anti-skating, whats it for?, how it works and how to adjust it properly
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- Опубликовано: 29 янв 2009
- This is a video showing you what the anti-skate does, how it works and how to set it correctly on a turntable.
Having your anti-skating set up correctly will minimize jumping and increase sound quality.
Please note that different turntables will be slightly different in the placing and the units of measurement on the anti-skating but essentially there all the same thing.
please note also that turntables with a straight tone arm as apposed to a s shaped tone arm my not have an anti-skate dial if it doesnt it because it doesnt require anti-skating as most straight tone arms dont.
Different types of stylus will need different amount of anti-skating, for example elliptical needles will require less anti-skating because they are sharper (but will ware your records out quicker)
Spherical needles will require slightly more anti-skate because they are more rounded (but will make your records last longer)
Also needles with different weight rating will require different amounts of anti-skating heaver needles will need less anti-skating because there is more weight holding it into the groove and the opposite applies for lighter needles. 
Хобби
Finally someone who can take the mystery out of a simple concept. I’ve seen all the anti skating videos and you know how to talk to the common music lover
don't you have google? It's been explained on the internet for many years, so you waited for this to find out, seems kinda stupid to me
@@cirrus1964 Not as stupid as you replying to a 2 year old comment just to put someone down.
Wow thank you. An amazingly good explanation of something I've never understood.
+Derek Williams no problem, I'm glad the video was useful.
thank you for your comment.
+Derek Williams here here!
Your videos are still the best 15yrs later !✌👍
Wow, this is the best explanation I've come across so far. It's actually helped with with an almost 50 year old Magnavox record changer. LOL I had to replace the cartridge and there's really zero info (for vintage turntables) out there to get everything set back up properly. I got the weight correct with a small electronic scale, but it just sounded funny riding in those grooves. Grinding, scraping.Too much anti-skate! The only way I found out about the anti-skating adjustment was from my mom. "There's that screw right there. You have to adjust it. I don't know how, but that's it." It's a tiny screw to the right of the tonearm. No markings. Nothing telling which direction to go. I didn't know what to do. So, ANYWAY, you're explanation of how it actually works and which direction to turn that screw has helped me get rid of that "groove eating" sound. Many thanks!
Nice explanation :) I would humbly add three things (gathered in other vinyl videos) that came to mind and might help some users: - Level your TT (with a 'bubble' spirit level) before doing anything on it.
- Regarding the drawings in the video, a stylus that 'floats' towards the edge of the groove will produce an imbalance in the left/right audio channels so if a speaker always sounds louder, this might be the cause.
- Lastly, on stylus shape, DJ (round) ones can achieve very nice audio qualities on normal home hi-fi's and preserve records if reverse playback occurs. Audiophile (elliptical) styli perform better but ruin grooves if used backwards.
Have a nice day.
I knew most of that, but your diagrams enlightened me. I never imagined the needle crawling up one side. Just thought it would apply more pressure to one side or the other. thanks.
Very informative, have owned 1200s &1210s for 20 years, always wondered what the anti skate did. Explained very well, very clear, very appreciated. Types of Stylus explained very clearly as well. Thanks
Hello viperfrank (James) and thank you for showing this step by step video on outlining us on how to set your anti-skating on the correct dial, depending on what stylus (needle) you are using. I used it on both my Technics SL-B3 & Technics (By Panasonic) SL-1300 & it worked....seriously, this is an outstanding job you did tutoring us with this method. And thank you Mikey Phillips.....I was able to purchase The Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Blue Record EP from J&R Record shop for pennies and I got two for the price of one!!! We, as humans, learn something everyday we live. Everyone here on this blog stay Blessed.
Wow.....perfectly explained!
Thank you lots and lots for taking the time to make this tutorial for us!
Thanks - after looking at video after video, and reading explanations, your video finally made the concept clear, and showed how to tell if my anti-skate is working.
