APC–2 – A professional record cutter for producing original playback discs
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Teenage Engineering releases APC-2, a professional vinyl record cutter for producing original playback discs in real time.
The APC-2 is a professional record cutter built by Teenage Engineering in collaboration with SUPERSENSE. It features direct drive motor with variable speed control, wow and flutter below 0.01% WRMS, stereo feedback cutting head, automated lift mechanism, integrated vacuum system for hold-down and swarf removal, temperature controlled heating, integrated power amplifier with RIAA encoder, and remote control over ethernet or wifi. The machine measures 1300 x 600 x 400 mm and weighs 140 kg. Only a limited number have been built so far. No price is disclosed; interested buyers must email for information.
What commenters are saying
Commenters question the economic justification and target market. No price listing hampers assessment of whether small-batch record production justifies the machine's cost versus using commercial pressing services. Some note Teenage Engineering operates partly on hype and brand prestige, citing patterns similar to Supreme. One commenter sees potential for niche use cases: musicians making small record runs for merchandise at shows, or artists capturing live performances as limited vinyl releases immediately after recording. Critics argue the company prioritizes aesthetics and brand over practical design and quality control. A DJ from the 1990s noted this would have been transformative for creative remixing workflows, though digital tools have since rendered vinyl-centric workflows obsolete.
The thread also digresses into criticism of overpriced design-focused consumer goods generally, comparing Teenage Engineering's approach to brands like Studio Neat, which sell expensive minimal tools when cheaper equivalents exist.