Torq User Guide » Chapter 1 30Torq User Guide » Chapter 6 30Standard Mode
When you enable External Control, Torq will be in Standard mode. In this mode, one control source is assigned to each Deck.
You will need two source s (2 turntables, 2 CD players, or one of each) in order to control the two Decks in Torq. This is ju st
like using traditional hard ware to DJ.
When using Standa rd mode, you have two co ntrol styles to choose from— Absolute mode and Relative mode —which are
explained below.
Absolute Mode
This is the default control st yle when in Standard mode and i s indicated by the [>|<] icon on w hat was previ ously the
Play/Pause but ton on the Decks. Absolut e mode means that Torq will be following the position of the external control
source. This is most app arent when using the Control Vinyl s—you can lift the needle and place it in different locat ions on
the record and Torq’s Decks will follow this posit ion. If you place the needle at the begi nning of the record (or rewind the
Control CD back to the beginn ing of a track), the song in the Deck will also jump back t o the beginning.
This mode is obviously the mode that will recreate the sensation of using CDs and Vinyl with the greatest detail. You will be
able to control playback posit ion from your turntables or CD players without havin g to interact with the Torq interface.
Relative Mode
In contrast, Relative mode will ignore the playback positio n of the Control Vinyl or Control CD. Torq will only monitor the
direction and speed of the control source. To enable Relative m ode on a Deck, click the A bsolute mode button—i ts icon
will change to [<|>] indicating that Relative mode is now ac tive (click the button again to toggle b ack to Absolute mode).
You’ll now notice that placing the needle in different locations on the record will have no effect on the music—playback will
resume from the point it left o ff as soon as the needle touches the record ag ain.
Even though the playback position of th e Control Vinyl or Control CD is not affecting the playback positio n of the song on
the Deck, the speed and direction of the control source will still continue to work. You can change the playback speed using
the pitch adjusters on your turntables or CD players and the playbac k speed of the Deck will follow. You can even scratch
like normal. The added benet is that, should the needle skip a groove while you’re scratching, you won’t lose the sound you
were using. You can continue to scratch the sa me location of the audio le even if the needle keeps sk ipping.
Note: While there will be no audib le change in music playback when switching a Deck fro m Absolute mode to Relative mode, there
is a chance that the playback position could jump to an unanticipa ted position when switching from Relative mode back into Absolute
mode. This is due to the fact that, while using the features of Relative mode, the playback position of the Deck and the actual location
of the control source could fall out of sync (for example, if you loop the song on the Deck, the song will no longer pro ceed forward but
the location of the control source wil l continue to play forward). When you switch back to Absolute mode, Torq will immediat ely jump
to the position indicated by the control source...this could even be a position after the song has ended! Therefore, be ext remely careful
when toggling back to Absolute mode. Only do so if (1) you know the location of the song and control source are still in sync or (2) you
mute the Deck before switc hing over, thus preventing any jumps from being heard by your audience .
AMPutate Mode
While exploring the depths of Torq, you will repeatedly run into scenario s that would not be possible with traditional DJ
hardware—te chniques that can only be achieved through the exible power of computer technology. Torq’s AMPutate mode is a
perfect example of this— it allows you to DJ using only one turntable or CD player. Wait, what? DJing has always been about two
turntables and a mixer, right? When usi ng AMPutate mode, it still is, but o ne of the turntables is “virtual.”
The idea behind AMP utate mode is that you generally n eed to manipulate only one song at a t ime when DJing. One song will be
playing freely (th e one your audience is dancing to) while you play with the other turntable in order to match tempos a nd nd
the perfect star ting place for the next song. Once tempos are matched and the ti me is right, you’ll start the song and apply small
adjustments to it in order to keep it in sy nc while mixing it in. Once the song is fully mixed in and the previous song is over, your
need for manipulating the song will be over. At that point, you’d put a new record on the other turntable a nd begin the process
of cueing and beat-matchi ng.