Turntable pitch calibration - TranceAddict Forums

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Posted by dJohn on Mar-06-2003 06:45:

Turntable pitch calibration

I noticed that when I spin on relatively newer M3Ds, the pitch control seems to be alot more easier to use and beatmatching seems like taking a piss, but on my tables my pitch seems to be messed up. I bought them used off of ebay(regular 1200s...not the M3Ds)...is there a way to fix the pitch so it's as accurate as the newer ones, or am I gonna have to dish out an extra 800 on some brand new M3Ds?
I'm asking this because I keep getting off beat on my demo. Not to make it sound like an excuse or anything, but I think my tables are not allowing me to make a perfectly beatmatched mix.
Thanks for the help.

Posted by onceler on Mar-06-2003 06:47:

you can adjust it, or buy a new pitch
to adjust it, there is a small skrew you can turn to speed it up or slow it down...
but remember, before you do that... make sure you look at the red strobe and make sure it is not running off pitch

Posted by Tiger777 on Mar-07-2003 15:44:

yeah, watch out with that. You'll have ALOT of trouble when you're doing this unconcentrated...

Posted by Mister_Michel on Mar-07-2003 16:54:

You can indeed adjust this by tightning or losening some sort of screw inside your technics, this is very risky thow, and naturally by opening your technics your warranty doesn't last anymore; This could also be used to speed up the pitch to +50% or so.

Remember, I did not tell you to do this

Posted by dJohn on Mar-07-2003 17:50:

As far as warranty goes, I bought both of them used, so I'm not concerned about that...
If things go awry, whats the worst that could happen?

Posted by Mister_Michel on Mar-07-2003 18:38:

I don't know really, I've never done such things, but I guess you could always mess something up if you put to much power trying to tighten the screw and slip... But as far as just adjusting that screw, I don't think there's really anything serious that you can mess up.

Try the search option, there are some other topics about this, which are more specific about the details (and risks )

Posted by Kid Lax on Mar-07-2003 22:46:

im pretty sure you'll need a potentiometer if you want to recallibrate your pitch...however unless you're familiar with this i don't think you should go and try to do it yourself

you'll probably end up making your pitch worse than it already is if you don't know what you're doing

have you tested to see how accurate your pitch is?
look at the dots on the platter and the little diagram that explains them just beside the power button
each individual dot should appear to stand still under the red power light when the pitch is at the correct speed for that dot (i.e. the top on should stand still at -3.3, big middle dot should stand still at 0, etc. etc.)

as long as you don't have a double 0, and the numbers aren't completely off...i think you're fine

ive never seen a tech that was exactly on...most are about 1.5% off in either direction

however the problem you're describing doesn't sound like your pitch callibration is off...
all that screw does it changes how fast the platter will spin when you move the pitch up and down...

what you're describing is that your pitch is drifting and not sustaining itself (i.e. say you have it at 2.5%, its drifting between 2.3% & 2.7%)

if this is the case i have no clue how to fix that

though maybe you might just need more practice?

Posted by pnuemo on Mar-08-2003 00:40:

actually, changing the pitch is VERY easy. i've done it to mine because, i too, bought a m3d off of ebay, and it didn't seem to work right. so i looked online and found a great site that explains exactly what to do to adjust the pitch and the brake speed. go here for step-by-step instructions. you'll need a smaller phillips head. thats it!

Posted by Tiger777 on Mar-08-2003 14:39:

I'd love to read it too... seems u forgot the link
allthoug, i'd not touch those things...

Posted by Boomer187 on Mar-08-2003 14:51:

quote:
I'd love to read it too... seems u forgot the link

Click on the "here" in his, "go here for step-by-step instructions" sentence and you'll find it.

Posted by Tiger777 on Mar-08-2003 14:59:

Stupid me

Posted by pnuemo on Mar-08-2003 16:17:

Posted by djmorph on Mar-09-2003 19:09:

I think its not as risky as people say. And its extremely easy to do. I pitched mine up awhile ago after seeing a similar thread to this and mine are fine. I also read that dj dawn did this maneuver while dj'ing @ a rave, so its pretty simple.

Posted by The Greener on Mar-12-2003 11:42:

quote:
Originally posted by Kid Lax
im pretty sure you'll need a potentiometer if you want to recallibrate your pitch...however unless you're familiar with this i don't think you should go and try to do it yourself

you'll probably end up making your pitch worse than it already is if you don't know what you're doing

have you tested to see how accurate your pitch is?
look at the dots on the platter and the little diagram that explains them just beside the power button
each individual dot should appear to stand still under the red power light when the pitch is at the correct speed for that dot (i.e. the top on should stand still at -3.3, big middle dot should stand still at 0, etc. etc.)

as long as you don't have a double 0, and the numbers aren't completely off...i think you're fine

ive never seen a tech that was exactly on...most are about 1.5% off in either direction

however the problem you're describing doesn't sound like your pitch callibration is off...
all that screw does it changes how fast the platter will spin when you move the pitch up and down...

what you're describing is that your pitch is drifting and not sustaining itself (i.e. say you have it at 2.5%, its drifting between 2.3% & 2.7%)

if this is the case i have no clue how to fix that

though maybe you might just need more practice?

I used a few diff. screwdrivers & pliers, soldering iron, bulb......., ect.
Don't mean to sound harsh but I don't think your pentium thingy is enough to pull off that repair

Posted by Kid Lax on Mar-15-2003 09:14:

well obviously you're going ot need more than just a potentiometer...its not some magic tool

but what the potentiometer will let you do is match your pitch to a set number on the potentiometer that is the default setting...since you don't really know where you are with just twisting a little screw (or at least im assuming that's what it'll do...ive just heard that when you take it into a shop to be recallibrated...they use a potentiometer)

nobody said it was hard to change your pitch so its higher than +/- 8%...this can be done in a matter of minutes (ive seen djs do it live)...but you're not aiming for an exact %...you're just turning till you think it sounds fast enough

based on the initial post im assuming he wanted to recalibrate his pitch as perfect as it can be... which is a whole different story

ive heard tons of horror stories of people completely screwing up their pitch and having to take it into hte shop because they didn't know what they were doing and tried to correct their pitch