Anti skate doesn't work regardless of setting.

The short answer is that you need a new stylus as the one you have is either broken or worn away so that it won't stay in the groove. It could also be out of place. Rubbing your finger on the stylus you should be able to feel it digging in. If you can't it's gone!

Skating is when the stylus slides across the record's surface and doesn't stay in the grooves. This can happen when the stylus is too worn and so any control to correct it called "Anti Skating" won't work. Getting the pressure right to the stylus is the first thing to do. Once this is set up if an odd record then skips a few grooves on a good condition record, you can adjust the Anti skate control to prevent it. Adjustment it is like setting the stylus pressure, a question of trial and error.

3 causes
1. Bad stylus.
2. Not enough weight - adjust weight on end of arm, or turn knob with numbers up slowly bit by bit, trying a record each time till it stops but doesn't "rumble".
3. Adjust anti-skate control if it's got one. Again bit by bit, testing with record.

What's the turntable? Skipping across the record would be a (mal)function of tracking and anti-skating. The recommended tracking force for this stylus os 3.0 grams. I've been out of the vinyl groove for some years now but I remember my Shure M95 tracking in the range of 1-1.5 g. Railroad spikes track at 3.0. Is this for 'scratching' or whatever it is they call that noise?

The weight should be set to the position recomended by the cartridge maker. Typically 1.5 to 2.5. If you don't know the makers setting, set it at 1.5 and work upwards. The stylus should track nicely in the record groove and not jump. But not too heavy as to cause rumble in the sound. Set the skate control low and again try the record out, if the stylus starts to skate accross the record increase the force. It's a case of experimentation with no fixed rules on these settings. Some records might need adjusments afterwards.

there is a counter balance on the side of the arm called an anti skating weight.it prevents the grooves on the record from pushing the stylus inward,wearing out one side.when the anti skate weight system has a fault,it drags the arm toward the center of the record faster than needed.there is also a weight on the back of the arm.that is the balance.when set to zero,the arm should balance.then the weight is turned to 1 gram or so.if there is not enough force downward,the anti skate mechanism will drag the arm inward.

Increase the weight of the arm, check if it has anti-skate control.

Hi sounds like the cartridge or stylus are not seated correctly or at correct angle (cartridge).
Also weight/balance and anti skate need adjustment. Try getting the manual and using that to set it up correctly - no easy task though as lotsa info there.... :) Manual for 1200 MK3 will do as well. Hope that helps

Hi, sounds more like tje stylus tip is gone and therefore the needle isn't holding to the grooves rather than a tracking weight or anti skate problem. [email protected]

There are two main things that will influence the anti skate settings.

1) The Headshell Weight and Balance
Firstly, check the data sheet for the cartridge and stylus you are using. It should tell you the correct weight setting which will vary from one cartridge and stylus to another. If the stylus is set too light, it can skate across the disc. This can damage the disc and the stylus. The sound will also be thin and it is likely to distort on high frequencies. If the weight is too heavy, it will not jump but will definitely damage the disc.

If you are a serious vinyl user, get yourself a tone arm balance. This is a device that you place on the turntable and you rest the stylus on a plate which is marked in micrograms. You place the stylus exactly at the correct weight marking and then make adjustments to the turntable settings until the tone arm is balanced. It's easier than it sounds!

If you don't have the data sheet for your cartridge and stylus and cannot find it online, use an old disc that you don't mind damaging, set the weight on the light side and gradually increase the weight until it stops skating.

2) Platter Levelling
Secondly, you need to make sure your turntable us on a level surface. If you are a purist, use a spirit level. to do this.

There are other things that can cause skating and jumping, especially if you use the turntable as a DJ. For example, vibration (caused hopefully by dozens rocking to your music). DJs will often increase the headshell weight very slightly to overcome this and I have sometimes placed the turntables on a thick rubber sheet such as carpet underlay to improve shock absorption.