Sillitoe Lathes

[Sillitoe]

Cheers TheCrates!

Just finished building the first production protoype SmokeStack Lightning feedforward head that will go to a client!
Shipping it off to Japan next week!!!

First (conservative) cut was about 1/2 an hour ago (myShank 320P on 12", 1kHz 7cm/sec reference tone).
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nuwrj0418j9d35z/First%20Cut%20Prodution%20Prototype%2C%201kHz%207cm%3Asec.wav?dl=0

Will give it a couple of tweaks but they're continuing to improve.

Cheers
James

[Wayne Kirkwood]

James you've outdone yourself.
This sounds awesome!

Took the liberty of doing an FFT on your tones. Very impressive. Nice even-order dominance.
The signature is very close to my STR-100 test record and S681.

When you spec 7 cm/second is that peak or RMS?

[Sillitoe]

Hi Wayne!

Thanks very much mate!!!

This cut has a 17kHz low pass within the pre-emphasis.

The 1kHz tone is 7cm/sec stylus velocity peak to peak taken from band 1 of the Ultimate Analog Test lp which I play back before my own cut- with the same input settings and chain/gain in digital domain of course.

I enjoyed reading your Reference Level and Cartridge Transfer Function topic, as I find your topics are among the most valuable on the board (especially the 45/45 stereo separation one).
I would love to hear your opinion on best practise for giving these kinds of specifications- as I'm not sure at all.

Cheers
James

[Sillitoe]

More tests on MyShank 12s from the latest SmokeStack Lightning feedforward build.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6mwyvtibwn0sbi6/WORKINONIT.wav?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3q8o1w6ly8i49dl/DILLAcut.wav?dl=0

And some chip...

IMG_3676.JPG

Cheers
James

[TheCrates]

Thank you James for fulfill my "wish" for some black music type music which i mentioned beside. Cant say more like thanks a lot and you didnt disapointed me on this one again. Sorry to repeat myself, your head in combinations with MyShanks cutting material is truly amazing to my "amateur" ears. For me a proof that good cuts dont require a feedback cutting head. "Hut ab" as we say in Germany.

[Sillitoe]

Hi Sven!

Thanks very much for the positive feedback!
I don't mind at all if you repeat yourself when you say nice things!

These heads and cuts will continue to improve.

Cheers
James

[sifis1983]

Hi James,

Well, I have to confess that this is absolute great sound!!!! Congratulations!

Is this a non feedback cutterhead? I can't believe it!!!

One question:
What is your signal chain for your cuts? Is this a .wav file? Did you use only iRIAA or other EQ settings? Did you use any compression?
I think in the "workinonit" track, that the drums are compressed a little bit more, compared to the original track.

I'd love to hear more from you.

Again, excellent job! (I love dilla, by the way... )

Regards,
Sifis

[Sillitoe]

Hi sifis1983!

Thanks very much!
Yes it's non-feedback/ open loop or "feedforward".

Dilla is amazing!!!

No compression at all, yes the file is WAV.

Cutting chain-
Ableton, iRIAA, correction, 17kHz low pass- Audient id22, QSC GX3, 500mA fast blow, SmokeStack Lightning feedforward cutterhead prototype, MyShank 12' with 320P

Playback-
Shure m97xe on a stock SL1200mk2, NI Z2 mixer, Ableton.

Tone is 1kHz 7cm/sec.

These heads definitely add their own flavour of "Sillitoe Sound"... but I like it!

IMG_3692.JPG

Cheers
James

[sifis1983]

Thanks James...

Your info is really helpful for me.
Yep! I agree that the character of your cutterhead is awesome!
However, I don't know what a "feedforward" is.
Also, I would like to know how you measure this "7cm/s" at 1K.

You can see my experiments in my "Brother Singer Cutterhead" thread.

Thanks again,
Sifis

[Sillitoe]

Hi Sifis,

Feedforward (taken from Wikipedia)-
A control system which has only feed-forward behavior responds to its control signal in a pre-defined way without responding to how the load reacts; it is in contrast with a system that also has feedback, which adjusts the output to take account of how it affects the load, and how the load itself may vary unpredictably; the load is considered to belong to the external environment of the system.

Have a search on reference levels regarding the 1kHz, 7cm/sec. There's lots on the internet already.

Yes I'm following your head thread, nice work! Keep experimenting!

Thanks again
James

[oatwillie]

Do you anticipate the ability to cut lacquers/acetate as well as vinyl/pvc with the system or is that capability already present ?
Very nice development work.

[Sillitoe]

Hi Oatwillie, thanks very much!

Yes, full lacquer disc mastering capabilities are already present with the current automatic prototype lathe which has been the development platform for the all new turnkey system, launching 2017.

I post more regularly on the Sillitoe Lathes Instagram account, where you can see development including first prototypes cutting automated locked grooves etc (YouTube videos from previous pages of this thread are gone now).
https://instagram.com/p/BSk03m-DRG0/

I'll add you to my mailing list to keep you updated on pricing and availability.

Cheers
James

IMG_3737.JPG

[oatwillie]

Hello,

Any news on this lathe system ?

thanks!

[Sillitoe]

Hi Oatwillie!

You can see a sneak peek at the skeleton of the new system design here.
https://instagram.com/p/BYF0t9XDfMi/
It will launch in 2017.

Cheers
James

[Dubcutz]

Hi James

Looks really nice, great work!

[Sillitoe]

91378F78-BAB3-46F0-8766-1EABAF882DA8.jpeg

Update here, details soon. https://instagram.com/p/Bav3Tq2HlFX/

[Hanoi]

Wow, awesome!

[toucyy]

Nice development work !!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sillitoe]

Thanks very much guys!!!

[Sillitoe]

C65CD07D-0D0F-4EC0-B4AB-19D09B3BD43C.jpeg

Here’s a little gearporn pic for a sense of scale.

The gap between the baseplate and top plate (which the linear slide is mounted on) will be increased to about 60mm and the sides will be covered by panels once I’ve installed the leadscrew, motor and electronics.
14” platter and 12” Jelco tonearm will ship as standard.

Specs and vids soon.

Cheers
James