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offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-09 03:50 [#01104260]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01104246 | Show recordbag



Ok.. I think I'll stick to the matrix 3 for now, then.

I'll probably order it in a while... as I HAVE (as opposed
to what one may believe from my posts here) tried scratching
and beatmixing before, I just haven't gotten into the
technical terms yet. So.. I will probably be able to give a
small feedback-ish thing of the matrix once I've tried it..
for future reference...

Have you ordered the ortofon scratch-cartridge yet, Ceri?


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-09 04:04 [#01104274]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01104260 | Show recordbag



Nope, still saving for that... Got a few more records to buy
first. I'm having doubts about it though, I may go for the
Shure as they're cheaper and probably slightly better for
use on Technics (if I use them to play out). I'll probably
wait till I have the cash to get the Shures and see if I can
bear to wait till I have enough for the Ortofons. My
existing needles are getting pretty bad. I could role back
to my Stanton 500s, but they're hardly new either.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-09 04:07 [#01104275]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



hmm. well. I'll get the ortofons anyway, so I'll tell you if
they are worth it (I'm kind of audiophile (or whatever they
may call it), so I've got an ear for good sound...). I'll
test it for regular playback on a hifi setup, and compare to
another, regular vinylplayer with a good needle.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-09 04:18 [#01104283]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01104275 | Show recordbag



Cheers :)


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-22 05:49 [#01113228]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



ah. the turntable finally arrived (funfunfun!). I'll get the
ortofon the 31st. Is there some way of judging how the
weight should be set? I don't want it to skip when
scratching (which, by the reviews, is pretty hard to do with
the technics/ortofon combo anyway...), nor do I want it to
cause unneccessary tear to the records while scratching...
(I'll set it lighter for just listening...)

and.. btw: what is "anti-skating control" and "back-queing"?


 

offline dave_g from United Kingdom on 2004-03-22 09:56 [#01113465]
Points: 3372 Status: Lurker



Mount the stylus and headshell, etc on the tonearm. Wind the
weight at the back of the tonearm to a point where the
tonearm is in equlibrium, i.e. the thing floats. Move the
bit of the weight with the numbers on it so that the zero is
at the top.
Now wind it so the weight moves with the numbers, and set it
to the desired weight in grams.
The tech spec with the stylus should say the recommended
weight to use. Hope that makes sense.

The anti-skate is an adjustment to the tonearm, where it
pulls it towards the edge of the record slightly, since it
has a natural tendancy to move towards the centre.
You can use antiskate settings to compensate for this, but
its really just a 'set and forget' sort of thing.
It might come in handy if you have a skippy old record or
something.

Back queing?? Dunno, doesn't sound like a feature of a deck,
more like something a dj does when using it? Its probably
something obvious like moving the record backwards and
forwards over a cue point in anticipation of letting it go
on a beat??


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-22 10:34 [#01113521]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to dave_g: #01113465 | Show recordbag



I agree with everything Dave says in this post, similarly I
dunno what back queing is either, I've seen it refered to
elsewhere, so maybe it's another name for something else
(perhaps doing looping a section by rewinding the record a
bar or two whilst another copy plays the looped area?).

Re: Setting the weight of the tonearm for scratching. It can
be tempting to set it higher rather than lower (in terms of
the amount of force applied) when you start out, to stop it
from skipping. I'd advise against this. If you make it light
and easy to skip, you'll naturally improve your light
handedness through neccessity. That way, when it comes to a
situation where you really don't want it to skip (say
youy're competing, or showing off to friends/whatever) you
still have the option of adding a bit of weight to almost
guarantee you won't skip it.

One of my mates has never bothered to do this and he is
overly heavy handed when scratching, so it skips a lot. The
other problem with this is that to compensate, people apply
far too much weight and it really does affect the sound
quality. One guy I saw at the local DMC heats reported the
turntable as broken due to the huge amount of feedback
coming through on a deck that was queued up and faded in,
but not playing. It was actually just his gain turned up too
high and too much downward force on the stylus.


