hi just purchased a kam 1500 mixer to go with my sounlab setup (sp800 amp 250rms speakers and 300 rms bins) what i wanna know is on the back there is a master setting for the mixer does it matter what it's set at i mean i know its gotta to be on but what if i turn the setting off meaning no protection, what i need advice for as well is the echo on the mixer it just doesnt sound right maybe it's cause i never used this sort of thing b4 i'm used to using the karaoke machine echo is there anything i'm doing wrong any advice would be great thanks guys

I'm no longer a Kam distributor so I'm not familiar with the product nor do I have any literature to refer to. I would go with what Gary has already said with regard to the Master Control.

The echo is a different issue however and not something that you can do anything about. In the days of valve amps, Echo or rather reverb was produced by a "Spring Line" affair which was exactly how it sounded - long rows of springs which used to clatter about when you carried the amp around . Many live artists still swear by the old method, since today Echo or Delay type effects are produced by dedicated i.c's (Microchips). This means that the "Echo" from one product will sound different to the Echo in another manufacturers product for example.

A lot of this is just personal taste, but it isn't unusual for Karaoke D.J's to say that they prefered the echo on a previous unit to the one that they own now!. Usually the Echo produced on Karaoke Units is far superior to that which comes built into a Mixer or P.A Amp.

I don't do Karaoke as a service, but I do hire out several machines for the general public to use as well as D.J's. I shouldn't keep promoting the budget end of the market nor favouring suppliers but I do have an old 3 Disc ELV Machine Retail price (from me) was £159 and as far as echo is concerned it was one of the best that I ever came across . The reliability was also A1, outlasting the Hyundai (don't they make cars!) and RSQ models which both literally stopped working just out of warranty .

The hire circuit is very punishing, so I tend to base my own opinions and judgements on how well the equipment does and how long it last's when it's hired out, rather than it having a fancy name, lots of flashing lights and a huge price tag. IMHO, if a piece of hire gear battles on for years on hire then it get's the thumbs up from me, since it's gonna be pretty bullet proof when used by the same D.J / owner and looked after. O.K so with any electrical equipment you take a chance on reliability but I base my own personal gear around the models which have proved well out on hire, and touch wood, this philosophy has never yet me down, nor cost me a small fortune!.

Also very good Echo wise but slighty more "clunky" in operation was the old Niko 2000 Players which played all MP3, VCD and CDG format's and were at one time on offer for £119, a Bargain!. Sadly, don't ask me for either the ELV or Niko's since they are now discontinued, but both very good machines if you see 'em 2nd hand .

Am I reading right here!
Please say no........

Unless using any of these said players for home use are you actually saying that you plug your mic's into the actual players?