How To Setup and Balance The Tonearms On Your DJ Turntables

Setting up and calibrating the tonearms on your DJ turntables correctly is very important, if you want to get the best performance from your decks - and avoid damaging your needles and records. On the new episode of "Beatsource Basics", Mojaxx talks you through the whole setup process.
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[@matthewjswider]

36 years old now, got my first set of technics at age 19 after messing with my brothers for the past 5 years before that. I wasn’t allowed to touch the turntables till I learned how all of those things worked and could setup and adjust them on my own. So, these things were the first parts of the turntable I ever learned about. Good on your for explaining the antiskate and what it’s designed function is. Most people don’t have any idea what the purpose of that is. I’m surprised you didn’t cover checking the calibration of the pitch fader while you’re at it. Thanks for these Mojaxx. It doesn’t make me feel any better about others using my tables, but it does make me feel good that the needle and record seem to have a home in the DJ community that will never disappear.

[@DJLBoogieTheGodmother]

Penny on the headshell crew! Cinder blocks under the turntables 😀. We were kids just trying to keep the party rocking by any means necessary. Great tutorial I am about to go rebalance mine.

[@djblastercom]

All my life I thought the more weight the better. Did what you said. And the cuts were amazing. Didn’t sound distorted. I’m assuming it was way to heavy. Thank you 🙏🏿

[@GODInTheWax444]

That's not true tho fam. It depends on the cartridge. The Shure M447 and Jico M447 clone cart and needles can have the weight put all the way maximum with no change in the sound quality. In fact, I had a couple of clean, newer records that were skipping and when I maxed the weight they stopped doing it. But my Ortofon OM Qberts if you turn them all the way up, they don't hold the groove as well and sound worse. THIS is why people covet M447s so much. Or at least partly why... The JICO clones are just as good as well with the same profile and function.

[@davebrazewell8719]

I still absolutely love the customisation on these decks. Remember watching the video mojaxx did about them.

[@djtrepound2407]

My Pops is a DJ so in 97 when I started out he taught me how to setup my tonearm. But his way was eye ball it and weight it manually. He only used Staton 680 carts so I pretty much memorized the setup and did it exactly the same if I was playing at bars and clubs.

[@AT-wl9yq]

Just a couple of things to add. The turntable needs to be absolutely level before you start making any adjustments. For a TT without suspension, like the Technics, you put a level on the platter itself to check and adjust. I don't think DJ TT's have suspension, but if yours does, both the platter and the plinth has to be level before you start adjusting. Also, you shouldn't use a brand new cartridge. There should be at least 20 hours on it. The cart body will sit a little lower once the cantilever/motor interface softens up. This wasn't in the video, but I assume it was covered in a prior one. But, you are using a regular headshell, you have to align the cartridge first, before you do any of this. If you have adjustments for azimuth and overhang, setting them after the adjustments in this video will through them out. One last thing is stylus rake angle SRA, or some people call it vertical tracking angle VTA. This adjustment should always be done last, after everything else is set. With a DJ TT it can be done 2 ways. If you use a P mount cart, use the arm as a guide, like he says in the video. If you are using a traditional headshell/cart setup, always go by the cart body as a reference, not the arm. The reason for this is the cart arm isn't always parallel to the top of the cart. After you are all done adjusting using either of the above methods, there's no harm in setting the last bit of SRA by ear, with some music playing. Raise and lower the arm a little bit both ways, and just pick what sounds best.

[@typ237]

Technics 1210/00 have suspension in the feet

[@AT-wl9yq]

@@typ237 That's not the type of suspension I was talking about. Sometimes the platter itself is suspended. Then you have to level both the TT and the platter.

[@typ237]

Dj turntables haven’t been suspended like that since the all in one monstrosities from the 80s though and this video is focusing on turntables for djing, as it says in the title

[@AT-wl9yq]

@@typ237 "For a TT without suspension, like the Technics, you put a level on the platter itself to check and adjust. I don't think DJ TT's have suspension, but if yours does, both the platter and the plinth has to be level before you start adjusting." I didn't know the proper term is djing. I used DJ.

[@ShinoShaw]

this is one of the most helpful videos I have come across

[@trancevoyagesessions]

Just got my first set of Concordes and thought I best double check here before I re balance. I reckon this video will still be watched in 100 years time. Thanks Mojaxx.