 

offline dave_g from United Kingdom on 2004-03-22 10:54 [#01113557]
Points: 3372 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01113521



Yeah, you don't need tons of pressure. In fact the
relationship between pressure and non skipping is not
linear.
If I double the pressure, it doesn't make it skip half as
much, but it also eats up both vinyl and needles much
quicker.
I generally use 3.5 grams for scratching and 2.5 for
listening. although bear in mind my decks are more prone to
skip than 1210s/pdxs due to their cheaper price (gunna
upgrade soon:)
you can listen with less than 2.5 grams pressure, but with
some old vinyl you may get a skip, so I use 2.5 grams
because I sample a lot of old records like 70s funk breaks
into the akai.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-23 02:29 [#01114602]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



ok. thanks. and i think back-queing may have something to do
with that "pause" stick (the one that lifts the arm up...).
I think it is referred to as the cue-stick or something like
that in the manual.

I know about that "looping" thing with two records, and
that's beatjuggling, I think. I may be wrong though, 'cause
I only know words for this in norwegian (which is why I ask
so many questions which may seem COMPLETELY newbie (I am a
newbie, but I have tried some scratching and beatmixing
before (I managed a beatmix with two records at different
bpm's, so I had to pitch...)). For instance, I would call
the entire headshell/cartridge/stylus -area for "nål."

btw: what IS the difference between a stylus and a pickup?
is pickup a fancy word for stylus? or does pickup
incorporate the entire cartridge/stylus-area?


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-23 09:33 [#01114834]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01114602 | Show recordbag



I've only heard "pickup" used in relation to amps/guitars,
not turntables.

I've checked in "How to DJ: properly" and they mention back
cueing. It is just another name for looping a record using
two copies and rewinding them alternately. Bit of a
misleading term as like you said, it suggests "cueing" using
the tone arm (whereas in reality you're just manipulating
the vinyl).

"Beat Juggling" is generally used as an umbrella term for a
whole range of rhythm manipulations including: looping two
records, cutting between two different records very fast to
create a new rhythm, fancy tricks like "fills" and
"tripling", using one or two decks as drum (say, a kick and
snare on one and a stab/hit and cymbal on the other; this is
called "beat chopping").


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-24 05:10 [#01115890]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



ok.

I've started noticing what equipment dj's and stuff on music
videos and tv are using, and almost all of them use Technics
+ some ortofon cartridge... I'm becoming more confident in
the ortofons now.

Also, Ralph Myerz (who I know a bit) is going to recommend
me some mixer, and I guess I'll stick with the one he says
in the end.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-24 05:52 [#01115911]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01115890 | Show recordbag



I'd be tearing my hair out with frustration at having a
turntable, but no carts/mixer :)


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-24 06:05 [#01115920]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01115911 | Show recordbag



haha! yeah, but I've learned to be patient.. I ALWAYS have
exactly-not-enough-money.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-24 06:15 [#01115930]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01115920 | Show recordbag



I would of waited till I could afford to buy the lot in one
go, maybe get a reduction in price that way, too.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-24 06:20 [#01115934]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



hehe.. yeah, but the problem is that I would probably spend
all the money then... I have to buy as soon as I have the
amount, or else, I won't have the amount again.

but about slipmats.. they don't cost much, and I see you
discussed them on the previous page.. there WAS a slipmat in
the pack with the turntable, but I'm guessing that's
shit...

I can't find anything conclusive in that discussion back
there, so could you just recommend one?


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-25 02:07 [#01117291]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01115934 | Show recordbag



Bundled slipmats are usually a bit weak (for scratching).
The rubber mats that usually come with Technics are only
really any use for listening or "weight training" (improving
hand strength for scratching). Get a pair of Thud Rumble's
Butter Rugs (V2.0). If you want Technics branded ones to
match your 'tables, go for Technics Speed mats.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-25 02:24 [#01117300]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01117291 | Show recordbag



ok. thanks.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-31 01:26 [#01125843]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01117291 | Show recordbag



damn.. I have one more question about this.. (why do I say
thanks and "end" it before I'm done?!).

