M-Audio Torq Xponent Advanced DJ Performance/Production System

by M-Audio

Product Features

• Integrated hardware/software DJ system>easy setup and stability
• Includes Torq 1.5 software>professional performance and production
• Includes Xponent hardware integrated DJ-stylr control surface and audio interface
• Full-size, professional-grade controllers>durable, analog-feel tactile control
• Hardware controls pre-mapped to corresponging parameters in Torq, works instantly

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 18 x 2.6 x 12 inches ; 6.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000N7ZAIC
• Item model number: Torq Xponent, with vs. 1.5
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #27 in Musical Instruments > DJ, Electronic Music & Karaoke > DJ Equipment

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The professional-grade Torq Xponent system seamlessly integrates high-performance DJ software with a fully functional hands-on controller, representing a new era in digital DJ performance and production. The Xponent hardware combines the features of a two-channel DJ mixer with CDJ-style tactile controls, letting you cue, mix and manipulate digital files without touching the host computer. In addition to the essentials, M-Audio Torq 1.5 software delivers a variety of real-time creative tools to take your sets beyond the ordinary--and the Xponent hardware control surface puts all that power right at your fingertips. This integrated solution opens the door to new techniques that are simply impossible with traditional DJ setups.

Integrates high-performance DJ software with a fully functional hands-on controller. Click to enlarge.

Four RCA outputs for independent control of house system and booth monitors. Click to enlarge.

Every control on Xponent boasts the same rock-solid construction and rugged feel as traditional DJ hardware. Click to enlarge.

Rock-Solid Professional DJ Hardware
The Torq Xponent hardware/software system delivers everything a professional DJ needs to perform with a computer. Xponent is both an advanced MIDI control surface for Torq software and a four-output USB audio interface that includes two stereo RCA outputs and a standard 1/4-inch headphone output for cueing. Every control on Xponent boasts the same rock-solid construction and rugged feel as traditional DJ hardware. So if you're ready to make the leap to the world of software-based DJing, you'll feel right at home with Xponent.

Get Inside the Mix
Torq 1.5 DJ software makes it easy to go beyond basic beat matching and crossfading between tracks. With a 16-cell, tempo-synced sampler, easy looping capabilities and multiple cue points, you can chop up a song--on the fly--and reorder, remix and extend any section you want, all while staying perfectly in time. The QuickScratch feature lets you instantly scratch with any two loaded samples. Tempo Anchors remove tempo variations from your tracks--or cause other songs to adopt the tempo changes--making mash-ups and live remixes a breeze. Tempo Master synchronizes all tracks, samples and effects within Torq, while MIDI clock transmits tempo information to outboard hardware and other computers so you can collaborate with friends. And if you also want to produce, Torq is ReWire-compatible with Pro Tools M-Powered software and other popular applications.

Advanced Effects Processing
Torq 1.5 gives you 10 essential effects right out of the box for dynamic manipulation of your tracks. Imagine the possibilities of stacking multiple distortion, filter, repeat, chorus or bit-reduction effects while mixing between songs. You can turn any track into your own original creation--and even record it on the spot with the integrated performance recorder. Torq also allows you to create recallable snapshots of your favorite EQ, effect and mixer settings, and even supports the vast world of third-party VST effects plug-ins.

Dynamic Control Over Torq 1.5 Software
The best DJ tools allow you to get your hands on your music--from cueing to beat matching to scratching. M-Audio designed the Xponent control surface with full-size, DJ CD-player-style controls so you can get into the music and engage the crowd during each moment of your set. Xponent features 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.

Made to Work Together
Torq 1.5 DJ software for Mac and PC automatically configures itself to work with Xponent--every hardware control is 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.

Plays Well with Others
In addition to VST compatibility, Torq 1.5 software can interface with any ReWire-compatible host application. You can easily route the output of Torq to a program like Pro Tools M-Powered 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. In addition, the Xponent control surface can be MIDI-mapped to other digital audio workstation software including Ableton Live.

What's in the Box
Xponent USB DJ Controller and Audio Interface, Torq CD-ROM (Torq Software, Xponent Drivers, and Documentation), USB Cable, 12VDC 1000mA Power Supply, Quick Start Guide

Product Description

Torq Xponent is a cutting-edge syste that brings professional-grade control to the world of computer-based DJ performance and production. In addition to essential curing, beat matching and mixing, M-Audio Torq 1.5 software delivers a host of real-time creative options that transform you into a unique artist-and the Xponent hardware control surface puts all that power right at your fingertips. Torq Xponent combines the features of a standard two-channel DJ mixer with full-size, CDJ-style tactile controls, letting you cue, mix and manipulate digital files withput touching the host computer. This completely integrated solution opens the door to techniques that are simply impossible with traditional DJ setups-helping you take your music in wild new directions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great foray into DJing, now without all that messy vinyl!, January 24, 2008

