Vinyl Guru's.............HELP

[artto]

This is embarrassing. Me needing help with vinyl. [:|]

I need an LP that has no grooves on one side or a test record that has an uncut/pressed area on it so I can better test anti-skating.

I thought I had a test record with this sort of thing but after looking I can't find one. So I'm thinking I must have simply come across an LP (that is still somewhere in my collection) that is recorded only on one side.

Any quick ideas come to mind?

[garymd]

Nevermind.

[oldenough]

Just checked my test records, sorry no luck there. I do have a record that is un-pressed on one side, I remember thinking it was strange, no tracks, no label, so I guess it wasn't a mistake. Where to start looking is the problem.

[dollar bill]

Edgar Winter has a double with the 4th side blank, some Casablanca 12" Disco mixes were one sided.

[Dennie]

Just checked my test records, sorry no luck there. I do have a record that is un-pressed on one side, I remember thinking it was strange, no tracks, no label, so I guess it wasn't a mistake. Where to start looking is the problem.

I too have a record that is blank on one side, but I think I loaned to to Oldenough! LOL No! For the life of me, I can't remember which one it is, either. Sorry.

Dennie

[seti]

This is embarrassing. Me needing help with vinyl.

I need an LP that has no grooves on one side or a test record that has an uncut/pressed area on it so I can better test anti-skating.

I thought I had a test record with this sort of thing but after looking I can't find one. So I'm thinking I must have simply come across an LP (that is still somewhere in my collection) that is recorded only on one side.

Any quick ideas come to mind?

I had to go to two used record shops before I found an anti skating test track. I finally found a Shure & Popular Electronics test LP's. My antiskate was way off. Test LP helped.

There are a few on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SHURE-TRACKABILITY-TEST-RECORD-TTR-101-STEREO-CART-LP_W0QQitemZ230425712327QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Records?hash=item35a67156c7

http://cgi.ebay.com/SHURE-CARTRIDGE-TEST-RECORD-LP-SEALED_W0QQitemZ320474503049QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_on_Vinyl?hash=item4a9dc4d789

[The Dude]

Whats a test record.

duder

[seti]

The forum seems to be arguing with me. I went to a few record shops before I found some test lps. MY anti-skate was way off so the test lp is a must have.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=test+lp+shure&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

[LarryC]

Art, I suggest you cross-check any results using an ungrooved LP against the tonearm maker's recommended setting and other tests you run across. I found the two settings (blank LP and manufacturer's) differed on my arm.

Also, does your arm/cart strongly skate inward at the beginning of a record? Mine did, so I finally gave up and set the anti-skating high enough to keep it from doing that. That setting didn't match either the blank LP or the arm instructions.

I haven't tried this, but someone has suggested "Using the anti-skating mechanism provided on your tonearm, adjust the amount of anti-skate until the Bias Setting tracks on side 1 of the Hi Fi News and Record Review test record produce a clean, undistorted signal in both channels. Buzzing in the right channel indicates that more anti-skating force is required, whereas buzzing in the left channel indicates that less anti-skating force is required. "

I like this idea, too: "You can see gross errors in anti-skate by looking at the stylus. If you shine a light on the front of the tonearm while playing a record, you will be able to see whether the stylus is centered in the stylus holder. If the stylus is biased to one side or another while playing a record, then the anti-skate is way off."

However, stylus/cantilever deviation is also used in aligning the cantilever, but in a different way from setting the anti-skate. In alignment, you have to stop the LP and disable the anti-skate, in order to align with a protractor. I don't like to align a cantilever with the anti-skate on, because it will deviate inward. So, I disable the A/S, align the cart, and then re-enable the A/S.

Hope this helps.

[artarama]

I have one, it is a YORKSHIRE #27012, RCOA Stereo Systems Test Record, it is touted as "the Record Club of America has created the definitive test record."

Test number eight on Side one is Anti-skating test. The announcer on this recording somehow reminded me of "Dragnet".

I used this just a few weeks ago and seemed to work pretty good. The best thing I have done in a while was to adjust/set-up my turntable. The re-alingment of the cartridge and level of the tone arm made a big differance. I used a couple different protractors from vinylengine.com. Great site.

[artto]

Art, I suggest you cross-check any results using an ungrooved LP against the tonearm maker's recommended setting and other tests you run across. I found the two settings (blank LP and manufacturer's) differed on my arm.

Also, does your arm/cart strongly skate inward at the beginning of a record? Mine did, so I finally gave up and set the anti-skating high enough to keep it from doing that. That setting didn't match either the blank LP or the arm instructions.

I haven't tried this, but someone has suggested "Using the anti-skating mechanism provided on your tonearm, adjust the amount of anti-skate until the Bias Setting tracks on side 1 of the Hi Fi News and Record Review test record produce a clean, undistorted signal in both channels. Buzzing in the right channel indicates that more anti-skating force is required, whereas buzzing in the left channel indicates that less anti-skating force is required. "

I like this idea, too: "You can see gross errors in anti-skate by looking at the stylus. If you shine a light on the front of the tonearm while playing a record, you will be able to see whether the stylus is centered in the stylus holder. If the stylus is biased to one side or another while playing a record, then the anti-skate is way off."

