Machine offers Bluetooth connectivity, a seven-inch colour screen, and LED disco lights.

Many also offer the whole package, including speakers and microphones – a very convenient setup.

However, you might want something more customisable. If you’re not after an all-in-one system, you might use your laptop or TV to display lyrics and decide to purchase speakers and microphones separately.

In this case, you might also want to get a karaoke app subscription or use a streaming service like Spotify or YouTube to play the songs and display the lyrics.

You also need to make sure that everything connects, so check that the speaker you choose is compatible with your TV either wired, with an AV receiver, or wirelessly.


2. Set up your speakers

Bose S1 Pro+ Multi-Position Battery Powered PA SystemIf you’re choosing a party speaker, make sure it’s not too intrusive on the room in which it’ll be sat. You don’t want it taking up too much space or being a pain to lug in and out of the room for each party.

However, it does need to be powerful enough to play the backing tracks of your karaoke songs to a good level and make it a party to remember!

Plug your speaker into the karaoke machine or connect to your lyric display. And remember to arrange the speakers strategically. If you’re using two speakers, have them at either side of the room at the front, or if you’re using one, make sure it’s positioned appropriately to project sound throughout the room.

With one mic input per speaker, the Galaxy Twin 15″ Active Light Up Speakers (Pair) is a great pick for karaoke purposes. As a pair, they’re excellent value for money, and they have 180W of outpower and they light up – everything you need to throw a fantastic party.

For more inputs on one speaker and wireless connectivity, go for the Bose S1 Pro+.

For more options, see our list of the best party speakers.


3. Connect your microphones

Sennheiser e835S Cardioid Vocal Mic with SwitchYou’re not going to sound great if you’re shouting over the backing track – you need a good-quality mic to capture your vocals. We recommend purchasing two microphones if your karaoke machine doesn’t come with them already or if you want to upgrade.

Wired mics tend to be easier to set up and don’t come with the risk of dropouts like wireless mics do. However, wireless mics give you more freedom to dance around the room while singing.

Whichever you choose, wired or wireless, make sure you go for a dynamic mic with a cardioid polar pattern – this means it will reject background noise and only pick up your voice.

We recommend the Sennheiser e835 for a wired option and the Lenco BMC-090PK Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone for a very cool wireless option.

To see more, check out our top picks of karaoke microphones.


4. Control audio levels with a sound mixer

SubZero SZ-MIX04 4-Channel Mini MixerThe complexity of your audio mixer is up to you – but if you want to be able to control your audio levels and ensure that vocals and backing tracks are balanced, you’ll need at least a basic mixer.

We recommend the SubZero SZ-MIX04 4-Channel Mini Mixer, it gives you everything you need in a compact form.


5. Organise your song library

Whether you’re using CDGs, a dedicated karaoke app, or a music streaming service, you’ll want to make sure you have a good, organised range of songs. You could sort them alphabetically into one long list or split them into different genres – either way, make sure it’s easy to find the song your performer wants quickly and easily.


6. Sound check

The final step is to check that everything works smoothly. Test your sound, adjust your audio levels with the mixer, and make sure that microphones and backing tracks are well balanced. Whether you do this the day before or on the day of the party, it should give you some peace of mind that everything will run seamlessly on the night!

Our tips for throwing the best karaoke party

1. Get some song requests before the party

Ask your friends if there are any songs in particular that they’ll definitely want to sing. If you’re using CDGs, this means you can purchase the disk before the party; if you’re using a streaming service, you can add it to the song library.


2. Keep a playlist going in between karaoke songs

No one wants complete silence when they’re choosing their song. Make sure the vibe is right throughout the night by having a general playlist in the background.


3. Think about lights, costumes, and props

You could set some mood lighting for the event, or you could set up some multi-coloured party lights. Many of these lights flash in time to the beat of the music – great for hyping up guests and keeping the party atmosphere all night long. And just for fun, have a box of costumes and props for people to use!

FAQs

How do I do karaoke at home without a machine?

To throw a karaoke party without a machine, use a streaming service that allows you to play both the song and lyrics. Use a dynamic cardioid microphone to pick up the vocals and play everything through a suitable speaker that connects to your television.


Do I need a mixer for home karaoke?

A mixer is needed for karaoke to ensure that all audio levels are balanced and clear. You can also add effects like reverb for an enhanced, professional sound. However, if you’re happy with any EQ controls included on your speaker, you can stick with these just fine!


Can I do karaoke on my smart TV?

You can do karaoke on your smart TV, in fact, some TVs even have dedicated karaoke features, such as LG’s Karaoke Channel App. But even without this niche feature, it’s easy to connect a speaker and microphones and get started with a good singsong.

Final thoughts

If you’ve been wondering how to do karaoke at home, we hope this guide has helped! There are only a few pieces of equipment you need, and it’s all relatively easy to set up. Plus, what better way to get together with friends and throw a unique, memorable night?

For more party guides, check out the links below.

What is a Silent Disco? The Ultimate Guide to This Unique Way of Partying

The 75 Best Party Songs That Will Get Everyone Dancing

What is a PA System? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

 

Content Writer - Guitars

Maisie is a pianist who's interested in pop, rock, and the role of women in music. She spent her degree focusing on music journalism, specifically the way in which female artists are portrayed in the media. Sometimes, she plays guitar, but this is very rare.

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