Slip mats, just for looks, or is there more to them?

**Cook** · 10-13-2013, 03:03 AM

I used the Dr Suzuki Serato mats, and a set of pacman ones (still got em even though ive sold my TTs)

**paulmac** · 10-14-2013, 10:04 AM

still got the technics tecman mats?

**Xonetacular** · 10-14-2013, 10:11 AM

I like regular felt mats for most mixing as well. I have some dskreet ones which are nice and have cool prints. Also have butterrugs but find they are too thin and slippery for normal mixing and if a record is slightly warped it is useless on them where it may work fine on a felt mat.

**Liambo** · 10-14-2013, 10:20 AM

I'm 100% Sicmats. The feel of them underneath my vinyl is far better than the likes of the Technics official ones that i have three pairs of but hate them all..

**paulmac** · 10-14-2013, 02:55 PM

Sicmats, as in like the ones in one of my links?

**Karlos Santos** · 10-14-2013, 03:13 PM

Mate you're not a scratcher so forget butter rugs or frosted plates or magic carpets, you won't like them.
Sicmats are cool but honestly, there is nothing wrong with a pair of good old technics mats. Not the cheap fuzzy ones, the ones with the thin screen print like the Technics DMC mats.
Anything with a heavy print is bad. In fact for years I turned them over and used the blank side.

I had some Stussy mats once. They cost a fortune. They were shite.

**paulmac** · 10-15-2013, 05:03 AM

Yeah, im going to get some Technics Dmc Smiley platter ones it think...

**Karlos Santos** · 10-15-2013, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by paulmac

Yeah, im going to get some Technics Dmc Smiley platter ones it think...

Don't get those mate !!!!!!!!!!!!!

They look ace, I have a pair but just for display when Im not using my decks. The yellow screen print is like enamel paint and just as thick. They barely move under the vinyl.

The purple DMC with 'Technics' and a purple circle are better.

**Patch** · 10-15-2013, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by karlos

They barely move under the vinyl.

I've tried pretty much every slip mat out there, and every technique to make 'em more suited to scratching (I've got TONS of circles of different stuff (plastic, paper, card, record sleeves/liners, etc..) that I've put UNDER slipnats to improve 'em!). One that I've often done is made the hole in the middle just a little bit bigger, by putting in a pencil and giving it a few turns...

I've always gone back to some proper old slipmats, by a company called Synergy (they're long gone

). They're 2 layer mats, with a tight weave, printed top, and really loose weave, fuzzy bottom.

They are by far the nicest mats's I've ever used. I'm using the same ones that I got from Richer Sounds with my first decks (Limit SQ-2000 - anyone remember those?!?) 16 years ago!!!

But, when I moved to Timecode, I realised exactly what Karlos has stated. The soft, rubbery print on top of the mat actually grips the record. I have clear timecode so this was a but of a revelation to me. However, the soft, loose weave bottom glides nicely over the platter...

I've kept using them. I love the feel, and after all this time, I'm just used to how it feels underhand. The printed top is like padded rubber, and doesn't cause any damage to the records.

There's no short cuts on this one, I'm afraid. You just have to keep trying mats out until you find the ones you like.