|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
72.35.157.51
It's an old cartoon but it certainly seems relevant:1. Turn motor off
2. Remove clamp
3. Remove record
4. Place record in sleeve
5. Place sleeve in cover
6. Remove new sleeve from cover
7. Remove record from sleeve
8. Place record on spindle
9. Place clamp
10. Turn on motor
11. Use Audioquest or other dust brush
12. Wipe stylus with dry brush, Magic Eraser or stylus cleaner
13. Wipe stylus with Last stylus treatment
14. Set VTA
15. Cue tonearm and play record
Did I leave any steps out?
If I were new to vinyl and happened to come across this list, I wonder whether I'd be instantly discouraged. There does seem to be a lot of preparatory steps when you think about it. I do like some things about the ritual, but truly, sometimes I think it's a bit obsessive. Yes, it only takes a few seconds to do each step, but those seconds do add up and if you're really obsessive, I'm sure you can easily add several more steps. And this doesn't even include using peripheral clamps like VPI or cleaning the records.
In an attempt to limit the amount of work involved, I've eliminated several steps. First, I have my turntable next to me so if I choose the records beforehand, I don't have to get up to change the record or the side. It's clearly one of the best things I've done, as I hate getting up in the middle of a record, especially with 45s(nothing to do with laziness). Second, I have a Rega so I don't have to shut the motor to change the record. Also I don't use a clamp on the Rega which saves a few seconds. Also, no VTA on the Rega. So I'm down to about 12 steps. Not much better.Of course, I haven't even touched on the more fastidious of us: those who worry about whether to use distilled or purified water, those who exhaust themselves with with multiple cleaning regimens that take longer than the listening session.
I can readily imagine someone who has devoted hundreds of consecutive hours cleaning his records suddenly having a heart attack and dropping dead before he can listen to them.
Well, "such is life" as one of our frequent posters often reminds us.
Edits: 03/22/17 03/22/17Follow Ups:
I have been doing it since I was 15 yrs.old, I am now 68. I don't even think about it anymore. My two other sources are a FM tuner and a CD player. I play vinyl 80% of the time...
I always lower the volume before step 12, because I don't like hearing the stylus cleaner brushing over the stylus. Then I have to turn it back up.
I do the opposite: I raise the volume before brushing the stylus so I can gauge the pressure against the stylus by the sound, then lower it before I cue the tonearm, then raise it again as playback begins.
.
"Wipe stylus with dry brush, Magic Eraser or stylus cleaner"
My only change is to "dab stylus into Magic Eraser"
Otherwise, one can hear the sudden absence of noise as the stylus is flung from its mooring.
Then comes the usual weeping and gnashing of teeth.
axolotl
.
.....is whacked. I know all of us pretty much are, or we wouldn't be here. But that is truly ridiculous.
Oz
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
Hi, Ozzy,
"I think we're all bozos on this bus." - Firesign Theatre 1971
I'm not as particular about VTA as some, but I do use thin platter mats to adjust record height for thinner LPs. Not perfect, but it does make a difference.
Regards,
Tom
I cannot condemn anyone who is able to set VTA and hears a difference.
Good for them!
In fact i applaud their abilities.
(I have really never tried, as I do not own a TT able to change it easily. Maybe if I did, I would be doing so?)
I never said it doesn't matter. It certainly does. But I'm going to fiddle with it on every record I spin. I'd rather listen to music.
Oz
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
- Winston Churchill
And I do not agonize over the VTA setting each time I spin a LP. That would be an indication I am ready for the straight jacket boys. I do pay attention to the setting if I'm going to record the LP or when I first spin a new LP. Then I write it down on a piece of paper I keep with the LP and that's it.
The next time I pull out the LP I just look at the note and change the setting if I feel like it. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
Having VTA on the fly doesn't mean you have to agonize over the setting. Maybe some people do. I don't. I would rather listen to music.
Ed
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
I set the VTA when required and its is no more than turning a dial. Cleaning the stylus is more of a chore than setting VTA.
For some arms its an issue but not on all of them.
Ed
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
We have tested and tasted too much ....
Through a chink too wide, there comes in no wonder ....
From "Advent"
by
Patrick Kavanagh
I much prefer playing digital copies of my records. There's no question it's a chore to copy LPs with a digital recorder, but once they're copied, it's a lot simpler playing them. It's also easier to justify the cleaning ritual when you know it's the last time you'll ever have to clean that record. Furthermore, since I now own a TASCAM DA-3000 DSD recorder, there's no question that my DSD 5.6M copies sound absolutely identical to the LPs. It's even kind of fun to play records again knowing they're being copied to hi-res digital on the best vinyl front-end I can afford. ;-)
Well, clean that stylus is something you don't want to be drunk for.
A similar story is told about driving vs. traveling in an autonomous car.
I've been taking those steps for so long, muscle memory simply responds in relatively quick manner. And it certainly helps when your intent is playing an entire album side.
Having said that, it sure is convenient using my iPhone app for the ability to instantly play anything in my digital library across multiple systems around the house. :)
Cleaning, sorting, the time to set up, TT and cart set up.....you name it. Convenience in audio unfortunately wins out over quality much of the time.
And one other major topic - most LP aficionados listen to whole albums, I believe. Kids these days don't have the concentration to do that, by and large. And they don't care much about sound quality.
Kids in any day never cared about sound quality. I loved cassettes because the music wouldn't stop and make my girlfriend say, "The record's over...go flip it." Because suddenly, we could hear the other couple in the living room going at it.
Ahhhhh yes. Being a latchkey kid had it's perks once high school started.
1: Turn on phono preamp.
2: After a few minutes turn off 'mute' switch
3: Remove TT weight from spindle
5: Remove cover from TT (Kuzma with cover which sits under weight on spindle)
6: turn on switch on back of TT power supply
7: flip power switch on back of TT power supply
8: turn front power supply to '33'
9: push platter to help it start
10: flip main preamp selector to phono
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
11: look at LPs, decide which one to play
12: remove LP from shelf
13: take plastic outer sleeve off
14: Pull inner sleeve with record in it, out.
15: inspect LP surfaces for dust. (if clean go to step 16, if dirty go to step 15a, 15b, 15c,15d)
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+15a if needing real cleaning, turn on sink faucet
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+15b rinse LP in sink
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+15c pat dry,
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+15d vacuum off LP
16: place LP on spinning TT platter
17: place weight back on spindle
18: Move arm to correct starting position
19: eyeball stylus,
20: wipe with StyLast brush
21: recheck arm position over LP to hit lead in groove
22: flip arm lowering lever
23: sit to listen to LP side one.
24: get up to flip record
25: raise arm
26: move arm back to arm rest
27: remove weight from spindle
28: Pick up LP from spinning platter
29: flip LP over
30: place side B on spinning platter
31: place weight back on spindle
32: use stylast and brush stylus
33: place arm over LP leadin groove
34: lower arm with lever
35: listen to side B
36: get up to go back over to TT
37: lift arm with lever
38: move arm back to rest
39: remove weight from spindle
40: lift LP from spinning platter (added steps if one stopped the platter)
41: place LP back in inner sleeve
42: place LP and sleeve in jacket
43: place jacket in outer plastic sleeve
44: Reshelve LP back in order.
So #11 to #44 repeat for EACH LP played. Also if one stops the platter spinning, add those steps.
READING that!
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
I would award you the trophy post haste except you seem to be missing a vital addition to your vinyl armamentarium, at least according to some here--an ultrasonic. That might put you over 50 and certain to claim the prize!
.
Listen, enjoy...and repeat if so desired.
For me it's the expense and the inconvenience that keeps me addicted ... and the sound too, of course.
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: