Digitek

The M-Audio Torq Xponent is an advanced MIDI controller for a comptuer based DJ. Unlike a lot of cheaper devices in this space, the Xponent comes with a high quality, 4-channel sound card. Note that a 4-channel sound card is required if the DJ wants to play one track and listen to another. MIDI controllers that don’t have a sound card are limited to simply controlling mixing software, and typically require a more complicated setup.

The Torq Xponent includes:

• 4 x RCA outputs for independent control of the house system and booth monitors
• ¼” TRS headphone output with cue and volume controls
• 16-bit/48kHz max sample rate
• ASIO and Core Audio compatible

Mixer controls:

Xponent Rear

• 2 x vertical volume controls
• 2 3-band EQ control knobs with kill buttons
• 2 x gain-control knobs with mute buttons
• Horizontal crossfader control with transform buttons
• 2 x LED volume meters

Player controls:

• 2 x touch-sensitive scratch wheels
• 2 x 100mm pitch adjust controls
• Built-in touchpad/assignable X/Y control surface for mouse or effect control
• 8 x assignable knobs for effect control
• 64 assignable backlit buttons, including Play, Cue, Seek, Loop, Key and Sync controls
• 2 x LED progress meters

The Xponent has a layout similar to a pair of CDJs and a 2-channel mixer. Each side contains a jog wheel and all of the typical deck controls including loops, effect knobs, and transport buttons.It should also be noted that like higher end CDJs the Xponent includes touch sensitive jog wheels. Touch Sensitive Jogs makes beat mixing a lot easier as it allows the DJ to simulate a throw. Many of the cheaper MIDI controllers do not have touch sensitive jogs so this is a major selling point for M-Audio.

Unlike most CDJs the jog wheels on the Xponent are at the very top of each side. This is a good thing as the whole unit is not very large, and having them at the top away from the faders means you wont accidentally skip a song while adjusting the volume. This was a big criticism of the similarly priced Vestax VCI 100 so M-Audio get a big tick for that one. We found the layout of the Xponent to be very easy to work with and so similar to a typical 2 channel setup that little learning is required. The Xponent is larger than the Vestax and most other MIDI controllers but it is still a rather compact and portable unit.

Performance

So how does it play? After a good few nights with the Xponent we can happily say that this is the best MIDI controller we have ever used. The Jog wheels are fantastically weighted and are very easy to mix with. The touch sensor works just like a CDJ and throws and back spins are easily performed. The buttons are rubbery and do not have that satisfying click feel to them but they are also quite large and LED backlit so you can look to see whether or not you have pressed one.

Not surprisingly the Xponent works best with the included Torq software but we also gave it a try with Virtual DJ. This is our mixing software of choice and the Xponent was still qutie easy to set up and use. The jogs don’t feel quite as good in VDJ but that can be adjusted manually.

The Torq software has all of the popular functions such as beat matching, instant looping and effects. We were not fans of the interface however as it has a lot of detail and frankly they have tried to cram too much information on to the screen. Also consider that many DJs now use small netbook style computers and screen size is limited. Unlike Virtual DJ the skin cannot be easily changed either.

By default each of the buttons are pre-programmed to their listed functions in both Torq and Virtual DJ but they can also be re-programmed to perform whatever fucntions you desire. The X/Y pad above the EQ section can also be used as an effect controller and we had some fun using that as a TK Filter.

Summary

The M-Audio Torq Xponent is a great MIDI controller and for us the inclusion of the 4-channel sound card puts it above competitors such as the Vestax VCI 100. Even the recently released VCI 300 which does have a sound card still has the same, inferior layout with the jog wheels right next to the volume faders. Despite some minor annoyances with the rubbery buttons and the included software, for us the Torq Xponent still represents the best MIDI controller available.