Torq 2 features a new Setup Assistant that can automatically configure Torq with the best settings based on the audio and MIDI devices you have connected.  The Setup Assistant also has a manual mode that guides you through the configuration.  Through Torq's Preferences window you are able to manually reconfigure any of Torq's settings.  New Torq users should start with the Automatic configuration using the Setup Assistant; and then refer to this FAQ, along with the Torq 2 User Guide, for more information on manually configuring the preferences.

This guide outlines the three main Torq configurations, with software settings and hardware connections for Conectiv, Xponent, Fast Track Pro, and instructions applicable to other professional audio interfaces.

Click the links below for:

    Internal Mixer Mode - Software Settings and Hardware Connections
        Including Conectiv, Xponent, and Fast Track Pro
    External Mixer Mode - Software Settings and Hardware Connections
        Including Conectiv and Fast Track Pro
    External CD/Vinyl Control - Software Settings and Hardware Connections
        Including Conectiv and Fast Track Pro

Internal Mixer Mode - Software Settings and Hardware Connections:  Back To Top

Jump to Software Settings or Hardware Connections for Internal Mixer Mode

Internal Mixer Mode lets you mix all of the Decks within Torq using Torq’s on-screen mixer.  You can use a hardware controller, such as Torq Xponent, any other qualified third-party controllers, or your mouse.  While Torq is set to Internal Mixer Mode, Torq's mixer will be visible on-screen, and all hardware controller movements will be reflected in the application.  If you don't have an external DJ mixer or sound board, you will be using Torq in Internal Mixer Mode.  Your speakers and headphones will be connected to your audio interface, like Conectiv or Xponent.

In order to cue up a song in headphones without having it play over your speakers, you need a sound card or audio interface with a headphone output that is separately addressable from the line output(s) for your speakers; it needs at least 2 stereo outputs, like Torq Conectiv, Torq Xponent, Fast Track Pro, and many other professional audio interfaces.

When using the built-in sound card on most computers, only a single stereo output is available.  While you may have separate connections for speakers and headphones, the same signal is sent to both with no way of sending different signals to each output.  Please refer to your sound card/audio interface's user guide for information on the available outputs and their respective channel assignments.

Internal Mixer Mode - Software Settings  Back To Top

Launch Torq and open the preferences*

* Torq Preferences icon: Torq Preferences Icon


Click to select the Audio Tab and set the Mixer Mode to Internal.

When using a professional multi-channel audio interface, Windows users should use the ASIO driver type if available.  For Conectiv, Xponent, or Fast Track Pro, select the M-Audio USB ASIO Audio Device; Mac Users will not see a Driver Type selection, and can simply select their Audio Device by name (e.g. M-Audio Conectiv).

Select Outputs 1/2 for your device in the Master Bus Output drop-down, and Outputs 3/4 for your device in the Cue Bus Output drop-down.



Software Settings for Internal Mixer Mode

Please refer to your sound card's/audio interface's user guide for information on the available outputs and their respective channel assignments.


Internal Mixer Mode - Hardware Connections  Back To Top

    Conectiv
    Xponent
    Fast Track Pro


Conectiv - Back To Top

Connect your powered speakers, amplifier, or PA system to Output A, which receives signal from Torq's Master Output Bus; and turn the big mix knob for Channel A to USB.  The big mix knob blends the signal connected to Input A (e.g. a turntable or CD player) with the signal playing back from the computer (USB) on outputs 1 and 2.



Connect your headphones to the headphone jack on the front of Conectiv.  The small Cue Mix Knob allows you to mix Ch A (Torq's Master Bus Output) and Ch B (Torq's Cue Bus Output)j in your headphones.  Start with the Cue Mix knob all the way to Ch B, and turn the knob towards Channel A when you want to mix the signal that's playing over the speakers in your headphones.  Also start with the Split button in the Out position.  When engaged, Ch A and Ch B are split to the left and right headphones respectively.



A dynamic microphone can be connected to the 1/4" mic input on the front of Conectiv.  The mic input is activated by selecting Mic with the selector switch for Channel A, and its level is controlled by the Mic knob on top.  Note that selecting the Mic input will override a device that is connected to RCA Input A (e.g. a CDJ used for External Control).

Xponent - Back To Top

Connect your powered speakers, amplifier, or PA system to the Xponent's Master Output, which receives signal from Torq's Master Bus Output.  Use the Master Volume Knob on Xponent to adjust the volume of your speakers.



A second set of speakers can be connected to the Booth Output, which receives the same signal as the Master Bus Output, but has its own volume control knob on top of Xponent.  This can be used to for monitors in a DJ booth.



