Announced earlier this week, the new Mixed In Key DJ software is set to go into a limited beta as early as today or Monday – but what makes the development of another DJ software unique or interesting? Read on for a first look (and a quick demo video) of how the software plans to stand out from the rest.
The software is divided into three sections – prepare, play, and export – designed to follow the main times that a DJ uses the software. Here’s a closer look at each:
PREPARE
This section for the most part behaves like it would in any other DJ software- setting up playlists, analyzing tracks, and setting playback metadata on the tracks themselves. While you can add tracks to the collection at any time, in order to do track analysis, you will need an internet connection as it communicates with Mixed In Key’s servers for energy and key detection.
The interesting element is that instead of detecting energy levels on a per-track basis, the software actually splits up the track into segments – about 5 to 10 per track. This is done based on the energy for that segment – so it looks for major phrasings and attempts to set a segment start point there. You can adjust all of the segments + the initial downbeat in the prepare screen. Once it’s locked in, you can check “Mark this song as Personalized” so you’ll know when playing if a track has been prepared or just auto-detected.
It’s also worth noting that the key detection in the prepare step apparently includes a brand new Mixed in Key 6.0 algorithm – which would mean an upcoming release is due in that department as well.
PLAY
The play section is very similar to most other two-deck DJ software, but instead of loops and cuepoints, the primary form of intra-track movement is done by blending between different segments. Here’s a quick example:
A few things to detail about this playback style:
- Crossfades: You can hear that the software fades between each segment smoothly – so it’s not quite the same as a cue jump
- Legato: when jumping between segments, it keeps the track beatmatched and in the same relative point in the phrasing of the segment
- Energy Choices: The labels under each segment make it easy to know what intenisty the section has before you jump to it
- Beatmatched: There’s no pitch control or nudging in the software – nor is there a sync button, because it’s always on. This is where the software feels less like Traktor and more like Ableton.
- Master Tempo: This is the only tempo control – so if you want to move around, it affects everything.
Obviously there’s quite a bit missing from the software still because of the beta status – you’ll note that there’s no looping, filters, or effects in the software, and you can’t add more decks. One thing to note is that Yakov (Mixed In Key’s founder) has made an intentional choice to not build in any timecode into the software – instead focusing on a synced workflow by locking in all off the tempos to that master tempo – that means no scratching or manual pitch adjustment.
EXPORT
Having a whole section dedicated to after-set actions aims to solve a lot of the headaches that come after a set – did I remember to record it? What were the tracks that I played, and when? The export screen not only organizes every individual set you’ve ever played with a complete playlist, it also can automatically record every single set and associate that recording with the right playlist.
A secondary feature is that the software keeps a nice dataset of the most-played tracks in your DJing history, so you can quickly check out what your personal top list is for the last week, last month, or the last six months.
HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY
The software works with any MIDI controller that you might have on hand – with built-in mappings for all of the popular controllers. One of the nice workflow features that the Mixed In Key team has added to the software is the MIDI learn layout – which lets you quickly map out a new controller with a simple graphical interface for mapping (see above).
There is a significant limitation of internal mixing – meaning that you won’t be able to route each deck to its own channel on your hardware mixer, so you’ll have to use your MIDI controller for the volume faders and EQ knobs. External soundcards are supported for previewing audio, or you can also plug in a headphone jack into your laptop and output that way.
FUTURE
In a couple hours of using the software, we can already see how much fun this style of mixing has the potential for – with a workflow that combines the preparation of Ableton clip-launching and Traktor DJ’s freeze mode. We’ll be interested to see what features get developed out for the full release and how feedback from users drives the direction of the software.
The Beta is launching starting today – to learn more about this DJ software from Mixed in Key, visit the official beta page at http://beta.mixedinkey.com
The reason I stopped using Ableton to DJ with and went over to Traktor was the fact that you had to prep every track prior to playing. And if some reason the warping didn’t stick you were shit out of luck. Having the ability to manually beat match as a back-up is great. It’s a bummer that this doesn’t have that.
its sad that mixed in key managed to put out an entire new software while VDJ still didnt deliver the version 8… i am on the very verge to tich this shit and go vinyl style..
Hmmm:
“no scratching or manual pitch adjustment”…”
Crossfades: You can hear that the software fades between each segment smoothly – so it’s not quite the same as a cue jump
Legato: when jumping between segments, it keeps the track beatmatched and in the same relative point in the phrasing of the segment”
So if you play anything else then 4 to the floor beats / electronic music this software sucks!
And the whole fading between “cue points” really only works if there are no vocals on the track…..otherwise it’ll just sound mashed an weird!
I was out the second I read no pitch adjustment. This feels like a watered down version of Ableton mixed with a Traktor hybrid.
Love the look of this, the segments mode seems more useful to me than anything Traktor has to offer in that style. Like the emphasis on controllerism – this software doesn’t try to do everything!
Honestly, they should just make a plugin for Traktor or any other softwares.
I agree. That would be Dope.
