Anti-Skating: How to calibrate and test your turntable anti-skate settings

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  • Опубликовано: 6 янв 2025

Комментарии • 104

  • @MikkoRantalainen
    @MikkoRantalainen 2 года назад +8

    Maybe one could find some old LaserDiscs (LD)? Those should be pretty good for measuring anti-skate setting...

    • @rojtaggbert8444
      @rojtaggbert8444 Год назад +2

      Yes, that's how I do mine. Perfect and you can pick them up really cheap.

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  2 месяца назад +1

      They work just as good!

  • @taineasy
    @taineasy Год назад +1

    I have an old Thorens table with no antiskate adjustment. I dropped the needle on a blank backed album (side 4 of jjoe jacksons big world lp) and the tonearm moves to the outside not the inside

    • @jbrandona119
      @jbrandona119 9 месяцев назад

      Mine was doing that when the tonearm counterweight was set too light

  • @TheBritChief
    @TheBritChief Год назад +3

    Great video, as a beginner to turntables, I really needed to see this. thank you.

  • @NibsVA
    @NibsVA 10 месяцев назад

    i got a bit of an older turntable, a ps-lx210. not sure how to really set the antiskate on it, any tips??

  • @crankyskunk
    @crankyskunk 29 дней назад

    When I bought my turntable, I followed the Audio Technica procedure in setting anti-skate. After a few months of owning the turntable, I purchased a tracking disc from Aliexpress and when I did this calibration, my anti-skate knob is now at 3! My stylus is at 2g.

  • @simonecionco1565
    @simonecionco1565 2 месяца назад

    ho provato con il cd ma se imposto un valore alto si sposta solo di poco non tenta di arrivare fuori del disco, si sposta di qualche centimetro e rimane fermo

  • @Majnun74
    @Majnun74 Год назад +2

    Just got a new cartridge and this helped very much, thanks!!🎉

  • @Pentoute45
    @Pentoute45 Год назад

    The plater of the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB is a glass disk (slightly sand-blasted on one side tho).
    I'm guessing I can use the smooth side so I won't need CD nor that clear calibration disk, right ?

    • @TheBudgie29
      @TheBudgie29 3 месяца назад

      If you have to much pressure on the Down Force of the cartridge. The Diamond Stylus, could cut Into the Glass. As these are made of Acrylic, this won't happen. So be careful.

  • @mcnaugha
    @mcnaugha 8 месяцев назад

    I have a one-sided 12" which appears to be flat/glossy on the side without the recording. Is there any reason this isn't the same thing as an anti-skate calibration disc? I ask because I'm seeing some bad skating on it when I try a calibration test. Doesn't seem to matter what my anti-skate is set to. I used vinyl cleaner on it to minimise any residue or particles on the surface. Tone arm just flies across towards centre no matter what the anti-skate setting is. I have the Audio-Technica LP3XBT.
    I don't have any normal playback issues. Where I have issues is at the start of the record. The tone arm goes down and then seems to jump/slam into the first track, often leading to it skipping the first few seconds. It's not pleasant at all. It's worst on picture discs and coloured/clear vinyl. Some black vinyls seem to be ok. Especially older ones. It's also less apparently with a manual start, especially if I apply a little bit of downward pressure when the stylus is landing.
    So, if my one-sided 12" is good enough, then it seems to suggest the anti-skate on this turntable either doesn't work or is quite frankly fake.

    • @BOOBLA69
      @BOOBLA69 6 месяцев назад

      Black Grape?

  • @corabbring8198
    @corabbring8198 Год назад +2

    Great info. I’m going to try!

  • @MikkoRantalainen
    @MikkoRantalainen 2 года назад +1

    4:00 That's probably polycarbonate, too, which is the material CDs are made of. Acrylic surface would probably scratch too easily from the needle.

    • @if6was929
      @if6was929 Год назад +1

      I have a Machined Acrylic Turntable Mat which, aside from using it to replace the felt mat, I used it to set the anti-skate, it functioned the same as the one used in this video.

