When I sing with a microphone connected to the KN6000, I use only the preset reberb define as "Karaoke". The reverb is, in my opinion, too heavy, but it's easy to decrease this effect.
My question is : is it possible to adjust the tuning of the voice, in order to obtain a sound with less bass and more treble, i should say more "christallin" ?
I imagine that the equalizer works for the overall instrument and not for the voice only, then a solution should consist to use one of the many DSP filters, but which one ???
Perhaps it is my microphone which is not a good one, what king of microphone would you suggest me to buy (characteristics, model, trade mark)?

Thank you for helping me.

PS: I do not use the harmonizer function !


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Pierre

Pierre,
I'm not sure about the KN6000, but on my X1, the EQ controls for the mic input were part of the harmony processor. Maybe, check that out. Otherwise, you can use an external EQ
(like a guitar pedal) BEFORE you put the mic into the input. I remember the Karaoke echo on the KN5000, and it IS way too dark for my taste. I think it's a very low rez effect, and I could never use it in a pro situation. If you don't plan on using harmony, and the EQ is NOT internal - I'd recommend a good vocal processor that's dedicated to your mic before it goes into the keyboard. I really like the "acous-TEC" unit by DOD. It's made for acoutic guitar, but all the essentials for voclas are in it. EQ, Rev, Del, Chorus - it's pretty cool, and it's small. You also have built in footswitches to turn the different effects on & off. Check it out. It's about $150 US.

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Uncle Dave

Pierre,

I don't know much about singing with the KN6000 but I do know a bit about microphones. The most widely used mic for vocals is the Shure SM58. It's not cheap, but it is a quality mic.

See http://www.shure.com/sm58.html for info.

Regards,
Mike

I think I can help!
I also found the mic sound a bit too bassy.
I'm not at the keyboard at present so I'm only working from memory.
Bring up the mic settings page, select multi effect set(I think its called that), scroll through the various effects until you find parametric EQ, then select TOO BRIGHT (I think thats what it's called), then go back to to the first mic page and switch the multi effect ON. It works independently of the multi button on the face of the keyboard.
You can permanently save that setting perhaps as the custom panel mic setting or in a panel memory.

I think I can help!
I also found the mic sound a bit too bassy.
I'm not at the keyboard at present so I'm only working from memory.
Bring up the mic settings page, select multi effect set(I think its called that), scroll through the various effects until you find parametric EQ, then select TOO BRIGHT (I think thats what it's called), then go back to to the first mic page and switch the multi effect ON. It works independently of the multi button on the face of the keyboard.
You can permanently save that setting perhaps as the custom panel mic setting or in a panel memory.

I only want to thank all of you for your kindest help. This is how I understand the use of Internet (i.e. the opposite of the stupid "ILOVEYOU" and similar makers !).
The best way will be for me going on answering, when possible, to the various requests posted in the many forums.
I share this hobby of electronical music, and I will keep you informed of my progress in this matter.
Cheers !

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Pierre

============

My dealer suggest me a Sennheiser e845 (détail on page : http://www.sennheiser.com/evolution/evomic/e845s.html).
What would you prefer ?
I'm really disabled to make any choice in this matter !
Please, help...


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Pierre

The Sehheiser is nice - so is the EV ND/YM series. The SM58 is one of the bassier mics around. It was built a LONG time ago and things have improved alot over the years. I have three of them, and I won't part with them, but I can't sing into one anymore - it just sounds like there is a sock on the mic compared to my EV 767. Some people sound great on them - I need the high end "sizzle" without pumping up the EQ. Also check out the Samson s12 - darn good mic for the money.

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Uncle Dave

GREAT !
Many thanks Peter for your tip.
I tried yesterday evening this setting which solves most of the problem I had. And the best thing is that this setting to "TOO BRIGHT" showed me very obviouly that my microphone is only... a toy ! (many unwished noises). The most surprising is the consequence of this setup : now the Karaoke reverb sounds well !
I will buy on saturday a good mic : I assume that all my difficulties will be solved.

By the way, I phoned yesterday to a dealer who affirmed that no owner of a keyboard like the KN6000 would accept to sing with a mic connected to the keyboard. He invited me to buy a full system (mic + amplifier + speakers + ...) amounting about
FRF 6000 (US$ 850). He states that the song task is an overwork for the keyboard which deteriorates the overall performance. He also affirms that the life of the kn6000 speakers will be considerably diminished.
Do you think this guy is right or is only a baited trader ?



