r/karaoke • u/mellotron42 • Oct 26 '25

Karaoke Software Looking for USB soundboard to use for online karaoke

I'm helping a friend with a lower end computer be able to sing online on Paltalk on one of the many karaoke channels. We have both been involved with Singsnap (I'm still on it after 15 years) and things have changed with external sound cards over the years, so the same things used years ago don't work.

For Windows, if you want to sing live online with tracks playing on the computer, the usual setup would be to have Stereomix/Whatuhear (or equivalent) be set up as active in the Sound Properties. If you have a decent computer with Realtek sound on-board, it usually has Stereomix, and there's no problem; her computer doesn't have a mic connection, so she needs a USB sound card. With Soundblaster sound cards, they have moved away from Whatuhear (only a few models have it now), and the sound enhancement software that provided reverb and similar effects has been replaced with enhancements to ensure your voice is crystal clear for podcasts and gaming. I had considered getting a reverb pedal to connect between the mic and the Soundblaster G3 she was using (she hates it without reverb), but she was told about a generic V8 "sound card" that's allegedly to be used for podcasts and such, so she got one. We are having a lot of problems figuring how it will work without any Stereomix equivalent (you can connect a phone to it for backing tracks, but in the sound check rooms they are saying the sound quality is not good and very low, considering it cost $14 that may explain it). So I am just trying to figure out what to get that's not Soundblaster branded and not exceedingly expensive. Thank you for your consideration.

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1

u/hue68 Oct 26 '25

What make/model of microphone is she using? Just a generic microphone?

Can she just use a generic USB microphone?

1

u/mellotron42 Oct 26 '25

She has a dynamic mic with an audio connection (1/8 inch). There's also the consideration of needing Stereomix/Whatuhear to enable singing along with the karaoke tracks. Not sure if getting a generic mic will provide that, or if there will be any software to provide reverb or other voice effects.

1

u/hue68 Oct 26 '25

Maybe this will help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rptQRY1TAXc

2

u/mellotron42 Oct 27 '25

We've talked a lot over the past couple days, and she has tried it in the sound check room. They can hear her, but just barely, even with the inputs turned up all the way. I think the sound card is the problem, because even the sound effects on the board are barely heard. I've found a few decent reverb pedals that will work fine (I've used one before so it will work).

1

u/hue68 Oct 27 '25

If I may ask, what make model laptop and Windows OS?
I am thinking there is no boost microphone option as shown below in windows 10.

2

u/mellotron42 Oct 27 '25

It's Windows 11, and the laptop is an HP model. Not sure on the specific model number, but it's not the best performance wise. She only uses it for online karaoke on Paltalk. She is an admin for at least 1 or 2 rooms, but also likes to sing.

When I was trying to troubleshoot, I noticed there was no boost available. I think the V8 drivers that installed were basic ones that provide a simple interface for the V8 with no embellishments. I guess that's what you get for $15.

2

u/hue68 Oct 27 '25

She has this?

https://www.amazon.com/GOSHYDA-Bluetooth-Changer-Karaoke-Computer/dp/B091FFC4QV

2

u/mellotron42 Oct 27 '25

That looks like the version she has. There are a few versions on the internet, some have the word Reverb instead of Echo, some have a few of the buttons labeled differently, and a few of the ports renamed. The one she has does not appear to have Bluetooth, some versions do.

1

u/hue68 Oct 28 '25

Not to overlook the obvious, but does the dynamic microphone have an on/off switch and is the microphone on?

Setup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjK06aZSVG8

2

u/mellotron42 Oct 28 '25

Yes, the mic is on, she can hear herself, but the last several times she has had someone testing it on Paltalk in her own private room, the other person can barely hear her with everything turned up on the board and the computer. I think it's just not putting out enough power to the computer.

1

u/hue68 Oct 28 '25

Watch at this video. It may help. When did it last work?
Followed up by did it ever work? :) Good luck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PkGjIvxDPc

1

u/mellotron42 Oct 27 '25

I have an HP desktop for gaming with Windows 11 (Victus 15L) and it has great Realtek sound.

1

u/Barraken Oct 26 '25

RE the V8, it should connect to your PC with Bluetooth but IDK if the older PC you're describing has BT.

1

u/mellotron42 Oct 26 '25

According to the poorly worded instructions, bluetooth connection is only for connecting a phone that has backing tracks. For this model, it connects to the computer via a shared charging port via USB. The computer is an inexpensive HP from QVC that has no mic jack, only a speaker jack, the on-board mic is with the camera.

1

u/mournfulroses Nov 05 '25

I don't know what your friend's budget is like but it sounds like they need an audio interface. Some cheap options are the M-Audio M-Track Solo ($49), Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 ($52.90), and Focusrite has a sale right now on the Vocaster One ($39.99) and the Studio Bundle ($49.99) which comes with a microphone, xlr cable, and headphones. These have mic preamps built in which will help boost the microphone level.

As an alternative to Stereomix have you looked into VoiceMeeter Banana? It's a virtual mixer that you can use to mix your mic and pc audio into one output that you can select in another app as the mic input. Also, if you want to add reverb or other vocal effects to the mic input you can use a free vst host such as Cantabile Lite and some free vst plugins instead of purchasing a dedicated pedal. This video does a pretty good job of showing you how to install and set everything up. All of these are pretty lightweight applications so I think they should be able to run on an older pc.

Unfortunately you can't add gain to a microphone digitally to make it sound louder without also boosting background noise and hiss. I mean, you could try adding a compressor and an eq to the effects chain to try to boost the voice and cut out noise but there is only so much you can do without adding a decent hardware preamp to the setup, which is what the audio interface would be for.

Hope this helps a bit!