Mark R

It controls the lateral force on the stylus, therefore controls its desire to traverse towards or away from the centre of the record. Ordinarily on the dial this is set to the same value as the tracking force. For mixing/scratching the anti-skate value is set to less than the tracking force as scratching/mixing isn't "normal play" and with the standard settings the stylus will tend to want to jump out of the groove. Backing it off prevents this. To be honest, and without starting WWIII, it amazes me that the rare record brigade who pay big money for vinyl know so little about these things. It's very important for the care of your records and indeed reproduction. It's not just about stylus/age/quality. I did a gig last year where the decks were almost inoperable. Within two minutes of me setting all this up they were playing fine, both from a sound quality perspective and a "skipping" perspective. I didn't know the tracking force value for the stylus and made an educated guess which obviously did the trick. It's often the case that if it ain't your deck then you don't know what the correct settings are. My Dual turntable is 1.25g tracking force and I set the skate to the same value. I tend to use this for playing my 7's. My Technics decks are more for DJ'ing and therefore have stylii with greater tracking force (3g). On these I set the skate to a value of 2, not 3, so that I can back cue/mix without the stylus jumping out of the groove. Hope that helps. Cheers, Mark R

Yes, single row, standard size as far as I'm aware. If I'd have been buying it I might have had a slightly bigger single row one if that were possible, but the main priority was a better box of at least the same size. As it is, the contents of my ADDA case went straight into this with the same room to spare............however many that is...........100 or more I suspect. Job done!! Seems a nice, well made box to me............subject to a bit of use I'm really happy with it. Cheers, Mark

I'm glad this thread came back to the top as I thought earlier I must report back........then completely forgot until I saw this thread pop up!! Anyway, Mrs. R treated me to a nice shiny Blakka case for Christmas. Not used in anger yet so to speak, but it seems the dogs wotsits to me. Many thanks for all the input. :-) Cheers, Mark R

That's certainly the initial release........ Cheers, Mark R

Thanks Ian (and Martyn).......just ordered 40th Philly..........nice one! Cheers, Mark R

It really is a super record........and not just the TSU cover........ Cheers, Mark R

One from my side of the fence.........3 Winans Bros./Clark Sisters "Dance" (Louie Vega Remix) forthcoming on Vega Records in 2015. Take me to church baby!! Bebe Winans ft Clark Sisters Dance (Louie Vega…: https://youtu.be/t2uMQ2Zh8Xs Cheers, Mark R

Got it......album track from "Send Me Your Love" Cheers, Mark R

Kashif/Gary Taylor. ......tunes!! What's the second Kashif track......don't recognise the title? Cheers, Mark R

Matt Male......so great to see Rich Hall mentioned on here. Good for you mate! And I kind of agree with Dave D. The older I get the less I think of anyone as a 'hero.' I like 'mutual respect' and 'influence' much better........ The closest I will get to hero is anyone of influence that continues to evolve musically and who does it all for the right reasons and certainly not for the money. If you do a Venn diagram of the various factors then you can count on far less than the fingers of one hand who qualify as heroes. Cheers, Mark R