Connect your headphones to the headphone jack on the front of Xponent.  The Cue knob below the level meters allows you to blend between Torq's Cue Bus Output (left) and Master Bus Output (right).  Start with the Cue Mix knob all the way to the left, and turn the knob towards the right when you want to mix the signal that's playing over the speakers in your headphones.  Use the Phones knob to adjust the level of the Headphone output.




Fast Track Pro - Back To Top

Connect your powered speakers, amplifier, or PA system to either the RCA Outputs 1 and 2, OR the 1/4" TRS Outputs 1 and 2 (not the 1/4" inserts).  These both receive signal from Torq's Master Output Bus.



Connect to either the RCA Outputs 1/2 OR the TRS Outputs; DO NOT connect the same set of speakers to both output pairs

Turn the Mix Knob all the way to the right, to PB (playback from the computer); and use the Output Level Knob (the one below the Mix Knob) to adjust the volume of your speakers.



Connect your headphones to the headphone jack on the front of Fast Track Pro and push the A/B button IN to select the B position.  Selecting the B position sets the headphones to monitor Outputs 3 and 4 (Torq's Cue Bus Output).  Use the Level knob to the right of the A/B button to adjust the volume of your headphones.

Note: with the A/B button in the OUT (A) position, the headphones will be monitoring signal from Outputs 1 and 2 (Torq's Master Bus Output).


External Mixer Mode - Software Settings and Hardware Connections:  Back To Top

Jump to Software Settings or Hardware Connections for External Mixer Mode

External Mixer Mode will bypass the Torq mixer and route each Deck and the sampler to its own output pair on your audio interface.  These individual stereo outputs can then be connected to your favorite DJ mixer in the same manner as turntables or CDJ’s. Once you have set the channel assignments, you can mix and cue your tracks using your DJ mixer instead of Torq’s Mixer.

In order to send decks in Torq to separate channels on an external DJ mixer, you need a sound card or audio interface with at least 2 stereo outputs, like Torq Conectiv, M-Audio Fast Track Pro, and many other professional audio interfaces.  When using an audio interface with 2 stereo outputs, the Setup Assistant in Torq will not allow you to select external mixer mode with 4 decks because there are not individual outputs for each deck; however, you can manually configure Torq for this.

When using the built-in sound card on most computers, only a single stereo output is available.  While you may have separate connections for speakers and headphones with your built-in soundcard, the same signal is sent to both with no way of sending different signals to each output.  Please refer to your sound card/audio interface's user guide for information on the available outputs and their respective channel assignments.

External Mixer Mode - Software Settings  Back To Top

Launch Torq and open the preferences*

* Torq Preferences icon: Torq Preferences Icon



Click to select the Audio Tab and set the Mixer Mode to External.

When using a professional multi-channel audio interface, Windows users should use the ASIO driver type if available.  For Conectiv, Xponent, or Fast Track Pro, select the M-Audio USB ASIO Audio Device; Mac Users will not see a Driver Type selection, and can simply select their Audio Device by name (e.g. M-Audio Fast Track Pro).

The following recommendations apply whether you use 2 Deck Mode or 4 Deck Mode.  For each Deck, A, B, C, and D, and for the Sampler Bus Output, select an output pair on your audio interface.  If you have an audio interface with 2 pairs of stereo outputs, like Torq Conectiv or Fast Track Pro, assign Decks A and B to outputs 1/2, and assign Decks C and D to outputs 3/4.  You will have to assign the Sampler Bus Output to one of these two output pairs as well.



If you have an audio interface with 4 stereo outputs, like the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R, and a DJ mixer with 4 stereo line inputs, you can assign each to its own output pair.  Assign Deck A to Outputs 1/2, Deck B to 3/4, Deck C to 5/6,  and Deck D to 7/8.  You will have to assign the Sampler Bus Output to an output pair as well.

Please refer to your sound card/audio interface's user guide for information on the available outputs and their respective channel assignments.


External Mixer Mode - Hardware Connections  Back To Top

    Conectiv
    Fast Track Pro

Conectiv - Back To Top

Connect Output A of the Conectiv to one channel's Line Input* on your DJ Mixer, and Connect Output B of the Conectiv to another channel's Line Input* on your mixer.  Connect your headphones to your DJ Mixer and use the Cue Controls of the mixer to preview tracks in the headphones.  If you have a microphone, connect that to the external mixer as well.

* DO NOT connect the outputs of the Conectiv to Phono Inputs on your DJ Mixer because your output will be loud and distorted.



Turn the big mix knobs for Channel A and Channel B to USB, and use the gain control knobs on your mixer to adjust the input level.  The gain control provided by Torq's internal mixer can also be used to supplement this control if needed.

Please refer to the User Guides for your audio interface and external mixer for more information on the available inputs/outputs, hardware settings, and connections.


