Torq 1.5 User Guide Chapter 1 36Torq 1.5 User Guide Chapter 6 36
Error Index
If you’ve checked your audio cable connections and have also re placed your turntable’s needles yet still experie nce
problems, take a look at the Error Index dis plays. These displays will be showing a number ty pically between 0.15 and
1.50, which is perfectly norma l. If the number is above 2.0, it will turn red , indicating that there is too much noise in the
audio signal for Torq to properly track position and velocit y. Try cleaning the record using a high quality vinyl cleani ng
system. Too much dirt on the record can cause errors in t he tracking process.
A high Error Index can also be caused by wear and te ar on the Control Vinyl. Each time a record is played, it is s lightly
damaged, especially if the tr acking weight of the needle is very heav y. After repeated use, the control signal may be come
distorted and unreadable. Si mply flip over the Control Vinyl to the second side or purchase a re placement record from
the M-Audio Webstore (www.m-audio.co m).
If the output level of your stylus/car tridge is too low, this can also result in high Error Index re adings. Try replacing your
stylus/cartridge with one of t he recommended models at the end of this manua l for a higher output level.
Standard Mode
When you enable External Control , Torq will be in Standard mode. In this mode, one control source is a ssigned to each Deck.
You will need two sources (2 turntables, 2 CD players , or one of each) in order to control the two Decks in Torq. This is just
like using traditional hardware to DJ .
When using Standard mode, you have two control s tyles to choose from—Absolut e mode and Relative mode—which are
explained below.
Absolute Mode
This is the default control style whe n in Standard mode and is indicated by the [>|<] icon on what was previ ously the Play/
Pause button on the Decks. Absol ute mode means that Torq will be following the position of the ex ternal control source.
This is most apparent when using the Cont rol Vinyls—you can lift the needle and p lace it in different locations on the
record and Torq’s Decks will follow this position. If you place the needle at t he beginning of the record (or rewind the
Control CD back to the beginning of a trac k), the song in the Deck will also jump back to the begin ning.
This mode is obviously the mode that will recre ate the sensation of using CDs and Vinyl with t he greatest detail. You
will be able to control playback position from your tu rntables or CD players without having to in teract with the Torq
interface.
Relative Mode
In contrast, Relative mode will ig nore the playback position of the Control Vinyl or Cont rol CD. Torq will only monitor
the direction and speed of the control source . To enable Relative mode on a Deck, click the Absolute mode bu tton—its
icon will change to [<|>] indicating that Relative mode is now active (click th e button again to toggle back to Ab solute
mode).
You’ll now notice that placing the needle in different lo cations on the record will have no effect on the musi c—playback
will resume from the point it left off a s soon as the needle touches the record again.
Even though the playback position of the Co ntrol Vinyl or Control CD is not affecting the p layback position of the song
on the Deck, the speed and direction o f the control source will still continue to work. You can change th e playback speed
using the pitch adjusters on your turnt ables or CD players and the playback speed of the D eck will follow. You can even
scratch like normal. The added benefit is t hat, should the needle skip a groove while you’re scratchi ng, you won’t lose the
sound you were using. You can continue to scratch the same locat ion of the audio file even if the needle keeps skipping.
✓ Note: While there will be no audible change in mu sic playback when switching a Deck from Ab solute mode to Relative
mode, there is a chance that the playback p osition could jump to an unanticipated pos ition when switching from Relative
mode back into Absolute mode. This is due to t he fact that, while using the feature s of Relative mode, the playback positi on
of the Deck and the actual location of t he control source could fall out of sync (for example, if you lo op the song on the
Deck, the song will no longer proceed for ward but the location of the control source w ill continue to play forward). When
you switch back to Absolute mode, Torq will imme diately jump to the position indicate d by the control source...this could
even be a position after the song has ended! The refore, be extremely careful when t oggling back to Absolute mode. Only
do so if (1) you know the location of the song and control source are stil l in sync or (2) you mute the Deck before switching
over, thus preventing any jumps from being heard by your audience .