  • @johnleo8531
    @johnleo8531 2 года назад

    What happens if you have a fully automatic turntable - I have a B&O 1700 - and the tonearm skates across the surface of the record, all of a sudden. I started using the turntable in Jan. 2022 and it has work great until now.

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  2 года назад

      Contact the manufacturer if you can’t adjust the anti skate settings

  • @bat4280
    @bat4280 3 года назад +3

    I wonder if a laserdisc would work?

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  3 года назад +3

      Definitely will work!

    • @dmnddog7417
      @dmnddog7417 2 года назад +1

      Yes, it will. There's another video on YT showing that method as well (along with a few more advanced ones).

  • @andibandi2098
    @andibandi2098 2 года назад +6

    I am not really experienced with this, but I am pretty sure, this method does not make sense: If the tonearm doesn move to either side on a blank surface, a real record will for sure produce pressure from the outer groove on the stylus - which means too much skating. Therefore, I think on a blank surface you should at least aim for the tonearm to move slightly to the center. What do you think ?
    The only accurate method would be an oscilloscope and comparing L and R volume level and frequency

  • @MyTv-
    @MyTv- Год назад +3

    In the 80ties we audiophiles used a mirror instead of a special disk.

    • @w1nchester32
      @w1nchester32 10 месяцев назад +1

      hi 80's audiophile how does that work? can you explain? isnt the mirror for measuring azimuth, not anti skating?

    • @MyTv-
      @MyTv- 10 месяцев назад +1

      @@w1nchester32 It wasn’t yesterday, but as I recall. With a mirror I did two things first correct the Azimuth. And checked the anti skating by lowering the pickup on what would be the midpoint of a vinyl record, with a mirror laying flat there instead. Mirrors having very low friction, if correct the arm doesn’t move either in or out but stays at the same spot. Also do some follow up checks on several other points the same way to be on the safe side.
      Observe the turntable is off under the hole operation. Hope my explanation is somewhat explanatory.
      You need a descent quality mirror without a frame. Those double sided hand mirrors some women carry, was my choice.

  • @Silent-Lucidity
    @Silent-Lucidity 5 месяцев назад

    Can you use a large laser disc (movie disc)?

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  5 месяцев назад

      I’ve heard of people doing just that! I haven’t tried it though.

  • @mrhobs
    @mrhobs Год назад

    No one mentions how to do this without the turntable spinning. Many TTs spin when you move the tonearm toward the platter. (No I don’t want to reach behind the cabinet to unplug it every time I make adjustments.)
    Weird, seems like I did it somehow a few years ago, but I can’t see how I got the platter to stay still while also moving the tonearm over it.

    • @mrhobs
      @mrhobs Год назад

      Oh sorry, I meant specifically measuring the tracking force. I want to take the mat off, and put the scale there to measure.

  • @adriancressy8363
    @adriancressy8363 4 месяца назад

    THANKS a million times. The blinded "I hope this works" setting from the manufacturer will damage the stylus and the record over time. And screw up stereo separation

  • @nunusmith01
    @nunusmith01 Год назад

    so I used this method and found out my tone arm was skating to the right toward the outside of the record. Once I had it set so that it didn't drift, I found the stereo separation to be much better and improved sound. I was told on a Turntable forum that his is not the correct way to do this and that it would ruin the records..

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  Год назад

      Naw. It works I’m happy and have been doing this for years.

  • @Hammerhansfo
    @Hammerhansfo 2 года назад

    Hi.. So I have a NAD C588 turntable with a Ortofon Black 2M stylus. Recommended force is 1.5. The weight says I am on 1.5. Antiskate is also set to 1.5. So my question is; should I increase the antiskate dial so the stylus stays in place on a blank vinyl? Because I briefly tried and that puts the antiskate all the way to 3.something.. Is that not too much? would I risk damage to stylus/vinyl by doing that - or do I risk damge by NOT doing it? PLEASE HELP!