I don’t believe this would be possible as Traktor doesn’t provide an API.
The ability to record your set, without actually committing it to a WAV or AIFF is pretty cool. I do a get a feeling that Traktor (or Serato) may just look at all the “Cool” features of this and just go “YOINK” and Add them to future upgrades. That being said that being said they are pretty slow on the uptake, so who knows. The post gig playlist feature is a great idea but, I’m certainly not falling over myself to use this unless some “serious” upgrades are made.
Actually, an older version of Traktor (3.4 if I remember right) did the same kind of recording. They dropped it with the Traktor 2 generation (and added wav recording).
Damn, That would have been rad! I like the idea of Traktor recording all the actions of the mix without actually recording it. Man that would be sweet!
It’s really starting to appear that this is not going to marketed at us.. and by us I mean hardcore dyed in the wool purists of the old school.. No DVS and No external mixing means that it’s likely it will be marketed at people who believe that Paris Hilton and DJ Pauly are singular titans of the DJ world.. It will be an interesting product to follow.. But don’t get your hopes up people.. The hype isn’t going in the direction of “The One”, a toolkit with a wide range of use cases and configurations.. It being marketed at people who think that jarring beatjumps within different parts of a song is pretty cool.. It will probably end up as a software that people who are determined to remain bedroom DJs mess around with once in a while to make mixtapes for their girlfriends or parties where they don’t want to deal with changing CDs..
Dude you guys got Serato …. Is that not enough? Does every new piece of performance software have to cater to the disgruntled vinyl-heads? Maybe lugging around 2 turntables and mixer is your preference but, it isn’t mine. Technology will aways change.
Who has Serato? I don’t.. Iabhor dogma so I don’t stick to the idea that Vinyl is the only way.. Neither do I think that the future of DJing should be limited to the inside of a computer. By purist I mean old school DJs that know DJing isn’t about software it’s about playing good music in front of people and looking at least a little bit like you are actually doing something and enjoying it. I also mean Old school because every one of us in the game knows it takes more than the relative 5 minutes Paris Hilton and DJ Pauly have put in to actually become a successful DJ. Right now my setup doesn’t even include tables. (Can’t afford them yet). It most certain includes hardware that has the connections for decks though..
My point was that this software, while interesting is not actually aimed at people who consider themselves DJs.. Right now it feels totally aimed at people who want to easily make DJ quality beatmatched mixes with an absolute minimum of fuss.. Right NOW.. It doesn’t even have proper MIDI support.
Man, It’s one piece of software … not “the future”. At what point in time did DJing ever become anything but playing good music to a crowd? I guarantee you, anyone that gets in front of a crowd and plays a dope set gets a good reaction; and any DJ who sucks doesn’t get booked (again). I’ve seen many “old school” Djs on all vinyl sets through out life and i gotta say …. talent is talent….Some are great and some are terrible. The technology doesn’t make the performance, good taste does. The only thing changing is the medium.
I totally understand the outrage that comes from the “success” of DJ Pauly D and Paris Hilton. But, what does that have to do with this software? …. If you’re controlling the performance, live, in anyway, you’re already not-faking your performance….like Pauly D and Paris Hilton.
Quick tip: Next time you wanna make a point like that, just say “it takes more than the relative 5 minutes Paris Hilton and DJ Pauly have put in to actually become a successful DJ”. Don’t say “every DJ in the game” when you’re rocking a mere laptop and mixer because you can’t afford the full set up yet. It makes you sound like the worst kind of amateur in any scene…..the kind that hasn’t really accomplished much yet but, thinks that he/she is “in the game”…..It’s not a good look.
You seem very angry. Seek therapy.
And you seem highly uncreative like most people who use two turntables and CDJs… Hurray for A->B mixing. That really gets me moving… You should definitely get paid for that skill the rest of these over paid “DJs””
You’ve made an assumption you know what I use. The software I use is traktor and I have available two remix decks and a loop deck. But I’m not going to do djm style red button of doom mashing just because it’s there. Mixing should add to the groove not detract from it. I’m not going to waste anymore time replying to people who make assumptions about what I do or how I use equipment though. Neither do I have to justify myself to you. GFY
Additionally, my preference would be to spin at places that have proper equipment as a matter of course.. I don’t care if they are CD decks or Vinyl turntables as I will likely have both types of timecode with me. As for lugging my mixer around.. I plan to.. I love it.. It’s an intensely personal thing for some DJs and I like the layout of mine (Kontrol Z2). And yes, technology will change.. On that point you are preaching to the choir.
Well good for you buddy. Traktor …. You use Traktor … why are you complaining again?
Like I said many PRODUCERS (as in people who MAKE music) will find this piece of software rather useful because they can play their songs out easy without learning to beatmatch.
The fact that this isn’t aimed at “old school” DJs is irrelevant …. who cares about “old school” DJs? A good performance is a good performance no matter what you’re using …. I guarantee you someone could use this software and rock a party with his/her laptop alone.
You come by this opinion having used it?
