Mixed In Key Blog

GREAT NEWS: Mixed In Key Version 5.0 is now available!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

New version release: July 2011 - 1.0.7.0

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

We just released a massive update for One Idea. New features:

Videos and video masks can be played in reverse

"Video Layer" shows a preview faster if it already exists on disk

Pasting an effect when content is selected now adds it as a child

Rename Layer dialog textbox is now focused and selected by default – makes it much faster to rename layers

Added "Add Effect..." context menu option in timeline

Implemented shift click in AudioWaveControl for adding/removing from selection

Disable envelope dragging while audio wave is scrolling during playback

Mouse wheel works better

More stuff:

Added confirmation prompt if you try to render over an existing file with same name

Add/Remove selection options no longer appear on the context menu

Added Download more content link in the VideoFootage tab

Added necessary padding so that start and end envelope points always fit into the Audio Wave

Added improvements to Kaleidoscope and Tile Pulse filters, so seeking is consistent

Configured MP4 support so that files are compatible with TagLibSharp

Fixed bug where effects could be added as children of global effects

Fixed case where moving a child layer to become a parent layer wouldn’t have an effect due to the scene not being rebuilt

Fixed envelope point circle highlight when mouse is over, sometimes it wouldn't disappear when mouse moved away from window

Hid the Interval value in the timeline for everything but Content layers

Made Audio Wave respond instantly when stopping playback or seeking

Perform a one-off system check by silently rendering a few frames of a test project and display a message if the check fails

Prev/Next buttons no longer reset Clip Start after adding a new layer

Start arrow no longer shown for image/image mask layers

When you open One Idea, it'll give you a free update.

Buy the full version here for $79.

Cheers!
Yakov

Mixed In Key introduces PLATINUM NOTES 3 (Mac + Windows)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am proud to say that Platinum Notes 3.0 is ready. Here is my announcement, fresh off the press:

Mixed In Key Introduces PLATINUM NOTES 3

Drop in your files. Platinum Notes makes them acoustically perfect for any sound system.

South Beach, Miami - March 22, 2010 – Mixed In Key today introduced PLATINUM NOTES 3, a new audio
mastering tool for DJs. Developed by the creative team behind Mixed In Key software, PLATINUM NOTES 3 corrects pitch, adjusts volume, improves dynamics and makes every file ready to be played anywhere – from an iPod to a festival sound system.

PLATINUM NOTES 3 works as a batch-processing tool. It accepts MP3, WAV and AAC files as input, processes them, and encodes the output to pristine-quality MP3 or WAV files. The latest version uses technologies licensed from iZotope, Inc (makers of Ozone), zplane.development (makers of algorithms used in Mixed In Key) and Mixed In Key’s own studio-grade filters.

The third version of PLATINUM NOTES introduces the following new features:

* Ability to customize how PLATINUM NOTES works
* Multi-core support for up to 16 cores for faster processing
* Audio waveform display to show the processing done for each song
* Improved ID3 tagging support

PLATINUM NOTES 3 offers an intuitive way to process an entire music collection and make it sound crisp and clean. The audio technology in PLATINUM NOTES 3 ensures high audio quality while template customization allows the customer to shape the sound.

Pricing and availability

PLATINUM NOTES 3 is available for download purchase at www.PlatinumNotes.com for $98 USD. The software comes with free 3.X upgrades, and allows the customer to install it on an unlimited number of personal computers.