[@_sl3600]

Too many times I've encountered decks where something was not quite right in the bearings, and floating the tonearm to 0 was just too unreliable. Couldn't quite eyeball the weight from how deep it went either due to some bent items as well... So now, I just take the pressure gauge to gigs with me to set the target weight - then I adjust the VTA (if it's not seized up) to get it level. Interestingly, tonearms seized-up at their lowest position was one of the things that considerably shortened my experimenting with M44s at gigs. :)

[@philphillips7732]

Well back in the day i was always told that you had to put the counter weight on backwards so that the numbers were facing away from the deck and to have it all the way forward to give the maximum amount of force on the needle to keep the needle in the groove. On top of this you would then stick one or two 2p coins on the end of the tone arm for even more weight on the needle which was one sure way of damaging your vinyl collection,I wish i had know the damage i was doing every time i was mixing my vinyl so great to see this video for any one new to mixing on vinyl turntables.Even if you are now using digital vinyl such as Traktor or Serato having your decks set up correctly will save you time and money. Great video Mojaxx ,I'll see you next time

[@mannerism_au]

Always great videos bro, thanks :)

[@gaviscon79]

Well I’ve had my decks since 1996 and I’ve never had them set up correctly until I watched this video. 😊

[@xenofyl1]

Damn bruh you’ve just solved tracking issues I’ve had with my TT’s for the past 6 years or so (ever since I’ve bought them😅) with that arm height tip… I can’t thank you enough!

[@SpecRaceM5]

Ortofon makes a mechanical stylus scale as well. Maybe not as precise as the digital but a bit more robust if you are having issues with digital scales breaking. I’ve personally never had a digital scale break and I keep one in my bag whenever I travel.

[@DjDecanus]

Another top quality video, keep them coming

[@CapGun]

40 years young Ben DJ since I was 17 thought I knew what I was doing back then. I was so young and dumb. I knew the weight mattered . I just adjusted it till sounded good by ear. I also used to use a lot of drugs so remembering shit didn't really work. I'd always forget. This video was extremely helpful and I know exactly what I'm doing now, thank you very much. You Rock.

[@kwangungucarreira3116]

Super helpful video. Thank you

[@seanpumfrett6265]

Great video, fortunately I have known this for years, many do not, but I didn’t know in the beginning years. Thanks for posting 👍

[@valentinephasha1468]

Insightful indeed 👏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@MrRiceta]

Very thorough setup walk through. Answered my question about the extra tone arm weight.

[@CAVENBASS]

Man wicked video, I am also 36 and have been mixing for years and have known how to balance tone arms but it was many years until I found out how to do it. I actually didn't know about raising the whole tone arm Hahaha. Really appreciate 🙏

[@serkankocak]

Got my first DJ turntable in 1998 when I was 18 and even though I set up the tonearm as intended from the first day I used coins on the headshell for the first three years. In the past 10 years I got into the hi-fi (almost audiophile) side of record playback and do use a stylus gauge for my dozen cartridges.

[@velanche]

Thanks for this; serious knowledge and tips, up and down! I have a DJ crew, and I have four Tech 12's and we used vinyls for the majority of our gigs, though we are using controllers more. Still, this is great to know, and better to show. Gonna try and cop that stylus tech gizmo you have; would really come in handy. Once again, Mojaxx is the man! Thank you, folks.

[@wkwhiteknght2223]

Good interview very well explained I did exactly the same you have to know you turntables inside and out it’s not just about playing your records it’s about getting the best performance out of them and setting up everything correctly

[@djthunder_901]

Bro I’ve had tracking issues for decades.. Thank you everything is perfect serato & 45 vinyl I spin no skipping.. Salute

[@djboomshot]

same as you Mojaxx, I'm of the generation where we'd do all that crazy shit -tape a coin to the headshell with the Stanton 500's, flip the counterweight around and crank it down to the heaviest weight possible. And yeah, we'd cue burn the hell out of our records too. It wasn't until several years after I'd been djing full time that I finally learned to calibrate properly -but I've been doing it without fail ever since. And good on'ya for putting this kind of material out there -even tho I didn't need it, I'm hoping there's always a new batch of kids that do need to know

[@ghost4004]

i got my first set of decks in 99 and i been djing since 96. today is the day i learned about balancing the tone arm, also what the anti skid does ect lol, and yes i had a penny on my stanton 500s i just thought it was a cool thing to do hahaha

[@SiFi_Music]

thanks for this vid :) ive had my mk5gs since 2007 they need a service unsurprisingly but they are still solid/!! and sound a lot better now ive done this

[@screams4noreason]

The DeckDoctor taught me this 6 years in … had to watch this video for a recap

[@DJYNOT2]

Mo I’ve been a DJ since the 80’s. It took me many years before I learned anything about calibrating a turntable.I had Technic 1200’s and still used a penny. 🤣

[@87dww8]

Interesting video 👍

[@MattiasFromSweden]

Nice one mojaxx 👍🏼 Even if I did know how to setup the 1200. Always good with a refresher:) I use a Ortofon Mix Cartridge atm and wanna know what you think about that in general? I use it only for bedroom kinda thing and got a monthly radio show. What I noticed are that the Mix have kinda low sound/output voltage. What Ortofon one do you recommend to have a greater output, the club one? Cheers and thank you for all helpful and interesting videos!