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Pierre

Pierre,

Regarding the mic, I have to acknowledge that Uncle Dave has more personal experience of mics than I have, and so I respect his opinions. My experience is mainly from the mixing side.

It is certainly true that SM58's are old - I have been using them for probably in excess of 10 years. However, SM58's are still being manufactured and sold because they are recognised as being good mics. I have never had any trouble with them, and do not have to apply any EQ due to the characteristics of the mic.

In my opinion, the best test is your ears. With an amplifier running at a nominal level (neither too loud nor too soft) a singer should sound as close as possible to their natural sound, assuming you are not adding reverb, etc, and that all EQ settings are at their midpoint or completely bypassed. This needs to be true over the full frequency range and dynamic range of the singer.

There are other characteristics too look for, but these are fairly common to all good quality vocal mics. For example, a cardiod mic minimizes extraneous noises, such as sound from a nearby drum kit (including the drum kit in your KN6000). I notice the mic you mention (e845s) claims to be super-cardiod. That maybe good provided it does not give you too small an angle of pickup. If it is too small then your amplified volume may fluctuate if you move around too much in relation to the mic.

Good luck

Hi Pierre
Certainly for public performance you will need a full PA system however for home use the inbuilt mic is fine. As for damaging the speakers, well, I doubt very much that more stress could be put on the speakers by your voice than by, for example, the rock drawbars.
By the way you can add additional top end to the mic output by adjusting the overall equalizer but of course this affects the whole keyboard. I have done this and don't mind the resulting brighter sound.
Have you also noticed that using the multi effect you can do all sorts of things to your voice.....add chorus, modulation, etc etc, but only one at a time.

Sennheiser e845 vs Shure SM58
=============================

I tried both of them last Saturday and also a AKG and other mics.
The price of the e845 and SM58 is mostly similar.
My main conclusion is that the SM58 is for female voices and the e845 for male voices.
I bought the Sennheiser : it gives really excellent results on the KN6000. I did not encounter any problem of Larsen.
Obviously, this conclusion represents only my opinion : this is not a rule neither a dogma. But I think that this can be considered as a "guideline"...

Many thanks to all of you who helped me in this choice. The micro I was using before was really and only a toy !

Cheers


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Pierre

Well done Pierre!
You got objective opinions, and then used your ears for the final test. That's a wise move. No two people will sound the same in the same mic, so you were smart to choose the one that suited your voice tone.
As to singing through the on board speakers- I do it ALL THE TIME. I sing alot. I sing strong, and I sing with the harmonizer VERY often. THat's like 4 of me in the keyboard speakers. I don't shout, and I back off of the really high or loud notes. In other words - I work the mic, so it enhances my performance. Mic technique is VERY, VERY important - even in a big PA. Lot's of my gigs are small rooms and house parties, and the sound of the keyboard speakers is an integral part of the overall mix. I do add a bass amp on almost all jobs (to fill out the bottom) but I love the sound I get from the speakers in the X1. This is one of my priorities in a keyboard, and the biggest reason that I can't use a PSR9000.(Poor use of polyphony is the second!)
Again, enjoy the sound system in the keyboard, but use your head - the speakers are small, and they need a little TLC to sound their best. The PSR9000 can't even play the piano & bass together at usable volumes, without distortion - WITHOUT a mic connected. The sound system on the KN5000 was the loudest I'd heard at the time I had one - I'm sure the 6000 is just as good. Sing on, my friend - don'y buy a PA unless you really need to.(or WANT to)

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Uncle Dave

The first test "in live" of all my newest hardware will be on 11th of june.
I will meet 40 friends of mine for a great day of music : a jazz band will play and sing during the lunch and the dinner. The afternoon will be dedicated for playing KN6000 and singing with karaoke files.
Then, the night will be very short and intensive, I hope !

;-)

I appreciated a lot the messages of uncle Dave : very kind, wise and helpful !
Many thanks again to everybody.

Your french friend,
Pierre


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Pierre

Very great day !
The KN6000 has been perfect : no bug nor sound stick when playing. Only once when I was installing it, I had to reset the keyboard because everything was frozen !
By the way, I discovered at home a usefull tip of the demo button : it can normally work very fine as a "reset button". That's funny and efficient !




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Pierre