That huge, heavy rubber-mat that came with it (it says it is
a turntable mat)... should that stay on when I get the real
slipmat?!


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-31 02:02 [#01125904]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01125843 | Show recordbag



Nope, you take that off and put the slipmat on instead.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-31 02:05 [#01125912]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01125904 | Show recordbag



ok.

I was just wondering, 'cause I saw some slipmats which were
really thin (they were nothing more than two millimetres,
and they were made of something that looked like the stuff
in popfilters or in front of speakers, only "lighter"

that would make the pin in the centre of the platter really
high, plus the stuff could get caught in those two holes in
the platter (the ones used for lifting the platter off when
moving it...)


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-31 02:50 [#01125973]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01125912 | Show recordbag



Perhaps those very thin slipmats you mentioned were "Flying
Carpets" (which do need another slipmat on top) or,
if they were a custom job, most likely circles cut from the
stuff from the inside of record sleeves.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-31 03:00 [#01125992]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01125973 | Show recordbag



possibly.. these were numark ones.. it said numark on
them... they were really slippery.. i don't think the record
nor the platter stuck to them, actually...

so.. if I buy a thin slipmat, you'd recommend keeping the
rubber-thingie under it?


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-31 04:20 [#01126123]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01125992 | Show recordbag



No, even if it is very thin, don't have the rubber thing on
it. All slip matts look thin compared to the rubber matt :)

If you want to make sure, post a link to the slipmatts and
I'll check it out.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-31 04:22 [#01126124]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01126123 | Show recordbag



i'll try and find it...

I'm just worried about dust and stuff going into the holes
you use for lifting the platter...


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-31 04:26 [#01126129]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01126124 | Show recordbag



Even if the slip mats were porous enough to let dust through
(they probably won't be, no matter how thin they are), it
shouldn't be a problem- you should cover your setup if
you're going to leave it for any length of time. I don't
have lids on my turntables, so I just have a dust cloth I
drape over the whole setup whenever I've finished playing.

Also, bear in mind, Technics can be used for years in dirty,
smokey environments etc. - a bit of dust won't hurt 'em :)


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-31 04:33 [#01126137]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01126129 | Show recordbag



ok.. but it says I have to oil them occationally, thoug.. I
know where and how, but WHEN?! how the fuck am I supposed to
know when the turntable has played for 2000 rounds or
whatever!?


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-31 04:44 [#01126143]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



and.. I've ordered the ortophons now, but... they'll
probably take five weeks to get here (like the turntables
did.. it seems the place I order from order from the
manufacturer when someone order from them, so they don't
really have anything in stock.. ever...)


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-31 04:44 [#01126144]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01126143 | Show recordbag



(turntables = turntable.. i've only got one so far...
(smiling face))


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-03-31 04:46 [#01126145]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01126137 | Show recordbag



I'd check with Dave about that...


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-03-31 04:53 [#01126150]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



well.. let's hope he checks by the post when he logs on,
then.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-03 03:52 [#01130961]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag



Q. for Dave, but others are welcome to comment. I notice
that Vestax seem to be focusing on their "normal" scratch
mixers as opposed to both normal and samurai versions; last
three announced scratch mixers = 05mk3 (just a revised 05),
007 (revised 07) and 05SL (05 with a built in sampler). I'd
assumed that for most new scratch mixers they'd be bringing
out both a Samurai and a "normal" version. However, now the
Rane TM56 seems to be the new king of scratch mixers (and
the Pioneer 707&909 are getting rave reviews too...) it
looks like they're focusing on their normal mixers. You
reckon they've resigned themselves to second place?
Personally, I think their £100 price hike across the
Samurai range has done them no favours- it just means it's
"only" a couple hundred more for a Rane.