Thanks for this! I went through a few different written & video instructions trying to figure out how to calibrate individual parts of the tone arm on an Audio Technica AT-LP120. This is the first video I found which clearly and thoroughly explained the function of the anti-skate feature. On a side note, I used my blank Side 4 of Vijay Iyer's "Far From Over" to test the calibration of the anti-skate, and it worked like a charm with your instructions.
iv been djing for four years, and am ashamed to say that i did not know what the anti-skate was for before watching this, thanks man! much appreciated.
Hi James,Gijs Thieme here from Hamburg,Germany..... Just wanting to let you know that your video is exellent and in particular your style of explaning.Well done......
The force that pulls the tonearm/stylus toward the center is call SKATE; the tone arm skates to the center of the record. So, the counter measure is then called Anti-SKATE.
As indicated in the video, you want to balance those two forces. It is very subtle, but I can hear it on my turntable, when the Anti-skate is set correctly.
Thank you, Sir! I am trying to bring my old Dual CS 522 back to life after years of neglect. This was a very succinct, to-the-point tutorial. You could not have made it any more clear than this! This explains thoroughly why my left channel was always so weak. Thank you for posting. ~Jon
Goodness gracious!! I'm somewhat what of a RUclips junkie and I look at all types of videos. Without a doubt your video has to be one of, if not THE best explained video I have ever seen!! You did a masterful job with your presentation.....clear, concise, to the point, your drawings enhanced what you were talking about......everything was just superb. Regardless of the viewers skillset...novice to an expert...anyone can understand and learn from your presentation. GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!
Thank you soo much for this explanation. For years ive always wanted to know how and what it did.
I can now play my records at it optimum sound.
Have you done a video on how to setup the counter balance for the tone arm?
Very good explanation. Thanks a million!
+Rick Langley I agree. I clicked on this to hate on it. The guy's legit.
Nice work bro. I've had a set of decks since I was 15 and now I'm 37 and I never knew that is the way to set the anti skate! Appreciated, and you never stop learning! 👍
Great video Frankie!!
The reason I searched. I got a record yesterday, when I dropped the needle on, the needle just kept skipping all the way to the center. I realized by the name of it that anti-skating was the corrective mechanism but didn't understand the underlying mechanics. I thought it was just specific to singular situations with poorly cut records, I didn't realize it was something that should be set to a single level for all records.
Good thing I also got a couple 1-sides in my order yesterday. Thanks for the information!!
Anti skate was developed long before DJ'ing and scratching was a thing... It's purpose was to center the stylus pressure in the groove in order to achieve an equal sound level balance between the left and right channels.
Randy Levine really. Do you not get an expression in this video that’s the case?
I'm not a DJ or anything but I'm a starting record collector and your video's are extremely informative for keeping them in good condition! Thank you very much!
Thank you for taking the time to do this video, your presentation really helped me grasp what anti-skating means.
You have the most comprehensive and easy to understand instruction on You Tube. Looked at other instructional videos for adjusting turntables, didn't understand any of them. Great job!
Spherical does NOT make your records last longer - quite the opposite. Advanced shapes can give you the same (or smaller) side radius (better ability to read high frequencies) with a bigger contact surface (less wear) than spherical designs.
Yes! switching to an elliptical will greatly improve the soundstage on just about any cartridge, a cost effective way to improve sound quality and make your records last longer.
"crazy doodle time"
Love it.
This has been extremely informative. I never really knew if my anti-skating on my old sl-h401 panasonic TT ever worked. Luckily I have a blank record and I've been able to equalize my anti-skating perfectly like you shown here. Now I can't wait to have a listen to hear the difference in quality.
I saw a video before that showed me how to tune my TT correctly and the only thing that was bad was that it said to set the anti-skate at the same number as the tonearm adjustment, which for me was 1. Which was terribly wrong. Now I have it set to something close to 0.67 and it looks good.
Thank you again for sharing this with us.
Thank you so much for the thorough explanation not only of what anti-skate does, but also the difference between spherical and elliptical needles. Now I understand!
the best explanation for the anti-skating ever!
