M-AUDIO X-SESSION PRO
Mar 1, 2007 12:00 PM, BY MARKKUS ROVITO
What's going to survive a nuclear holocaust: rats, cockroaches or MIDI? Don't bet against your digital friend just yet; it's been spawning like a super-rodent in mobile phones and, more importantly, DJ gear. The recent NAMM 2007 show in Anaheim, Calif. was lousy with new DJ MIDI interfaces for taking hands-on command of the exploding amount of DJ software titles. We'll study those new beasts in the coming months. For now, the M-Audio X-Session Pro is a simple creature but no less fit for survival.
In simple terms, the X-Session Pro resembles a 2- or 4-channel DJ mixer, with MIDI controls for the crossfader, channel faders, EQ and more. What that gives you is a quick-and-easy way to operate two virtual decks inside of a DJ software program such as, oh, I don't know, let's say M-Audio Torq LE, which is conveniently bundled with the X-Session Pro. (Starting in March, earlier buyers will get a free Torq LE download.) Of course, you don't have to be a DJ to enjoy this low-cost control surface. Anyone using music software with MIDI-learn capability could add on the X-Session Pro to their existing setups and assign, as one example, four extra DAW tracks to have their own hardware-mixing controls.
THE HARDWARE STORE
The X-Session Pro is a USB MIDI class-compliant device for both Mac OS X and Windows XP, so you don't have to install any drivers to get it going. Just plug in the USB cable, flick on the power switch (it runs on USB bus power) and launch some software to get started. However, you'll want to install the included Enigma editor/librarian software for creating and saving different MIDI-control setups on the computer, as well Torq LE, the scaled-down but very functional version of M-Audio's excellent Torq DJ software. Installation also includes 13 complimentary MP3 tracks from well-known artists such as Carmen Rizzo, Junior Sanchez, the Crystal Method, the Nova Dream Sequence (King Britt) and others. These songs come pre-analyzed with Torq's TQD files, so the bpms are detected and ready to go.
If you want to use the X-Session Pro with Torq LE, the device is already preconfigured to integrate perfectly with the program. Each side of the hardware has identical controls for the two virtual decks of Torq LE. These controls — per side — include four transport buttons (play/pause, cue, skip forward, skip backward), a pitch fader, a volume fader, a headphone-cue button, three knobs for EQ and three amount knobs for Torq LE's three effects. Finally, the crossfader naturally fades the master output between both decks. The unit's plastic construction is fairly sturdy. While it could be built more like a tank for absolute durability, the trade off is having a nice, light unit that won't weigh you down when bringing it to gigs. The USB port and power switch is just about all you'll find on the back panel, other than reset buttons and a Kensington lock slot. While USB tends to be the modern-day MIDI port, the lack of the old-fashioned 5-pin MIDI In or Out means that the X-Session Pro does require a computer to use it.
With everything installed on a 2 GHz iMac G5, I launched Torq LE, and the X-Session Pro worked perfectly with all the controls routed as they should have been to Torq LE, and without any noticeable latency. I liked how the crossfader has a looser feel, the way crossfaders should, while the vertical faders give you a satisfying resistance. The crossfader, of course, is not going to rival the buttery smooth models of dedicated scratch mixers out there, but it's cool that M-Audio paid attention to this detail. Another nice consideration is that the two sets of EQ knobs have center detents, while the other two effect sets do not. That helps when using X-Session Pro with the preconfigured Torq LE, and it also gives you options when programming the controller for other purposes. After having a lot of fun with the straightforward Torq LE, I moved to testing the X-Session Pro with other programs.
Most music-software programs have their own way of detecting and setting up MIDI controllers. After making sure each program was recognizing and interfacing with X-Session Pro correctly, it was a breeze to use the hardware as a customized device using the different software's MIDI-learn functions. In Propellerhead Reason 3, I used its Remote Override Mapping to set up special configurations on the X-Session Pro to control the mixer, Malström and Subtractor synths, BV512 Vocoder and whatever else I wanted. The same goes for using MIDI learn in Ableton Live. Because Live has a MIDI-controllable crossfader in its Session view (few MIDI controllers have actual horizontal crossfaders), X-Session Pro, with its crossfader and many other controls, is a particularly fine option for Live users. But with its price and simple operation, the X-Session Pro would be a smart idea for almost anyone wanting a low-cost MIDI control surface, either on its own or as an addition to a multi-interface studio.
THE SOFT SELL
Enigma is the software editor/librarian that M-Audio uses for all of its MIDI controllers. For those who have it installed for other products, using it with the X-Session Pro requires a software update for Windows users or installing a separate app for Mac users. With the X-Session Pro connected, launching Enigma will connect the hardware and software. From here you can create control templates for the X-Session Pro and then download those templates — as many as 10 at a time — to the hardware. With Enigma, you can store an unlimited amount of templates for the X-Session Pro. You can assign the controls to MIDI CC numbers, but where Enigma really comes in handy is its dozens of control lists for popular software instruments. So for many Steinberg, GForce, Native Instruments, Propellerhead Reason devices and many others, Enigma stores a list of all their MIDI-controllable parameters. You just need to drag-and-drop one of those parameters on an X-Session Pro control in the software to assign that control. When you're finished, download the template to the hardware before launching the software instrument.
By including Torq LE, M-Audio has made the X-Session Pro a DJ-performance package right out of the box. The LE version is quite a bit paired down from the full-featured version, but it is still a lot of fun and has all the essentials for someone to perform a set with only the software, X-Session Pro and a laptop. Specifically, Torq LE includes the same auto beat detection/synchronization, digital audio playback, iTunes/iPod integration and independently variable speed and pitch as the full Torq. While Torq includes 10 built-in effects, Torq LE has only three, but they are very useful filter, phaser and strobe effects, which can be simultaneously active. Among the high-level features from Torq that Torq LE does not include are VST-effect support, the 16-cell sampler, ReWire support, external-audio mixing, external DJ mixer and control vinyl/CD support and snapshot instant recall.
If you're new to DJ software, Torq LE makes it easy to dive right in and feel excited about the possibilities. The manual is online only (no paper or PDF), but it is very thorough and helps explain the program in a concise manner. The only small bummer to the X-Session Pro/Torq LE combo is that there is no discounted upgrade path to the full Torq. You have to buy one of the M-Audio Torq audio interfaces (Conectiv or Xponent) to unlock the full version of Torq. These interfaces are reasonably priced, so I can't complain too much. Also, if you already have the full Torq, you can use the X-Session Pro to control it.
X HITS THE SPOT
While the X-Session Pro was made with digital DJs in mind, its appeal does not stop there. As people depend more and more on computers for music production, everyone seems to need more hardware control. If you're just starting out, a control surface will make computer production feel more natural, and if you're deep into this game, a few extra knobs and sliders can always come in handy. The X-Session Pro is simply a nicely priced way to get your mitts on some extra twiddly bits.
M-AUDIO
X-SESSION PRO > $129.95
Pros: Lots of control for a low price. Easily programmable in software with MIDI learn. Includes Torq LE DJ software with a preconfigured control map. Enigma editor librarian software. Virtually no set up required.
Cons: No 5-pin MIDI I/O. Can't unlock the full version of Torq with an upgrade price.
Contact: www.m-audio.com
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Mac: G3/G4 667 MHz; 256 MB RAM; OS 10.3.9/10.4.7 or later
PC: PIII/500 MHz; 256 MB RAM; Windows XP SP2 or later
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