Drunken Mastah; Don't worry about only having one. That's
fine to start practicing scratching on. Just plug a CD
player/the audio out of your pc in the other channel and
have your beats on that. My only advise would be to switch
the side the mixer is on every couple of weeks or else
you'll become "one handed", which is a pain.

When you do get a second deck, try using different
configurations, left style (mixer to the left of both
decks), right style, "normal", battle and L-style, which is
left turntable in battle style, right turntable in normal-
makes the start/stop button a lot easier to reach quickly
from the mixer on technics. No need to do this on the latest
numarks as they have a start/stop on both top and bottom, so
you can keep them both in battle style. That's the one thing
I want to become the norm on scratch oriented turntables. It
lets you do thinks like fade in/out and start/stop at the
same time with one hand.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-04-03 06:38 [#01131011]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01130961 | Show recordbag



a mixer w/ built-in sampler? strange...

and.. what is "samurai" version?

Rane TM56? how much is the normal price for it?

and lastly: is there NO way of changing the audio-cables
coming out from the technics? they seem a bit.. poorly
isolated...


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-03 09:51 [#01131112]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01131011 | Show recordbag



Yeah, that's one of the reasons I prefer Vestax... easily
user replaceable. I don't know how to change them, I've used
Techs in clubs etc. but I've never owned a pair or taken
them apart.

The mixer with sampler built in has just been shown at a
music expo show, it probably won't be out for at least 4
months. Basically there's a growing trend amongst tablists
for people to use samplers (foot pedal controlled ones, like
guitarists use) to allow one guy, even on one deck, to do
something more akin to what you'd need a team of DJs for.
I'm not sure if it'll catch on, but personally, I think a
sampler is more useful than built in FX when it comes to
scratching. It'll let you do things like sample and loop
some beat juggling you've done, then scratch over the top,
whereas normally you'd have to scratch along to a pre
recorded break/track.

The samurai mixers are the premium versions of the "Classic"
PMC-06, PMC-05 and PMC-07 mixers. Basically prettier
faceplates (with slightly different artwork as well as
colour), but the main thing is different curve settings (not
just curve control, although you have that too); lets you
set it to square wave, etc. as well as normal curves, faster
cut in times, smoother faders and the main thing is the
durability of the faders (digital rather than optical so
they're not affected by smoke in clubs or even spilt liquids
and they last for years as opposed to months of heavy use).

Rane TTM-56 goes for about £615 (had a price cut recently)
whereas the best full size vestax scratch mixer (PMC-07
Samurai version) goes for £895. Now, there are a few die
hard vestax fans who have either had Vestax for so long that
they don't like any other brand mixers (fave points of
complaint re: rane seems to be the transform switches are
too long and the output is too quiet... not exactly major
flaws) or just genuinely prefer the 07 Pro D to the TTM56,
but at the prices they're at, most people will opt for the
Rane. I mean, the Rane is "only" £120 more than the Vestax
PMC05 Pro


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-04-03 14:11 [#01131352]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01131112 | Show recordbag



Ok.

'cause I've tried a vestax, and I liked the fact that the
headphones had a crossfader that allowed me to do "test"
scratches... I've tried one other mixer (the one that comes
with the numark battle-pack), and the headphone-crossfader
was "slow" (you can't "throw" it like the regular
crossfader).

the rane mixer, from the image I saw, seemed to have a
"slow" headphone-fader as well... but even though a
picture says more than a thousand words, I can't be sure...


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-04 08:19 [#01131819]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag



Bump for Dave.


