Vestax VRX 2000 User Manual

VRX-2000 USER MANUAL

(preliminary)

VRX-2000 VINYL CUTTING MACHINE

Congratulations on your purchase of this quality product from Vestax Corporation: the
sensational VRX-2000 Vinyl Cutting Machine.

The VRX-2000 can give you superb results in the making of long-lasting Vinyl records. To
achieve such results, please remember that the mastering process of Vinyl records requires skill
and a basic understanding of complicated audio waveforms.

Cutting Vinyl from a cassette-based multi-track recording or a stereo cassette recorder should
prove to be straight forward, as the frequency response of cassette-based music is not as
intense as that of a CD.

Cutting from professionally mastered CDs that have good equalization and compression should
also give excellent results.

However, recording from some CDs (for example, CDs from home studio set-ups) may provide
difficulties. This is due to the fact that these recordings sometimes have very wide frequency
ranges, and have not been prepared professionally for mass-production or broadcast.

Please study and understand compressors and limiters and how to use equalizers to get the
best result from your VRX-2000.

GENERAL CAUTION

1. This is a product to cut analogue records. Cutting records requires experience and
technique. If you do not learn how to use the VRX-2000 properly, you may not get the best
possible results. Please read this manual carefully. Vestax will not be responsible for the
problems caused by improper use.

2. Please save the original VRX-2000 carton and padding/packing. Always use them for
transportation. If the unit is transported with improper packing and consequently damaged, the
warranty repair will not apply.

3 VRX-2000 is a very high-tech creation. Please use great caution in moving and setting up.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 3 – Basic VRX-2000 Set-up and Components

3.1 Set-up

3.2 Handling

3.3 Cutting Head

3.4 Tracking Arm

3.5 Stylus & Heater Life

3.6 Blank Vinyl

Section 4 – User Registration and Customer Support

Section 5 – Warranty Repair and After-Service

Section 6 - Features

Section 7 – Basic Knowledge of the VRX-2000 Vinyl Cutting Machine

Section 8 – Description of VRX-2000 Components

8.1 Top Panel

8.2 Rear View

8.3 Cutting Head Section

Section 9 – VRX-2000 Packing Contents

Section 10 – Assembly and Set-up

10.1 Platter Assembly

10.2 Ioniser Assembly

10.3 Tracking Arm/Counter Weight Assembly

10.4 Cutting Stylus Assembly

10.5 Cutting Head Assembly

Section 11 – Final Adjustments

11.1 Stylus pressure adjustment

Section 12 – Recording Procedures
12-1 Cutting procedures
12-2 Troubleshooting

Section 13 – Playback

Section 18 – Copyright Issues

• Vestax Customer Service Center (c.f. Section 4)
Official Vestax Investigation Form (c.f. Section 4)

•

Section 3: BASIC VRX-2000 SET-UP AND COMPONENTS

3.1 SET UP

Please place this unit on a solid, stable and horizontal surface. An unstable surface may pick
up external vibrations, and these unwanted sounds will be recorded on the Vinyl. Unstable
surfaces may also cause platter rotation fluctuations.

Please avoid sunlight, dust, humidity, and do not place the unit near heating appliances or
sources of heat. If dust gets on the Vinyl recording it will cause additional noise on recording
sound.

Please do not place the VRX-2000 near loudspeakers, as any sound with enough volume will
be recorded on the Vinyl.

Please also never place the unit near TV, radio, or other equipment which generates electric or
magnetic fields. If the unit is located in such a place it may have an effect on the cutting head
and you will not achieve the best result.

3.2 HANDLING

The VRX-2000 is very heavy. It is recommended that extreme care is taken when moving the
unit, and that it is moved by more than one person. If you are going to ship the unit, please use

original packing material.

When transporting, please be sure to disassemble the following parts from the main unit:

1. Cutting head

2. Play back cartridge

3. Platter

N.B. Please also remove the Stylus from the cutting head and place both parts in the original
case for transportation.

3.3 CUTTING HEAD

The cutting head is fragile. Please do not drop or force undue power or pressure, and do not
touch any place other than the Stylus holding section. If there is any damage inside the cutting
head, the best quality recording will not be possible.

