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Do you use variable speed on your turntable?

My turntables JVC TT101 and TT81 both have elaborate speed controls which allow quartz controlled accuracy when the speed is changed in small controlled increments, faster or slower than the selected 33 1/3, or 45 rpm speed.

Many turntables allow this controlled speed variance but besides dj's looking to match beats, who ever uses this very expensive feature? When my tables were made no one was beat matching as far as I know so dj's needs didn't drive this design. I can understand this on 78's because of inaccurate recording technology, but there isn't a 78 speed on these turntables and modern records are probably 99.9% accurate so that wasn't the consideration either.

So what is the point?
aigenga
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
I installed a 5 speed gearbox on my Technics SP-25.

Next are positraction and wide ovals.

I'll make that vinyl smoke.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
I have a Technics SL1210M5G and I *do* use the speed control once in awhile. I have the rare, out-of-print and normally expensive 2-LP Classic Records release of "Kind of Blue." It has the original incorrect speed version of side one and the speed corrected version on the other side of the first LP. I got it for $5 at a record swap meet because the corrected version of side 1 is crackly and noisy. The uncorrected side is quiet and perfect. So I play that side and use the speed control to correct it.

I also practice bass by playing along with records. Many records are not recorded at A440 pitch. In some cases the musician may alter the tuning or it may be that the mixdown or mastering speed was altered. Anyway, I don't want to retune my bass every time a song is off-pitch, so I correct it with the speed control instead.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,482 posts
 
Audiofiel...thanks for the chuckles..very good.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
Also, a lot of DJs at radio stations play the music a lot faster that normal. This way, they could fit more ads in during the day. This has been done for years, and probably at the request of the owners and managers.
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
To add to Halcro's post - most American orchestras are actually playing at 442, many of them stating this to their applicants when they have openings. The San Francisco Symphony and the Pittsburgh Symphony are two current examples. In Europe, the average is usually a little higher yet nowadays. My orchestra is one that does still try to keep the pitch down at 440. Almost never will you hear an orchestra below that anymore; most orchestras around the world will be somewhere between 440 and 444.
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