[@djdeznyc]

Still can’t get mine to work I give up at this point. And I really wanted to start a vinyl collect and spin vinyl. I’m 23 and never used a record or tunable before I come from the era of CDs, mp3, streaming and a little bit of cassette tapes.

[@JOEBFDJOE]

Thank You

[@uniqueflowsnake]

37 now.I was 15ish when i got my first belt drive turntables. some plasticky omnitronic things. I definitely did not know any of this stuff and thought having a coin on it would be pretty much magic, but it wasn't. Later learned all of this stuff ofc, but yeah, maybe the belt drive had something to do with the scratching not going very well too. One thing I had not considered that i do have mats of different thicknesses and I haven't recalibrated if I've switched them around. Made a note of that now. Cheers!

[@sgtcreasegrease]

speaking of mats with different thicknesses, 180g vinyl needs to go. Annoying af.

[@trancevoyagesessions]

Thank you just got my first set of turntables in 20 years.

[@saidchalita3702]

great videeoooo

[@nil_blank]

Thanks for this! Not a ton of info in the box for a noob out there.

[@VOYA.]

Brilliant

[@frantzlauredant3425]

Great tips! But if If I may, the anti-skate setting needs to be made in tandem with the counterweight setting until achieving free level floating and no left or right movement of the tonearm, then adjust both setting controls at "Zero".. Once in a complete free-floating and stand still position, you then set both counterweight and to the anti-skating to the same appropriate value, i.e 2.5. Love your channel! Cheers!

[@DaGuyver]

Yeah. Can also use like the B-side of a record with no grooves, no sound, for that. Like a record which only has one playable A-side. The other side is blanc.

[@deeejay1054]

Just learned now after 35 years 😮

[@ThirdEyeWarrior]

Yo MOJAXX, wtf Man…. Technics out with that special edition 1200 turntable which improved on dampening. YOU were the One who exposed the 7s with that test that shamed them which I believe made Technics come with a New Edition, we need a new review Cmon Man.

[@Travis-guy-247]

Thanks for this Mojaxx, I had no idea how important this was either. I've had my Stanton T80's for 2 years now (although admittedly I've only got them out 10-12 times). I got a stylus scale for Christmas, and the pressure was off the scale! (5+ grams). I readjusted it to 2.5g and all is well. I'm just worried that I've shortened the life of some of my records now 😰 The most I've played a record is probably 15-20 times in the last 2 years. Would that be enough to badly damage the grooves with a stylus that could've been weighing 6-8g?

[@MrBankzyboy]

Until I watched this video penny was all ways the way lol 😂 big ups man for letting us old heads knows what’s what lol 😂 👌👊

[@danthebat666]

I have said that overloading needle to solve skipping is treating the symptom, not the cause.

[@brandon___styles]

Great video. Where were your Technics customized?

[@Tech_Soul]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/foLKqodnoNSAb5o&ab_channel=DJcityTV

[@Mojaxx]

DJs Dream Customs in Germany. If you’re in the US I recommend DJ Henray Customs for similar work.

[@deaddreamer66]

Please, tell us in detail how to properly install the cartridge on the headshell! I have a Vestax PDX2000 with a straight arm. The instructions for the turntable say that the distance from the needle to the beginning of the headshell should be 5cm. But in the instructions for Shur M44-7 there are several ways to install the cartridge. One of them even rotates the cartridge by 23 degrees. In general, I want to know how it is right, because everything is simple with Ortofon Concorde, but everything is very difficult with ordinary needles on headshells. And I wanted to ask if it is possible to check the correct installation of the cartridge according to the timecodes of the Tractor? It also shows the level and quality of the signal. Thank you very much!

[@pauly2929]

back in the day (mid 80s) we used to have 2p’s on the head shells and blamed the clubs sound system for crappy sound - Citronic Thames 2’s.... remember those bad boys?