Do not forgot the Tone Arm the Tone Arm must be balanced as level as you can get it with the needle not just backed off and weighted down. I am a pro and you are right but the Anti-Skate also is to be set by the weight of the Tone Arm, For example you put a new needle on different type, It has the weight so the Tone Arm is to be re-balanced as level as can be then once you have this you turn the weight till the Tone Arm touches the Vinyl then the black nob on the weight is to be turned back to the weight till it reaches the number of the needle used this nob it will bring the weight back to its setting after this is done the Anti-Skate is to be set like you say its normally set too. But donot forget the balance of your Tone Arm if it is not weighted the Anti-Skate will have problems. I have been at this since 1985 and have helped many DJ's. Not Saying your wrong, But the Tone Arm must be weighted right also. There are also video's you can find on this.
Wut
Useful additional info
Correct.. anti-skating forces will be incorrect if the tip weight is not set to the actually operating weight.
Deany D Arton does the height of the tone arm play a part also on the anti skate.
@@DJ1Hands1on Your tone arm when balanced properly should be somewhere @ +2 - 3 grams depending on make of cartridge and needle you are using etc, and can make a difference to the anti skate.. Don't trust the tone arm increments as being perfect as they will invariably be slightly out.. Easier to buy a digital stylus force scale gauge, which will be totally accurate.. But you also need to ensure your cartridge and needle is properly centred, otherwise the needle will pull from the grooves in certain positions on the vinyl if not sitting straight, and not give steady sound quality.. That's a job in its own right, and I've seen DJ's who don't bother to do it properly, then complain about the sound, saying, "my tone arm and anti skate is all set properly, so it's not my fault"..
I just stumbled on your videos and I love them! I'm one of those people that always learns better when I see a picture of what your talking about and you do that in all the videos that I've watched so far! Great video's my friend, keep them coming!
So so helpful, i've had my decks for 15 years and have always been confused by the set up! Off to test it out now! :)
How do you do this for virtual dj
actually you should set it to just a bit more, because the tracks "pull" the needle more than the blank vinyl. especially louder tracks.
Correct.
yes I would say that I kind of got a fell with the tone arm and I seem to get it right I was a DJ years ago got a good felling all round a beautiful pice of machinery love them glad their coming back.
So when using the blank disc set the anti skate so it pulls a little bit outward? Subsequently, when using a regular vinyl track, it will THEN sit straight down perfect?
@@Tunz909 Yes, on blank disc it should pull a little bit outward. It will never be PERFECT in the sense that louder tracks have more traction and more skating force. But it will be about right. Perfect can only be with a liner tracking arm.
@@zagyex Thanks for replying!! Liner tracking arm?
Excellent video. Not only explaining anti-skate but also the differences and benefits of each type of needle. 👏🏻
James,
I have great respect for you for how you can break things down and translate thoughts to others. I have been a producer in LA for 20 years and you have truly added to my knowledge. Thank you!
H- it's a great video, BUT I went out and, very luckily, found a one-side LP. However, I found that I could only get the arm to stay in one position, basically near the middle (not the label). That was on about 2.5 on the dial, but when I put the stylus on the outside, it zoomed into the centre no matter how much I turned up the antiskate. Same case for moving the arm close to the label. What am I doing wrong? I have a Denon DP 500 M; cart is Denon - DL 110.
+echoed61 Usually you set the anti skating to what your counter weight is...if its at 2 the anti skate is 2
Uses LP as mention to set up. Good idea it work fine. Thanks for sharing.
@echoed61 Did you ever figure out if what you first experienced with setting the anti skate was normal and correct? I purchased a blank calibration LP just for this purpose. Instructions for use said to place the tonearm at the middle of the record, lower the stylus, and adjust the anti skate so that the tonearm stays in the middle.
Like you, I was concerned with other parts of the record and the tonearm moving toward the middle. What is right? I have the AT-LP120 USB which is known for not having the right spring for adjusting the anti skate. I haven't modified it yet because I want to know if adjusting anti skate with the tonearm set to the middle is the correct method or not because the spring change-out is rather involved.
@@tooshort4892 i Got the same
@@imxg I never did the spring change-out or any mods. I left it as good as I could with the middle sweet spot and trusted my ears..... Good luck!
do you have video on how to set the balance of the arm?
