Needle Drop

[AudioCzar]

Nothing is better than occasionally dropping that needle on start up of any LP and hitting the groove perfectly with near zero feedback thru the speakers.
Then there`s the loud, quick slide to the widely spaced first or second groove.
And lastly, the dreaded loud slide, right across, into the first few seconds of the recording.
Always wondered how to combat a sliding needle when dropped at the perimeter?
I found allowing my arm to drop from a slower, startup platter helps. But wondered if there`s anything else?
Wish they made the vinyl a bit better at the perimeter. Noticed many pressings have one side edge angled down causing the problem, which allows the other side to be more flat allowing the needle to not slide.

 

[jrtrent]

Can't say I've noticed or given thought to any of these issues when starting a record. I just use the finger lift and put the needle on the record; always seems to work fine.

 

[beatcomber]

It's all about the technique (or Technic, if you prefer).

You can control the descent of the arm, either by manually setting the arm down by holding the finger-lift on the headshell or by maneuvering the cue lever. The idea is to not release the full downward force of the arm until you feel the tip catch the groove.

 

[luckybaer]

I put my needle on the edge of the record very gently and cue it up by rotating the platter by hand. I get it close to the actual music, but I don't advance the stylus so far that it starts in the musical grooves. Once that's done, I press the Start/Stop button. I like my turntable.

 

[jrtrent]

I put my needle on the edge of the record very gently and cue it up by rotating the platter by hand. I get it close to the actual music, but I don't advance the stylus so far that it starts in the musical grooves. Once that's done, I press the Start/Stop button. I like my turntable.

Interesting approach. With mine, I turn the power switch on at the beginning of a listening session (typically 2-3 hours) and only turn it off at the end; all records are turned over or exchanged for the next one with the platter continuously rotating because that's what my owner's manual says to do. I like my turntable, too.

 

[luckybaer]

Interesting approach. With mine, I turn the power switch on at the beginning of a listening session (typically 2-3 hours) and only turn it off at the end; all records are turned over or exchanged for the next one with the platter continuously rotating because that's what my owner's manual says to do. I like my turntable, too.

My power switch remains in the on position. It is the Start/Stop button that gets used in between sides/LPs. I should mention I have a Technics SL-1210GR, and I guess the Start/Stop button is a DJ Table mainstay?

I also place the tonearm over the edge of the LP (using the handy pop-up stylus light to help with positioning), press Stop/Start, and then using the cueing lever to place the tonearm/cartridge/stylus on the LP. Either way works good. I usually manually cue only when I'm doing needle drops - just so I avoid too much dead vinyl time - even though it is easy to edit that out.

 

[AudioCzar]

It's all about the technique (or Technic, if you prefer).

You can control the descent of the arm, either by manually setting the arm down by holding the finger-lift on the headshell or by maneuvering the cue lever. The idea is to not release the full downward force of the arm until you feel the tip catch the groove.

I put my needle on the edge of the record very gently and cue it up by rotating the platter by hand. I get it close to the actual music, but I don't advance the stylus so far that it starts in the musical grooves. Once that's done, I press the Start/Stop button. I like my turntable.

Geez, ………... been nearly 40 years of using the same turntable (long love affair), but need to see if these tips are adaptable to my rig, as I was not thinking outside the normal use.
Much thanks.

 

[beatcomber]

Geez, ………... been nearly 40 years of using the same turntable (long love affair), but need to see if these tips are adaptable to my rig, as I was not thinking outside the normal use.
Much thanks.

What turntable? I can't imagine that you can't make it work.

 

[cafe latte]

Sounds like your anti skate is set wrong. When I lower the stylus if I miss a groove it can run for a revolution or two between the grooves then it settles in. Check anti skate..
Chris

 

[AudioCzar]

What turntable? I can't imagine that you can't make it work.

I have a fully auto DENON DP-40F

The drop is pretty fast. I don`t believe it is adjustable.

 

[jrtrent]

I have a fully auto DENON DP-40F

I just skimmed through the owner's manual at Vinyl Engine for your turntable. Looks like it has a lot of fun features! I am very happy with my Rega, but its knobs and buttons consist of just a cueing lever and a power switch.

 

[beatcomber]

I have a fully auto DENON DP-40F

The drop is pretty fast. I don`t believe it is adjustable.

Ah, I see... No cueing lever, just a knob. You'll have to manually place the arm down on the record then, using the fingerlift.

 

[AudioCzar]

I just skimmed through the owner's manual at Vinyl Engine for your turntable. Looks like it has a lot of fun features! I am very happy with my Rega, but its knobs and buttons consist of just a cueing lever and a power switch.

Yes, I actually remember buying it for it`s features. This particular DENON had a small dial on the control panel that moves the tone arm accurately without any mechanical linkage. When I first saw it (in the early 80`s) I was blown away and had to have it.
I just need to see if there is a way to slow down the drop. Though it does allow the option of manually cuing by hand. I did not find anything so far in the owner`s or service manuals that I have.

 

[Montycat]

I put my needle on the edge of the record very gently and cue it up by rotating the platter by hand. I get it close to the actual music, but I don't advance the stylus so far that it starts in the musical grooves. Once that's done, I press the Start/Stop button. I like my turntable.

That's a DJ approach. In the radio station, using high torque fast start Technics tables, I would do that. I'd actually do it to the music start in Cue mode on the mixer, then back cue 1/8 turn, flip the mixer switch. When I hit start it was up to full speed in about 1/4 second.

Now it's aways record spinning before lowering the arm and stopped when changing sides.