Mixed In Key’s Flow is now available, and you can try a fully functional version for free, if you’re quick!
Mixed In Key has launched its new DJ software, Flow, which aims to both simplify and improve on the traditional two-deck workflow of mixing DJs.
We reviewed an early version back when it was codenamed Danceability, and despite it lacking a few things like looping (which has now been added. along with out-of-the-box controller support), we loved it. And now, you can try it for free.
The main screen on Mixed In Key’s new DJ software: It may look like a simplified version of Traktor, but there’s some clever stuff going on under the hood.
Announced last week and now in private beta, Mixed In Key’s DJ software (“Danceability” appears to be the working name, but they’re also running a suggestions box for the finished title) promises to bring some of Mixed In Key’s existing technologies, plus a healthy dose of new thinking, to the DJ software arena.
We’ve spent a weekend playing with it, and today can give you some first thoughts. It’s not ready for a full review so we’ll save that till the public 1.0 is out, so treat this as a first reaction and summary of its potential rather than an appraisal.
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.”
Software such as Mixed In Key has popularised harmonic mixing for DJs, but it’s not the only way to slice and dice your music for your DJ sets.
Digital DJ Tips reader David writes: “I’m confused! I’ve spent the past few months researching the art of digital DJing, having followed your Learn To DJ Free email course and purchased the How To Digital DJ Fast video learning. I have also catalogued a lot of my collection using Mixed in Key, and have worked on small mixes using djay.
“I have a lot of chilled Ibiza-style tunes and was thinking of moving through a set from say a Crazy P tune (Sweet Feeling) taking in some old skool soul (George Benson, Soul II Soul) and then moving onto some funkier Fred Falke/Louis la Roche, then slowing down towards the end of the set. I guess I need to get the structure of the set sorted in my head! But in particular, I think I’m focusing too much on getting the key changes right, whilst wanting to get some specific tunes in… am I over complicating it? Should I just let the music do the talking?”
Mixed in Key’s new iMashup brings its Mashup software to iPad users.
If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at mashups but never felt confident enough to do it, then maybe you’ve already heard of Mixed In Key Mashup. Now the company has launched an iOS version: iMashup.
It’s a trimmed down take on the full-strength package (here’s our original review of Mixed in Key Mashup if you’re interested) – perfect for those on the move or without access to a laptop. So how easy is it to use and what are the results like? Let’s take a closer look…
Mashups made easy? That's the promise of Mashup, from Mixed in Key. We thought the best way to test it was to take their "five minute mashup" challenge.
Mashups are a bit of a holy grail, aren’t they? DJs are always being told they should get into production, start making music, do more than just play records.
Trouble is, most DJs are still hooked on the immediacy of DJing. Great next tune, throw it on, find another, throw it on. To these guys, the music collection is everything. Production, with all its promises of long nights in the studio going over the same thing time and time again, no crowd, no reaction – well, it’s just not particularly appealing.
Keyfinder detects musical key, but also lets you get under the bonnet to see how it's done it.
Intrigued by key mixing, or “harmonic mixing”? Want to try it out without spending money on an established piece of software such as Mixed in Key or beaTunes? If so, you may be interested in Keyfinder, an open-source key detection program for Mac and (in beta) for Windows too.
It’s not as polished as Mixed in Key or beaTunes, but it’s easy enough to use, and anecdotally produced results which are in the same ballpark as far as accuracy goes. Let’s take a closer look…
The key rotaries in Traktor - but you'll have to do the adjustments manually as there's no auto function.
Digital DJ Tips reader Samuel asks: “Do you know of any kind of ‘auto-key’ function in Traktor? A function that automatically adjusts the key when I load a song in another key?
“I mean, Traktor has autogain and autosync, so why isnt there an autokey or autotune feature too? Do you think Native Instruments would be open to suggestions to add this function, as it’s something I would definitely use!”
Using simple software and this clever little visual aid, any DJ can easily mix in key.
You may have heard “mixing in key”, or “harmonic mixing”, mentioned by DJs. You may even be dimly aware of what it means – that it’s about making sure tunes match musically in order to mix them more smoothly.
But if you’ve never done this before, you may think it’s hard to do, or that if you’re not able to play a musical instrument, you’ll not be able to work out all the stuff with scales and notes that’s necessary to achieve this type of mix. Luckily, nothing could be further from the truth, and today, we’ll show you how you too can use harmonic mixing in your sets.
The yellow musical note in Traktor Pro 2 that tells you your track is "keylocked" - but what are the dos and don'ts of keylocking?
Several readers have asked about keylocking recently. This is typical, from Max in Serbia/Montenegro: “I know what keylock does and how it works but I (and a lot of other DJs) have no idea when I am supposed to use it. If there are certain guidelines or ‘rules’, it would be awesome if you helped us get educated about that because there isn’t much info about it on the net.”
If you’re one of those DJs who always looks at that little “keylock” button but feels unsure about how or when to use it, this is for you:
'Vinyl is the path to the dark side. Named must your fear be before banish it you can.'
If you’ve ever DJed in a club next to vinyl DJs, you’ll know that MP3s can sometimes sound flat, dull and muddy alongside the classic, warm quality of well-pressed vinyl. CDs too can often sound better than MP3s.
In an environment where sound quality is everything, anything that can make your MP3s sing sweeter has to be welcomed. Platinum Notes 3 (US$98) is the latest version of a program designed to make MP3s sound better. It’s from the same people who make Mixed in Key (US$58), the harmonic mixing software that lets DJs easily create musically perfect mixes.
For the last month, Digital DJ Tips has been running a free draw to win one of three copies of Mixed in Key (US$58), the software that lets digital DJs apply harmonic mixing to their tune selections for smoother DJ sets.
We’re pleased to announce the winners. John Clear from Chunan, T’Ai-Wan in Taiwan; Rikelvin Rivers Rodriguez of San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Rob Howes, of Nottingham, UK, have all been drawn out of the hat randomly from the scores of entries we received, and will all be receiving a copy of Mixed in Key for either PC or Mac depending on their preference.
Mixed in Key 4 will help you to perform better sounding mixes.
The people at Mixed in Key saw our recent Mixed in Key 4 review, and were so impressed with the knowledge, enthusiasm and feedback from the Digital DJ Tips readers that they offered us 3 copies of their software (PC or Mac) to give away.
We’ve decide to hold a draw over on the brand-new Digital DJ Tips Facebook Page. It’s easy to enter and the draw will be held on September 30, 2010.
Palm Beach made a great venue for me to test out mixing in key for the first time.
In my Mixed in Key Review – Part 1, I looked at the theory behind mixing in key and how Mixed in Key (US$58) can help DJs to take advantage of harmonic mixing to play better sets. In this part I’m going to put it all to the test by DJing at a proper gig for the first time using the Mixed in Key / Camelot wheel system.
I’ve got only one rule: every mix has to be harmonically matched using my new-found musical data. I’m about to show you all the mistakes so you don’t have to make them yourself!
Pete Tong endorses Mixed in Key; as a DJ tool it is definitely worth at least considering it for improving your sets.
Mixing in key is something that lots of DJs vaguely know they ought to have a go at. Top DJs mention mixing in key, and many commercial mix CDs use key mixing. In some scenes, like trance, where the melodic content of music is really important, mixing in key is quite widely accepted; and for all DJs, it can make your mixes smoother and more professional-sounding.
Nonetheless, for most mixing in key with software like Mixed in Key remains somewhere between a mystery and an ideal. While some DJs come from a musical background, many don’t, and for those, any tool that can help them do it must be worth investigating.
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