Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site Glacier.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!decwrl!Glacier!reid From: reid@Glacier.ARPA (Brian Reid) Newsgroups: net.audio,net.consumers Subject: Re: Re: Turntable Controversy Message-ID: <9281@Glacier.ARPA> Date: Wed, 3-Jul-85 00:32:17 EDT Article-I.D.: Glacier.9281 Posted: Wed Jul 3 00:32:17 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 4-Jul-85 04:16:26 EDT References: <496@leadsv.UUCP> <430@enmasse.UUCP> Reply-To: reid@Glacier.UUCP (Brian Reid) Distribution: net Organization: Stanford University, Computer Systems Lab Lines: 15 Xref: watmath net.audio:5227 net.consumers:2500 Summary: why radio stations use direct-drive turntables Radio stations use direct-drive turntables because they can be "cued" better. A radio station DJ needs to be able to accomplish very tight timing. Dead air is bad. So the DJ puts the needle on the turntable, manually spins the platter until the song begins, then backs off the platter some factory-specified amount (typically 1/4 turn), and waits. When he wants to start the record playing he hits a switch that energizes the motor, and the motor must get the turntable up to speed in 1/4 revolution. Trying to do this trick with a belt-drive turntable would burn rubber. In general radio stations do not care very much about the audio quality of their turntables. In fact, I have been around several that routinely crank up the speed of their turntables 5% so that the music will take less time, leaving more time for advertisements. -- Brian Reid decwrl!glacier!reid Stanford reid@SU-Glacier.ARPA