 

offline dave_g from United Kingdom on 2004-04-04 08:49 [#01131830]
Points: 3372 Status: Lurker



Ok, firstly, oil them when you feel you need to. Its like
when do you get new needles, it depends on use, so if you
feel the turntable isnt performing as well as it should,
give it a bit of an oil.
The same goes for xfaders, lube them when they get a bit
stiff.
Oiling is probably an annual thing, remember, they're very
durable.(think like a tank) so once a year should be fine. I
know people who NEVER do anything to them, and 10 years
later theyre fine.
You shouldn't need dust covers really. I started to use
them, but after about a week I just took them off.
Ive mounted my tables 'sideways' like a pro ;) and so I took
off the hinge mounts on the back of the tables completely,
since you can just place the lids on top if you aren't going
to use them for a while, like holidays or something, as
long as you don't knock them or something, theyre fine like
that.
You could dust them 3 or 4 times a year, and hoover the
slipmats to get rid off all the deep dust in them.

Vestax mixers....hmmm well. As I see it, they were really
good, but now theyre not. If you look at it, they were the
main people behind the whole curve adjust thingy and
introduced ideas like hamster switches and long life
faders.
However once the ideas caught on, other manufacturers can
produce their own variants. Even I could design a circuit to
provide cut in adjustment, and curve adjustment, just using
off the shelf components, and no CPU, so think what
rane/pioneer can do.
There is of course the feel of each brand which is slightly
different, but that is easily overcome after a couple of
weeks.
Vestax have over estimated their market position, and charge
too much for the samurai series. The rane mixers are
expensive, but have more features than the equivalent vestax
mixer.
Numark have done a sampler in a mixer before. it was the
kaos pad in a mixer (kaos pad has a sampler) and it wasn't a
big hit. Vestax mixers are very good, but rane are better,
and pioneer are great too. Its all down to price vs features
not brand reputation a


 

offline dave_g from United Kingdom on 2004-04-04 09:02 [#01131838]
Points: 3372 Status: Lurker



anymore. hmm strange. I managed to use all 2048 characters
but it chops it after 2041 characters. oh well.

ceri: one handedness isnt that bad, I do it all the time,
and only occasionally swap and its no big deal.

If I had the choice, Id get either a rane, or a vestax.
pioneer are for club djs still. theyre great mixers, but not
for battles despite what people may say.
you can get an 06A for 200quid now. the cheapest rane is the
price of an 06D. If you think of that, my first mixer was
just shy of 200quid and was crap, so vestax are gunna get
new people hooked, then when their new range comes out they
will get them then. I mean, samurai is blatantly an interim
product.

oh and complaints that the rane is too quiet is nonsense,
its just the vestax offers tons of headroom, wheras the rane
has a more normal amount. Ive never used a rane long enough
to notice the transforms, although I never use them.ever.
basically to sum up everything that ive said:
vestax=wicked. rane=wicked. price=crap. both are good. the
rest are poo :) (for scratching at least)


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-04 09:08 [#01131841]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to dave_g: #01131838 | Show recordbag



I've always been concious of trying to develop both hands as
sometimes I'll want to scratch along to a track playing on
the left deck and it's never as good as if the track is on
the right. That said, I can lazer (perhaps because my hand
is looser) and single deck beat juggle better on that right
hand side.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-04-05 02:51 [#01132631]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag



how about crossfader size?

the rane seems kind of short, but is that a problem?


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-04-05 06:27 [#01132778]
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btw: still waiting for the ortofons, but Ralph Myerz
recommends them.

what is the normal price for that pack with one extra stylus
in UK?


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-05 07:07 [#01132804]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01132778 | Show recordbag



I can't find that pack anywhere in the uk anymore... even
the twin packs in a box with brush no longer seem to come
with spare styli. Makes me a bit hesitant as I've read they
wear out quicker than Shures. I nearly bought this
pack of them yesterday on a whim, but cancelled at the last
minute. I've decided I can leave it a bit longer and wait
till I'm back in work (in a couple more months) and can
afford them.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-04-05 09:54 [#01132974]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01132804 | Show recordbag



strange.. at the music shop here and the ortofon homepage
they can still be bought, so why doesn't the uk shops have
them?

but.. is that site you linked to for real? i mean.. the
price for a set of two cartridges is the same as the price
for ONE cartridge here in norway!!!


