So this is based entirely on hearsay, but somehow (sadly), I believe it. Panasonic (maker of Technics turntables) will apparently no longer product the Technics 1200/1210 turntables after February of 2010 due, presumptively, to the takeover of digital media as a DJs primary source for music. An article on Pocket-Lint quotes a response from Panasonic indicating the Technics brand will not be discontinued, but as Pocket-Lint points out, that really doesn’t say much since the Technics brand covers a broad range of electronics which could survive even if the decks are axed.
For me, this isn’t so much the loss of a piece of electronics (I have my Mk5G’s and probably will for a very long time), but the loss of a piece of history. In five or ten years, new DJs won’t associate the number 1200 with industry standard equipment… it’ll just be another number, or something they roll their eyes at when “old farts” like me bring it up… I’m not old enough to longing for the good ol’ days…
Anyway, I don’t know if it’s true or not, but if so, it’s truly a sad day for DJs everywhere… even if alot of them are too busy downloading the Beatport top 20 to realize it.
UPDATE: Panasonic released an amended announcement which specifically addressed the 1200-series turntables… production is not scheduled to cease anytime in the foreseeable future. It’s good to know that they might still be around when I need to replace mine in 20 or 30 years…
2 Comments
Nice insight… it’s good to hear that there are lots of DJs out there using vinyl turntables. I am a begginner and still acquiring some vinyl records and sometimes I wonder if that’s still the way to go nowadays considering I would need a large collection of vinyls when there is Serato and digital sets out there where you can just DJ with MP3s and a laptop…
Thanks!
As it turns out, Panasonic isn’t cutting the Technics 1200’s, which is a good thing. That said, I don’t see anything wrong with going digital as long as we remember where we came from, but I think the vinyl interface is crucial to that even if it’s using Serato… something about the feel of a turntable, at least for me, that makes DJ’ing what it is. Anyway, whatever you choose, have fun!