EP ANTI-SKATING Test record

The test plate without grooves, the so-called mirror, allows the appropriate size of the compensation force to be set without additional measuring instruments.

The best check for the correct setting of the lateral force on the tip is the setting with the Anti-skating TEST Record, which is accurate and user-friendly.

Thelateral force (skating) on the tip and the procedure for adjusting the compensation of this force.

1. Generation of lateral force on the stylus

When playing a record, the stylus is guided through a spiral groove in which the audio record is recorded. In addition to the vertical force, the stylus is also subjected to a frictional force which has a tangential direction to the groove. One component of this force is applied in the direction of the junction of the tip and the pivot point of the tape arm and is captured in the arm bearing. The other component acts perpendicular to it and seeks to rotate the arm towards the centre of the plate. As a result, the pressure of the tip is greater on the inner wall of the groove in which the left channel is recorded than on the outer wall of the groove in which the right channel is recorded. Balancing of these forces is achieved by introducing a compensating force that attempts to rotate the arm towards the perimeter of the plate. This force is exerted by a weight or electromagnet, depending on the design of the turntable, but most often by a spring. In most cases, the lateral force setting has the same scale as the vertical pressure on the stylus, and if the same the same numerical value as the pressure, the magnitude is close to the optimum value even without additional aids. However, this does not mean that the transfer pressure is the same value as the lateral force setting. This force is much smaller and just to simplify the operation of the turntable, both scales tend to be the same.

2. Adjusting the horizontal position of the turntable

The instrument should be placed on a solid surface where vibrations from the surroundings are not transmitted. Wall mounted shelves or solid non-resonant tables are suitable. Adjust the horizontal position using a standard spirit level placed on a turntable or an omnidirectional spirit level.

3. Adjusting the compensating force (anti-skating)

This test plate without grooves - the so-called mirror - allows the appropriate amount of compensating force to be adjusted without additional measuring instruments.
- Recheck the horizontal position of the instrument with a spirit level.
- Set both the vertical force and the compensating force to zero - the transmission "floats" in the air and should remain at any point above the plate where you set it.
- If you blow gently from the side on the arm, it should rotate freely.
- Set the vertical force on the tip according to the specifications for the type of insert and tip in the upper third of the manufacturer's stated range.
- Engage the platen rotation and lower the transfer arm onto a smooth platen near the circumference. The transfer plate will slide to the center of the plate.
- Add the amount of compensating force until the transfer plate stops on the plate surface. Ideally, the transfer case will stay at whatever point on the board we place it. In other cases, it is sufficient to achieve that it settles at approximately half of the surface.

Often the lateral force setting is described in the same scale as the vertical pressure on the tip and should be set to the same value. This does not mean, however, that at a transfer pressure of 2 g (20 mN) the lateral force is set to the same value. This force is much smaller, just to simplify the setting, the scales are described in the same way.When adjusting with a weight on the silon fiber, the lateral force changes by which groove the silon fiber is seated in. Also, the correct setting of the side force is not universal for a given turntable or cartridge. It depends mainly on the pressure, but also on the shape of the stylus, for example. Spherical styli, because of the greater friction between the record and the stylus, require more compensating force than elliptical or Shibata-type styli. In addition, during plate playback, the magnitude of this lateral force on the stylus changes as the lateral scan angle changes and should change accordinglythe magnitude of the compensating lateral force should also change, which can be achieved both magnetically and mechanically by using a weight. The best check for the correct adjustment of the lateral force on the tip is to use the Antiskating TEST Record, which is accurate and very simple.