As a club DJ during the 80s and 90s this is always how I looked for the breakdown in the track. Not that it really matters today and today’s digital world.
Considering the industry standard 1200/1210 was originally built with audiophiles in mind, then I'd imagine the light was for locating the beginning of tracks.
The light is to act as a strobe for the pitch of the record, the spinning dots on the edge have to look like they are stationary for it to be the right speed for example 33⅓ or 45rpm
@@scabblehead2169 No it is not. The Technics manual describes it as a "queuing light" for finding the beginning edge of the record in the dark. Though it can also be used as it is in the video though this wasn't originally intended. The red light in the on/off switch is the strobe for speed.
yeah, and no time codes can ever replace the look & feel of taking the phono arm with my fingers and placing it where I see with my own eyes that I want to play
It is also strobing to freeze the dots on the side of the platter when running at 0% pitch. When speeding up or slowing down the pitch, this makes you visually see that by the dots moving 😃
It's also for bpm as well when it's set in the lower position. Each line of dots is a different bpm. I don't honestly remember what bpms as I'm fully digital. But an old school DJ told me at one time.
Not BPM, sorry. The dots on the edge of the platter, when used alongside the strobe mounted in the On/Off switch, will show how well calibrated the pitch control is and whether the platter is accurately spinning at 33 or 45 rpm, or something else.
Im going to be a real geek here, and guess that the vinyl record on the deck in this video is the Kamaya Painters, and the track is called "Endless Wave" ??
And is guaranteed to fail in time. Well my tables are 1988 models. Give a demo/ talk about replacing the off on knob, if it comes off, and the connecting pin drops. You know it Phil. Oldness. lol
This is an aspect of the great character vinyl brings. Unfortunately it also brings huge expense, insane clutter, likely divorce issues and high propensity for addiction. Nothing better than a boxful of new wax😊
TIP FOR LONGER DURATION OF LIGHT: Hold a finger on the light stick to avoid it snapping up when you press the button. Let it come up smoothly and the light will last for decades instead of years.
It is crazy to think that we ever need to explain this to another DJ. It is sad that technology doesn't evolve to incorporate such knowledge so the older ones have almost a responsability in that process.
The Technics 1200/1210 was never designed för DJ use from the beginning. It started as a HIFIturntable. No one did any research in the club when it was launched in the early 70s.
@@digitaldjtips Ha! I'm hopelessly obsessed with keeping all my equipment in spotless condition, HiFi, cameras, firearms, optics etc. I realize I'm OCD, but I swear a clean record and stylus sounds better.
Another use for that light is to confirm the calibration of your turntable. If you put the pitch at zero the big dot on the platter should appear to not be moving. Positive three on the pitch the dots on the top should appear not to move. positive 6 on the pitch the circle right above should appear not to move. Finally -3 on the pitch the bottom circle on the platter should appear not to move.
Another function of this light is the tempo of the record If you at 0 all the dots top middle and bottom ones on plater are spinning together but if you speed up or slow down the record the top ones going the opposite way then the bottom ones and opposite If you set back to 0 all going together again
I lost my mojo after I sold my technics, invested in some stantons due too budget about 2 years ago, got shit going on in my life, kinda lost interest, any other bedroom djs struggled with motivation in the past
It was built to see the lable basicly in the dark . The technics sl1200 was built around about 1970 it was built for high audio end home use it became a dj turntable in the late 70s so the pop up light was never really built for dj use as it happened to be their from the beginning!!
This is not the original use im afraid...(although it can be used for this) The real reason is to see if the plate is spinning at the proper speed. It's called a stroboscope and the big line of dots will appear to stand still when it is playing at exactly 33.3 or 45 rpm.
that’s not correct. the light‘s purpose is to shine on the dots of the turntable. thus u get a strobe effect in order to tune the rpm of the turntable to the correct speed.
this is how i was always looking for the break
Indeed!
Never knew this 😂🙈, interesting👍
Thanks Daniel
As a club DJ during the 80s and 90s this is always how I looked for the breakdown in the track.
Not that it really matters today and today’s digital world.
Thank you DigitalDJTips for shinning the light on this! ☉💡☺
My pleasure!
I used to press this light on all the time on my dad's record player back in the day. Had no idea why it had that little light until now. Mind BLOWN.
Glad to help
Omg! Thats the coolest thing I've learnt so far. I'd never been tought that you can see the waveform on the record itself!