Please do not place the cutting head in dusty or dirty areas. If dust particles get inside the
cutting head, the head will cease to function properly.

If there is too high a signal applied, the coil may burn or break. In order to avoid such a
problem, a Limiter circuit is built-in to the VRX-2000. If you would like to use the unit without
internal Limiter circuitry, please adjust the recording levels very carefully, otherwise a high input
signal may damage the head.

When you replace the Stylus, you will have to assemble and disassemble. Please be careful
not to damage the head on replacement. The cutting head contains a very strong Magnet - if
steel or other metal is placed near the cutting head, it will create a very strong magnetic field.
Such a damaging strong magnetic field might also cause a problem with wristwatches, so
please remove yours when handling or recording.

3.4 TRACKING ARM

The VRX-2000 Tracking arm is another fragile component, and is and very accurately made.
Please do not put pressure on the Tracking arm, as it may cause inaccuracies and problems in
recording.

If the arm is bent by strong force it will cause the VRX2000 to disjunction totally.

Please also note that the moving parts of the Tracking arm require maintenance from time to
time.

3.5 STYLUS & HEATER LIFE

• The life of the cutting Stylus is approximately between 200-300 minutes (depending on the
cutting pressure used and the level of Stylus heat). Overusing the Stylus reduces the
quality of recording. You may initially notice a reduction in the volume of one side (L/R) of
the recording as the cutting Stylus wears out. Please replace the Stylus regularly.

• Although the Stylus consists of a very hard material, it might be damaged or broken if it is
touched or dropped, mishandled. This will make recording impossible. Please replace the
Stylus if any of these instances occur.

• The heater line (wire) is very thin and fragile, therefore please handle very carefully. If the
heater line is cut, please replace the whole Stylus immediately.

• If too much current is applied to the heater line, the line may burn and break down. Please
be very careful with adjustments of heater current.

• On assembly of the Stylus on the cutting head, please be careful that the heater line does
not touch the Vinyl or surrounding parts of the cutting head.

3.6 BLANK VINYL

• Please make sure that the Vinyl is perfectly flat when placed on the VRX-2000 for the Vinyl
cutting procedure. Vinyl that is not perfectly flat will prevent perfect quality recording.

• If a bent or warped Vinyl is used, the depth or width of the groove will be inconsistent. It will
cause a distortion or needle skipping on playback.

• On recording, please make sure the surface of the Vinyl is clean. Please do not use thinner
or methylated spirits for cleaning.

• Before recording, please remove the protective sheets on both sides of the blank vinyl. If
the sheet is left on the other side, the vinyl will not be properly secured on the silicone
platter mat, which is essential for the cutting process.

• The special vinyl for the VRX-2000 has a similar durability of commercial vinyl, but a record
cut in improper circumstances/condition may have less durability than usual.

Section 4: USER REGISTRATION & CUSTOMER SUPPORT

4.1 USER REGISTRATION CARD

• The official Vestax user registration card is enclosed in the box. Please fill out the card in
full and send it to Vestax customer support in (or nearest to) your country. Vestax will not
be able to service or support the unit if it is not registered. If you have any registration detail
changes, please inform your customer service center immediately.

• Please contact customer support center with any questions regarding usage or operation.
Please fill out the Investigation Form (found at the back of this manual) and submit to the
service center by fax or mail. The service center will reply to all questions by fax or mail.
Please note: some more detailed questions may take a longer time to respond to.

• Please see the final page of this manual to find relevant fax numbers and mailing addresses
of Vestax customer service centers.

Section 5: WARRANTY REPAIR AND AFTER-SERVICE

• Warranty Card: Please keep the warranty card and make sure that it has the date of
purchase and store of purchase.

• Terms and Conditions of Warranty: The VRX-2000 is covered by warranty for 12 months.
However, Vestax will not honor warranty service if the unit is improperly used, physically
damaged, modified by unauthorized person or damaged by external equipment. The
cutting Stylus is not covered by warranty.