strange noise problem

[andybee]

Hello there & greetings from MY45 pressing!

We have a strange problem:
Noise on the testpressings/records, it is mostly on one channel, starting soft,
getting louder and then stops abruptly.
I spoke with several professional cutting rooms, only one has ever
heard about this.
Maybe dust, that is between the stylus and the groove, or some chip,
that is not completly sucked off the surface...
Any ideas about this issue? Maybe the source is somewhere else?

Thank you very much!
Andreas/my45

[Voxster1965]

Hi Andy,

Is it in the same spot on the test and pressings? Have you sampled through a volume run?

It could be anywhere from cut to extrude/press.

[jjgolden]

-Are you cutting in Lacquer?
-Are you using Apollo/Trancso or MDC?
-Is it a "hiss" that enters mainly on one channel, then slowly rises in volume before cutting out?

If so, then it's most likely a lacquer issue.
This has been occurring on 12" and 14" Apollo/Transco intermittently for about 1 year or so now.

Let us know if you find any additional info : )
JJG

[andybee]

Hello JJG!

Thanks, yes, your are describing the issue correctly.
We are using Apollo Laquers/Transco Stylus,
we just do some tests on EMDIC laquers.

Thank you very much!
Andreas
http://www.my45.de

I found this info from Transco:

[jjgolden]

Thanks Andybee,

We have been having good results with MDC.
More consistant quality.

JJG

[ak23]

we had this problem here with batch numbers above 100.
So :
T171xx
or
A171xx

last year we did not had this problem.

around 080 seem to be good. around 090 still ok but not great.
cutting room should have about 50% humidity.
It helps to put the lacquers in a room with about 70-80% humidity.
we used a spare bathroom for it and it helps getting clearer less noisier cuts.

greetings

Andreas

[jjgolden]

Thanks Andreas,

We've heard this remedy from Apollo and others as well. It seems to be helpful for some. It is a bandaid remedy though.
Hopefully Apollo will get to the bottom of the issue at some point. All of this
is taking it's tole in terms of time and money spent with trouble shooting & recuts.

JJG

[dubcutter89]

Hi!

Also have the same issues here - general higher noise floor + random (one channel) big noise... unacceptable!
I just looked through the boxes and the numbers are as previous stated:

T171xx
T18xxx

I have few MDCs left, but they will be gone soon...
Already trying to give them the "jamaican treatment" in our bathroom as well (thanks for the tip! told all collegues here to turn up the shower every time they do their business
Quick test on a fresh one with heat lamp was not really satisfying...grrr
Will have to swap to MDCs if it does not go away soon!

Cheers
Lukas

[ak23]

Hi Lukas,

thanks for your report.
I have not got any T18xxx
But all above T/A171xx seem to have problems.

They are too dry so heat lamp does not help. Eventually drying them out even more.
According to the plant the drying process happened under to low air humidity conditions.

So you can set up a room with about 70-80% air humidity with a humidifier. Best use something like this : VENTA LW25/45.
Ultrasonic humidifiers produce too much fog and little drops which will remain on your disc.
Put the discs there for at least one day. Then they work much better.


What also works is : Use a spare Box. Put it in the shower or a box. Put some water in the bottom of the lacquer box then with some distance
put some lacquers in the box. then close it but not completely. Always put some more spacers between the discs.
Leave them for one day. Next day you will get a clean cut. This is not an ideal way but the first thin i did before i ordered another humidifier.

greetings & good luck

Andreas

[jjgolden]

Personal Vent:
This same issue with intermitted loud hiss has been going on way way too long and over many many batches of both transco and apollo.

"According to the plant the drying process happened under to low air humidity conditions."
We've been hearing excuses like this for years.. I think they just can't figure it out.
Getting beyond tired of explaining the lacquer hiss/noise issues to loyal paying clients….
Soon we'll be dealing with mold issues in our "re-humidifying rooms".

Download this and be amazed: https://we.tl/Vf8OVCNnpa

(No it's not spam, and link won't be active forever.)

In my observation, quality lacquer production and its infrastructure is officially the weakest link in the longevity and future of vinyl records.

Ok all for now : )
Thanks for listening : )
JJ Golden

[concretecowboy71]

Apollo lacquers have been having issues since late OCT 2017. As of last week, they still have those issues.

We currently store all Apollo products on spindles at 70-75% RH (relative humidity) in a small, sealed room.

The best thing to do is call and complain. We have been applying pressure on them since last Nov without satisfactory changes in quality.

Phone 951-849-8831 - Apollo Mastering

[salnikov]

Hello everyone.

I have also had the same problems, rough cuts, audio breath, etc. and that since the end of 2017.
I called Transco to complain, but without any feedback from them.

I am fully aware that making lacquers must be a delicate and complicated thing.
But I really feel that Apollo does not take into account the complains of his clients.

For me the easiest and most effective way to save time and money is to stop ordering lacquers at home and order everything from MDC.
Since then no problems.
Maybe Apollo will start reacting when more than 80% of their customers are gone.

Cordially.

[boogievan]

I recently had a similar issue with some dubs. I had been keeping the stylus heat at 450 mA, and was cutting a quiet test cut in the outside radii of masters, but when I tried these 1-hole T 'dubs' (having no guarantee from the manuf.), there was hiss in the right channel only. So, I increased the heat by only 50 mA (to read 0,5 A) and the right channel got quiet. I was surprised that the formula cuts differently on one wall of the groove than the other. Anyway, might be worth trying increased heat. However, as always, with increased heat, watch out for horns if you're cutting masters (to be sprayed).

- Boogie

[Braddock]

Hello everyone.

I had this problem for a long time. Its the qulaity of apollo masters. I think they are not dry enough or the composition of the acetat is bad.

I had better results with cutting at around 0.5 A cutting apollo dubs (ref masters 12/10) but still not good enough.

Also i have found out that Ortofon has changed the tip material of some pickups. The new material is probably more abrasive. So dubs and ref masters are gone after some plays depending on the pickup.

With MDC masters its good again. Also they are offering 12" masters now. so no need for Apollo anymore.

adi

[dubcutter89]

I tried to get them "wet" back in spring but was not really succesful...
Storing them just for longer period in normal room (approx. 20-25C with around 50%humidity) helped against random spot noise but still not on top...

Also noticed heavy abuse by playing back just couple of times - not sure if it is the stylus, different ortofons and also had it with M44-7
Anyone has input on this topic?

Cheers

[Braddock]

So it has to be the plates.
I had less issues with the 44-7, only heavy wear with the nightclub type.
Try to cut a higher temperature or buy the MDIC mastster, there is not much else you can do i guss..

cheerz