    • @pappouas
      @pappouas Год назад +1

      I have the same equipment 😄no don’t put it on 3, read j.Paul purdel’s comment!! On mine the stylus stays on 2 so check the turntable with bubble level first

    • @Hammerhansfo
      @Hammerhansfo Год назад

      @@pappouas yes ok thanks

  • @rogerwebb7501
    @rogerwebb7501 3 месяца назад +2

    I think the term 'anti-skating' is, and has been, the problem here. Getting the arm to remain at the same point (ie not 'skating') when the stylus is on a glass disc tells you nothing about whether the 'bias adjustment' (much prefer this term) is correct. The inward force with the stylus merely 'skating' on glass has little connection to the counteracting force necessary to make the stylus track the groove in a vinyl record....it will merely tell you that you have put 'some' compensation on! This is because the counteracting force is less 'needed' when only the very tip of the stylus is touching the blank/glass disc. Consider, the sides of a stylus touching the sides of a record groove (stylus shape comes in here too!) it will impart more kinetic energy to the arm, and it's tendency to move to the centre will be commensurately high - as will the slightly increased friction of vinyl compared to glass...or other materials!
    I set my SME 3009 2 Imp. Det. somewhere near the maximum recommendation (cartridge manufacturers 'suggested' VTF is usually on the low side!) and then the bias to a similar figure, checking the result with HiFi Sound test record.....and several 'sibilance-laden' tracks. This'll tell you more than whether the arm stays in the centre of, yet another unnecessary
    accessory!
    The arm manufacturer will have tested and calibrated the arm carefully (depending on how good that manufacturer is!)

  • @vinylkaboom
    @vinylkaboom 3 года назад +5

    I would recommend to use a glass one, can be cut and pierced from whoever produce glass or cut glass for a fair price. I did that with my professional turntables and it works better than ever. This allows you to have a flat surface and not warped like, unfortunately, some of the plexiglass or plastics discs often do.

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  3 года назад +4

      Didn’t think of that! Mine had a slight warp but still good enough to gauge it and way better than a cd.

    • @XxXhiis663xX
      @XxXhiis663xX 2 года назад +1

      This might sound dumb but would the diamond get damaged if its going across a hard surface?

    • @emilspec1227
      @emilspec1227 2 года назад +2

      @@XxXhiis663xX diamond is a much harder material then glass.

    • @MikkoRantalainen
      @MikkoRantalainen 2 года назад

      @@XxXhiis663xX As long as the glass is smooth, diamond will not catch anything to snap and the diamond is harder material than glass so it will not be damaged because of grinding.

    • @misterlironavigdor
      @misterlironavigdor 11 месяцев назад

      Have you balanced the turntable with a levelling tube perfectly with the glass on it prior to the final adjustment? Glass is heavy though

  • @luismartins6687
    @luismartins6687 2 года назад

    So my antiskate doesn't work right, both on the old table and on the new one, a Reloop 1000 mk2.
    I made sure I did all the steps correctly and in the end it only works when the weigh is set to 1 Gr.
    When it's at 3 Gr for example, and that's what I need for my cartridge , a Concorde Vibe, it just doesn't work, even with the anti-skate wheel in position 7, which is the maximum.
    I bought this table because the same thing happened to me in the old one.
    Any suggestion or conclusion?
    Should I return this one and try a new model from another brand?
    Should I leave the anti skate to the same value of the weight and let it skate ? Because Concorde Vibe says i need to apply 3 to 5 Gr...
    Please help :)

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  2 года назад

      Usually tracking force and anti skate should be the same but a lot of anti skate mechanisms aren’t set correctly in the factory. If you set it to one and it glides in one spot when testing, that’s what you want to see.

  • @happyhippythevinylguy
    @happyhippythevinylguy 3 года назад +2

    Very good video man!!

  • @robinay
    @robinay 2 года назад +1

    would this damage the stylus?

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  2 года назад +1

      It will not as long as you use the proper tracking force.