[@thehunterofdeath2180]

Those the jico needle is good like the Shure m 447 I want to buy it but I have not see know one using it on real vinyl for battle only using laptop the VNL is a good cartridge not to loud I like it with real vinyl record work fine once it break in the needle I have tried it in both straight arm n s shape arm but I still like the Shure but I don't know how the jico perform with real vinyl I have like 8 cartridge I need new needle I scratch a lot like battle style I was wondering if they are good before I buy them I see they have them on red n blue n white label is very confused for me witch one to buy from jico n they have other brand too I sure miss the Shure mk 447 so many years I got use to them it took me a while to break them in for battle the only thing they where to loud the VNL sound very good to my ears

[@SpindleMedia]

Think I learnt from Rob Swift in the mid 2000s

[@Sairamark]

U kill the king with this new ugglee color cover. Maan

[@bangstickgoboom]

Does the tonearm or cartridge base need to be flat?

[@M-Energy]

Regards the height adjustment. I thought that rotating the ring so it raises up the base to the same thickness of the slipmat was a way of setting this. Does anyone else do this?

[@gregorycanady2868]

When explained the arm height, you mentioned slamming it to 0, what does that mean? Do you mean turning it all the way counterclockwise?

[@richardtessari3627]

Yes, but he did it because the slipmat was very thin

[@philphillips7732]

Hi Please can you let me know which Deoxit cleaner you used to fix the tone arm adjustment

[@AT-wl9yq]

What tonearm and what adjustment?

[@Mojaxx]

I just used some Caig Deoxit in a little squeeze bottle which came with an Innofader. I believe WD40 will do just as good a job. Sometimes it’ll just be too seized and the whole tonerarm will need to be removed to sort it out.

[@trancemoon8052]

lucky for me i was shown this nearly 20 years ago pretty much as soon as i started to dj by a much more experianced friend. otherwise i would have been doing it wrong for years probably.

[@LewisRhymes]

You can flip that weight the opposite way to get less weight if your struggling to zero it 👌

[@rashodlewis2918]

✌🏿😎

[@snoopy28snoopy]

My height lock is sticked. I can’t move it. Anyone experienced it?

[@thisisian62]

I haven't read every single comment, but has anybody mentioned stylus overhang & alignment with standard headshells?

[@Mojaxx]

I’ll probably return to this topic later and cover that. I was considering it for this video but it was already getting much longer than planned.

[@gamingheadztvMediaHeadztv]

Btw the way u have your sl 1210 set up is how the rane 12 should have been

[@gamingheadztvMediaHeadztv]

There should have been cue buttons like the novation

[@megaberl]

how do I determine the amount of weight my head requires?

[@richardtessari3627]

The package or casing should state what the recommended weight is per cart/needle. Or Google what you have & the specs should pop up.

[@megaberl]

@@richardtessari3627 Thank you.

[@davepape4249]

24 years

[@djspam80]

When my audio file brother once visited my flat and blew my head off for having the weight set and it's heaviest and a 2p coin on the headshell. That was around 20 years ago. I've since been shown how to correctly set up a tone arm and I'm now horrified that I've worn a lot of my vinyl. Don't be silly people preserve your vinyl and set up your turntables properly your needles and vinyl will last longer and sound better.

[@OiMitch]

Most DJs have digital scales haha

[@djstevieo]

Life hack. Use phase

[@djstretchtone9851]

Steve Sorry for the long question. I've been very interested in PHASE myself. May I ask you for your advice about using phase with Rekord box and recommendations for the following? First I came from an analog background. I'm already tired of switching platforms. I was using a Traktor S8 with a laptop. It seemed daunting and confusing; however it was a great DJ setup for 4 channels of music and accessing my entire DJ library if need be. Then I bought into this hype & idea of a Standalone Unit. Many times in the past, I've had to use a laptop and pull unforeseen special requests from my DJ library for some events. Where I'm at right now there are many places where the Wi-Fi is spotty at best. I like the idea of USB flash drive DJ set ups, but I'd like to have access to my entire library on the fly. Not all streaming services have the music some event goers want to hear. I know many DJs think if you don't have it or you can't get it online just don't play it..I'm from the days where you had to play requests lol so I try. In your experience does PHASE work well with Rekord box and ease of library file location usage? If not what what software/mixer with at least 2 channels & a sampler would you recommend? This way I can kinda have 3 channels of music with PHASE and my turntable. Thanks

[@jonathanvillalobos7994]

@Steve Odessa No thanks!It's real VINYL till I die!

[@ludovikmarlak4109]

Mate you serious, its the 665 video on that subject in every Dj Chanel i folo. When there nothing to sale have to fine hidears, but i say bye