Apologies, I did all this very much in a hurry on Christmas Eve and forgot to post a playlist, so as requested by Pete, here's the show playlist. I thoroughly enjoyed being back behind the Starpoint microphone, playing some music I believe in passionately!! Anthony Hamilton - Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto (US RCA Records CD "Home For The Holidays") Joe - Future Teller (US BMG CD "Bridges") Syleena Johnson - All This Way For Love (US Blakbyrd Entertainment CD "Chapter 6: Couples Therapy") Kindred The Family Soul - Never Loved You More (US Shanachie Records CD "A "Couple" Friends") Vince Broomfield - Does Everybody Really Know (US Vince Broomfield CD "Extraordinaire") Incognito - I Can See The Future (GU Edit) (US GU Edits 12" "GU Edits #2") Anthony Nicholson - Return To Black Fusion (US Deep Art Sounds CD "Four") Soundphaze aka Anthony Nicholson - Rhumba La Fusion (US Clairaudience W/L Promo 12") Smokie Norful - I've Got What You Need (US Tre'Myles Music/Motown Gospel CD "Forever Yours") Noel Gourdin feat. Hil St. Soul - No Worries (Remix) (US TopNotch Music MP3) Ron Willis - A Love Like This (US Ron Willis MP3) Robin McKelle & The Flytones - Control Yourself (Opolopo Remix) (US Okeh Records MP3) Ad Break Jarrod Lawson - All That Surrounds (US Jarrod Lawson CD "Jarrod Lawson") Brandon Williams feat. Anesha & Casey Benjamin - I Love You (US Soulasis Music Group CD "XII") Gerardo Frisina - Selvatico (EU Schema Records CD "Movement") Hajime Yoshizawa - Dope Impakt (JAP Village Again Association Co. Ltd. CD "Inner Illusions") Lay-Far - Quality Hours (Lay-Far Re-Edit) (EU Basic Fingers Promo 12" "Secret Weapons EP") Calvin Richardson - Home In A Minute (US Primary Wave Music/Jordan House/BMG CD "I Am Calvin") Johnny Gill feat. New Edition - This One's For Me And You (US J Skillz Records CD "Game Changer") Faith Evans - Extraordinary (US Profile Music Group/BMG CD "Incomparable") Kelly Price feat. Ruben Studdard - Back 2 Love (US Sang Girl Inc./eOne Music CD "Sing Pray Love Vol. 1: Sing") Sean McCabe feat. Nathan Adams - Back To Front (UK Z Records CD "It's Time") Louie Vega pres. 3 Winans Brothers & The Clark Sisters - Dance (Louie Vega Remix) - Vega Records (forthcoming) https://starpointsoulboy.podomatic.com/entry/2014-12-23T11_00_00-08_00 https://www.mixcloud.com/soulboymark/the-music-box-with-mark-randle-on-starpoint-radio-23-december-2014/ Cheers, Mark R

OK Mart, same here......nothing on smart phone, but OK on PC. Thanks for your help mate.........only thing to resolve now is the fact that the Podomatic option doesn't include and easy "download" button............that's a problem for me though, not for SS!! Cheers, Mark R

Hi Pete, same to you mate! This was all done in a hurry on Xmas Eve and I completely forgot to post a playlist.....just the links to listen/download. I'll put one up when I get chance but in the meantime if you follow the Mixcloud link there should be a playlist with it. Cheers, Mark R

Which one though Mart......the Mixcloud shows but the Podomatic doesn't on my smart phone. Not looked to check what the score is on my PC as hardly used it in 2 weeks!!! Will take a look on PC later and report back, but on my phone Mixcloud shows, Podomatic doesn't! Cheers, Mark R

Never did resolve this Mart......why doesn't it show? If you go to 'edit' the link shows, but when posted......nothing!! Cheers, Mark R

Anti-skate/tracking force changed?

Podomatic version which includes download option: https://starpointsoulboy.podomatic.com/entry/2014-12-23T11_00_00-08_00 Cheers, Mark R

Merry Christmas everyone, and all the best for 2015. Enjoy the holidays!! Cheers, Mark R

Interesting that Blackburn made reference to having tried to get the music more airtime over the years but that it's not been easy!! Cheers, Mark R

https://www.mixcloud.com/soulboymark/the-music-box-with-mark-randle-on-starpoint-radio-23-december-2014/

Another brilliant two hours, and as I said on Facebook, what and inspired piece of DJ'ing squeezing some Jill Scott into a prime time R2 spot by playing her cover of Bill Withers. Superb show..... Cheers, Mark R

Just a wee reminder about tonight's festive one-off edition of The Music Box, 5-7pm GMT at www.starpointradio.com Hope some of you can join me...... Cheers Mark R

BTW, I was very lucky to end up catching this, and thought it was great.......and Gene Chandler did sound mighty fine!! Cheers, Mark R

You beat me too it mate.........of course there's been no soul out of Chicago since the 70's/80's!! :-) Cheers, Mark R

Hi folks, Hope some of you can join me for a festive edition of The Music Box on Starpoint Radio on Tuesday 23rd December between 5 & 7pm..............it's been a while!! Cheers, Mark R