M-Audio Torq

[dante_k]

Re: M-Audio Torq

It means that with this program you will be able to use outside effects plug-ins like a virtual effects processor. Its like having every effector avialable to you instantly. Right at your fingertips. This in itself pays for the program considering the fact that something like a Pioneer EFX 1000 is about $700. VST and Audio Units plug-ins range from being feeware to about $200 for the really pricy ones. Check this out for more info: http://www.kvraudio.com/

[sotek]

Re: M-Audio Torq

with this package for $99 - everyone will be a fuckin' dj

[Jenks]

Re: M-Audio Torq

http://www.torq-dj.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=6&sid=cf36b21a7ce2f5b10de90676bd4151e0

[I_Get_Radical]

Re: M-Audio Torq

Cheers guys.

[Jenks]

Re: M-Audio Torq

I'm waiting until February to expand my dj setup to digital. Word on the street is a very reputable company i really dig is about to blow everyone out of the water.

[neoee]

Re: M-Audio Torq

I'm waiting until February to expand my dj setup to digital. Word on the street is a very reputable company i really dig is about to blow everyone out of the water.

Stop being a tease. Spill it!

[lilsensa]

Re: M-Audio Torq

I'm waiting until February to expand my dj setup to digital. Word on the street is a very reputable company i really dig is about to blow everyone out of the water.

What street do you live on?? because i havent heard anything on my street

[Caley Martin]

Re: M-Audio Torq

hmmm, I think I get that hint, haha...

Connectiv arrives tomorrow though!

[Caley Martin]

Re: M-Audio Torq

It's Here!

But I Need Fucking Rca Cables. Damnit.

[Caley Martin]

Re: M-Audio Torq

I will post a review and pics soon... now that I have my head wrapped around this thing.

[hulkhuss]

Re: M-Audio Torq

^^^^^^ any update?

[Caley Martin]

Re: M-Audio Torq

Yeah, I got really lazy about posting, sorry... I am conjuring up words nowish. But in the meantime, PHOTOS:

[jeffrey collins]

Re: M-Audio Torq

hell if I had THAT set up. I wouldn't have a need for anything else than that mixer, those decks and that effects processor.

You've got a heck of a set up there.

[Caley Martin]

Re: M-Audio Torq

So my initial foray into the realm of digital DJing was met with some skepticism. How would it compare to burning CDs and physically being able to sift through a pouch of discs or crate full of vinyl? Would it live up to its overhyped and sensationalized stature?

Quite possibly yes.

To be quite honest, I wanted to purchase Serato but throwing down that big chunk of change on a system I had never tested before did not seem appealing or wise. Final Scratch is Final Shit so that was not an option either. Up until October, those were the two dominant vinyl control systems. Enter M-Audio's Torq. It immediately piqued my interest due to its price point and feature set. So I bought the damn thing... and I had to wait.... and wait.... and wait some more.... M-Audio took FOREVER to fill my backorder that I had placed with them via my work's EPP partnership with them. So two months later the package finally arrived on my doorstep and the curious interaction began.

Upon opening the box I was greeted with the fresh smell of new vinyl/electronic device that would make any tech savvy audio geek drool. I took out all the components; control vinyl/cd and Conectiv hardware interface and set them aside. I reached for the manual next as I wanted to make sure I set everything up correctly. The manual included is a easy quick start guide that is really fucking skimpy. I mean, it gets the job done, but it does not detail anythinga bout the actual Torq software. That's where you have to read the PDF user's guide. But any idiot can realize how to drag and drop tracks into the interface window. My only gripe is that M-Audio decided not to include RCA cables for the hook up, but I had bought some beforehand because I kind of figured they would pull something like that.

So after setting it all up and hooking up an external hard disk of digital files to my portable, I was ready to begin. The requirements for Torq to run were pretty modest. My portable was right below the minimum requirements so I had some hesitations about the performance. Compared to Serato and their system requirements, Torq's were pretty steep. However, my portable fared valiantly. I was able to simultaneously load tracks, analyze them and run the control CDs live with nary a hitch. I guess more RAM definitely helps in older machines.

The interface of Torq is pretty straightforward. You have two virtual decks separated by EFX and EQs and various other parameters. For my purposes, I had the software in external mixer mode and control CDs instead of the vinyl. That mode disables internal EQs, but leaves the EFX controls quite active for usage. The actual act of cueing up tracks and staring at a screen instead of a vinyl was a bit strange at first, but after a while I found it strangely comforting that I could see a waveform on a screen (alongside all the other bits of feedback information). From cueing to actual mixing, I found the learning curve to be little to non existant... once I understood the gist of the program and how to set up the tracks and control discs, mixing was as easy as before. It's eerie how spot on this technology can be. Granted, the software tries to pre analyze BPM for you, but you still have to cue up and drop in at the precise moment you want the new track to drop, as well as adjust any pitch variances.

Sufficed to say, I see this technology as addictive, as well as easily replacing burning multitudes of CDs... but only if I made the switch full time and was allowed to take the system to all my gigs. The convenience of having access to all your tracks at any given moment definitely sweetens the deal... but for me personally I don't want to give up on vinyl and CDs just yet... I love my analog and tactile contact, but for the money and power of the technology, Torq (and Serato) makes me think twice about the future.

And that's enough of me rambling at 4am in the morning post NyQuil.

[Jeremy Micheal]

Re: M-Audio Torq

thanx for the pics and review...btw how do you like your xone92, did you get to compare it too the djm800?