  • @dpaulku
    @dpaulku 2 года назад +2

    Well, even before you set your tracking force... shouldn't you set your counterweight to the 0 mark, then adjust its position on the arm (towards or away from the head shell) to balance the tone arm and cartridge to its null or floating point? Then set the counterweight to the target tracking force setting, then set your anti skate. That's what I've seen and been told. Good Luck

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  2 года назад +1

      Yes you zero out the tonearm until it’s straight and floats in place then add the weight to the specs provided

    • @Fetishom
      @Fetishom Год назад +1

      You mixes up things. First, set the WEIGHT of your tonearm according to the recommanded WEIGHT by the cartridge manufacturer. Then, adjust the tracking. There is about NO correspondance between the recommanded WEIGHT and the TRACKING required, because no turntable is made that way. You have to adjust with a blank disk.

    • @mrhobs
      @mrhobs Год назад

      What? How do you adjust weight separately from tracking force? Or did you mean anti-skating?

  • @TechCrazy
    @TechCrazy Год назад +1

    Was looking for something like this!

  • @greghawkins229
    @greghawkins229 3 года назад +2

    Ordered mine. Thanks

  • @nico3641
    @nico3641 11 месяцев назад +1

    Very educational

  • @henrikhartig238
    @henrikhartig238 5 месяцев назад

    Fine video. But what about calibrate MAGNETIC Anti-Skate. How do you calibrate that?

    • @TheBudgie29
      @TheBudgie29 3 месяца назад

      You do It In the same way. I had a Planer2, and It had a Magnetic Anti-Skate on It. Just have to move It very gently each way, till you get It centered.

  • @neilsteadman8380
    @neilsteadman8380 3 месяца назад

    It's a great video. However,the inward force only occurs when the stylus is engaged in a real groove not a flat disc.

  • @grass_hopper
    @grass_hopper 4 месяца назад

    The correct setting is that the stylus moves slowly inwards on the blank record. Otherwise it's too high a force and the outer groove of the records will be damaged in a short time.

  • @jives11
    @jives11 Год назад +1

    This method and your assumptions are completely wrong IMHO. Anti Skate , or as it was once known 'bias', is a very subtle force designed to counter an effect where lighter tracking cartridges tend to swing inward toward the end of a spinning record. AS is unnecessary above tracking weights circa 3g, which some cartridges such as the Shure M44 reliably track at. The effect which AS counters is *only* present when the stylus is playing a groove in a spinning record. Hence by playing a blank disc, record or laserdisc, there is no 'skate' effect from the friction on the inner groove, and hence you are setting a value to counter something which does not exist at that point. You are actually trying to counter a centrifugal effect on the arm at that point, which isn't as severe in a record as the stylus is buffered by the outer groove wall.
    I think people confuse anti-skate with the arm dropping or raising in a perfectly vertical manner, which it is not. if the arm drifts as you drop the arm with the cueing mechanism (or during raise) its more likely due to a) the deck not being perfectly level b) there not being enough grip on the rubber lift buffer and a wipe with a rubber restorer can help (i.e platanclene) c) the damping mechanism of the cueing mechanism needing attention i.e new silicon oil

  • @brianmorecombe2726
    @brianmorecombe2726 2 года назад +1

    Got an anti skate mat and it does what it says,next i will change the rather ordinary replacement stylus for a more expensive high end one like the Ortofon.

  • @j.paulpurdell6110
    @j.paulpurdell6110 2 года назад +7

    This theory, that a tone arm should be motionless on a groove-less spinning disc is absolutely incorrect according to a phonograph technician I spoke with at length. Actually doing as this theory advocates can cause irreparable damage to the record and stylus.
    Actually, Anti-Skate is supposed to add a very small (slight) amount of outward force (toward the edge of record) DEFINITELY NOT CAUSING THE TONEARM TO BE MOTIONLESS. With the proper amount of Anti-Skate applied, the TONEARM will still move toward the center of the groove-less disc but at a slightly slower rate of speed compared to the slightly faster inward speed of TONEARM movement if no Anti-Skate was applied.

