Ok-- inspired by Chris and Shackman, here's a new thread on turntablism... I am just a beginner in this stuff, but I have thought a lot about it, so here goes.

Think of DJing or turntablism as performing with either phonorecords or CDs/ hard drives through manipulating sounds on these media to create music. This has usually involved two or more record players being used such that sounds and beats play over each other. There is usually a record of just a drum track or something of a rhythmic nature that is going on first. Then, you can add another record/ sound source over it to create something new.

These sources are usually looped, which is easier to do in digital media through software looping capability. Effects can be added and creativity called upon to make something unique to the performer.

I like the idea because I can record my own beats/ samples to then manipulate on my own through this new method. Once I get something interesting started in the way of a beat or repeating sound/ phrase I like to perform or improvise music over this bed of sound I started.

it's fun and doesn't necessarily have to sound like hip-hop or related music. I think it offers another universe of creativity, especially when combined with the techniques that came before it.

I love listening to someone who is a talented turntablist. There is a lot of creativity involved in turntablism. There are as many different sound combinations as there is recorded music.

So it's a lot like live sampling. I love listening to groups like Daft Punk and Incubus, both of which have DJs in their bands or are made up of DJs, but I was unaware that people did this solo or on the fly. That's pretty cool. Now to find some artists in the field...

I heard that Technic's Turntables stopped producing turntables. Does anyone know if this is true? and why?

From what I can determine online, Technics stopped making the SL-1200 TT about a year ago, but their other products are still available.