Key & Beat Detection Software

[Tohtruck]

I'd like to know everyone's thoughts on the various key and beat detection applications that are out there.

Rapid Evolution is Free (as is KeyFinder), the reviews and blogs seem to suggest that it's fairly accurate (seems equally, if not, more accurate than Mixed in Key)

Mixed in Key, is it worth the price? Seems to be the standard for detection software. I've heard it has a more user friendly GUI and offers Camelot Notation. I've heard it has similar accuracy to Rapid Evolution. But seems to be the general consensus that it is easier to use.

BeatTunes, seems to offer integration with iTunes. But I've heard it's a bit slow and not that accurate.

What do you guys and gals like to use?

[login]

I havent used mixed in key in a while but it was a PITA to manage tags.

Rapid evolution isn't that for being free, try it.

[Tohtruck]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, I'm reading different reviews about Mixed in Key and Rapid Evolution. I seem to be reading mixed opinions about the accuracy of both programs; some say it's extremely accurate and some say not very accurate. Although, most of the negative reviews for Mixed In key seem to be from a few years ago before the latest version that's available now.

I'm just wondering if it's worth the $58 price tag for Mixed In Key.

I'm checking out Rapid Evolution right now. Not the greatest GUI, but I'm finding that I'm at least able to figure out the most basic features so far.

I'm also trying to figure out what Mixed in Key offers that Rapid Evolution (being freeware) can't do. I suppose it could be a question on accuracy of tempo and key detection.

Any more input would be appreciated.

[Tohtruck]

So would you say it's definitely worth the money? Is it worth it to use it over freeware such as Rapid Evolution?

[102455]

The accuracy of these things really depends more on the type of music you're analysing.

If it's looking at a sparse tune with only a handful of notes it'll do its best and have a guess, but if those notes could come from
more than one key, it won't know which key to pick.

The more (different) notes there are, the higher the chances it'll give a correct result.

[Zygi]

Try the free rekordbox from pioneer.

[ian_halsall]

Just out of interest - what use are these programs? What do people actually use them for?

How can they get it right apart from really simple pieces with like 3 chords in them?

A piece may end in c minor but in 5 minutes might stray into all sorts of places - is the aim to be able to play along? or mix it with other tracks?

[login]

Just out of interest - what use are these programs? What do people actually use them for?

How can they get it right apart from really simple pieces with like 3 chords in them?

A piece may end in c minor but in 5 minutes might stray into all sorts of places - is the aim to be able to play along? or mix it with other tracks?

Yeah is called "harmonic mixing", most used in trance, specially in faster genres where you dont want basslines to clash.

That being said I find that in slower genres (120-130) it can limit your choices and in the end your mixes will suffer.

[ian_halsall]

What would perhaps be more useful is start chord and end chord then.

Key of a piece is usually its end key but that doesn't tell you that much about the start 'key' so you won't know what to mix into the start.

[ian_halsall]

What would perhaps be more useful is start chord and end chord then.

Key of a piece is usually its end key but that doesn't tell you that much about the start 'key' so you won't know what to mix into the start.

[102455]

Yeah, it's mainly used by dance DJs, so (sweeping statement) the keys & chords will generally be fairly basic "Status Quo" type stuff!

The latest MIK is able to detect and display multiple keys per song - but only if you view the song in the MIK player.

It's basic. Same with tempo detection in DJ software, that assumes every song only has one fixed tempo and is 4/4.

[wascal]

Try the free rekordbox from pioneer.

This. I used mixedinkey for years, then a few weeks ago I had a gig where I had to use CDJ2000s and loaded all my tunes into Rekordbox to prep them - it turns out that Rekordbox can do the same thing as MIK but is completely free to use. Worked perfectly for me.