Mastering process cannot correlate to a variety of pressings from different 'houses'. Groove geometry can and relates to setup alignment.
Help? Problem With Holding The Groove On A Hot Pressing
I have had a problem holding the groove on several hot pressings and it always occurs in the same spot. I am not sure if it’s my set up or a mastering error.
I am playing a record with very strong sonics that is in Mint condition and midway through the last track it skips. When I look at the area under a strong glass I can see a very hot bass transient that almost collides with the next groove. This happened again tonight when I was playing a first pressing/orignal release of MJ’s Thiriller. It also happened on a Allman Brothers LP as well as one other.
Is this a mastering error or is my TT and cartridge not up for it? I am using a Technics 1200 with an Ortofon Blue cartridge. I have checked the setup several times with a very accurate gram scale (2.5g) and my Geodisc. Should I try for a different cartridge angle geometry?
I am playing a record with very strong sonics that is in Mint condition and midway through the last track it skips. When I look at the area under a strong glass I can see a very hot bass transient that almost collides with the next groove. This happened again tonight when I was playing a first pressing/orignal release of MJ’s Thiriller. It also happened on a Allman Brothers LP as well as one other.
Is this a mastering error or is my TT and cartridge not up for it? I am using a Technics 1200 with an Ortofon Blue cartridge. I have checked the setup several times with a very accurate gram scale (2.5g) and my Geodisc. Should I try for a different cartridge angle geometry?
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- 22 posts total
I am using a Technics 1200 with an Ortofon Blue cartridge. Whas is an Ortofon Blue ? Do you mean 2M Blue ? I have checked the setup several times with a very accurate gram scale (2.5g) ... I have adjusted the counterweight +\- .5g and it doesn’t fix the problem. Recommended tracking force is 1.8 g (not 2 or 2.5) for 2M Blue. Check your stylus and slean it with Ortofon Brush, dust on the stylus is a common problem. Start with lower tracking force if your needle skip. Also try without anti-skating (and don't use more that the tracking force) I have checked the setup several times with a very accurate gram scale (2.5g) and my Geodisc. To setup any cartridge in Technics SL1200 you don't need a Geo Dics, this tonearm has its own geometry , very close to Stevenson. All you need is a while plastic overhand gauge that comes with your turntable. If the stylus is under the mark your geometry is fine for this particular arm. |
Also try without anti-skating (and don’t use more that the tracking force)@chakster Thanks. Backing completely off the anti-skating allows the cartridge to hold the hot groove. I am still curious about why these hot grooves appear in the last tracks of some LP’s. I read somewhere that some mastering engineers would back off on the bass in the later tracks because of the changes in record speed or cartridge geometry that occurs as the record plays through a side and some, like George Piros (re: Led Zep II first release) would cut hot all the way through. I was trying to find the article and I can’t... Is there any plausibility that these hot grooves found later in a side would be a result of the physics of cutting? It is intuitive to me that for any same low frequency that the groove would present as a slow "hill" in the outer grooves because of the faster speed and more of a shorter "peak" in the slower inner grooves? |
- 22 posts total