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-05 10:21 [#01133022]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Drunken Mastah: #01132974 | Show recordbag



£120 for one cartridge?! You really should just order from
somewhere that'll ship within the EU (if Norway is) or
Worldwide. The site I linked to do, so you might want to
consider getting it from them. I've dealt with them in the
past and they're pretty good (if slightly expensive for most
hardware, cartridges excluded). BTW, if you're still looking
for a mixer, they have a couple of ex-demonstration Technics
SHEX1200 mixers for £249 each. They're the DMC
competition mixers. Nice build quality, good EQs and V. fast
cut in on the fader, but apparently the faders wear out a
lot quicker than Vestax/Rane ones.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-04-05 10:29 [#01133033]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01133022 | Show recordbag



ya... I've been told not to buy technics mixers... just
because of that fader thing.. plus there was some wiring
wich could come out somewhere if you don't do shit right.

Norway isn't in EU, so.. but if that site ships to
scandinavia, I think I'll have to buy stuff from it...


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-06 04:34 [#01134189]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to dave_g: #01131838 | Show recordbag



"Ive never used a rane long enough
to notice the transforms, although I never use
them.ever."


I've been trying to ween myself off them, because then of
course you can do things like using the line ins as feedback
loops (route secondry master out into them) or put a radio
tuned to static/whatever on it. However, old habits die hard
and after using them a lot (I had a house mixer for ages :)
it's difficult not to instinctively do it. I'm using them
less and less though. I've considered rotating them
horizontally so that I won't use them out of
laziness/through forgetfullness.

Dave, maybe you can shed some light on the following
phenomenon:

Using one line channel as a feedback loop as described above
(and boosting either the high or low gain on that channel)
to get a tone, I can make it fluctuate using the crossfader.
Even when it's in the "full volume on range" it still
changes the pitch/waver by moving the fader back and forth
slightly. Quite cool, but I was just wondering why it
happens (it's a fairly constant tone when I've done it on
other mixers- the crossfader just alters the pitch)...
something to do with the digital crossfader?

Also, making a feedback loop with the gain values centred
just replicates the other channel- perfectly! Really odd as
normally the distortion gets more and more in a very short
space of time.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-06 04:36 [#01134194]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to Ceri JC: #01134189 | Show recordbag



Refering to on most mixers:

"the crossfader just alters the pitch" =
The crossfader just alters the volume.


 

offline Drunken Mastah from OPPERKLASSESVIN!!! (Norway) on 2004-04-06 04:54 [#01134206]
Points: 35867 Status: Lurker | Followup to Ceri JC: #01134194 | Show recordbag



if it has a digital fader, it's probably like.. ah.. how to
explain...

you know when you have a stereo amplifier, and it has lots
of lights on.. often, there's a "dim" button which can be
used to turn off all the lights so that the electricity that
goes to powering the lights doesn't interfer with the sound.
It's probably the same thing.. the digital faders
power-supply or magnet (if there's some sort of transformer)
makes a low noise that is just enough to alter the pitch (as
the feedback-loop is the sound of itself over itself, even
the slightest change will make a difference).

it's also a possibility that they know people are doing
stuff like that, and have incorporated it in their mixer..
you never know. but at least, I know that having your
microphone-wire close to a power-outlet sometimes can make
noise on the recording, and that it doesn't take much to
alter feedback.


 

offline dave_g from United Kingdom on 2004-04-10 06:44 [#01137535]
Points: 3372 Status: Lurker



hmm, sounds interesting. Ive never tried to loop the output
back into a program/channel before, due to the fear of
ear/speaker/house destruction due to high frequency wave
resonance, superposition and eventual sonic tsunami effect.

