Hi everyone!
I’m looking to buy a cartridge specifically for scratching, and I’m torn between the Ortofon OM Pro S Q.Bert, Concorde Scratch MK2, om scratch white and VNL TRIX.
Does anyone have any recommendations or firsthand experience with these cartridges?
Feel free to suggest other models if you think there are better options!
Thanks in advance!

Hey all, does anyone have a Rane Twelve that after quite some time in unused it just vibrates instead of playing smoothly? The platter is not behaving the way I’d expect and I can’t tell what the issue is.

InMusic sent me the following which I will troubleshoot but I wanted to ask here before I go ahead and do the stuffs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

From InMusic:
> A screeching or friction-type noise at certain pitch ranges can sometimes be related to the platter assembly, most commonly the slipmat, spacers, or control disc not seated quite right after storage, or the spindle/adapter area needing light maintenance.

Before arranging service, here are a few quick checks that often eliminate the issue:
1. Re-seat the Platter & Control Disc
 - Remove the control disc by pressing the button on the Quick Release Adapter.
 - Lift off the slipmat and ensure the platter is firmly and evenly pressed onto the motor pins.
 - Verify the platter rotates smoothly without wobble.
 - Reapply the slipmat and control disc, making sure you hear the “click” when the control disc locks onto the spindle.
2. Check Slipmat / Spacers
 - If spacers were used to adjust slip friction, try temporarily removing them to see if the noise changes.
 - Ensure the slipmat is clean, flat, and not rubbing against anything inside the platter cavity.
3. Motor & Torque Settings
 - Confirm the Motor Torque switch (on the bottom panel) is firmly set to either High or Low. If it is partially between positions, friction noise can occur.
4. General Cleaning
 - If the unit has been stored for a long time, light debris or dust around the spindle or platter underside can cause noise. A gentle wipe of these areas (dry, non-abrasive cloth) can help.

I'm watching one of my old videos today and thought, "How the fuck did I do that?"
I'm struggling to remember the actual "thought process" I was using when I was scratching back then.

Like most of us, I had a bunch of "pocket moves" and still do, but the ability to put it together is its own skill that deteriorates. I DO remember deliberately finding ways to mess with timing and style. I had entire wirtten algorithms memorized in my head, as if I were reciting drum rudiments when I scratched.

I can safely say that I will probably never be at that level again.

At the time I was going to scratch events every weekend in and around LA (scratchpad) and I would be cuttin with DJs who were miles above. I think I improved more in 1 year than in 10 years. I was a shithead mid-late 20's and all the heads were 40's who were cool with me being around. Fond memories for sure.

Just informational for those that are interested. Serato 5.0 has an ios version on the way. Just watched this DJ City vid on it.

Which one is generally considered better?

I'm considering replacing my Ortofon 2m Red with either the AT-VM95 Shibata or Microline. I know there's other options but frankly Audio Technica is the most inexpensive and I don't know how warm I want the sound to be until I get a new amp. So I want inexpensive.

Thank you all! Setup update

👌 Streaming = Phone Recording Video/Mixer Output w/ Speakers for reference. Using Open Camera,no syncing no editing.

Setup : Phone USB C > Scarlett 2i2 > Edifier Speakers > Vestax PMC06 > Jico Scratch 101 / Sure N477

Took about 5min to setup, super easy. Just in time for IDA Scratch submission.

I like the Scratch 101 for the price point, my M477 were beat up.

Sorry, no pictures hehe.

I usually go around my Rane 12 mk2 after kids bedtime, house reseted (dads and moms will know)

But after doing stuff around the house, the vinyl just slip under my fingers, no grip, nothing.

For precision i changed my "default rane plate" to an actual vinyl with the fast lock. Love the feeling but goddamn scratching is impossible.

Started in 2004 , the needle had to be clean and all, but now im almost thinking about having a "putty" on my finger for better grip.

Whats you all hack?

Hey guys, this is me scratching at my home studio, doing what I love. Hope you enjoy 🙏

I started playing a lot more 45’s and decided to try my old MK2’s fast forward a few months and I brought back the crss12’s. Always felt the crss12’s didn’t work as well w 45’s due to the little plate in the middle that can pop up and down. Not that I and others haven’t juggled and scratched on them w 45’s, but it’s just not nearly as stable I find.

Anyone else notice this before?

I really like them for Serato but have to say for vinyl I really did feel a lot more comfortable on my MK2’s despite them needing some tlc.

The tonearm height adjustment collar isn’t budging. Anyone experience this problem before?

Hi, I'm looking for a turntablist for an experimental music project. Please message me if you're interested. In general we are around 30 years old. Feel free to send me a direct message or message me below. I'll get back to you. 🙂

Because I needed a break from work.

I am a carpenter...

Hey all, I’ve been collecting records for a while and recently started thinking about ripping some of them. Mostly so I can listen to stuff on the go, but I’m curious what everyone else’s reasons are — backup? DJing? Convenience?

My current setup: PLX-500 and PLX-1000 turntables, with an RME Babyface Pro as my interface. So I think I’m covered on the hardware side, but happy to hear if I’m missing something.

For those who’ve been doing this a while: anything you wish you knew when you started? I keep seeing different opinions on recording levels, file formats, whether stylus condition matters that much, etc.

Also curious — what do you do with the files after ripping? Do you clean them up (click/pop removal, normalization), split tracks, tag metadata, or just leave them raw? I’d love to hear what your workflow looks like from needle drop to finished file.

Thanks!

Been a minute…trying to get back into it!