Turntablism
Tonearm
The tonearm carries the cartridge across the record, holding the stylus in the groove at a controlled angle and force. Its counterweight sets that force and its anti-skate opposes the pull toward the centre.
In practice
The arm is a balance, not a bracket. Zero it first, then set force and anti-skate — in that order, every time.
Balance the arm with the stylus guard off and the anti-skate at zero until it floats level, then set the counterweight dial to zero without moving the weight itself. From there, dial in the tracking force the cartridge asks for and match anti-skate to it. Set the arm height so the arm is parallel to the record when playing — a nose-down or nose-up arm changes the angle the stylus meets the groove at and audibly costs you tracking on loud passages.
Float first
Balance before anything else
Parallel
Where the arm should sit
Straight
The battle-oriented shape
Where these come from: Standard tonearm setup procedure — established turntable practice, not catalog figures. For what we can measure, see setting the force.
Why it matters
It is a balance mechanism rather than a bracket, and every adjustment on it exists to keep the stylus doing one job: sitting in a moving groove without leaving it. Get the balance wrong and the deck skips; get it very wrong and the stylus wears the record instead of reading it.
For DJs the arm is also the part that gets knocked, and the S-shaped and straight designs behave differently when it happens. Straight arms track a little more securely under scratching, which is why battle-oriented decks offer them, and they are slightly less forgiving of a badly set counterweight.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a straight and an S-shaped tonearm?+
Geometry and tracking behaviour. Straight arms track a little more securely under heavy handling, which is why battle decks offer them; S-shaped arms are the classic design and slightly more forgiving over a whole side.
How high should the tonearm be?+
So that the arm is parallel to the record while playing. Nose-up or nose-down changes the angle the stylus sits at and costs you tracking on the loudest passages.
Why does my arm swing toward the centre?+
That pull is inherent to a pivoted arm and is what anti-skate exists to oppose. If it is dragging noticeably, anti-skate is set too low for the tracking force.
Related terms
Counterweight
The counterweight is the adjustable mass at the back of the tonearm. Sliding it changes how much of the arm’s weight rests on the stylus, which is how tracking force is set.
Anti-skate
Anti-skate applies a small outward force to the tonearm to oppose the inward pull a rotating record exerts on it. Without it, the stylus presses harder on the inner groove wall than the outer one.
Cartridge
A cartridge converts the stylus’s movement in the groove into an electrical signal. It mounts to the tonearm, holds the replaceable stylus, and its design decides how securely a record tracks under handling.
Turntable
A turntable spins a record at a constant speed while a stylus tracks its groove. A DJ turntable adds a pitch fader, high torque so it reaches speed instantly, and a platter you can hold and release.
Explore: Beginner mixing guide · Cartridge · Tracking force · All DJ terms