Turntablism
Torque
Torque is the rotational force a turntable’s motor applies to the platter, usually quoted as start-up torque in kilogram-centimetres. High torque means the platter reaches speed almost instantly and resists being slowed.
In practice
High torque is what makes a release land on the beat. It is also what you are fighting when you hold a record.
For scratching, more torque is generally better and the standard high-torque decks are standard for that reason. For blending, adequate is enough and consistency matters more than the headline figure. The number to compare is start-up torque, and the practical test is simpler: release a stopped record on a downbeat and listen for whether the first bar is at pitch. If the opening beat is flat and pulls up, the motor is not recovering fast enough to be relied on.
kg-cm
How it is quoted
Start-up
The figure that matters
First bar
The practical test
Where these come from: How turntable torque is specified and tested in practice — manufacturer specifications, not catalog figures. For what we can measure, see the drive type that delivers it.
Why it matters
It is the specification that separates a DJ deck from a listening deck, and the reason is everything you do with your hands. Holding a record, releasing it on the beat, backspinning it and expecting it to snap back to pitch all depend on a motor strong enough to recover in a fraction of a rotation.
It also has a cost: a high-torque motor fights you when you are trying to hold a record still, which is why slipmats and platter surfaces matter as much as the number. Torque and slip are two halves of the same design and neither works without the other.
Frequently asked
How much torque does a DJ turntable need?+
Enough that a released record is at pitch within the first beat. The standard high-torque decks clear that easily; budget belt-drive decks generally do not.
Is more torque always better?+
For scratching, largely. For holding a record still it is something you are working against, which is why platter surface and slipmat choice matter alongside it.
Can you adjust torque?+
Some decks offer a torque or brake adjustment, which changes how quickly the platter starts and stops. It is worth setting to taste rather than leaving at whatever it arrived on.
Related terms
Direct drive
On a direct-drive turntable the motor turns the platter itself; on a belt drive an offset motor turns it through an elastic belt. The belt isolates motor vibration and, in doing so, removes the instant response DJs need.
Turntable
A turntable spins a record at a constant speed while a stylus tracks its groove. A DJ turntable adds a pitch fader, high torque so it reaches speed instantly, and a platter you can hold and release.
Brake
A brake is a controlled slowdown to a stop, either by killing the turntable motor or with the brake control on a player. The pitch falls with the tempo, which is the whole effect.
Slipmat
A slipmat is a felt disc between the turntable platter and the record. It lets the platter keep spinning while you hold, drag or pull back the record itself, which is what makes cueing and scratching possible.
Explore: Beginner mixing guide · Direct drive · Brake · All DJ terms