How to do karaoke at home without a machine

Jason Dydynski -

It’s a Friday night. (Or hey, maybe it’s a Tuesday afternoon?) You’re hanging around the house with nothing to do when the urge to stretch your karaoke muscle strikes. But unfortunately, you’ve got no equipment. You’re not even the kind of person who would own a personalized karaoke setup – or maybe you are, and you just don’t know it yet. Never fear! Karaoke comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes a minimal experience can be just as exciting and engaging as hitting the stage at your local karaoke bar.

For however you prefer your karaoke, there are a number of different scenarios available: the karaoke novice, the occasional singer, the fun-with-friends performer, and the die-hard vocalist. Each one can make a case for investing in their very own karaoke machine, depending on a variety of factors. But even if you don’t have the space, the budget, or the patience for a home setup, you can still kick the party into high gear.

Don’t let a case of karaoke FOMO spoil your evening. We’ve broken down some basic scenarios and have suggestions as to how best to run karaoke without a karaoke machine. Check out our options below:

I’ve got no equipment, but I still want to sing right now

We get it. Sometimes you just want to jam – and you don't have the tools on hand to make it a spotlight, center-stage spectacle. That’s okay: not having the karaoke equipment at the ready should never stop the fun. We’ve got solutions for navigating through all different types of at-home karaoke questions.

First and foremost: it’s not all about the expensive programs and the high-caliber machines and products (although, once you get there, they are pretty amazing!) If you are without all of the karaoke bells and whistles, or you just haven’t decided if a proper home karaoke room is for you, it’s still possible to have a great time with great music without the equipment.

To get a seamless, straightforward home karaoke setup, all you really need is your computer, your mobile device, or a Smart TV– not to mention those sparkling vocal pipes of yours! With a high-quality karaoke streaming service like Singa, you can experience world-class karaoke without the heavy machinery. Simply start by logging in to the platform. Then:

  • Create a free account. You can navigate to singa.com with your computer, download the Singa app to your mobile device or tablet, or open Singa with your Smart TV.
  • Select your favorite tracks from thousands and thousands of karaoke songs. Transpose the pitch and configure the playback to match your preferred volume and range.
  • Press play and start singing! With Singa, you can enjoy singing without ads. Sing until your heart’s content with either the FREE account – which includes a select number of song plays per day, or upgrade to Singa Premium to unlock an even bigger and better catalog.

For more info about putting together the perfect karaoke setup for your space, click here.

I like to keep things chill some nights with family and friends

If you are a homebody who prefers to do karaoke on their own turf with the occasional family member or friend, there are some steps you can take to get your hands on some simple products that will help facilitate those chill, low-key evenings at home. After all, karaoke is all about singing on YOUR terms.

Skip the big-ticket machines and speaker hook-ups for now and start at the beginning: browse from some of the best high quality speaker and microphone sets on the market (and our personal favorites). These items can be purchased and stored easily and conveniently in your home. Look for options that never skimp on sound quality and include features like echo control and HDMI- and USB- plug-in capabilities to ensure that you’re always connected.

If you’ve got friends who also love karaoke nights at home, consider pooling your money and chipping in together on an extra-fancy portable setup that can be rotated around your group. These types of models are still mostly lightweight and a cinch to transport and work.

I like to throw the odd karaoke party once in a while

We hear you: Karaoke is fun, but maybe it’s not worth investing in a proper system just yet. You like to host a party now and then, and your friends love to sing it up in your house, but do you really need a dedicated karaoke space right now?

If you’re still on the fence about karaoke equipment, consider some great rental options for your next party. There are plenty of local retailers in your area that specialize in renting out quality karaoke players and speakers – delivered and installed by professionals, and then collected once the fun is over. These are ideal for hosts with minimal space and limited budgets, but who don’t want to give up their musical traditions.

Or, if you’re thinking that it’s probably a good idea to at least have some low-cost, high-value karaoke products on hand at all times – for those very impromptu breakout party sessions –  you can pick up a few party favors to keep handy. Selecting from a line of professional-grade microphones and speakers is great for party hosts who are still considering a major permanent in-house karaoke setup. If you've purchased the tools for a last-minute karaoke party, you'll always be prepared for whatever mood strikes.

An easy solution is also getting a JBL party box, see our guide here.

Another great option for the occasional karaoke host is the Singa 2-Day Premium Pass – perfect for parties! The 48-hour pass lets you sing at home using the Singa app on your computer, phone, tablet, Android TV, or Apple TV. Simply log on, purchase for $5.99 and you get access to quality karaoke versions of the biggest and best songs – adjust the song pitch to a level that best suits your voice, you can even turn on guide vocals to help you work your way through unfamiliar tracks.

Best of all, you can launch the Singa karaoke player in a separate window or TV screen with the pop-out player and browse and add songs while your friends are at the mic. Take control of the song queue with ease, without ever disrupting the party!

I’m a die-hard karaoke fan looking to totally outfit my space

If you’ve got a love for karaoke and the above options just won’t do, consider amping up your space with a top-of-the-line setup. Depending on the size of the area you have to work with, there are a number of configurations available. But consider the following:

  • Are you thinking about dedicating an entire room of the house to karaoke? Vacant storage rooms are great for turning drab into fab! First off, be prepared to devote some funds for excellent soundproofing, on top of the equipment.
  • If you are constructing from the ground up (like a major section of an unfinished basement), get your building team to make the most of the space from day one –  consider a small stage, if possible; and maybe a dedicated bar space with ample room for seating for when guests are watching and waiting their turn.
  • Make sure that you’ve factored in all of the lighting and power supply elements so that you don’t blow a fuse: energy usage from speakers, lights, microphone hookups, and the karaoke player itself can add up, so make sure you’re prepared.

Now that you’ve got the space designed, you’ll want to invest in some quality karaoke equipment. Some basic products you’ll need for your at-home karaoke venue include loudspeakers, digital screens, microphones, iPads, cables, and mixers.

There you have it! A comprehensive breakdown of the benefits, the drawbacks, and everything else you need to know about owning, or not owning, karaoke equipment for your at-home satisfaction. Now that you’ve got a sense of where karaoke can take you on your next evening indoors, you should be ready to make an informed decision.