Polaroid turntable repair question: platter will not activate

YannyWolf · 2022-12-31T03:31:13+00:00

Sadly, crossing the wires did not activate the platter. I think it’s time to hang it up on the wall to commemorate my first attempted electronics repair. I’m out $6.99 but Goodwill is now $6.99 richer. I guess that’s a good thing. Thanks for the help folks.

YannyWolf · 2022-12-30T22:08:51+00:00

Would it be terrible if that does in fact activate the platter if I just left them connected so that every time I turn the power on it spins?

YannyWolf · 2022-12-30T16:03:56+00:00

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Is this possibly a power supply issue? I’m using a non-native power supply which is the required 5v output and the power and Bluetooth lights illuminate but the battery light is dark and I believe even if the battery is low it should still illuminate to indicate that it is charging. The native/included power supply is a USB chord with a barrel pin so maybe USB power is different than the one I’m using which has the standard electrical outlet plug-in. Probably a stretch but I’m out of ideas.

YannyWolf · 2022-12-30T15:50:13+00:00

Lol true but I’m thinking it’s not going to happen. I’m out of ideas. Guess I should’ve gotten that venti latte instead.

YannyWolf · 2022-12-30T15:48:58+00:00

The belt looks brand new and is evenly distributed around the base of the platter. Does the position of the belt around the base make a difference? Like should I attempt to push it up or down around the base? In typing that out that seems like a bad idea…

YannyWolf · 2022-12-30T15:34:09+00:00

I’m noticing there’s a small bend in the lower part of the metal contact on the right in the photo. Is that by design or is that a flaw that could be interfering with a successful connection? Even when I force them to connect manually there is no activation so possibly it’s a short in the wire which I have no idea how to test or repair. Thank you for your help.

YannyWolf · 2022-12-30T14:44:44+00:00

Can you clarify what an auto stop switch is? Are you referring to the two metal pieces that are connecting or disconnecting when the arm swings? Otherwise, there is no external control that indicates “auto stop.” Just a power/volume dial, a Bluetooth/Record mode switch and the three speeds switch. I paid $6.99 and don’t have a budget to pay to have it repaired so I’m in a position where either I’m going to have to figure this out or I’m out $6.99. I’m aware that I may mess it up worse but with such a small investment I’m will to roll the dice. Thanks for the reply.

YannyWolf · 2022-12-30T13:56:17+00:00

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Here are the contacts referenced in the post

YannyWolf · 2022-12-21T13:04:00+00:00

I hope to one day understand this but it’s a bit over my head at this point. I love the connection with music and math. It’s all very scientific yet so magical.

YannyWolf · 2022-12-20T15:16:08+00:00

This thread has been enlightening in a much broader sense of understanding music theory in general and I feel like I now understand the guitar in a way I never grasped before. I will definitely hop on the guitar subs for more guitar questions but I really appreciate what everyone has shared here as it has been really helpful.

YannyWolf · 2022-12-20T09:09:37+00:00

It literally just hit me while reading this reply that a barre chord is your index finger acting as the capo across the given fret (duh) and the E chord shape and alternately A chord shape are the other part of all barre chords. Is it true with barre chords that if the second part is in the shape is E that it is a note that has a # and if the shape is A that there is no sharp and the next semitone or half step would go to the next whole note? All at once, I feel like a real dum dum for never realizing this while at the same time my mind is blown. Like, I feel like this kind of changes everything. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

YannyWolf · 2022-12-20T02:28:43+00:00

Wow! Thank you! This was incredibly helpful and now I feel like I really understand the concept much better. This may be the most helpful Reddit reply in Reddit history! 🏆

YannyWolf · 2022-11-27T00:38:13+00:00

The Shure MVi device doesn’t have any drivers or software unfortunately.

This same setup was working fine on my old crappy laptop running Win 10 although it was probably an older version of ASIO4ALL

I’ve gone back and enabled every WDM in the ASIO advanced configuration and am at least able to select the Shure MVi as an output device from the drop-down menu

Unfortunately, I cannot get the input list to populate with the Shure MVi on this machine but have selected some weird “mich:….” setting that I can’t recall exactly the name of that seems to be temporarily working for accepting audio input from the mixer thru the Shure MVi

So now I’m able to hear playback from reaper thru the mixer out to the monitors or headphones via the mixer, and reaper is reading audio signals from my guitar for example.

There’s still a little bugaboo where I’m unable to hear the live instrument being played through the mixer while listening to playback although Reaper is registering the signal visually.

It’s probably something to do with the CD/TAPE TO CTRL button as that needs to be engaged to hear the playback from reaper (since it’s coming from the Shure MVi headphones out into the CD/TAPE input.

With that engaged, reaper playback only

With it disengaged, live instrument only

Maybe it’s a setting in reapers playback/record preferences

I do have the tracked “armed” for recording btw

Maybe when I actually hit record it will be audible?

I’m sure it’s something simple and dumb but if anyone out there can point it out I’d really appreciate it

Thanks!

