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Hello,
I had a question about the strobes on my turntables. What does it mean if the dots don't stop at the percentages shown in the diagram next to the power switch but stop in the same place on both turntables. For instance the diagram shows:
+6.4%
+3.3% 0.0%
-3.3%
The strobe dots on my turntables stop at roughly:
+7.0% +4.3% +0.5% -3.3%
When I hit the reset button to lock the pitch at 0% this will also make the largest dot stop on both turntables.
I'm pretty sure this is the way they were when I got them.
Does this mean that I should replace the pitch control or have my turntables serviced?
Sorry, what I meant was that the diagram shows: +6.4%, +3.3%, 0.0%, -3.3%
The strobe dots on my turntables stop at roughly: +7.0%, +4.3%, +0.5%, -3.3%Sorry, what I meant was that the diagram shows: +6.4%, +3.3%, 0.0%, -3.3%
The strobe dots on my turntables stop at roughly: +7.0%, +4.3%, +0.5%, -3.3%
Thanks man, I guess I may have read a little to much into it. I thought the pitch was supposed to match the strobes exactly. I guess I need some more practice mixing considering I thought it was the turntables when all along it was me. I was about to schedule some repair work to have the pitch calibrated. Thanks for saving me some dough!
Thanks man, I guess I may have read a little to much into it. I thought the pitch was supposed to match the strobes exactly. I guess I need some more practice mixing considering I thought it was the turntables when all along it was me. I was about to schedule some repair work to have the pitch calibrated. Thanks for saving me some dough!
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There is nothing wrong with your turntables. The Strobe dots are only a guide to give you an idea of the speed your platter is rotating. Nothing more, nothing less. The pitch control decal is not 100% accurate, it is simply a guide to tell you where the 6% position lies, 3.3%, etc.
As long as the quartz lock function works, and the large middle strobes are nice and solid, and do not move, your fine.
You can check out these videos for more insight into these wonderful turntables:
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First things first, I presume you know that there's four pitch rings around the edge of the platter; one per RPM. So only one should be static when viewed by the synchronised light.
Second, there is a pitch fine tune control on top of the strobe light. Is that centralised? Presuming that you've checked the basics first, then it's time to look at maintenance issues, then faults/repairs.
If you're lucky then it could be something as simple as the motor spindle needing a couple of drops of oil. If the deck is from a very dusty environment then it may even need the motor spindle cleaning of accumulated dust and crud.
Anything beyond this is drag due to a bent spindle.
It could be many different issues. Make sure you put then in correctly, as there is only one correct way. There is an Anode and a Cathode. Could be no voltage to them, or dozens of other issues. For more information, or should you have any further questions, please visit my website at audioservicecinic.com. You may contact me through the website. Thank you.
how do you know theres power to the unit if theirs no strobe light pitch adjuster light & the platter doesn't spin? the power comes in & to the transformer first,then through the strobe switch, the transformer is what blows when you short the target light out.....i've seen this many a time when people try & change the target lights to blue neon.
I don't think Bowens repair manuals are publicly available (I haven't seen any). Unless you are already experienced in repairs on studio strobes, don't put your hands into one of these units - it is easy to be electrocuted by touching the wrong things, even with the unit off and the mains plug disconnected. In addition, most Bowens strobes are microprocessor-controlled, so if there is something wrong with the microcontroller board you have no way to fix it.
Your camera uses a PTTL flash system. That means the flash on the camera fires a "pre-flash" to set the exposure and then the main flash. Your flash trigger strobes are reacting to the pre-flash and firing before the shutter activates. This all happens in a millisecond.
You need to calibrate your pitch control. This requires a small precision screwdriver (similar to something you would repair eye glasses with). If you look under the turntable where the pitch control is you will find 2 small holes, 1 marked 33 and 1 marked 45. Turn the turntable on and set the pitch control lever to zero pitch. While the turntable is spinning insert the screw driver into the pitch calibration hole under the turntable and twist the potentiometer back and forth until the turntable pitch is zero (I believe clockwise is faster, counterclockwise is slower as you look up from the bottom of the turntable). This is a fine tune adjustment and will not require much turning to adjust the speed (1 or 2 mm's) either way should start to bring you into zero pitch. The platter speed can be verified by the little dots on the rim of the platter. They should appear stationary in strobe light on the power switch when you are at zero pitch. When you are adjusting the speed you will observe the dots on the platter rim spinning clockwise and then counterclockwise as you adjust the fine tuning. Fine tune the speed until the dots appear stationary and you will be back to zero pitch. You have to adjust the turntable at both speeds 33 and 45 using the correct fine tuning hole under the turntable. My personal experience is it is easiest to do this with 2 people. 1 person to hold the turntable level and running, while the other adjusts the fine tuning. Hope this helps.
Hiya, you can try cleaning the belt with iso alcohol or meths and also the platter and motor spindle. Make sure clen, flip the belt over, if that fails try a new belt, and if still not then the fault is electronic.
If you problem is that the double flash triggers the strobes early (on the first flash and the shot is made on the second flash - dark) you either: 1. Get a wire accessory to command the strobes 2. Put a simple external flash on top of the camera and use it to trigger strobes. If you don't need the light from this flash just point it up of backwards, it will still trigger the strobes. If it does not rotate, you can use tin foil. A very simple external flash will do, as the camera will flash only once with external flash.
Sorry, what I meant was that the diagram shows: +6.4%, +3.3%, 0.0%, -3.3%
The strobe dots on my turntables stop at roughly: +7.0%, +4.3%, +0.5%, -3.3%
Thanks man, I guess I may have read a little to much into it. I thought the pitch was supposed to match the strobes exactly. I guess I need some more practice mixing considering I thought it was the turntables when all along it was me. I was about to schedule some repair work to have the pitch calibrated. Thanks for saving me some dough!
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