SL-DZ1200 Review. The Real Story and history on the Technics Digital Turntable

They're called records. Records are often made out of vinyl, but sometimes other materials like shellac. 🌈

you can do the same thing with dj controller that costs 100bucks and viritual dj....time is doing its thing

hi, i would love to know how you can use it for video scratching ?

This is Bullshit.

Hi I know I'm late to the party, but does anyone know of any shops that can repair these?

My wife’s cousin just gave me a pair of them, I’ve been wanting them because they look really amazing. So now I have them and looking to use it at home as my stationary set up in my room. I’ll use my FLX10 for gigs I get. But I want to use these already and I’ve had them since Sunday. I ordered an SL1 interface but I was told it won’t work with Serato DJ because I need the Reloop Flux. But these are just awesome!

you cant beat mix on them you said ????

Thanks I was thinking about getting one

Actually, the guy that made the original bashing video with the usher song, admitted a couple of years ago he got paid a lot of money from "another" brand to make the dz1200 sound terrible. He actually had a hard time making it sound the way it sounded in the video. He had to lower the bitrate of the music a lot to get that distortion you can heard in that video. That other brand didn't want to have another Panasonic/Technics player to become the next industry standard.

Great video do you know if traktor will work on these players. , great video I love the OG silver look.

This triggered my interest im gonna get a pair

Panasonic/Technics dropped the ball! They had monopoly on DJ equipment then someone fell asleep, Pioneer jumped in and now its Industry standard. Pioneer cant beat beat ;) Technics turntables are the pinnacle of turntable evolution. PLUR

I’m just watching your excellent video in 2022
Thanks for posting
Very informative

I'm not familiar with this piece of gear but you're right they do look cool as hell even in 2022. Since there's not a record on top that slips, I would really want to feel the resistance of that motorized jog wheel when scratching

How the F#$% are DJing with video ????

We had the classic twin tray Denon's at a bar for Student nights, no issues, all good. Manager replaced them with these. No warning, super busy night. They we unintuitive and terrible. Good job I had records with me. Glad to hear there's been an update, might see who still has these now

Can I use this as just a cd player?

Does it play records?

IMO having SD card support saves this player from being irrelevant today.

Beautiful

superman would dj with these!!! love mine ..thanks for upload

I'm sold !!

I bought a pair 3 years ago on eBay and I just tried them this past weekend and notice they work very well with Serato on timecode cd no issues, only did some maintenance before use them and that’s all I like them a lot.

How does the DVS system handle the timecode signal playing from the DZ (while scratching with the DZ's key lock turned on)? I ask, because it looks/sounds like you where turning the key lock on/off a couple of times during the demo. My guess, the time code signal gets messed up if you try to scratch with the DZ's key lock button turned on.

Interesting was gonna purchase both technics decks back in 2010 just as well i dident now.

Yeah I agree Panasonic needs to produce a newer version of these bad boys compete with denon & pioneer...I love denon products too. Built to last.. let's see if it happens, well I believe Panasonic went bankrupt. ? Forget that idea. 🤕!

I know very little about these. I want to buy a pair for serato. You mentioned firmware issues. Is it still possible today in 2020 to buy a pair and get the fi mware update? Do I need the update to run it on a serato DVS system?

I hope your still around to answer! Thanx anyways.

Do they have video out?

Watching this 2020 ?
I have two units.

These actualy work like turntables something cdjers couldnt grasp

There was a similar backlash from the club DJ's back in the early 80s who hated the Technics SL1500 & SL150 MK2 turntables because of the hard to use digital speed controls, prompting Panasonic to release the SL1200 , replacing the buttons with a slider speed control. Mind you, we're talking about DJs who were used to using their fingers to slow down or speed up a track. I used my math skills to develop a DJ mixing system for the SL1500 series that would be able to predict the speed difference between two songs to within two tenths of a percent accuracy. By the time I was ready to share my system with Panasonic, they had totally given up on these two models because 'the DJs only are interested in ease of use and could care less about accuracy'. Mind you, this was during an era where a huge chunk of American dance releases were produced with live drumming, an orchestra and a conductor. Artists that fall into that category include Chic, Diana Ross, Earth Wind & Fire, Thelma Houston & many more. Most of the European dance product producers had already switched to beat-locking their productions with electronic drum machines. In reality, they were producing dance tracks for the DJ , while the American product was produced for the performers mostly & radio. Thankfully, when the producers got a few hit records & socked away enough money, they made their way to Europe for holidays and were swept up by the music in the clubs. Beat locking is now the standard across all pop-rock-urban-reggae-meditation-country genres. The earliest almost beat-locked track I've found was from The Flying Machine "Smile a Little Smile", produced in 1969 by Tony Macaulay who also produced the Foundations. I wish I'd have known then what I know now.


Great video. Lots of useful info.



By the way, my channel features exclusive remixes you'll find nowhere else. Check it out or eat two cloves of garlic. Your choice.

They were awsome but one big problem was laser would go out of alignment all the time

How do you make scratch video clips

I’m currently running a pair with rekordbox DVS 😄

I remember wanting a set of these when they first came out. They just look awesome and still extremely futuristic. If I ever came across one cheap I’ll probably pick one up.

i wish technics would update these very underrated and gorgeouse decks.They would totally destroy pioneer

Regarding the encrypted part. Try to get hold of an MMC card ( same size as SD but without the secure nonsense ). I once had a Pioneer DMP 555 that also read music of SD card. With SD card it’s the same encrypted crap only special software, etc.

When I had put the music on an MMC card and put it in the player I was immediately rocking.

I'm glad he mentioned Denon.. good video.

What's the download on having rights too order 600 of these with bill clintons rights with DVD and CD sales on my DD if its cool on the real of a cool look on da g cutz 2 b folding break beats are they better than technics I can afford with my DD a bunch of break songs singled if top ten records excepts da DD ask the bill its one dollar fifty cents too call him on 0 operator call on the down load when a DJNEEDLES reminiscing or Sharon baby 7 up too cool.

I'm glad you mentioned Denon!!!!

Fuck plastic Pioneer! 1200 For Life!

Do you have the SD jukebox software?

I use my DZ 1200 for studio scratching on recordings

only if it took usb :/

This vid is so cool. I still have 3 of these units. Where can I get the firmware update?

I have a pair, my brother gave me. He upgraded his set back when Pioneers came out. I learned on those dz's back in the early 90's. They still going strong.

Great review. Thanks man

Before it came out, Technics had one dj model before this one. Featured the same pitch slider as the sl1200. Talking 1992 till 1994 here

They look beautiful.. but you can't judge a book by its cover. I'm not in to software and screens.