I have noticed that with Technics 1200 analog pitch faders were replaced very often. On the other hand I have never seen a digital pitch fader being replaced on a Pioneer CD player.
I have been djing for more than 20 yrs and none of my friends or contacts in FB have ever replaced a pitch fader on a Pioneer CD player. I even put a post were I tagged several people asking about it on my FB wall but no positive reply yet.
I found in a forum an interesting reply from a guy in this regard and I quote him:
"Very mixed reviews on this, some say because there is a 0.02% resolution on the digital faders it's harder to get tracks perfectly locked however, others have said the analogue faders technically have just as much because you can't actually move the fader a small enough amount for 0.02%. Also analogue faders are prone to wear and tear and will eventually need servicing/realining however, digital should theoretically never need to be serviced and should remain precise."
But according to a repair technician of dj equipment there is no difference between digital faders and analog faders and their longevity, and I quote him:
"Whether the control circuit is digital or analog makes no difference at all to the lifespan of the fader. I have replaced many CDJ pitch faders, mostly damaged from heavy use or liquid spills and cigarette ash...
...And the resolution of a digital control circuit has nothing to do with the physical fader. You still pass voltage through the fader, in the same way you do for a VCA. The only difference is how the voltage is read. But none of that makes a shred of difference to the longevity of the fader itself. A potentiometer (fader) is a potentiometer, regardless of whether it is used in a digital or analog circuit. Listen and learn, rather than argue a point you know nothing about"
very rude guy, isn't he? I replied:
"analog pitch faders or controls vary the voltage being used by the playback device; digital faders use digital signal processing to change the playback speed or pitch, so there is a difference in construction"
So my questions are dear friends:
1- ¿are digital pitch faders from a Pioneer CD player identical in construction than an analog pitch fader from a Technics 1200? if not, what is the difference?
2- ¿do you agree that analog pitch faders from Technics 1200 are replaced much more often than digital pitch faders from Pioneer CD players? if you agree ¿why?
Thanks so much for your help :)