Glad to help :)
It’s not the same waveform you are thinking of.
🤣🤣 that’s not how it works! That’s why you have to use headphones no matter what
Considering the industry standard 1200/1210 was originally built with audiophiles in mind, then I'd imagine the light was for locating the beginning of tracks.
I use my light on my AT-LP120xUSB for this :)
@@BRIRYSEsame here 🤓
The light is to act as a strobe for the pitch of the record, the spinning dots on the edge have to look like they are stationary for it to be the right speed for example 33⅓ or 45rpm
@@scabblehead2169 Nope. That’s what the light in the on/off switch is for.
@@scabblehead2169 No it is not. The Technics manual describes it as a "queuing light" for finding the beginning edge of the record in the dark. Though it can also be used as it is in the video though this wasn't originally intended. The red light in the on/off switch is the strobe for speed.
yeah, and no time codes can ever replace the look & feel of taking the phono arm with my fingers and placing it where I see with my own eyes that I want to play
No, that's true
It’s the cue lamp to also see the calibration dots
Had turntables for years and didn't know this. I have only just seen the difference with pitch changes against the side of the platter.
Other way around for me, i didnt know about the platter showing the showing the pitch. This is more useful though
Are you kidding!
Eh?
That's another new knowledge i got! Thanks phil
Glad to help
Used to use my lights all the time. Very helpful!
Good to hear!
The light also lets u see the speed of the record. The dots appear to drift forward or backward when pitch changes
Phil!!! Missed your voice dude! Learned a ton from you 🙏
More to come!
It is also strobing to freeze the dots on the side of the platter when running at 0% pitch. When speeding up or slowing down the pitch, this makes you visually see that by the dots moving 😃
Indeed Rogier!
That’s the stroboscopic that does that, not the target light, which is what this is👍
@@chestnut1974 this. The strobe light is in the on/off switch.
Amazing, it make sense. Thanks for this ❤️
You're welcome
Hi where do you buy your replacement stylus for these turntables? (Stanton 500 cartridge)
that's right.....Love technics still using
Very good 👏🏻🤩
Thanks
Love this
Newer turntables are incorporating the strobe light with the target light. Pretty cool.
Makes sense!
The light is for rolling a spliff in a dark club and I've been in a lot of clubs
You can say it’s multifunctional 😁😁😎
And for the strobe dots off the platter to show pitch.
It's also for bpm as well when it's set in the lower position. Each line of dots is a different bpm. I don't honestly remember what bpms as I'm fully digital. But an old school DJ told me at one time.
that's the light on the on/off switch that does that, not the cue light
Not BPM, sorry. The dots on the edge of the platter, when used alongside the strobe mounted in the On/Off switch, will show how well calibrated the pitch control is and whether the platter is accurately spinning at 33 or 45 rpm, or something else.
Those dust hairs are killing me.
There is a popup light on my 1200GR. I only bought it for home use. But it's the best turntable I have ever had!!
Cool :)
OMG! You can see the waveform in orange/yellow!! Someone mentioned that and I just shrugged it off, not understanding it. Wow 🤯
What's your point?
I used to read vinyl the same way, thought I was the only one 😂
❤❤❤
wow, this blow my mind
Thanks Sir Really Helps Lot 🙏🏻
Most welcome
Great info since I didn’t start with Vinyl records👍🏾💯
Good to help!
Brilliant info!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Cool!
Im going to be a real geek here, and guess that the vinyl record on the deck in this video is the Kamaya Painters, and the track is called "Endless Wave" ??
Can't remember Ed!
The day I use a laptop to nix is the day I throw my decks out of the window - NEVER !!!!
Have fun
Where is the beginning of the track?
Where is the label
I've always either A. knew my vinyl; or B. used a flashlight lol.
Good advice!
Knew that since the mid 80's lol
okay cool
And is guaranteed to fail in time. Well my tables are 1988 models. Give a demo/ talk about replacing the off on knob, if it comes off, and the connecting pin drops. You know it Phil. Oldness. lol
Luckily there are lots of dedicated repair people out there...
Hold the light as it rises up. I’ve seen them fail over time from the quick release.
Nice tip!
