The company Matsushita began manufacturing turntables in 1972, under the brand name of Technics. Since that time, over three million units have been sold all over the world, and the turntable that was launched as a domestic record player has undergone something of a transformation.
The SL-1200 began life as a response to the design problem posed by vinyl turntables. This meant addressing such problems as acoustic feedback, resonance and speed errors amongst others. The base is heavy-duty and specifically designed to reduce feedback, while the direct-drive construction dispenses with the need to use belts which can stretch and lead to sound distortion. It also makes the turntable very quiet.
This high-fidelity record player quickly became a success, and its popularity grew particularly amongst radio and club DJs. Its reliability and durability led to it becoming the most widely used DJ decks in the world, and the role it has played in turntablism and electronic music cultures has resulted in iconic status for the product.
A well-known journalist has even said that these iconic SL-1200 DJ decks have been the most important musical instruments in the last quarter of a century. They have, without a doubt, played a defining role in the evolution of hip-hop and dance music, allowing DJs to create new music from recordings.
One example of a piece of technology that has shaped the world we live in is on display in the London Science Museum. It is a Technics 1210. In November 2010, however, Technics manufacturers announced the decision to cease production of the iconic DJ decks. The global market place has changed, music is moving decisively away from analogue to digital, and the conclusion is that the turntables are no longer a viable product.
So, it looks as though the CDJs and laptops have finally usurped the legendary turntables, but will they achieve the same iconic status? The DMC World DJ Championships used to offer golden turntables to the DJs who made history by winning the contest. Now it looks like the DJ decks are firmly part of history themselves.
The SL-1200 began life as a response to the design problem posed by vinyl turntables. This meant addressing such problems as acoustic feedback, resonance and speed errors amongst others. The base is heavy-duty and specifically designed to reduce feedback, while the direct-drive construction dispenses with the need to use belts which can stretch and lead to sound distortion. It also makes the turntable very quiet.
This high-fidelity record player quickly became a success, and its popularity grew particularly amongst radio and club DJs. Its reliability and durability led to it becoming the most widely used DJ decks in the world, and the role it has played in turntablism and electronic music cultures has resulted in iconic status for the product.
A well-known journalist has even said that these iconic SL-1200 DJ decks have been the most important musical instruments in the last quarter of a century. They have, without a doubt, played a defining role in the evolution of hip-hop and dance music, allowing DJs to create new music from recordings.
One example of a piece of technology that has shaped the world we live in is on display in the London Science Museum. It is a Technics 1210. In November 2010, however, Technics manufacturers announced the decision to cease production of the iconic DJ decks. The global market place has changed, music is moving decisively away from analogue to digital, and the conclusion is that the turntables are no longer a viable product.
So, it looks as though the CDJs and laptops have finally usurped the legendary turntables, but will they achieve the same iconic status? The DMC World DJ Championships used to offer golden turntables to the DJs who made history by winning the contest. Now it looks like the DJ decks are firmly part of history themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment