This hit the presses a day ago and we are already getting calls. M-Audio has released a consumer version of Torq bundled with the popular X-Session Pro. The key word here is CONSUMER. I called M-Audio to get the skinny and the package is not even available to dealers. The only place you will find this package is in Best Buy’s, Circuit City’s and the like. However, rumor is there will be a “DJ” version available sometime in January.

Here’s a snippet from Chad Carrier of the Torq-DJ forum -

“Hey guys. Here‚Äôs the skinny on Torq MixLab:

Torq MixLab is a consumer-grade package comprised of the X-Session Pro MIDI Controller and Torq LE software. The X-Session Pro is like the older X-Session, except that the layout and selection of controls on the new XSP is more condusive for DJ use (vertical 3-band EQ knobs, vertical volume faders, etc.). Torq LE is a feature-reduced version of Torq that offers the bread-and-butter functions you need to DJ, but doesn’t offer any of the advanced and more creative features available in the full version. Here’s a quick synopsis of the differences (though not a complete list):

- No Sampler
- No Snapshots
- No External Vinyl/CD Control options (even if you get your hands on some records or CDs, there is no way to use them with Torq LE)
- No Line Inputs
- No VST Plug-in support
- No ReWire support
- The effects are limited to three, which are hard-wired (cannot be changed by the user). They are Dual-Filter, Flanger, and Strobe.

So, definitely usable, but the full version of Torq is probably what most of you are really interested in. Torq LE does still need a dongle to launch–the X-Session Pro is the dongle. You’ll just use your computer’s built-in audio interface at that point.

Also, in response to imianwilliams‚Äô statement, you CAN use any soundcard you want with Torq (both the full version and Torq LE). You need to have the Conectiv attached in order to LAUNCH Torq, but you can always choose any other audio interface you‚Äôd like by choosing it in the Audio Preferences. We don‚Äôt recommend it since all of our testing is done against the Conectiv, but there‚Äôs definitely nothing stopping you from using another interface if you‚Äôd prefer. The Conectiv would just be a really big dongle at that point.”

Check the article from our friends at Create Digital Music -

Create Digital Music » M-Audio’s $99 DJ Starter Kit, with X-Session Pro