Torq 1.5 User Guide Chapter 1 63Torq 1.5 User Guide Chapter 10 63< Crossfader Curve
Speaking of scratching, one of the improvements t o crossfader design is an adjustable Crossf ader Curve. This
refers to the rate at which the songs fad e in and out as the crossfader is moved from one side to the oth er.
At one extreme is the Equal Power Contour, which is good for slow fades betwee n two songs. As you move the
fader from the edge toward the center, it will slowly fad e in one song. However, as it is fading in this song, it will
also start fading out the other son g. The end result is that the overall volume remains th e same as you fade, even
when both songs are playing at the same time .
At the other extreme of the adjustable range is t he Hard Cut. This shape causes a song to fade i n to full volume
almost immediately after moving t he fader inward from the edge. Similarly, the othe r song will not begin to fade
out until the crossfader is almost all the w ay at the other edge. Then, right before the cros sfader reaches the
edge, the other song will fade down. This i s the shape preferred by scratch DJs as they can c ut in a track to full
volume with very little motion of th eir hand. When performed quickly, you don’t even hear th e volume fade up
and down—it sounds as if the sound is be ing abruptly cut in and out.
When Torq is launched for the first time, the Crossfader Curve will b e set to a happy medium between these
two extremes. You can, of course, change this c urve using either of the following:
» Adjusting with the Mouse
1. Hold down the SHIFT key on your compu ter keyboard
2. While holding down shift, click an d drag over the Crossfader. The Crossfader itself will not move , but
the graphic below the Crossfader will ch ange to indicate the new curve. As the blue b ars expand toward
the edges, the curve approaches th e Hard Cut shape. With no blue bars, the cur ve is an Equal Power
Contour.
» Adjusting via MIDI
1. Click the Preferences but ton to open the Preferences menu.
2. Click the MIDI tab.
3. Click the Learn button next to Crossf ader Curve. The button will turn red.
4. Move the knob or fader that you want to use for Crossf ader Curve control. Torq will read the incoming
MIDI messages and immediately a ssign it to the Crossfader Curve.
5. Exit the Preferences.
< Crossfader Assign
Another part in the evolution of the Crossfader is t he Crossfader Assign. As explained above , the left Deck is
routed to the left side of the Crossfade r while the right Deck is routed to the right side . Clicking the Crossfader
Assign buttons will swap the as signments so that the left Deck will b e heard when the Crossfader is at the right ,
and vice versa. This is sometimes known a s “hamster style” control.
< Transform Buttons
Another feature to aid scratch DJs is the Transform butt on. The Transform buttons are found at the left and
right sides of the Crossfader. Pressing a Transform button w ill cause the associated channel to temp orarily
bypass the Crossfader and go straight t o the main mix. For example, if the Crossf ader is fully left, you’ll only hear
the left Deck. If you press the righ t Transform button, you’ll hear the right Deck along wi th the left Deck.