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  Год назад

      🍻

    • @Fetishom
      @Fetishom Год назад

      Wrong. What you want is making sure there is less pressure as possible to the SIDE of the needle, coming for either side (in or out). This pressure is caused by the centripede action of the spinning disk. Nulling it prevent not only stylus deterioration but also distortion (too much pressure). And don't worry, the stylus will still follow the groove.

    • @sport-med-uz4ov
      @sport-med-uz4ov Год назад +6

      A stylus contacting a blank disc is not the same as contacting a groove (modulated music). Only the very tip of the stylus contacts a blank disc whereas the sides of the stylus are in contact with a record groove. The mechanics are not the same. On a blank disc, ample outward force (centrifugal) is needed to counteract the centripetal force when the stylus is skating inward. In a record groove, the centripetal force is partly counteracted by the inside groove. Only half the anti-skate force is needed in a record groove compared to a blank disc. That's why people are doubling their anti-skate force when using a blank disc and questioning why. It's a false test. You will not determine the proper anti-skating force from a blank disc. (It could be specially coated to simulate a record groove - but also a false test). The only verification I know of is listening to test record.

    • @garyspencer1711
      @garyspencer1711 2 месяца назад

      @@sport-med-uz4ov Datt be fuggeon correct ! None of these blokes understand the basic physics & mechanics of a rotating "V" groove spiral track. I use a high quality (stereo) test disc and oscilloscope to balance the LEFT and RIGHT voltage amplitudes at different test signal frequencies such as 200, 700, 1k, and 3k. So, if you have a good quality phono preamp and accurate EQ line amp, the sonic result is amazing. The use of several test signal frequencies is used to verify playback signal balance at 33 1/3 rpm. Good quality phono preamp/EQ are built into good quality vintage receivers, integrated amps, and stand-along audio preamps (marantz, kenwood, harman-kardon, etc. ) as you probably know.

  • @zelko0768
    @zelko0768 3 года назад

    Could you use a record that has a non-playable side?

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  3 года назад +5

      Yes! As long as there is no etching and it is smooth.

    • @dmnddog7417
      @dmnddog7417 2 года назад

      Yes, you can buy a blank vinyl record from Amazon.

    • @singemfrc
      @singemfrc 2 года назад

      I thought about this, but unfortunately for this purpose all of my records with a non-playable side have large etchings on that side.

  • @1oldson
    @1oldson Год назад

    as anti skate setting "typically" matches tracking force, what if the recommended tracking force is beyond the maximum anti skate setting of the tonearm?
    does this make that cartridge incompatible with the arm?

  • @TheBudgie29
    @TheBudgie29 3 месяца назад

    You need to check the Azimuth first.

  • @xburgos1
    @xburgos1 4 месяца назад

    Man! Keep in mind what when the outer record groove pushes the stylus to the dead wax it’s putting additional pressure on the stylus sideways and in turn adds additional distortion on one side more than the other so when using this method, keep in mind you need to decrease anti-skating just a little to be accurate but the only way to know is to actually measure the difference and then adjust with a test record like those from Ortofon or many others that have anti-skate tracks specifically for this.
    Your method will get you close but for perfection look into the mentioned method.
    Captain Analogue (Audioholics reviews no analogue equipment specialist)
    May the tracking force be with ya!,,,

  • @jocelitoavila4488
    @jocelitoavila4488 5 месяцев назад +1

    it was all I need to know

  • @llewellyn56
    @llewellyn56 2 года назад

    great video

  • @antonytony33
    @antonytony33 2 года назад +1

    You were right about being careful. I did that with the CD and almost ruined my stylus

    • @MikkoRantalainen
      @MikkoRantalainen 2 года назад

      Was the CD stracthed already? Even thought the material of the CD is polycarbonate (PC), any scatches may catch the tip of the stylus and grab it.

  • @misterlironavigdor
    @misterlironavigdor 11 месяцев назад

    Using glass instead of plastics require system levelling prior to 6:47 adjustments

  • @analoguecity3454
    @analoguecity3454 3 года назад +7

    You can't calibrate anti skating using a blank disc, it has no music modulation! The modulation changes constantly , that's the reason you have "compromise" the best setting! It's all a compromise, that's why the anti skate is recommended to be the same as the tracking force !