By 

Dave Pinke (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio Torq Xponent Advanced DJ Performance/Production System (Electronics)

So after scouring the internet for reviews of the xponent, and having used its cousin the Torq Mixlab and getting down the basics of CPU based DJing, I am proud to say that I couldn't be happier with the Xponent. I got it a few weeks ago, have a Macbook that runs great with it, and have so far had no problems whatsoever. The software is fast and loads my itunes library (over 16k songs) in about 30 seconds. One of the best features of the Torq software is how it figures out (or you can override) the beat of each song and SAVES it. This means that when you're spinning, you can sort by BPM and see the 20 songs that are close in BPM that you have used before. This makes song selection a pleasure!

All the switches and knobs are very responsive, and as a person who basically started DJing (beatmatching, mixing, cueing) a month ago, I feel right at home here. The loop features are easy to use and drop in, and the sampler is very powerful and easy to use. I just spun a big house party with this thing a week ago and it went great! The effects are fun, and using the mouse pad like a Chaos Pad allows for some cool remixing on the fly. I find that scratching is easy to do and there are various settings to determine how sensitive the wheels are.

All in all, this is a great product for a novice or someone who likes to pick music and wants to get into real mixing. If you're the person always holding the iPod at the party but want more control, this is definitely a great place to start (and as far as I'm concerned, finish). As for all the haters of digital DJing, I don't really care, its much easier than bringing vinyl and remembering BPMs and you can plug in someone at the party's ipod and use their music in real time. I find that the Xponent is extremely versatile, perfect for a beginner or seasoned DJ alike, and it and its grandchildren will be leading us into the future of DJing. Hope this helps, there is a lack of people talking about the Xponent and its a truly great device that has allowed me to finally do something I've wanted to do for years, but I've never had the resources to get set up with vinyl and dj lessons.

Cheers!

-DP

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Unit - Highly Recommended, November 24, 2008

By 

D. Becker "Honest Critic" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio Torq Xponent Advanced DJ Performance/Production System (Electronics)

This is by far the most affordable quality way to make DJ mixes. All you need is a computer, some headphones, some speakers, your music, and blam. It is very user-friendly and whether you're used to vinyl or not, you should easily be able to get the hang of this little powerhouse. I was reared on vinyl for seven years, and so I was naturally very skeptical at first. Alas, I was pleasantly surprised. From the perspective of one who is very used to and in love with vinyl, here are the downsides to the xponent:

1. I'm not aware of any unit like it that can fix this problem, but the side of the wheels obviously makes for a much more sensitive (and potentially fatal) medium. You can't always be 100% what touching a wheel will do (e.g. will it slow it down, or will it stop it!).

2. The faders and the wheels don't feel very solid, although they are. They have a plasticy, toyish feel to them, unlike a nice DJ mixer. Of course, a decent DJ mixer will cost you about the same price you would pay for this unit, so I'm sure it kind of evens itself out. Don't let this sway you too much--as I said, they feel flimsy, but they're solid.

3. When you change the speed of the song, you don't change the pitch. This can be a plus or minus. On the plus side, it isn't as obvious when you have to do some tweaking. On the minus side, sometimes the pitch change that you inevitably get with vinyl contributes to the mix. Then again, I suppose no pitch change could also conceivably work to your advantage in this way. What this means for sure is that mixes that work on vinyl won't necessarily work on the xponent.

4. The computer interface gives you a BPM count. Now many people will like this--particularly DJs who suck--but IT IS A CRUTCH, and will make you very lazy. Even if you don't intend to, you wind up peeking nevertheless all the time, and this will quickly diminish your ability to mix by ear--and the ear is the most important part of a DJ. I know some of you are thinking, "Yeah, but can't you defeat that feature?" Well, of course, yes, but you still need the visual audio readout of each track to see what it's doing, and lining it up visually can be just as much of a crutch. I'm not sure of how to remedy this.

5. Scratching is really difficult and awkward. If you're going to make scratching one of your centerpieces, please use vinyl.

6. Dropping beats while cued in is also very difficult on this unit.

Hope this helps!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I like it, but not with Torq, September 10, 2010

By 

bkeller - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: M-Audio Torq Xponent Advanced DJ Performance/Production System (Electronics)

I have had one of these for about a year now, and I really love it, except for 2 things.

1. no mic input that kinda sucks replace the pedal port on the back with a mic in and that would make this thing 100x better.

2. Torq sucks, bad.

I have since mapped the xponent into Traktor and it makes a great midi control surface for that software and Traktor not only analyses the files 100x more accurately its more stable and easier to use.