M-Audio Torq Xponent Advanced DJ Performance/Production System

M-Audio Torq Xponent Advanced DJ Performance/Production System Description

Torq Xponent is a cutting-edge performance system that brings professional-grade control to the world of the computer-based DJ. Engineered by M-Audio’s SynchroScience Design Group, the package includes the Torq DJ software that’s revolutionizing digital DJing and the Xponent hardware control surface that puts all that power right at your fingertips.

With full-size tactile controls, an integrated USB audio interface and intuitive MIDI-learn capabilities, Torq Xponent bridges the gap between traditional DJ hardware and today’s powerful performance software once and for all. This completely integrated system combines the features of a standard two-channel DJ mixer with the controls of a pair of DJ CD players, letting you cue, mix and scratch digital files without touching the host computer.

Rock-Solid Professional DJ Hardware

M-Audio's new SynchroScience product development group is all about providing DJs with the tools they need —as evidenced by the portable and powerful Conectiv interface. With two pairs of stereo inputs and outputs, easy USB connectivity and included Torq DJ software, Conectiv can turn any compatible Mac or PC into a powerful DJ rig. The two large knobs allow you to seamlessly mix between the incoming audio from a turn table or CD player with the out-put of a connected Mac or PC. Conectiv also includes standard DJ cueing capabilities, so you can listen to any track in your headphones before sending it out to the house system.

Full Digital File Library Compatibility

Torq DJ software allows you to cue, beat-match and mix all the important digital audio file formats, including MP3, AIFF, WAV, WMA, Apple Lossless and AAC. And for a truly effortless set-up, Torq locates and catalogs your song files (including your iTunes library) into a quickly searchable database that resides on the computer’s hard drive—letting you pull up the perfect track or change up your set in an instant.

Dynamic Performance

DJing is all about the connection between you, your music and your audience. From cueing to beat-matching to scratching, the best DJ tools allow you to literally get your hands on your music. We designed the Xponent with a full array of tactile controls so you can get into the music and engage the crowd at every moment of your set.

Xponent’s mixer section lets you deliver a dynamic performance with the same feel and response as a standard hardware mixer. For DJ CD player-style control, the unit includes two touch-sensitive scratch wheels for scratching, speeding up and slowing down the playback of digital files. And for in-depth control over Torq, Xponent adds 64 assignable backlit buttons (including Play, Cue, Seek, Loop, Key and Sync controls), two volume sliders, eight assignable knobs for effect control and two 100mm pitch sliders. The built-in touchpad/assignable X/Y controller allows you to control your mouse or the effects in Torq, so you never have to take your hands off the unit in the middle of a performance. Level and progress LED meters round out all the pro features you would expect.

Made to Work Together

Torq DJ software for Mac and PC automatically configures itself to work with Xponent—with every hardware control pre-mapped to its corresponding function in Torq. It’s easy to get up and running with Xponent because all of the hardware controls are located exactly where you’d expect them to be. The transition into digital DJing couldn’t be simpler.

Go Beyond Hardware

Torq Xponent provides much more than a transparent combination of hardware and software—it allows you to take DJing and live performance in wild new directions. With VST effect compatibility and easily assignable hardware controls, you can turn your plug-ins into expressive live performance tools. Call up a flanger effect and layer on LFOs—or mix in feedback loops from a delay effect and control it all from the assignable knobs on Xponent. The system also provides everything you need to loop, reorder and remix tracks on the fly. With built-in controls for looping as well as a 16-cell, tempo-synced performance sampler, Torq makes it possible to grab loops and one-shot samples and drop them wherever you like, all while staying perfectly in sync with the mix.

Plays Well with Others

In addition to VST compatibility, Torq can interface with any ReWire-compatible host application. You can easily route the output of Torq to a program like Pro Tools M-Powered or Ableton Live and explore even more performance, production and sound design possibilities. When ReWired to a host application, the tempo of Torq automatically locks to the current session tempo, so you never have to worry about syncing playback between Torq and your preferred DAW. Xponent also makes it simple to control any software application that supports MIDI learn functionality.

Features

• Xponent
  • full-size, professional-grade controllers
  • all hardware controls are pre-mapped to corresponding software functions in Torq
  • 4-output USB audio interface:
    • 4 RCA outputs for independent control of the house system and booth monitors
    • ¼” TRS headphone output with cue and volume controls
    • 16-bit/48kHz max sample rate
    • ASIO and Core Audio compatible
  • advanced MIDI control surface:
    • mixer controls:
      • 2 vertical volume controls
      • 2 3-band EQ control knobs with kill buttons
      • 2 gain-control knobs with mute buttons
      • horizontal crossfader control with transform buttons
      • 2 LED volume meters
    • player controls:
      • 2 touch-sensitive scratch wheels
      • 2 100mm pitch adjust controls
      • built-in touchpad/assignable X/Y control surface for mouse or effect control
      • 8 assignable knobs for effect control
      • 64 assignable backlit buttons, including Play, Cue, Seek, Loop, Key and Sync controls
      • 2 LED progress meters
  • compatible with any software that supports MIDI learn
• Torq
  • cue, beat-match and mix digital audio files (including MP3, AIFF, WAV, WMA, Apple Lossless and AAC)
  • works instantly and seamlessly with Xponent or other SynchroScience DJ hardware
  • organizes digital audio files (including iTunes library) into an easily searchable database
  • automatic beat-matching
  • integrated real-time time-stretching/compression
  • 2 virtual decks for loading and playing files
  • 2-channel mixer with 3-band EQ, level control, headphone cueing and crossfader
  • supports optional third-party VST effects
  • snapshot function for instant recall of mixer and effects settings
  • 16-cell, tempo-synced sampler
  • performance recorder
  • instant looping
  • vinyl, CDJ and hybrid emulation control modes
  • controllable via Xponent, mouse, keyboard or other MIDI controller
  • functions as a ReWire slave
  • Mac and PC compatible

Compatibility

• ASIO
• Core Audio

Minimum System Requirements

• PC
  • Windows XP SP2
  • Pentium IV 1.4 GHz
  • 512MB RAM
  • One available USB port
• Mac
  • Mac G4 1.5GHz, Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher.
  • 1GB RAM
  • One available USB port

* Minimum System Requirements reflect the ability to run Torq using a basic feature set. Some advanced or intensive operations and features may be limited by these hardware configurations and may require a faster computer.