This is an aspect of the great character vinyl brings. Unfortunately it also brings huge expense, insane clutter, likely divorce issues and high propensity for addiction. Nothing better than a boxful of new wax😊
"likely divorce issues and high propensity for addiction" 🤣
It’s simply called discipline man we don’t have to get lost in the music like that…
God i love my 1200s
My DENON PRO has one. Thought that's what that was
TIP FOR LONGER DURATION OF LIGHT: Hold a finger on the light stick to avoid it snapping up when you press the button. Let it come up smoothly and the light will last for decades instead of years.
Nice tip!
It is crazy to think that we ever need to explain this to another DJ. It is sad that technology doesn't evolve to incorporate such knowledge so the older ones have almost a responsability in that process.
Part of all of our job is to pass what we know on...
A.ma.zing!!!!
:)
It's called a target light. xx
It's a pilot light, so you can see what you are doing, that's all it is.
And the dots tell you what speed it’s going and if it’s holding speed ,one of the dots will look like there not moving which you use the light for too
Thank you for posting this! I'm surprised that He didn't mention this very important feature. .. Its obvious He is lacking lol, but Now He knows!
Whoever thought of that is genius and def did their research at discos 😆
Was common knowledge back it the day, and actually, it was for hifi buffs originally, not DJs!
The Technics 1200/1210 was never designed för DJ use from the beginning. It started as a HIFIturntable. No one did any research in the club when it was launched in the early 70s.
Target light
I always thought it was just to que up songs in a dark club
That's one use
So that's what its for wth ok nice thx fam
I miss my 1210s...
So does everyone who ever gets rid of them!
Can't you clean the turntable before making a video of it?
No
@@digitaldjtips Ha! I'm hopelessly obsessed with keeping all my equipment in spotless condition, HiFi, cameras, firearms, optics etc.
I realize I'm OCD, but I swear a clean record and stylus sounds better.
Another use for that light is to confirm the calibration of your turntable. If you put the pitch at zero the big dot on the platter should appear to not be moving. Positive three on the pitch the dots on the top should appear not to move. positive 6 on the pitch the circle right above should appear not to move. Finally -3 on the pitch the bottom circle on the platter should appear not to move.
Very true, thanks Yatti.
This is not a strobe light! There's another light for this
It’s called a target light
Clean that bloody record!!
No
nobody told me. I thought it was obvious.
Christ thought this was obvious
It is if you're old enough Chris.
@@digitaldjtips no offense just seemed obvious.
wrong pal that's a strobe and its to check the calibration
of the pitch
You misunderstand us
Duh. This is what made CDJ so annoying when they didn't have any wave display when they first came out.
No, they had those horrible little bars, remember those?
That's been out since the early 80s. Old news.. but thanks for sharing.
Another function of this light is the tempo of the record
If you at 0 all the dots top middle and bottom ones on plater are spinning together but if you speed up or slow down the record the top ones going the opposite way then the bottom ones and opposite
If you set back to 0 all going together again
interesting
I was taught that that line is to see the fuzzy lines on sides of platter which makes unique pattern line at some certain speed.
that's right! to check that platter is spinning at right speed and not floating around.
Real djs don't use lights.
LOL. I'm kidding.
😊
Good thing vinyl is going out the window
It'll never die completely...
But it’s not? It’s actually more popular now than ever.
I lost my mojo after I sold my technics, invested in some stantons due too budget about 2 years ago, got shit going on in my life, kinda lost interest, any other bedroom djs struggled with motivation in the past
Hope your doing good with your decks 😁
This could have been a lot shorter
Those break so easy sadly
Yes, that's true
It was built to see the lable basicly in the dark . The technics sl1200 was built around about 1970 it was built for high audio end home use it became a dj turntable in the late 70s so the pop up light was never really built for dj use as it happened to be their from the beginning!!
This is not the original use im afraid...(although it can be used for this)
The real reason is to see if the plate is spinning at the proper speed. It's called a stroboscope and the big line of dots will appear to stand still when it is playing at exactly 33.3 or 45 rpm.
Yup, there are two lights, one for the strobe, one for the record surface.
that’s not correct. the light‘s purpose is to shine on the dots of the turntable. thus u get a strobe effect in order to tune the rpm of the turntable to the correct speed.
There are 2 lights on a turntable, the red (strobe) and white (record surface)
Lol yeah sure
?
Never use it. 😎
Ahh come on, this must be satire, if you own a pro turntable and don't know well God help the dj industry.
Minced 2005
?
As above, so below. Waveform light for vinyl. Thats actually super cool. Vinyl DJs arent so anti tech as they try to say they are eh?
Ha, maybe not!
Gelaber
Speed