I will try it later on my 'analogue' 06, although I don't
beleive it is to do with the digital fader.

The digital fader doesn't use digital electronics on the
signal path. The mixer doesn't use analogue to digital
convertors (ADC) and DACS (digital to analogue convertors)
at the input and outputs, like on a sampler or
soundcard,etc.

The digital refers to the crossfader control of the VCA
(voltage controlled amplifier)
ELECTRONIC THEORY TIME:::::::
The simplest type of level control is a potentionmeter (pot)
with the signal at one input, and ground (0 volts) at the
other end. A wiper travels along the track between the two,
to tap off a level between full and nothing. (This is at
best unity gain. There is no amplification).

By using an OPAMP, you can amplify the output.
If you change the ratio of 2 resistors connected to the
opamp, you can adjust the gain, so make one fixed, and the
other a pot. (i.e gain/trim control on mixer)

Now pots have a problem, you get dust and stuff on the
track, and it crackles when you move it, I'm sure you've
noticed that somewhere.

However, if say a light dependant resistor is used inplace
of the variable potentiometer, and this is positioned so a
bulb or LED can shine on it, you can make it better.

If you now use your pot to control the level of brightness
from the LED, with a small capacitor added to even out
ripples and crackles, you can get crackle free pots, even if
they are dusty. (adding the capacitor in the audio line
reduces frequency response, and causes problems).
Now you can see, that the two circuits are electrically
isolated, but what about the digital...? Well, I have 149
characters left, so its in my next post!


 

offline dave_g from United Kingdom on 2004-04-10 06:54 [#01137545]
Points: 3372 Status: Lurker



Ok, the digital part of the crossfader system involves a
digital system to interpret where the crossfader is along
its travel, and make the LED shine according to what the
digital system is programmed to.

On a normal opto coupled VCA, like on my 06, you can change
the curve shape, but that can be done with analogue
components (capacitors resistor,etc)
On a digital fader, a chip decides that as the fader moves,
it will make the LED shine bright, dull, bright, dull as the
fader moves, which would make the OPAMP amplifier go
loud/quiet/loud/quiet.
But on a normal one, as you move the fader along, it would
make the LED change from bright to dull in a linear way, and
the curve control changes the linearity, but digital removes
the linear relationship altogher, and uses the fader to
control the digital logic which then decides what to do.

I hope that kinda makes some sense, I work for an elctronics
company, so this is simple stuff for me, but I hope you can
get the point about the signal not being activly affected by
the digital.

The pitch shifting effect may be due to something like phase
differences, but I doubt it. hmm bit of a mystery I will
investigate.

As for the loopback not causing distortion, well that shows
why vestax mixers are great. Features on show are less than
rane, but its under the bonnet, some things like the tons
and tons of headroom and excellent amps which makes me like
them.a lot.


 

offline Ceri JC from Jefferson City (United States) on 2004-04-11 16:14 [#01138596]
Points: 23533 Status: Moderator | Followup to dave_g: #01137545 | Show recordbag



As for the loopback not causing distortion, well that
shows
why vestax mixers are great. Features on show are less than

rane, but its under the bonnet, some things like the tons
and tons of headroom and excellent amps which makes me like

them.a lot.


Yep, it really does show off the high build quality. The
downside is, I now take that for granted and other "decent"
mixers feel poorly built when I play on them.

re: the feedback loops, they seem to have some sort of
limiter built into the amp as it's never speaker wreckingly
high, just as if the master is turned up too loud, it
doesn't seem to increase after a point. I suppose it's an
intentional guard against such things when people
accidentally wire them wrongly. I can get some nice effects
filtering feedback on my PMC-270 then running it through the
kaoss pad.

Cheers for the fader explanation, I think I managed to
follow most of it :)

BTW, just picked up Needle Thrashers - Alpha and Hee-Haw
Breaks. The former being good for beats, the latter for
scratch sentences (probably the best I've used).



 


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