Setting the tracking weight, Is this method a good idea?

0:00 Now then, there's a lot of confusion as to what tracking weight means

Alright folks, now then, there's a lot of confusion as to what tracking weight means. Now then, this is a bit of an informative video but also there's a question here that I want a lot of people out there to answer and it could be a help to quite a few people as well. Now then, tracking weight, basically what it means, as you can see by the way as well, I've got the styli, the actual needle off the cartridge. There is a reason for that. Now then, what the actual weight, tracking weight means is the actual pressure Put on the piece of vinyl. So, for example, if there was a record there now, the needle, the stylo was on the cartridge and the actual needle was touching the record. What we're on about here is let's say it says a pressure of 3 grams. Now, theoretically what that would mean is that the needle, the stylo, would be pushing down 3 grams of weight on that record. But, here's the question.

1:25 10-20 grams, but they can also weigh very small amounts

How do we know it's exactly putting down three grams? Now then, here's my advice. All right, now tell me here if I'm right or wrong. Now, I don't have the actual item here. But now let's say all of a sudden, right, here's probably the best thing to use. Let's say you know you can buy these small weighing scales that are used for weighing gold, silver, etc. Now they can weigh up to, you know... 10-20 grams, but they can also weigh very small amounts. Now then, this is the idea, okay? You try this, tell me if it's right, tell me if it's wrong. Take the stylite off, okay? Place the actual scales on the platter, like so. Now then, what you would do then, is normally where you would put, let's say for example this piece here, is the actual weighing scales. Where you would normally put your bit of gold or whatever,

To check the weight of that item, just place the tone arm on that weighing scale. Now straight away you should get some weight. Now bearing in mind, you would have taken away the actual stylo cartridge. Now just to let you know, the particular weight of that cartridge or stylo is very, very minimum. But if you wanted to be absolutely accurate, what you could do is you could weigh that separately, then just take that away. Sorry, add that to the actual weight, I beg your pardon, of the weight that's being pressed down here. So for example now, let's say this was a weighing scale and all of a sudden I had a pressure of 7 grams. Well I would know straight away I would have to move the weight at the back of the tone arm back.

2:40 Weight actual, move forward

If I move it forward, the weight would increase. If I move it back, it would decrease. So basically what we're getting to here is if let's say for a specific cartridge it says the weight that you should have, the tracking weight on the record is say 3 grams, you would know by using scales that you would get exactly 3 grams. How you would do that is basically by adjusting The big weight on the back of the actual arm of the turntable and the arm is along here. Okay, there's the weight. That is the item you would have to move forward and backwards to get the optimum weight on the actual cartridge. And then once you've sorted the weight out and you've got it to three grams or two grams, then there's no argument. All you've got to do then is take it off and fit back.

Now then, tell me, is that a good way of doing it? Right or wrong? Shout me back. Practice and enjoy.

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