M-AUDIO Torq 1.5 Manuel D’Utilisation

Torq 1.5 User Guide 

Chapter 1          

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Torq 1.5 User Guide 

Chapter 10          

62

Once the audio signal leaves the EQ, it is sent to two different locations. One location is the PFL Button, which looks like 
a pair of headphones. PFL stands for Pre-Fader Listen, which refers to hearing an audio signal without being under the 
influence of the Volume fader (on some mixers, this function is called “Cue”). That definition may not make sense if you’re 
not familiar with a mixer, so think of it as a way to privately hear the music in a mixer channel regardless of what your 
audience can or cannot hear.

This is what a DJ uses to listen to the next song before he plays it for his audience. When you press the PFL button, that 
channel is sent to the PFL section, which is described below. You’ll be able to hear the music on the headphones and you’ll 
even be able to record it into the Sampler.

Besides going to the PFL, the audio leaving the EQ also goes to the Channel Volume fader. This is the primary volume 
control for the channel (though it is subordinate to the crossfader) which works just like a volume fader on a traditional 
mixer. You can match volumes of the two tracks using the Channel Volume faders. However, some DJs prefer the 
technique of leaving the Channel Volume faders fully up—you then match the volumes of the songs using the Gain knobs. 
The reason for this is that you’re then free to use the Channel Volume faders for other effects such as volume fades, cuts, 
and stutter effects, similar to the scratch techniques used on the Crossfader. Whichever approach you choose is entirely 
up to you. 

 

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Located above the PFL icons in each channel of the Mixer is a Line Input icon. Clicking this icon will activate the line 
input for that channel. This will allow you to feed audio from an external audio source (such as a CD player or turntable 
connected to your audio interface) for mixing with Torq’s Mixer. All functions, such as EQ, Gain, Effects, and PFL, will still 
work even when using external audio sources.

 

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After the audio leaves the individual mixer channels via the Channel Volume faders, the signals enter their respective 
sides of the Crossfader. The Crossfader is the large horizontal fader just below the Mixer. As you will see, its name is very 
appropriate as it allows you to fade between the two channels in a motion that goes side to side across the mixer. When 
the Crossfader is in its middle location, you will hear both of the mixer channels. If you move the Crossfader all the way 
to the left, you will only hear the channel for the left Deck. Similarly, if you move the Crossfader all the way to the right, 
you will only hear the right Deck.

The Crossfader was invented to offer DJs an easy way to fade out of one song while fading in another using only one 
hand. Indeed, it still performs this task quite well. However, since its introduction, DJs have taken this simple tool and 
transformed it into a virtual razor blade that allows them to perform lightning-fast cuts, scratches, and a myriad of other 
techniques.

 

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