Fast Track Pro - Back To Top

Connect RCA outputs 1 & 2 of the Fast Track Pro to one channel's Line Input* on your DJ Mixer, and Connect RCA Outputs 3 & 4 to another channel's Line Input* on your mixer.  Connect your headphones to your DJ Mixer and use the Cue Controls of your mixer.  If you have a microphone, connect that to the external mixer as well.

* DO NOT connect the outputs of the Fast Track Pro to Phono Inputs on your DJ Mixer because your output will be loud and distorted.



Turn the Mix Knob on the front of Fast Track Pro all the way to the right, to PB (playback from the computer).



Use the gain control knobs on your mixer to adjust the input level.  The gain control provided by Torq's internal mixer can also be used to supplement this control if needed.  The Output Level Knob (the one below the Mix Knob) can also be used to set the level for outputs 1/2.

Please refer to your sound card/audio interface's user guide for information on the available outputs and their respective channel assignments.


External CD/Vinyl Control - Software Settings and Hardware Connections: Back To Top

Jump to Software Settings or Hardware Connections for External CD/Vinyl Control

One of Torq’s greatest features is the ability to use external sources to control the playback of your song files.  This lets you use the Torq Control Vinyl or Torq Control CD's to provide the same method of DJing as traditional turntables and/or CD decks.

The Control Vinyl and Control CD system works by using vinyl records and compact discs imprinted with special control signals. You’ll play these control signals on your turntables and/or CD players and feed that signal into any professional audio interface that has four inputs (2 stereo pairs, with phono preamplifiers on each input if you are using turntables) such as the M-Audio Conectiv. Torq will listen to those audio signals and will use the encoded information to control the playback of the Decks.


External CD/Vinyl Control - Software Settings

Launch Torq and open the preferences*.

* Torq Preferences icon: Torq Preferences Icon



Audio Input Settings

Click to select the Audio Tab.  See above for instructions on selections for Internal Mixer Mode and External Mixer Mode.  The Mixer Mode selection is independent from the External Control settings.  External CD/Vinyl Control can be used with Internal Mixer Mode or External Mixer Mode.

For Control Input A click to access the pop-up menu and select the stereo input to which your first turntable or CD player is connected.  If you have a second turntable or CD player, click to access the pop-up menu for Control Input B and select the stereo input to which it is connected. 



Note: If using the S/PDIF input (Inputs 3 & 4) on Fast Track Pro, this input must be enabled from the Fast Track Pro Control Panel

If you are using an audio interface with more stereo inputs and additional CD players or turntables, select the corresponding inputs for Control Inputs C and D.

For each Deck in Torq (A, B, C, and D or B and C in Two Deck mode) is a Line Input button. Clicking this button will activate the line input for the corresponding channel. This lets you to send audio from an external audio source connected to your audio interface (for example a CD player or turntable) to the channel.  It is recommended that you select the same hardware input pairs for the Line Inputs as you did for the Control Inputs (see above).


External Control Settings

Click to select the External tab.  Click the pop-up box for each Control Input you are using.  This pop-up menu allows you to set the vinyl or CD control source to use for each Deck. To use the Torq Control Vinyl or Torq Control CD, select “Torq Vinyl” or “Torq CD,” respectively.  Gen1, Gen2, and Gen3 are for use with Ms Pinky records generations 1, 2, and 3.



For more information on the other options on this page, please refer to the Torq 2.0 User Guide.  Please refer to your sound card/audio interface's user guide for information on the available outputs and their respective channel assignments.


External CD/Vinyl Control - Hardware Connections

See above for instructions on speaker and headphone connections for Internal Mixer Mode and External Mixer Mode.

    Conectiv
    Fast Track Pro


Conectiv - Back To Top

Connect the outputs of your first turntable or CD player to Input A of the Conectiv (shown below), or to an available phono or line input on your professional audio interface.  Conectiv users, be sure to set the input selector to "Phono" if using turntables or "Line" if using CD players (or turntables with built-in preamps).  For 3rd party audio interfaces, verify that any available phono/line settings are set accordingly.

Conectiv - External Control Connections

When using a turntable, connect its ground wire to the ground on your audio interface or DJ mixer
 
Fast Track Pro - Back To Top

Connect the analog outputs of your turntable* or CD player to the 1/4" connection of Inputs 1 & 2 (the combo jacks) on the front of the Fast Track Pro (shown below), or to an available phono or line input on your professional audio interface.  For 3rd party audio interfaces, verify that any available phono/line settings are set accordingly.



* Fast Track Pro does have phono preamplifiers; if your turntable does not have a line output, you must connect your turntables audio and ground wires to an external phono pre-amp, and connect its output to the inputs on Fast Track Pro



Push the Inst/Line buttons IN on the Fast Track Pro, and adjust the gain knobs for each input so that signal is present, but not clipping.

If you have a CD player with a S/PDIF output, using a 75-ohm S/PDIF cable, connect to the S/PDIF input on Fast Track Pro.