However, stylus/cantilever deviation is also used in aligning the cantilever, but in a different way from setting the anti-skate. In alignment, you have to stop the LP and disable the anti-skate, in order to align with a protractor. I don't like to align a cantilever with the anti-skate on, because it will deviate inward. So, I disable the A/S, align the cart, and then re-enable the A/S.

Hope this helps.

"Art, I suggest you cross-check any results
using an ungrooved LP against the tonearm maker's recommended setting
and other tests you run across. I found the two settings (blank LP and
manufacturer's) differed on my arm." Yes, this is what I'm trying to do ~ I can't seem to find a "grooveless" track any where, LOL.

"Also, does your arm/cart strongly skate
inward at the beginning of a record? Mine did, so I finally gave up
and set the anti-skating high enough to keep it from doing that. That
setting didn't match either the blank LP or the arm instructions." Not really, it's mainly doing it intermitently on a recording I really like (Mahavishnu Orchestra - Visions of the Emerald Beyond) and I don't recall having this problem before, but maybe that was with the Shure V15.

"You can see gross errors in anti-skate by looking at the stylus. If you shine a light on the front of the tonearm while playing a record, you will be able to see whether the stylus is centered in the stylus holder". This one makes me laugh (no offense Larry). Have you ever tried doing this with a Decca Jubilee?

As others have suggested the Shure test records, I have one for the V15 but there isn't a blank grooveless track on mine. Perhaps I have another older version thats misplaced.

The rest of you....keep the ideas coming. I'm thinking that maybe the blank side disc is one I got at a CES show, a pre-release of something, like maybe Reference Recordings or one of the other audiophile companies might have put out. If not I guess I'll just get one of those Clarity recordings Gary mentioned and kill two birds with one stone.

[artto]

artarama.............is that an old Morgan I see on your avatar? []

[garymd]

Wow. I have 4 test records and none have an anti-skating test track. I'm pretty sure I used to have the Shure LP but I must have given it away. I would have gladly sent it to you. If I were you, I'd follow Larry's good advice.

Good luck.

[oldenough]

artarama.............is that an old Morgan I see on your avatar?

Artto it's a Bugatti.

[Mike 585]

Actually, it's not Edgar Winter but Johnny Winter's "Second Winter" that has a blank side. I used to use it myself to adjust tracking.

Looks like you can get one from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Second-Winter-Johnny/dp/B001JA0CN0/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1264009068&sr=1-11

[artto]

Wow. I have 4 test records and none have an anti-skating test track. I'm pretty sure I used to have the Shure LP but I must have given it away. I would have gladly sent it to you. If I were you, I'd follow Larry's good advice.

Good luck.

That's funny Gary. I thought exactly the same thing of my collection. I could swear I have an older Shure Audio Obstacle Course that had the grooveless track but for the life of me I can't find it. I have a new, sealed Shure V-15 test record but the cover doesn't say anything about a grooveless or anti-skating track so I don't want to open it for now. I must have a dozen "test" records and none of them have a grooveless track either. I guess I'll just buy a few of the older Shure test records on Ebay and see what I come up with, as well as one of those Clarity recordings you mentioned.

[artto]

artarama.............is that an old Morgan I see on your avatar?

Artto it's a Bugatti.

[] Thanks

How about those new Bugatti Veyron, eh?

[artto]

Art, I suggest you cross-check any results using an ungrooved LP against the tonearm maker's recommended setting and other tests you run across. I found the two settings (blank LP and manufacturer's) differed on my arm.

Also, does your arm/cart strongly skate inward at the beginning of a record? Mine did, so I finally gave up and set the anti-skating high enough to keep it from doing that. That setting didn't match either the blank LP or the arm instructions.

I haven't tried this, but someone has suggested "Using the anti-skating mechanism provided on your tonearm, adjust the amount of anti-skate until the Bias Setting tracks on side 1 of the Hi Fi News and Record Review test record produce a clean, undistorted signal in both channels. Buzzing in the right channel indicates that more anti-skating force is required, whereas buzzing in the left channel indicates that less anti-skating force is required. "

I like this idea, too: "You can see gross errors in anti-skate by looking at the stylus. If you shine a light on the front of the tonearm while playing a record, you will be able to see whether the stylus is centered in the stylus holder. If the stylus is biased to one side or another while playing a record, then the anti-skate is way off."

However, stylus/cantilever deviation is also used in aligning the cantilever, but in a different way from setting the anti-skate. In alignment, you have to stop the LP and disable the anti-skate, in order to align with a protractor. I don't like to align a cantilever with the anti-skate on, because it will deviate inward. So, I disable the A/S, align the cart, and then re-enable the A/S.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Larry. Yes, I do all of that stuff, except the "shine a light" thing. Have you ever tried to do that with a Decca Jubilee? (LOL). Now I just need to find a record that has a large area with no grooves which I could swear I have, somewhere. GRRR

[rplace]

Do you have a copy of Frank Sinagra's Nice n Easy? Everybody should []

IIRC, at work so can't look, it has a huge blank space on one side or both. Sure it has a groove to take the needle to the lable, but I think the grooves are far enough apart that you could put in between.

HTH, Rich

[seti]

I bought three test records and only one had the anti skate track.