That's even easier. Just set the counterweight back until the tonearm balances itself horizontal, set the dial to zero and then move the whole thing forward for your desired tracking force.
Safe range for playback is 1.5 to 2.5 grams, 3 grams to 3.5 for DJ ing some cartridges demand more, some less. Your cart's manual should have the ideal weight somewhere.
thanks!
PS, get a stylus weight scale, because the counterweight numbers are really not 100 percent correct.Then again, I play my concorde pro's at 2g, whilst ortofon recommends 4g ...
Yeah but then again, unlss you do radio, 2g and 2.1g wont make a difference
I'm just about to start work on digitalising all my old 12"s, and your videos have been a fantastic help for getting the best sound quality. Huge appreciation mate.
great explanation Viperfrank. I was thinking of making such a video at some point but you beat me to it! This is a proper explanation giving full details on anti-skate. Keep up the good work!
whats a turntable? is there an app for it?
PhuckHue2 yeah I'm still searching for the app for a pay phone.
Adam: First, get the app to correct your attitude towards poor Hue. :)
Use a cd, doesn't have any grooves. Just did it, thanks!
that's a good idea, thanks for your comment.
you dont get it do u
max bauer he's talking about placing a CD (write side UP) on the platter and using it to set antiskate, it works for setting the AS but it will ruin the CD. A blank CD is alot easier to find than a blank vinyl disk.
All these technics videos are so helpful. I've had one of those blank sided records for ages, no idea I could use it to calibrate the anti-skate. Cheers mate!
Superb video! I've been using turn tables for over 25 year, but never knew the function of anti skating. Thanks to you now I know. Thanks for the first class tutorial!
He sounds like Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap) ;)
r3v3rs3tWiLiT3 "This [anti-skate control] goes up to three, but yours might go higher... like, to eleven, maybe"
Its basically a light tension spring that puts force on a rod connected to the tone arm. Nothing hocus pocus.
some turntables use a little weight on a string to achieve this.
This is the best explanation of anti-skating and adjustment I've ever seen. Thank you.
Been djing for 20+ years and never taken a second thought about the adjustments. Just got a pair stantons after stupidly selling my Technics years ago and just thought what is that dial for and i'm glad I know now. Cheers for the upload.
Everyone should just check the owners manual for their tt.That will show you how to set anti skating the right way.
This is real rocket science isn't it? ha ha! Just one question - where in heck do you get a record that is perfectly smooth i.e. no grooves?
+Mrphilharmonic At the no music record store.
Mrphilharmonic you could use a CD
I bought my anti-skating record on ebay for $20.00 plus shipping. Serious vinyl people need this if you like keeping your records in pristine playing condition. don't listen to all the negative comments from the jerks in this thread. you'll notice they don't have and videos up! most are just trolls! Have fun, enjoy your vinyl.
A laser disc would be better than a CD. @@MikesRecordBox
a lot of bootleg twelves are one sided.Boots or white labels were a thing in the 90s.Ask a dj fiend that has a lot of white labels.Some will have a groovless b side
Great video. Never considered using a blank vinyl to set the anti-skate. Genius! Thank you so much.
See my newest video about using a vintage grooveless Garrard test record to set anti-skating. You may want to reconsider using this technique.
Thanks a lot for this very well explained video of something that I wasn't too clear about. Good job, and may your records last forever!
Sorry, not really the right method actually. Putting the needle on a blank vinyl will not put the same forces on the arm as when putting it into the grooves. Although the blank side of the vinyl will force the arm inwards, it is no where near the same force as the grooves. If you use this method, you will set your anti skate wrong, unless you like listening to blank vinyls only. The rule of thumb is to set your AS to the same as your tracking force (stick to that). The needle also has something to say about how to set your AS. Also the TT must be 100% level, not sure the floor of the room in the video is that? It takes a bit more science to do this then just what is shown in the video.
www.sound-smith.com/faq/how-do-i-adjust-anti-skating-my-cartridge
Upload video and show how actual method to set up properly. i cannot understand the link that provided. Too slow draft inwards !
