Torq 1.5 or Traktor Scratch Pro?
Hi guys happy new year!
I am buying my first dvs in a few weeks.
Would you still give Traktor Scracth Pro the thumbs up over Torque’s new release?
Honestly, I’d say it depends. I haven’t used Torq 1.5 (but I have used 1.07) nor Traktor Scratch Pro using DVS, but there is no right or wrong answer. I’ll break it down like this:
Torq:
- Inexpensive, especially if you can get it used
- Has all the basic features (cues, loops, etc)
- Is excellent if you are just using DVS
- The waveform display is pure genius
- Upgrade cost to 1.5 (but thats to pay for the new Z-plane algorithm)
- Database isn’t very good
- Good beat detection allows BPM adjustment down to 0.1% (although in 1.07, you cannot manually enter the BPM)
Traktor
- Tons of features
- Database in Traktor Pro is damn good
- Word on the street is that tracking in Scratch is really good
- Expensive
- Waveform display isn’t very helpful.
- Decent automatic beat detection, allows BPM down to 0.001%, manual BPM detection rocks
Both are good products, but if money was not an issue, I’d take Traktor. If you are interested, I’m planning on selling my Conectiv + Torq without the 1.5 upgrade (since I’m moving onto a VCI-300 and the NS7).
sgb
I use Torq 1.5 and I’m very impressed! If you buy Torq now, the 1.5 upgrade is free. The fact that they integrated Midi Beat Clock into Torq makes it the most versatile DVS system to date! With MBC, you can sync any external device or another program like Live or Reason with Torq. So, if you’re also looking for VJ support, just get a solid VDJ program and sync it right up to torq. Voila! There are many other great features of Torq, just go by their forum to check it out… torq-dj.com.
My friend uses Traktor with the VCI-100 and loves it. Both are great systems that will accomplish what you need.
@Unit:E Traktor Pro also sends and recieves a midi clock.
But torq has good rewire support now, according to reviews it should perfect in sync with ableton (can’t test it due the missing demo version from torq damn!).
I hate the complicated, error prone and not 100% solid sync (due to the poor resolution from the midi clock) from traktor pro with ableton.
I wish TP had rewire support.
I don’t get it why NI just want to limit traktor.. I just don’t get it…
torq gives you also a sampler and vst integration. the midi beat clock of torq can be locked to a deck, so if youre playing a song and change the speed of it the midi beat clock does it accordingly. this is for the moment limited to torq afaik and is the major new feature of 1.5, however most people wont use it. if you just wanna play mp3s on vinyl you should get serato. if youre really wanna be creative get torq. for something in between get traktor scratch. however the learning curve is much higher for torq and the error rate goes along with this. so if you a tech guy trq is fun, if youre not serato is the best…
no, TP can do the same. the advantage from torq is rewire, but not the midi clock.
Torq’s VST support works, but you can only map 1 MIDI command from Torq to each VST (i.e., its limited). I’m not sure you can do this in Torq 1.5, but definitely could in 1.07, but I was able to route all my audio using Jack so that I was using Torq for DVS (with the External mixing), but sending both channel outputs to Ableton Live and mixing down there. And I could use VST’s, Ableton Eq’s, and so forth just like I was working in ableton live.
I’m curious to see if thats possible with 1.5, but I don’t have turntables anymore. Its pretty easy to check, are you still able to change the soundcard that Torq 1.5 uses?
ah, just remembered another thing which is limiting in TP if you want to use ableton too. You couldn’t use the internal mixer and EQs if you want to route both or all 4 channel separate into ableton.
http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73085&highlight=external+eq
you can assign the midi clock to a deck in traktor and when yu change the external pitch of it the midi clock works the same??? thats new for me… didint know that traktor has this feature now
Thats not really limiting at at all though, because you crossfade and eq in Ableton anyway.
I like the EQs from traktor way more for djing that in the one ableton.
And I like to see them on my monitor as well just for the visual feedback.
Don’t get me wrong, I like TP much but there are really design decisions I don’t get (I understand that it can be useful to blend the EQs out if you use an external mixer, but why don’t make this just as an option? as you see in this NI thread there are many people who don’t like it).
Sometimes I think they like do throw stones on your way. All I want is a sample accurate synced traktor to ableton, and that’s possible, the technology is there for years. I guess they just don’t want it. 
The thing about Ableton EQ’s is that you dont have to use Ableton EQ’s, you can create your own eq3 using the eq8 if you wanted or you could alternativly use a vst. Thats the wonderful thing about Ableton - there is just so much control over what devices you put in and where you want to put them in the audio chain.
Honestly though, i dont understand NI’s design decisions either - being able to have a tight intergration with a DAW like Ableton is clearly the future. I just hope they have something up their sleves to compete with this Ableton/Serato thing.
@sgb…
1.5 still allows you to route through Live, while still running torq as a DVS. I don’t have Live yet, but I can’t wait to get it.
I use Torq with the Xponent and have my Evo 4 sending tempo to torq via midi cable, so everything I play in torq is perfectly in sync with records I play or any other DVS system that is plugged into a channel on the mixer. That allows my friends and I to all play together… Serato, Traktor and Torq. This pic was taken at the Barrington Levy afterparty with my A&H XONE:92 (now gone…
) Alittle tight, but all 3 were there to represent![ATTACH]490[/ATTACH]
Here is also a vid of me using Torq wit Xponent and Trigger Finger. Loops, samples, snapshots, fx. Part 2 is just the last 2:00 of the vid.
I’ve been going to a friends house lately and playing with his Traktor and VCI-100 SE, and I have a great time on it. Fun program.
sure you can, but I love the A&H EQ in traktor, sadly there is not vst for it
..overall I think we have a similar opinion about TP and the future
Hey this is the right place for this question!
I am about to go and buy decent DVS system. From the brief examination i trimmed the list down to
1]Native Instruments Traktor Scratch PRO
2]Rane SERATO Scratch LIVE
I would go with serato, as i heard loads of “it’s the best DVS” quotes, and is even little bit cheaper. But, i am traktor user and TS goes with traktor pro (which i am about to buy anywayz). Is there some real difference in these two DVS systems?
you seem to havent done lots of research. look at my post a couple pages earlier which explains my point of view. simple answer if you wanna play mp3s on vinyl get srato. if you wanna do more, but also spend more time on it get traktor. if you wanna do even more get torq, but be a computer ace…
KLOSELINE: as much as I’m interested in torq, I don’t think that it is an advantage over TP in terms of “can do more”. they are just different.
I have only read the manual (there is no torq demo), but I don’t see beatjumps and 4 decks which are really creative tools. Im not 100% shure, but I think you can’t route two decks into one FX unit in torq and use it as a “master” effect, which is great. and looping in TP is better too (this “back” looping in torq sounds fun, but I think TP with it’s great control over loops is still superior )
in torq you have the sampler (great tool) and vst effects and a better integration into ableton (sweat!) and warping (as a techno/house/electronic dj I have no need for it).
Every tool has its pros and cons - there is simply no best tool.
Only what is best for you as an individual - so its up for each and every one of us to determine what is best for us.
Traktor has some tough competition but it is whats best for me, when it comes to jumping around the track with advanced transport controls like a madman there is nothing like Traktor. This kind of manipulation is the bread and butter of my mixing so it is whats makes Traktor the best program for me. When another program has as good a looping controls, beatjumps, cue control and transport controls ontop of a tighter intergration Ableton i will start singing another tune.
you guys should check out DjDecks. It’s a very powerfull customiseable software (currently windows only) which has a very nice DIY attitude with the developer Adion constantly adding new features and improving on existing ones, and really listening to wishes of users.