question for the interest of nerds and really stoned people

[bjackman]

i've noticed that, when recording a mix, the right channel is usually slightly louder than the left channel (this isnt just my equipment coz i've noticed it on other people's mixes too)

i wonder if this might be because of the centripetal force of the needle in the groove: it is pulled toward the centre of the vinyl as it spins, or is that force neglible even compared to the tiny vibrations in the groove?

if you think i'm being really stupid:
the way that vinyl stereo works is that the groove is like a V-shaped valley, with one wall of the valley representing each stereo track (so a vertical bump would cause the left and right speakers to make opposite movements, while a transverse bump would cause them to do the same thing, so if the needle is pulled toward the centre of the vinyl, one speaker will be affected more than the other

[FSTZ1]

yep

jiggle the cable

[theaccuria]

If you think about it, the needle will drag more out on outsdie of the groove (away from the center) not more on the inside.

As the record spins the needle drags so any tolerances in the width of the groove means its gets push to the far edge.

How this effects your left/right balance I do not know.

[beerz]

the centrifugal force wud equal the centripetal force id assume.

[magma]

the centrifugal force wud equal the centripetal force id assume.

Each and every action and all that...I suppose it could have an effect, do you actually see a difference on the meters, or just in your ears? Could be speaker placement? Mine are badly placed at the moment and although I'm sat pretty much in the middle of them, the left seems much louder.

[djelements]

I dunno, I use traktor. Great question though, I'll ask my dad.