I have a Technics 1600 MK1 which uses a very long straight spring for antiskate. It is so strong that at the last song i cannot use more than 0.5g let alone 1.8g (tracking force of cart) otherwise when you lower the arm down it pulls it back 2-3 cm earlier in the song. Also the start and stop for autoreturn gets out of wack. There is no skipping and no IGD when antiskate is set to 0.
I would really like to help you as that is not how anti-skate is set. Not dissing you but you need to understand, if you set anti-skate with the tonearm raised or on a BLANK disc, you are not setting it correctly. Its NOT about keeping the arm in the middle with no resistance, its about countering the force that PULLS a tonearm IN. So the way you are doing it, that force will be in place when the stylus in on the album..and will be heard as IGD (inner groove distortion) on the inner tracks. There are several ways to set anti-skate. Trust me, this is not one of them, But like I said, no dis...you are just trying to help folks..
Brilliant. My anti skating is not working so I needed to understand how it works. This explanation provides this. Spot on - many thanks. Now to mend it!
This is the best explanation I have seen for anti-skate set-up and about stylus differences.
Thanks very much.
A very good film, my only criticism would be calling records "vinyls". The plural of vinyl is vinyl and those round black discs are called records.
adam morris ahaha. Cheers
Just tell him “good video” and get on with your day. Do you want somebody who makes movies to tell you why this isn’t a “film”? Internet pedant.
Nice work. I've been a pro DJ on and off since the late eighties, and I've never seen anti-skating explained more clearly than in your video. For those reading, the use of an "un-cut" vinyl record is key to getting this somewhat misunderstood turntable adjustment set properly.
@dropbeetsnotbombs thank you, I'm glad the video was a help, it makes me feel good when I here my video has helped someone.
thank you for your feed back and your kind words.
nice one!!!
Great tutorial mate. Very well explained. Thanks to you I'm now re-discovering my whole vinyl collection. I've had a Project Debut turntable for about 5 years and never bothered with the anti skating counterweight. Ignorance is bliss as they say. Always used to wonder what the fuss was about over this turntable. I just accepted the sound as it was at got on with my life. After fitting the anti skating weight properly, the difference is nothing short of amazing. Thanks mate I owe you a drink.
Brilliant. Thanks man. I've had decks for YEARS.... I never really knew the importance of the anti skate. Thanks man.
WOW!!!! I adjusted the antiskating and the sound of my vinyls improved dramatically!!! Thank you my friend!!!
Thank you so much, I am looking at setting up a turn table and wondered what this was for and about, you have explained it so well. Much appeciated
Thank you for this! I'm fairly new to the world of turntables and vinyls, and anti-skate was the one thing I never understood. This was a great explanation!
18 years and never knew what that was for until now! Thank you!
Extremely helpful...just this week I got my first turn table (excluding my parent´s when I was a kid of course), the guy at the store told me this feature adds extra weight to the needle to avoid skipping on old records...I found that hard to believe..Your explanation makes total sense! :-)
Excellent video tutorial! I've always known the very basics behind the Anti-Skate control, but your vid still taught me some valuable info to get the tuning just right. Keep it up!!
About the anti-skate with a spherical and an elliptical needle:
I used to use the Ortofon Concorde DJ-S (a.k.a. "The Blues"), which has a spherical needle, with a perfect anti-skate at about 1.5 grammes. Now I use the Ortofon Concorde Nightclub MK2, which features an elliptical needle, and the anti-skate is now a whole gramme higher at 2.5 g.
Thank you very much! This is the best explanation of anti-skate I've seen on RUclips.
I'm going to look through your other videos now to see if you do a tutorial on tonearm balance :)
Thanks again.
Thanks that definitely helped. I have been using my tables for a while now thinking that it was properly set up. There is a definite change in quality after doing this.
thank you so much for this man, my friends had a pair of mk2's gathering dust and i am now in the process of learning so I can get them back working properly.. this is super informative.. blessing for you right now!
This is an absolutely brilliant video. Informative and well presented. Really well put together. Big respect!!