Screenshot

Press Material

A digital press kit including screenshots and logos is available at www.PlatinumNotes.com/PressKit.aspx

Visit the new website: http://www.PlatinumNotes.com

Greetings from DJAS (Downtempo Mix Download)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Foreword from Yakov:

This is one of my favorite harmonic sets of all time. Check it out.

~~~~

From: Andy

Hey Harmonic Faithfuls. I've been using MiK for years and thought it was about time to join the community. I'm a live percussionist in San Francisco and a bedroom prog DJ, though to introduce myself here. I also thought I'd share my first and only "downtempo" set, originally mixed for my non-dance friends to illustrate the virtues of harmonic theory and the purpose of a DJ with a variety of music.

The style encompasses anything from classical guitar, indie rock, and bagpipes (genre?) to idm, dub, and Bjork (definitely a genre), though somehow makes sense in the end. I've included a tracklist for the curious.

Enjoy and please, please, please...let me know what you think.

-DJAS (andy)

Download: http://rep.undev.org/DJAS-Home.mp3

Tracklist:

@0:00:00 1. Arab Strap - Loch Leven Intro
@0:01:45 2. Locsil - Mistralx
@0:02:49 3. M83 - Let Men Burn Stars
@0:05:00 4. Tall Paul vs. INXS - Precious Heart (Lush Mix)
@0:08:07 5. Way Out West - Earth [Overdub: Tool - Eon Blue Apocalypse]
@0:10:37 6. Voyager One - Life, Truth, and Light
@0:15:05 7. Juno Reactor - Conquistador I
@0:19:04 8. Michael Stearns - Monk With Bell
@0:20:01 9. Thomas Newman - Any Other Name
@0:21:00 10. Bjork - Visur Vatnsenda
@0:24:51 11. Kaki King - Frame
@0:26:36 12. Bjork - So Broken (Live)
@0:32:19 13. Amina - Untitled 1
@0:36:24 14. A Perfect Circle - Over
@0:38:24 15. Venetian Snares - Hiszékeny
@0:40:01 16. Negative Entropy - A Desert Realm of Fish
@0:40:18 17. Sigur Rós - Ba Ba
@0:46:09 18. Tosca - D-Moll
@0:46:48 19. Vertiform - Liquid Japanese
@0:55:44 20. Thursday - A0001
@0:56:06 21. Thursday - |1100
@0:57:38 22. The Books - S Is For Evrysing
@1:00:06 23. Dual Tone - Atom (Dub Massacre 2) [Overdub: William Orbit - Ogive Number 1]
@1:04:57 24. Unkle - Glow
@1:08:13 25. The Beta Band - Broekn Up Adingdong
@1:12:35 26. Mira Calix - Flicker
@1:12:52 27. Mira Calix - Do I Ever?
@1:14:08 28. Aphex Twin - On (Reload Mix)

The Relationship Between Minor and Major Scales

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

This is the second post in a series I am doing on music theory. My previous post dealt with the Camelot Wheel and explained why songs that are a perfect fifth apart mix harmonically. Today I will be explaining how minor and major scales are related.

A major scale is simply a pattern of tones and semitones. To form a major scale, the pattern is tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone - tone - semitone. A minor scale is the same pattern, but it starts on a different note. Here is the pattern for a minor scale: tone - semitone - tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone. Here is what this looks like on the piano with the A Minor (8A) scale:

In comparing this to the C Major (8B) scale, the exact same notes are used, but the scale simply starts on a different note:

Since all of the notes in the two scales are the same, they will almost always mix well together.

There is one other trick that can now be explained - mixing tracks with the same root note, but different scales. About half of the notes in A Major (11B) are different from A Minor (8A), but they are based around the same root note, A:

This lends some harmonic compatibility to songs from both of these scales, and is most definitely worth exploring when you are looking to change things up on the dance floor.

Cheers,
Chad P

The Camelot System and the Circle of Fifths Explained

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

We had a forum member post some questions the other day that I have been meaning to answer in detail for quite some time. The Camelot Wheel is a simplified version of the Circle of Fifths, but how and why does this help us with harmonic mixing?

Let's start with some basic music theory. A western music scale is made up of 8 notes arranged in a pattern of tones and semitones. A semitone is the difference in pitch between any two adjacent keys on the piano. A whole tone, or to save space simply a tone, is the difference between two notes that have one other note in between them - usually a black key, except in the case of notes B and E where there is no adjacent black key to the right.

