Your Questions: Is It Still Worth Using Mixed In Key?

Phil Morse | Founder & Tutor
Read time: 2 mins
Last updated 5 April, 2018

Mixed In Key ran away with the harmonic detection game for many years, but is it still worth the investment now that Traktor has key detection built in?
Mixed In Key ran away with the harmonic detection game for many years, but is it still worth the investment now that Traktor has key detection built in?

Digital DJ Tips reader Bass Action writes: “It is apparent that a vast portion of your fans, followers, and newsletter readers are Traktor users. Many of these users also used Mixed in Key or other various key detection software. I guess the obvious question is should we use Mixed in Key because it is more accurate versus using Traktor’s key detection feature? I ask this because the key results differed after anaylsis by the two programs.”

Digital DJ Tips says:

It is almost impossible to have an objective debate about key detection software, because everyone makes a convincing argument that theirs is best. Test show most of the big systems are pretty good, but none is perfect. What I like about using Mixed In Key is that it’ll write to the comments as well as the (non-standard) key tag that is used by Traktor and other DJ software, which can allow you to sort by key in iTunes, and also potentially use key in other systems, like on CDJs from USB.

Mixed In Key has also attempted to introduce an “energy” rating system, but the jury’s out as to how useful people find that. I personally don’t really need to be told how dancefloor-friendly my tunes are, but some folk may find it useful.

If you only every do or will use Traktor, and you don’t use iTunes extensively to sort your music, I’d say stick with Traktor’s in-built key detection. (Virtual DJ has had key detection for ages, by the way.) But for the reasons I’ve outlined, I still prefer to use Mixed In Key, not least because I sometimes DJ with Serato too, which doesn’t have key detection at all.

What do you use to analyse your tunes? Do you use Mixed In Key or do you use Traktor or something else? Please let us know in the comments.

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