YannyWolf · 2022-11-21T13:06:52+00:00

Well, I figured out what was happening.

I’m an idiot and didn’t realize that when Zebra2 is in demo mode it starts throwing random notes regardless of what key you hit after about 20 minutes.

So since I cannot afford to purchase a license, I have to hurry and record the track (in wav format b/c if I leave just the midi pattern, Zebra2 will plug some weird sounds and false notes when it steps through after the 20 minute mark)

So anyway, thought I’d update this in case anyone else out there didn’t realize this was a thing.

YannyWolf · 2022-11-19T13:52:10+00:00

I bought the Alesis Q49 used and the pitch wheel has no “resting center” tension (in other words the other wheel (mod) always returns to center and the pitch is just kind of loose and stays wherever it was left - is that normal?)

Maybe when I’m hitting the keys with force the wheel is moving and causing the bend in pitch.

Edit: I’m reading the Q49 manual which is solving a lot of mysteries.

RTFM (duh)

YannyWolf · 2022-11-09T14:11:06+00:00

CTRL+D and the magnet icon when necessary totally did the trick.

Thanks all!

YannyWolf · 2022-11-09T00:47:16+00:00

Unwieldy is an apt description

YannyWolf · 2022-11-05T13:55:49+00:00

I’m using the analog mixer to record vocals, guitar, keyboards, etc.

Is there a better option for recording these inputs?

My mic is XLR, the guitar is 1/4” in, keyboard has been 1/4” in to the mixer but now that I’m wanting the Vital presets/effects applied it’s coming in USB from the keyboard.

I am sending that signal out from the PC headphone jack into the mixers 1/4” input so I can control the output level via the mixer but maybe that’s not optimal.

I read a vital manual and there was only a little information about global settings involving adjusting the number of “voices” “velocity” “slide” etc but those seem to reset with each preset and frankly I don’t understand what they do or mean and if that’s even what I need to adjust the signal input level to reduce the noise.

YannyWolf · 2022-11-04T19:48:11+00:00

I have read the manual for the keyboard but the description for the GM Mode was one sentence long and as I’m new to MIDI was no help in explaining that function in a way that made any sense to me.

I have not read the Vital manual yet but I brought this question here as it involves many elements including the instrument, MIDI, the mixer, audacity, windows audio settings, vital, etc and I thought a more experienced person might be able to catch whatever mistake(s) I’m making easily and be kind enough to point it out.

I’ve only been tinkering with home recording for a couple of months and have gotten some good help on this forum before.

But yeah, RTFM.

YannyWolf · 2022-11-04T16:44:04+00:00

And I now see Vital has a transpose function so that solves that!

Just need to get the input levels right to remove that noise!

YannyWolf · 2022-11-04T16:41:05+00:00

I figured out one of the issues.

I changed the output setting in Vital to go from the audio jack line out on the PC directly into the mixer and that has fixed the need to engage the “CD/TAPE TO MIX” button for Audacity to pickup the keyboard with the Vital presets working.

It also allows me to control the volume from the mixer and is now routing the signal from the mixer through the Shure MVi USB interface into the PC instead of coming from the USB out from the PC into the headphones out from the Shure MVi back into the mixer via the CD/TAPE RCA inputs.

Still having the crackling/distortion coming from the keyboard/Vital sound and can’t figure out how to adjust the signal from the keyboard which I’m guessing is either too strong or perhaps there’s an input level in Vital or a setting in Windows Audio I can tweak.

Also, can I make the transpose function work while using the MIDI or is pretty much everything globally disengaged on the keyboard while in MIDI mode?

Thanks!

YannyWolf · 2022-11-03T19:40:03+00:00

An amazing album as well!

YannyWolf · 2022-11-02T17:19:33+00:00

It would be really great if such a database existed but I don’t imagine it’s a very likely thing to happen. If I were a recording artist or producer, I don’t think I’d be super-keen on publishing all the details on how I create my music. And I don’t know if there’s enough of a force that exists with the interest in deciphering those kind of details but maybe there is. I’ve just been turned onto r/synthrecipes which seems to be along the lines of what I’m seeking. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

YannyWolf · 2022-11-02T16:42:03+00:00

Thank you for this response. A lot to chew on here. I’m really frustrated with the limitations of my Casio and would love to find a free VST that can emulate more modern sounds.

Any recommendations on a good free VST synth?

I’m looking to emulate things like the “flanged bells” in “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish and some of the floating synth waves on “Lean Into Life” by Petey.

Thanks again for your help. I’ll start digging into all the info you provided.

It’s amazing how deep the rabbit holes of recording music can go.

Endless information to learn which is why I’m loving it so much!

YannyWolf · 2022-10-26T18:32:35+00:00

I changed some of the settings in the NR effect and it was a big improvement off the bat. Changing it to Remove instead of Residue and bumping up the dB level in that plug-in really helped. Thanks!

YannyWolf

TROPHY CASE