To form a major scale, the pattern is tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone - tone - semitone. This helps explain why the piano keyboard is laid out the way it is. This pattern is followed by all of the white keys on the piano, forming the C Major scale (8B):

Now that we know what a scale is, we can answer the question of why the Camelot Wheel and the Circle of Fifths work. The tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone - tone - semitone progression that forms a major scale can be transposed to start on any note of the keyboard and you will still get a major scale. If just so happens that if you transpose this pattern a perfect fifth (a perfect fifth is an interval of 7 semitones) you will only have to change one note to get a major scale. Let's look at how this works:

Our original scale was C Major. Counting 7 keys to the right we land on G. Every note in the tone - tone - semitone - tone - tone - tone - semitone pattern starting on G is still one of the white keys, except for F, which we need to raise to F sharp:

So you can see now that both of these scales are made up of almost entirely the same notes. Not only that, but the root notes of the scales are a perfect fifth apart, which our ears are trained to interpret as a pleasing interval. This works great for harmonic mixing because each time you move to the right or left on the Camelot Wheel the root note is changing by a perfect fifth, and only one note in the scale is different.

My next blog post will deal with the relationship between major and minor scales.

Cheers,
Chad P

Platinum Notes 3.0 Beta Testing

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hello to all Mixed In Key and Platinum Notes fans!

We are gearing up for Platinum Notes 3.0, and could use some good beta testers. If you already own a copy of Platinum Notes and would like to help out, just post a reply here specifying your operating system and we'll send a download link to the email address you used to register on the forum. Beta testing should begin sometime next week.

Thanks in advance for all of your valuable feedback, it is much appreciated. Feedback can be sent to contact@mixedinkey.com.

Cheers,

Chad P
Mixed In Key

PS: Please include your first name so we can address you properly.

Paul van Dyk teams up with Mixed In Key

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

Paul van Dyk teamed up with Mixed In Key for his VONYC Sessions Award 2009. The winner will receive all our current and future products w/ lifetime updates for both Windows and Mac OS X.

Enjoy listening to Paul's radio show, and please vote for your favorite artists.

Cheers,
~Yakov
Creator, Mixed In Key

Official Top 20 + Winners announced. Download and listen to MP3s

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hello everyone.

I would like to thank all the contestants who submitted a mix this year. It's great to see how talented and innovative our DJs are.

I also want to congratulate DJs who made it into the Top 20. Your mixes were complex, skillful and amazing to listen to. I am posting them below, so the entire Mixed In Key community can enjoy your extraordinary work.

The top 20 is.....

We have chosen the Top 20 Mixes

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hello, everyone:

We would like to thank everyone who submitted an entry in our DJ contest. We have listened to a lot of innovative harmonic mixes.

After an intense debate, we chose 20 mixes to be sent to our celebrity judging panel. Prepare to be surprised! There is a diverse range of genres represented: Tech house, Breaks, House, Progressive, Electro, Minimal, Techno, Drum and Bass, and more.

Here's the kicker: We're keeping the top 20 list a secret. We want our celebrity DJ panel to know nothing about the contestants so they can judge the technical side without bias.

Next step: Waiting for winner selection from Enferno, High Contrast, Jonas Tempel, Kaskade, Markus Schulz, Paul Oakenfold, and Pete Tong.

How-To: Transpose

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Overview

Transposing is the act of changing the key of a song to another key. For the DJ, transposing can be achieved by changing the tempo or by using software tools like Ableton Live and Traktor. This tutorial will be covering the second method.

How-To

Detect the key of your track, and then locate it on the chart below. The first row of numbers correspond to the inner ring of the Camelot Wheel, the minor keys, and the second row of numbers correspond to the outer wheel, the major keys.

Once you've located the key of your song on the chart, count the number of keys that it takes to get to the key you want to transpose to. For example, if we want to transpose a track that is in 11A (F sharp minor) to 8A (A minor) we would turn our transpose or key knob to a setting of +3.

