Help... my turntable is alive!

cleeds you should stop it right here you are upsetting moonglum which makes him glum when that happens he writes something nasty about you and false about VTA and then the moderators have to delete it again and again as they have here. It is wasting everyones time as you have already figured out moonglum has his own definition of VTA that is different than everyone else’s and if you push him he just insists "everyone know’s what I’m talking about." He also has endless analogies about pilots and sealevel none of which make any sense but he will just keep this mindless banter going from the comfortable home of mommy’s basement where you are the only person interfering with his little world of made-up reality so please lets all leave moonglum alone we have probably hurt his self-esteem pretty badly.

moonglum you might want to google VTA and then you will find its definition and proper use.

" I could order a new belt, but I don't want to start down the money path until I know I'm at least on the correct path. "

Money path??? A turntable belt is a trivial expense compared to the cost of maintaining proper vinyl playback equipment in a Music Reproduction System and all of the gear that supports that playback including alignment tools and record cleaners and sooner or later you are going to need a new belt anyway so why not buy one now and set to rest whether that is the cause of your problems?