Calibrating Pitch Faders on Technics 1200mk2's

[TrueWind]

Hello DJF'ers,

I have a pair of decks that have faders that are not calibrated. After googling around and reading the technics service manual I decided that I knew (or so I thought) had to calibrate the faders.

Well, I did the following to both faders:

1) Set the Fader's Resistance to exactly 2.7K
2) After doing so I started turning the blue knob by the motor to adjust the percentage for the pitch. Using Traktor and Serato BPM readings (with a 100BPM track loaded) I discovered the following: The Blue Knob WILL Adjust the pitch range on the Plus Side of the Pitch, however the minus pitch percentage gives the following: (91.70 BPM at -8% on the slider / so a -8.30%) when the blue knob is turned all the way to the left (giving only a +3%).

When the blue knob is all the way to the right, (I get 91.95BPM at -8% on the slider / so -8.05%) but I get a 112.65BPM @ +8% so a +12.65%

So I finally turned the blue knob so that the arrow is about going diagonally in this direction "/" the big arrow points towards the space between the "C" and "H" where it says pitch. With this, I get a Good accurate pitch from 0 - +6 percent (meaning that +1% on the pitch = +1 BPM.. etc). Then I get to +6.7% or +6.8% with the slider, and Traktor Reads 107 BPM. Then when I go all the way to +8%, I get 108.76 BPM.

HOWEVER, when I set the slider in the - percentage area, I get the following:
-1% = 99BPM
-1.8% (approx) = 98 BPM
-2.3% (approx) = 97 BPM
-3.2% '' = 96 BPM
-3.93% " = 95 BPM
-4.5% " = 94 BPM
-5.7% " = 93 BPM
-7.15% = 92 BPM
-8% = 91.86 BPM

How DO I FIX This?!

I thought that perhaps it was the pitch slider that was old, but I switched the fader from the other turntable whose fader is much Newer (seems kina as if bought brand new) and I had the SAME Problem....

What am I missing? What did I not do properly?

I know that it is possible to mod the techs so that you either get 3% / 10% / or even 12% pitch ranges... I did get those ranges, but only on one side (the plus side)! I want the standard 8%, but how do I make the percentages increment equally on both sides?!

[Nicadraus]

There are a couple of videos and guides in youtube.

[g-sep]

There are a couple of videos and guides in youtube.

Viperfrank

[TrueWind]

Viperfrank

Watched that too.... and it didn't help. I "calibrated" my pitch in 2 ways:
1) Viperfrank's way.
The problem with this is that when using the 6% strobe dot as a reference, when i put the pitch slider at 6% the traktor reading gives me a 106.75BPM reading... and the - section still increases unevenly.
2) DJ Bolivia's Way.

[Nicadraus]

Watched that too.... and it didn't help. I "calibrated" my pitch in 2 ways:
1) Viperfrank's way.
The problem with this is that when using the 6% strobe dot as a reference, when i put the pitch slider at 6% the traktor reading gives me a 106.75BPM reading... and the - section still increases unevenly.
2) DJ Bolivia's Way.

The thing is, don't rely on any DVS (TSP or SSL) for pitch calibration. I calibrate pitch controls by using a multi-meter and reading the dots of the strobe at the same time. Works almost (if not) perfect.

[TrueWind]

The thing is, don't rely on any DVS (TSP or SSL) for pitch calibration. I calibrate pitch controls by using a multi-meter and reading the dots of the strobe at the same time. Works almost (if not) perfect.

Well, I am kind of using it as a guide, because my M5G's are pretty much perfect. All increments are very accurate... Alrighty then, I guess I'll just stick to strobe lights then.

[TrueWind]

There are a couple of videos and guides in youtube.

I appreciate your comment, but I already checked youtube videos... and of all that I've seen, it doesn't say HOW to fix that problem that I am having.

I watched these videos, which are pretty much the only good ones on youtube, unless I missed the one im looking for




I even watched this 1 hour long video... and the guy clearly states that adjusting the blue knob WILL modify the + side of the pitch, but not the - side.

[TrueWind]

Alright, So I calibrated the pitch to the point where the strobe gives me an accurate measurement at +6%, +3.3%. At those measurements, the dots are still.

However the dots remain still at -2.9% and not -3.3%..... What am I missing?

Nicadraus, you stated that you use the multimeter to calibrate the pitch controls. What do you mean by that? Is there more than just setting the pitch's resistance to 2.7K?

[Nicadraus]

Alright, So I calibrated the pitch to the point where the strobe gives me an accurate measurement at +6%, +3.3%. At those measurements, the dots are still.

However the dots remain still at -2.9% and not -3.3%..... What am I missing?

Nicadraus, you stated that you use the multimeter to calibrate the pitch controls. What do you mean by that? Is there more than just setting the pitch's resistance to 2.7K?

I use the multimeter for resetting/calibrating the pitch to zero and pitch range calibration. Fine tuning the pitch to its respective position is done by strobe dots reading. As I have said, don't rely on the pitch meter on the DVS. The pitch meter works best with time coded CD and not vinyl. If the dots remain at the position where it says -3.3% on the aluminum pitch decal indicator, then that is already set. Giving a little fine tuning is all it needs and your eyes have to be very accurate in reading the dots.

[TrueWind]

The thing is the dots DO Stop at +6%, +3.3% but NOT at -3.3%. Is that normal?