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  3 года назад +3

      True it’ll never be perfect, but this at least let’s you get somewhat accurate.

    • @dmnddog7417
      @dmnddog7417 2 года назад +5

      The more advanced method is with an actual test record that plays tones specifically to calibrate this setting like the "Hi-Fi News Test LP" or "Ultimate Analogue Test" LP. These records also have a blank section where you can test if the tonearm drifts inward/outward. However, you may also need to get a meter that measures the tone's left-right balance when you play it. This can cost you quite a bit of cash. Even though the "laserdisc method" or the "blank vinyl" method may not be as accurate, it is an accepted way of doing it if you can't (or won't) spend the extra cash.

    • @Fetishom
      @Fetishom Год назад +2

      Wrong. It's about centripede force not modulation.

  • @Audiorevue
    @Audiorevue Год назад +3

    personally I follow the VPI method mostly because I have a VPI and that of course is no anti-skate.
    now I know to a lot of people especially people that are newer to this hobby and those also that really haven't gotten into the high end aspect see anti-skate as essential. but the reality is you really don't need it and oftentimes because my JMW arm has the provision for anti-skate I've listened to records with it enabled and disabled and almost every time it sounds better with it disabled.

  • @mattb3779
    @mattb3779 Год назад +1

    Cd method is gunna mess up a lot of peoples needles. Lol
    Just get a laser disc, make sure to start in the middle and put the 45 adapter on top of the LD.

  • @theninjarex
    @theninjarex Год назад +7

    Using a mirror surface is just pure WRONG. Use an Ortofon test record for antiskating adjustment and check modulation at 315hz 60µ, 70µ, 80µ, 90µ &100micron amplitude.

    • @Dddddddd672
      @Dddddddd672 Год назад +1

      How would one do that? I have the test record but I’m unsure

    • @misterlironavigdor
      @misterlironavigdor 11 месяцев назад +1

      How can I check modulation without expensive device?

  • @donwest5387
    @donwest5387 Год назад

    thank you! The effect of the anti-skating was counter-intuitive.

  • @koettfaers
    @koettfaers Год назад +1

    Using this blank record is not the same as having the needle tracking a groove in a real record.
    Thats physics. Maybe you can use the anti skating setting you get by this test, but it needs some form of adjustment to be proper when you play a real record.

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  Год назад

      The concept is having no pull left or right in the center of a calibration disc means it'll track evenly when in the groove. Using this method i had less distortion than the manufacturers recommendations. It's subjective though not every set up is the same.

  • @mrpivili
    @mrpivili Год назад

    what you say is wrong, you can't set anti-skating correctly that way, you need a test record to set it right, I know there are many who say you can do it like that, but those who have a lot of knowledge in it , says that's not the way to do it.

    • @Music-for-Miles
      @Music-for-Miles  Год назад

      That's up for debate. I consulted with people who "have a lot of knowledge" on the subject before making this video and my set up sounds great now.

    • @mrpivili
      @mrpivili Год назад

      @@Music-for-Miles I have 4 cartridges that must have a needle weight of 2 grams, but they must all have different anti-skating, but with your method they must all have the same, a fine line grind, must have less anti-skating than an elliptical, different grinds pulls the needle differently, therefore you cannot use your method.

  • @baperacks-com6801
    @baperacks-com6801 5 месяцев назад

    Someone gonna get hurt

  • @KIDROCK-oq7um
    @KIDROCK-oq7um 2 месяца назад

    at first i though you were a total pos, but i watched the full vid and this was great. you go dude. thumps up.

  • @KIDROCK-oq7um
    @KIDROCK-oq7um 2 месяца назад +1

    wow if you used a 80's laser disk the 12 inch movie type that would be perfect. I used to have many no longer tho. but i see where you are going dude. Please be awhere you can buy a tracking disk.