I’m kinda’ let down here a little. I was hoping (by now) that songs would have mid-range and high-end discrete methods of synching and at least the company that launched its’ reputation on detecting key could also detect melody in addition to pitch and beats. I still have to rely on my own brain to mix melody (manually) and where are the anchor points / key frames for triggering samples when you want them triggered (instead of manually)? I guess we have a lot of practical people still battling over who can do the basic stuff better than everyone else and not a lot of people progressing into what artists want to do with the equipment they have. I feel like programmers are stuffing artists into a box and saying “this is all you are allowed to do.”
Requires an internet connection for track analysis?
Welp, makes this kind of an unattractive option for me.
This. Considering the fact you’re on the internet surfing and posting comments. The shit people find to complain about.
Am I at a gig right now? No. Moreover, just because my phone can load DJTechtools and I can post 110bytes of text on it doesn’t mean I can analyze an entire track library over 3G.
But no, my PERSONAL preferences and reasons for not wanting to be tethered to the internet to analyze my tracks must be entirely invalid because some guy on the internet says so. Did I say YOU had to hate it too? No, I didn’t. I very clearly said, this is an unattractive option FOR ME, for where I DJ and in my country, which is probably not your country. You can like it if you want, I don’t care.
I’ve never had an internet connection while playing out. Not once.
On some occasions, I’ve wanted to analyze some shitty song I’ve never heard of that some drunk guy with a CD keeps begging me to play every minute so I play it to just shut him up.
Beatmatching manually isn’t a problem, but it’s nice to have the waveforms to get a feel for where the ups and downs are in a track you’ve never played so you don’t botch it big time.
One notable time someone hired me to play their birthday on a farm and when I got there, the paymaster and birthday boy himself asked if I could play some rap. I didn’t have any and he “conveniently” gave me some MP3s they wanted me to play. So, yeah, I analyzed them. I’d never mixed rap before that party, I know shit all about it musically but I had a job to do. So yes, I analyzed them on the fly in Traktor and did the best I could with all the tools available.
Even if I had internet in the back of 700 acres of land away from the house (I didn’t), they only had dialup at the farm because, unlike you in your magical techo paradise where you ALWAYS have an infallible broadband connection everywhere you go, that’s not the case for everyone. I surely wish I had prestigious glory of living in your golden city of 100% up time everywhere.
for the “drunk-guy-cd” i agree with you.
but, in an area where bring you some guys here cd’s, is “mixing in keys” not created. This will be only a nice party, where you play the favorits of the guests. – BUT, normally, a good DJ, knews and have the favorite of the guests.
YOu clearly don’t understand the mixed in key software.. but good story bro. If you are preparing your tracks AT the event, you are a half rate DJ anyways.
If you read my whole tirade, It’s not MY tracks I’m concerned about preparing at events.
If respecting the wishes of your paymaster/host and playing music the people like makes me a half rate DJ, then I’m glad to be one.
What if i tell you, that even if you prepare your set in a place where there is no internet, you can still be a good DJ, let me think, in an airplane, at a Ferry boat, at a secondary house at the mountains, or at a hotel…. mmm perhaps the train, maybe the internet went down because of a storm or something, or you don’t have flat rate, or a giant zombie ate out the fiber. The less things you rely on the less things that can let you down!
I totally agree with you, because even if you prepare your set in a place where there isinternet, you might find yourself in places where there is no internet like, in an airplane, at a Ferry boat, at a secondary house at the mountains, or at a hotel…. mmm perhaps the train, maybe the internet went down because of a storm or something, or you don’t have flat rate, or a giant zombie ate out the fiber. The less things you rely on the less things that can let you down!
You would prepare your tracks before a show so you’ll probably have internet. No biggie.
What if i tell you, that even if you prepare your set in a place where there is internet, you might find yourself in places where there is no internet like, let me think, in an airplane, at a Ferry boat, at a secondary house at the mountains, or at a hotel…. mmm perhaps the train, maybe the internet went down because of a storm or something, or you don’t have flat rate, or a giant zombie ate out the fiber. The less things you rely on the less things that can let you down!
It would be interesting to see them develop a “harmony” sync feature, that changes the track’s key to be compatible with master. Granted, this would sound strange with well-known songs, but could be an awesomely quick way to transform samples and loops.
I can live without timecode (I guess) but being limited to internal mixing is a deal breaker. Not that I was looking to move to a new platform anyways. 🙂
so there def wont be timecode?
That’s what it says.
There’s one thing I’ve always like about Mixed In Key’s software, the clean interfaces. You can tell that a lot of thought went into the design of this app, it doesn’t look cluttered at all. Can’t wait to get my hands on it!
The prep and export capabilities are on point, and I’m sure the performance piece will come along. Not sure how I feel about a non-sync option. I have found it is easier to get the beat right by ear, and only use sync if I can’t quite get it almost as a last resort. I’m sure they will figure it out, they make great software for DJs with DJs in mind.
And then export the markers to Traktor/Serato/Rekordbox cue points…