Mark R

The other side is fab, one of the tunes of the year for me, but as it's not a dancer I doubt it's that pushing the price up via the DJ fraternity. Cheers, Mark R

Only if you hit me over the head with those knackered 7's first! ;-) Cheers, Mark R

It's a different animal, in that I personally would LOVE for the music/artists to have more widespread exposure/appeal, not necessarily that side of "the scene" as such. Cheers, Mark R

After hearing another pair of NS "Gobsmackers" on Chris Evans' Radio 2 breakfast show this morning, what with the ad on TV etc, etc.................it occurred to me that bizarrely the Modern Soul scene is arguably now more underground and cool than the NS scene!! The general public are far more aware of 60's Northern Soul than they are about more contemporary soul music, the latter of which hasn't really charted to gain awareness that way since the heady days of Alex and Luther et al. Just a thought.................. Cheers, Mark R

In a simple sense, what about accounting for room acoustics? Surely you would concede that some adjustment is necessary from installation to installation. Even in the same room there is usually adjustment to be made between an empty room at the start of a night and then when it's full of people absorbing the sound. I know what you're saying about complication and agree in the sense of OTT functionality for just playing 45's off 2 decks, but you can't just set all the pots to zero "because that's how it was recorded to sound" because the sound will be modified by the environment anyway. Cheers, Mark R

Yes, I had them from that website Steve, it's safe enogh in the sense that you can just use Paypal, though navigating the site can be a challenge! Cheers, Mark R

Apologies if it's been posted before, but this will be of interest to some on here. Not sure whether Mr. Thorley knows anything about this with his Detroit contacts? Some interesting names involved here, I have downloaded the Hari Paris and Dames Brown versions so far............Pat Lewis & Spyder Turner sounds good as well. Duane Parham seems to be the man behind it all............a notable contemporary Detroit sax man. www.motownambassadors.com Cheers, Mark R

To be honest mate, I often marvel at the fact that the NS has the lowest paid DJ's yet the most expensive tools of the trade, often played on the shittest equipment.............totally barmy really!! And before anyone says it, I'm fully aware that some couldn't give a toss about the cost and I totally get that because they just covet the record. But if that's the case you don't have to justify it by DJ'ing with it and knackering it, just enjoy it! Cheers, Mark R

Clean your records with a carbon fiber brush before each play too...........dust and grit is probably worse for your stylus (and record) than the odd scratch/click is. Imagine that groove laid out straight.......and the imagine the sandpaper effect between stylus and vinyl over that length!! Obviously for DJ's it's not feasible to take such precautions..........which is ironic so don't mention talc to me..........a pet hate!! Cheers, Mark R

I never thought to look for a tutorial, so nice one!! It really is easy........but you need the tracking force info for the stylus. - Set to zero (turn front ring only) - balance arm horizontally (careful not to stuff stylus into deck when doing so!) - set correct force by turning the whole mass to the right value, and not just the front ring) - set anti-skate to the same value QED! Cheers, 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