introduction
vinyl vs cds
the turntable
cartridge and stylus
the CDJ
mixer
slipmatts
headphones

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introduction : types of deck : battle packs : functions : tonearm shape :

Turntable Functions

Firstly apologies for the quality for the image shown here as it was taken on a mobile phone. Once it has been transferred to PC scaled down in size and resolution the visual quality has inevitably suffered a little. However, it should be clear enough for us to view the fundamental functions of the modern DJ turntable. You just can't read the stickers and button labels.
Although decks will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, the principal workings and operation will be the same.

I have numbered each section from the top left anti-clockwise which quite handily happens to correlate with the descriptions underneath! Very lucky!

Basic Functions

You will notice I haven't listed the wire ports for the audio and cable. They do exactly as described and are located at the back of the deck. Here's a quick guide to learning what's what !

1. Lid Attachment Holes

It is necessary for a DJ to easy access to the whole deck, from pretty much any angle. The lid will get in the way so all decks have the lid designed so it is totally removable. The lid simply slides into this hole (and the unnumbered one the other side) to protect the deck when its not in use. The hinge fitting is part of the lid (not the deck) and the peg from the hinge on the lid slots in here.

2. Vinyl Adaptor

Should you wish to bang out any of your grandmas old single's you may find on the record itself there is a great big gaping hole in the middle. Simply lift out this metal disc pop in on the spindle (not numbered here but centre of the deck). The record will now have the metal disc filling what was the hole, and allows it to be played by the deck. Don't expect to ever use this.

3. Platter

Technically this is labelled incorrectly and should highlight the silver circle. When the number was put there it became very difficult to read so I put it as near as I could for clarity. When in the tutorials I say slow the record down, it is on this bumpy nobbles that you put your finger to slow down the running of the deck. This is also removable and slides off the spindle should you ever feel the need to give it a quick dusting.

4. Power light and on/off switch

Twist the top black part of this silver column to allow power to run into the deck.

5. Start / Stop button

ermmm...moving on....

6. RPM selector

Allows the user to select the speed at which the platter spins and is measured in Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). Choices are either 33 or 45. All records will run at one or the other and there is no rule as to whether a record you will buy will be 33 or 45 until you hear it. Sometimes they even print it on the label. On really old record players there was a 78 function but like all that music, its de-funked and no-one cares anymore. Who DJs that is. No 78 option.

7. Deck Light

Press the button next to it to watch the little "lighthouse" pop up and shed a fantastic beam of light across the vinyl. Mixing in dark clubs etc. means you can now see where the grooves are, where the breakdowns occur and when and where to (and not to) mix.
Then again to get the same effect you may as well light a cigarette for all the good it will do you. Get yourself a Maglite.

8. Cartridge, Stylus and Headshell

The black plastic you can see is the headshell. You can just about see the two silver screws nearer the front end of the headshell. These screws are attached to the cartridge. The cartridge essentially is the housing and protection for the stylus. That's the bit that touches the record and transfers the sound on the groove on the record into the turntable arm. FO rmore information check the contents list on the left.

9. Pitch slider

In addition to the RPM selector you can fine tune a specific record's pitch. The centre is the standard 33 or 45 setting. you can increase or decrease the speed on most decks to + or - 8%. you will use this every single mix as all vinyl tunes by different producers will be made at different speeds. You use this to match the speed of the record to the one already playing. More on that later.

10. Tone Arm and Vertical Positioner

To the right of number 10 is a little plastic stick. You move this to one of two positions. If you move the tonearm over the record with the lever in one position it will essentially stop the arm putting the needle on the record and will hold it up in the air. The other position allows the tonearm to lower and the stylus to come into contact with the record and thus play you some tunes. Once in the "down" position, chances are you'll never touch it again. You'll simply lift the tonearm with your hand and pop it backs in its cradle t the position shown in the picture.

11. Anti Skate Setting

This is a measure of how much the tonearm when playing a record will push towards the centre of the record. You may find that the deck naturally pushes the stylus inwards. This dial is used to ensure the tone arms run totally straight in the groove with no unwanted horizontal movement either toward the centre or the edge of the record. For more detail on this see the Setting Up section of the site.

12. Counter Balance Weight

This is a weight on the end of the tonearm which sets how much downward force is put on the cartridge and stylus. The further towards the front of the deck the more force is applied and vice versa. It simply unscrews. Due to its almost conical shape to add even more weight than normal to the headshell you can remove it and put it on backwards. You move the funnel shaped section to the back and thus more weight is applied. Don't do this unless you know what you're doing. If you cross-thread it putting it back on that pretty much ruined that one. You'll never get it off again and you'll be left with a weight you can't move and a needle that floats aimlessly in the air. Always.

13. Tone Arm Height Adjuster

This in addition to the weight an be used to fine-tune the amount of down-force applied to the headshell. There is usually a little silver catch that you move to release the height control dial. By turning the base it raises and lowers the height of the tone arm. The higher you make the pivot point where the tonearm passes through it , the steeper the angle and the more down-force is applied to the headshell. If you put it to the lowest setting and viewed the tone arm and looked at the deck side on the tonearm when playing a record would be totally horizontal. Setting it at its highest setting would mean when viewed from the same angle would show the tone-arm pivot point raised at the back of the deck and the tone arm sloping down towards the front of the deck. To lock the arm to the required height after the necessary twiddling of the base, click the lock switch back into position. My advice is only putting it half on is adequate to hold it on Technics. If you put the lock back on fully you need to apply a lot of force to un-lock it again. More chance of you breaking the mechanism itself or you slipping and ripping a nail off in the process. Urgggh.
For more detail on this see the Setting Up section of the site.

14. Slipmatt

This is a friction removing device to allow the platter to continue spinning underneath a record that is being held stationary by your hand. More on this later as it deserves a section all to itself!

There we have it. All clued and ready to use 'em? Good news.......

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