My hero! Thank you so much! I had been having issues with sibilance distortion and skipping records and this is such a perfect trick! It never occurred to me to use the unprinted back of a one-side pressing for this (which I do own as luck would have it).
Exactly the information I was looking for, thank you!!!
Now I just have to work out the best way to do it on a deck with only an anti-skate weight as opposed to a dial.
Thank you very much,James! you just saved me buying a new turntable. I followed your instruction and it worked.I still have some fine tuning to do. Also I found out that I have a Stanton 681eee cartridge installed on my Garrard turntable. (I inherited the turntable from my dear brother.) Thanks again!
Best explanation of antiskating adjustment I have ever seen. Thanks a lot, mate.
Very clear, informative, no-nonsense video. Straight up info the way it should be delivered. Thanks man. Subbed
Legend James, I have watched half a dozen of your vidz today and have even bothered to subscribe, which I rarely bother to do. Cheers for the tips mate, take it easy.
Very informative video! It helped me clarify what antiscating is for and how to adjust it. Thank you!
Very Good. Excelente aula de anti skating. Confesso que não sabia desta função na integra. Muito obrigado pela aula.
my dad played his records on a gramophone when i was very young and here i am learning all these skills on how to use a turntable in my late forties, all the tutorials i watch here teach me tricks i would never have known about and remind me that young people like vinyl too. thank you.
that's the best explanation of anti skate on you tube, and a practical way of setting it up, looks like you can forget those numbers on the dial, found a blank record on ebay, but not cheap, think ill have a piece of perspex cut to size, and try this out . ive read you can use a CD, as the blank record.
Ciao James, your work is admirable. Your tips are very useful and very well explained. Thanks from Italy
thank you for this nice explanation. im always happy when someone explaines very properly like he knows what hes talking about!
top video, ive had 1210s for years and now i know what that anti skate wheel is for, well explained for everyone to understand, thanks
Just want to say thanks for posting all these vids (anti skating/weight/height)...it really helped me out to set my 1200. now my records sound sicker than ever.
Cheers bro,
Roy
Excellent video explaining the anti skate facility. You took out the mystery about it all. Well done. Thanks.😊
What a refreshing change from all these so-called experts (all USA dudes). I've got a really good vintage turntable - suspended chassis, belt driven - that I can't part with. But never once has anybody told me that the anti-skate setting number doesn't really have to match exactly with that of the gram weight of the tone-arm - and as you instruct, as long as you set it to when there's no skate. Man, before this I've messed around for hours and then watch this and hey presto. Brilliant!
Wow, I've had my deck's since 2003, and I never knew how to set this right. Thank you for the video.
Nice and easy demonstration how to regulate the antisketting mechanism for a record player. Thanks for the video.
Anti-skating sorry.
Thank you for explaining it, I had always wondered about how to set anti-skating. I had set mine 2g tracking and 2 on anti-skate, but using a blank vinyl, I found mine works best on 1 a.s. Cheers mate!
excellent information on all videos that helped setting up my deck to a pro- standard , many thank,s
No problem, just glad the video was of some use.
Thank you for your comment and your feed back.
Nice One ; )
This explanation is structured very well. Thank you!
Great description - found out exactly what I hoped - kudos to you sir!
That was a great help ViperFrank...thanks a lot. I used to turn the counterweight backwards on my 1210's to make it skip less when scratching. I tried this with a 1 sided record & it works a treat. To everyone who uses Shure M44-7's with Technics 1200/1210's. There's no need to turn your counterweight backwards. I find putting counterweight on normally & setting to it 2.5 & setting Anti -skate to 2, I can scratch great now & get no skipping. Try it people...it works well. Peace!
Very helpful. I was lucky to have Sound and Color it's a double LP and one side is blank. I added some weight to my anti skate weight and now it's perfect. Thanks!
No problem, glad the video was a help.
Thank you for your comment.
Nice One ; )
Ive been djing since 92 and now i know how to set my anti skating properly... Nice tutorial... Thank you
Brilliant video... I learned something even tough I've been doing radio and DJing since the late 70's!