Guys, I need your help.
I just got my TT's (Numark TT-1520, direct drive), and I'm using a mixer that I've had for some time, Gemini BPM-150.

I've been playing around with my new turntables and ran into some questions.

1) I'm finding that it's pretty hard for me to stop a record manually with my hand, much harder than I thought it would be. I have to exert a lot of force (is this normal?). Because of this, I have trouble beat-matching perfectly, since there are small delays. Can I just use the Start/Stop button for cueing?

2) If not, can I cue just by using the pitch control, and if so, how? I've heard that you can use quick up-down motion to cue up the record.

3) How much time, on average, do you need to convince yourself that the two records are matched?

4) My needle "wobbles" a little over a record. Is this normal, or do I need to adjust the counterweight?

4) Unfortunately my mixer is having problems with electric contact. For example, when I hook up the headphones, I always have to twist the plug a little to hear a sound. But what is most frustrating, is that my mixer does not display the volume lights for the right channel!!! I know that the right signal is coming out fine; I can hear it on my audio-system. And sometimes, when I slam it against a table, these lights DO appear for a few seconds, then disappear again. In other words, it's just the contact problem with these lights, I think. Recently I haven't been able to fix that at all. Have you guys ever had this problem, and can I fix it myself, or not? If it's defected I don't think I can send it back.

Thanks!

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quote:

Originally posted by Eugene Guys, I need your help. I just got my TT's (Numark TT-1520, direct drive), and I'm using a mixer that I've had for some time, Gemini BPM-150. I've been playing around with my new turntables and ran into some questions. 1) I'm finding that it's pretty hard for me to stop a record manually with my hand, much harder than I thought it would be. I have to exert a lot of force (is this normal?). Because of this, I have trouble beat-matching perfectly, since there are small delays. Can I just use the Start/Stop button for cueing? 2) If not, can I cue just by using the pitch control, and if so, how? I've heard that you can use quick up-down motion to cue up the record. 3) How much time, on average, do you need to convince yourself that the two records are matched? 4) My needle "wobbles" a little over a record. Is this normal, or do I need to adjust the counterweight? 4) Unfortunately my mixer is having problems with electric contact. For example, when I hook up the headphones, I always have to twist the plug a little to hear a sound. But what is most frustrating, is that my mixer does not display the volume lights for the right channel!!! I know that the right signal is coming out fine; I can hear it on my audio-system. And sometimes, when I slam it against a table, these lights DO appear for a few seconds, then disappear again. In other words, it's just the contact problem with these lights, I think. Recently I haven't been able to fix that at all. Have you guys ever had this problem, and can I fix it myself, or not? If it's defected I don't think I can send it back. Thanks!

1) sounds like maybe your not using slipmats....if you are, be sure you have that rubber mat that came with the table OFF the platter..the only thing that should be separating the vinyl from the steel platter is a slipmat...

2) you can do this, but it takes lots and lots and lots of practice to learn how to listen for 4/4 markups and read when they're not synced up

3) depending upon the cart your using, give it between 1.75-3.25g of trakcing force (after you've balanced the tonearm), set the anti skate to between 1.5 and 3. the wobbling of the needle can be caused by:
a: warped records
b: faulty stylus
c: insufficient tracking force

4) sounds like its time for a new mixer....

quote:

1) sounds like maybe your not using slipmats....if you are, be sure you have that rubber mat that came with the table OFF the platter..the only thing that should be separating the vinyl from the steel platter is a slipmat...

Yes, I'm using the slipmat that came with the table, it's a thin black circular layer that says "Numark". But I really have to press very hard on the record to stop it!

quote:

3) depending upon the cart your using, give it between 1.75-3.25g of trakcing force (after you've balanced the tonearm), set the anti skate to between 1.5 and 3. the wobbling of the needle can be caused by: a: warped records b: faulty stylus c: insufficient tracking force

My counterweight is currently set to "3.5" (whatever that means). I tried changing it but I can't see any effects, the distance from the table-top is always perfectly horizontal (I think). Am I doing something wrong?

quote:

4) sounds like its time for a new mixer....

dang! $160 wasted. Are you sure there's nothing that can be done? Have any of you guys had similar problems? If it can't be fixed, then my advice for you guys is to steer clear of Gemini BPM-150, it sucks!..

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Last edited by Eugene on Jan-17-2002 at 21:00

stop what, the record or the platter.... cause the platter should just keep spinning while the record stays in place...

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quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Shockwav stop what, the record or the platter.... cause the platter should just keep spinning while the record stays in place...

ohh, I'm stopping the platter also!

thanks for that advice... lol

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Wait a sec, I don't get it...
I just tried it, and I can't stop the record without stopping the platter!

If, for example, I push on a record, the platter slows down too.

What am I doing wrong?

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you are either pushing down way to hard or the record is directly on the rubber and you have no slipmat

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quote:

Originally posted by phatdelt you are either pushing down way to hard or the record is directly on the rubber and you have no slipmat

I'm using the mat that came with the turntables.
In the documentation it says "turntable mat". They also refer to it as the "anti-static slip mat". Is this what you're talking about?
I put it on the steel platter and am using just like it says in the documentation. It's a thin black circular layer that says "Numark" on it. YET, I can't stop a record and still have the platter spin underneath.

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quote:

Originally posted by Eugene Wait a sec, I don't get it... I just tried it, and I can't stop the record without stopping the platter! If, for example, I push on a record, the platter slows down too. --- I just got my TT's (Numark TT-1520, direct drive),

there's your problem. Unfortunately, although they're much more economic than the tech12's, you get what you pay for, a cheaper motor that can't handle the pressure of your hand on the platter. :/

quote:

Originally posted by quddha there's your problem. Unfortunately, although they're much more economic than the tech12's, you get what you pay for, a cheaper motor that can't handle the pressure of your hand on the platter. :/

suxxx to be me
If it's direct-drive, and NOT belt-driven, then shouldn't it work right??!

So how do you suggest I mix, then? Do I have to do everything with a little headstart to account for delays? Do I use the Start/Stop button?

Thanks a lot - your advice is appreciated.

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I do the up and down motion with the pitch control sometimes to get it back cues if i totally lost it (i thought i was the only one)

works like a charm

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i just try to put as little pressure on the record as possible... try holding the side instead...
and then just do a little push to get the beats synced up when you let the record go...
it's kinda hard to put into words, you just have to try things out and learn your own way

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