How To Set Up Your Needles and Tonearm - Scratch Tutorial

Private video for Scratchy 100 Members : http://www.studioscratches.com/scratchy-100/

Full post is here: http://www.studioscratches.com/2011/02/26/scratchy-100-tone-arm-adjustment-fo...

"Scratchy 100 aims to share everything I have learnt and continue to discover since September 2000 when I started my journey of scratching.

Scratchy 100 resulted from the desire to share my love of scratching and what it means to me, with more people, in the desire that the art form will be furthered. I create it with the hope that you will be able to quickly get started on becoming a scratch master and have all the information you need without the need to hunt. I aim to demystify and break it down so anyone can learn with simple steps and practice."

-Short-E

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Studio
• Scratches
• Needles
• Technics
• Shure
• M447
• Short-e

[genafk]

hiya, i just been observing my current setup and noticed the needle has been diggin up my vinyls/making rather long but small peices when i play the record for a short time, is it safe to say that the stylus is stuffed? or is the stylus just too heavy?

[studioscratches]

@genafk hmm sounds a bit weird. If you have had it for a while could be that. Or your record could be really dirty and be digging out bits of skin and stuff. Ew!

[GuNiX]

@studioscratches About the anti skating being on zero. Doesn't that make the needle harder to move in against the record's middle? (next track etc) Or is this just if you want to only do scratching and not focus on mixing different tracks? Thank you! You are really talented!

[studioscratches]

@GuNiX hi, it adds force to stop the needle moving inwards. I am not sure of the ins and outs but its definitely better to have it on 0 for scratching. If you are just listening to a record you could have anti skating on for example. Anyone else add any detail please? thanks for watching!

[KeepItFresh02]

ive gone thru this but my needle jumps every once in awhile when Im tryin to scratch.

[studioscratches]

@KeepItFresh02 make sure that the hole in the record isn't too big. If it is, plug the hole wiht some shiny sticker backing material. Also check that the record isn't warped. The other thing can sometimes be heavy handed on the record. Hope that helps

[jimmyrich1]

Much love to you!!

[thekeyboardmaster]

Word up Short!

Just want to say thank you for everything that you are doing for the scratch community and those that are not so connected, but follow what you do.

Your persistence is motivating, and your willingness to experiment is always enlightening!

From Scratchy 100 to Scratchy 1000 Believing is Seeing

[studioscratches]

@genafk ah cool man no worries thanks!

[genafk]

@studioscratches i tried some of the sticker material like you suggested and pretty much reduced the needle to no skipping at all, thanks so much for all the help, really appreaciate it! (:

[studioscratches]

@genafk i can't say without seeing. I like to have the least amount of weight possible. Check the record isnt warped and the hole in the centre of the record isnt too big. if it is try some shiny sticker material to make it a bit smaller.

[genafk]

@studioscratches ahh i see, when i got my ST.150 out of the box, the tonearm had already been pre-balanced, but when i did some scratching with it the needle skipped here and there, would it be safe to say that the counterweight needs to be adjusted to put more weight on to prevent it from skipping, or does the anti skip come into play here?