If you are transposing a track that is is in the key of 10A (B minor) and want to get to 5A (C minor) you would just add one semitone. Think of the keyboard as repeating on either side of the image above, and count as normal.

Audio Quality

Transposing can be a great way to get two songs that normally wouldn't mix together to mesh, but every key that a song is transposed will result in more audio artifacts that will color the sound. Always use the least amount of transposition possible to get to a compatible key.

Bonus Hint

Sometimes you can mix major and minor songs that have the same rootnote, like 5A (C minor) and 8B (C major). Try it out when you're experimenting, it can create an interesting effect.

Cheers,
Chad P

Thank you for the submissions. We are starting the selection process for Top 20.

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

We're downloading all the submissions now. The final count: 960 mixes.

The top 20 best mixes will be chosen soon. Those mixes will be heard by a panel of celebrity DJ judges.

I'll keep you updated via Twitter and this blog. Stay tuned!

Cheers,
Yakov

I posted this on Twitter, but I'm amazed... "Cinnamon Chasers - Luv Deluxe" video

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

This is the best music video I have seen. I watched it 5 times:

Cinnamon Chasers - Luv Deluxe (Official Music Video) from Saman Keshavarz on Vimeo.

Amazing.

Enferno (Madonna's DJ) joins our panel

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

DJ Enferno is Madonna's tour DJ and a live remix master. In 2003, he won the DMC Championship in the US and has been playing complex DJ sets ever since.

There is a great video of him here:

Check out his page as well:

http://www.DJEnferno.com

Pete Tong joins our judging panel

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Just announced: Pete Tong is joining the judging panel. You may know him as the host of the Essential Mix and his own "Pete Tong" show on BBC Radio 1.

Check out his MySpace page and Twitter account.

Cheers!

Mixed In Key announces the 2009 "Harmonic Mixing" DJ Contest

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Our team is launching a massive DJ contest. You are invited to showcase your favorite music genre in a 10-15 minute mix. The contest is open until October 15.

Contest website link: http://contest.mixedinkey.com/

The top winner will receive:

• Cutting-edge “Thinkpad W500” laptop from Lenovo, configured by Mixed In Key for DJing and music production
• Brand-new Native Instruments Komplete 6 bundle - announced on September 1
• Native Instruments Traktor Scratch Pro with the Audio 8 DJ sound card
• Free copies of all current and future Mixed In Key DJ products
• An article and interview with the winning DJ
• Mixed In Key “Gold Winner” award plaque

The Mixed In Key team will listen to each entry and pick the 20 best ones. The judging panel will then choose 5 winners.

For more information, check out the contest website. Good luck!

Pac Mac inspiration

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Sebastian Ingrosso at WMC

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

The long way to Beatport 4.0

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

I am happy to announce that Beatport has launched version 4.0 of their website.

Only a few people know this --

In 2007, I went to their pool party in Miami. I asked their team, "How can I get my software listed on Beatport?” Apparently, I caught their attention. They asked what I wanted from them, and I said "I want you to add a link to Mixed In Key from your homepage – we can do great business together."

Amazingly, they agreed. Within one month, Mixed In Key was featured permanently on Beatport’s homepage. The link stayed there for almost two years.

The team from Beatport, along with Traxsource, DJ Download and Allen & Heath believed in us. They helped us grow. We won't forget that, and we sincerely appreciate what they are doing for us.

So, without further delay, here is Beatport's new website:

www.Beatport.com

The concept is exactly the same, but the samples are longer, the playlist is easier to use, and there is less clutter. It is good work overall.

-----

Here is some personal stuff:

I created a chart to showcase my favorite Beatport tunes at the moment:

Here is a video of Beatport's office. I was actually there when it was being filmed:

I wish these guys the best. Despite the fierce competition between DJ Download, Traxsource and Beatport, we are all in the same boat. We all want the DJ industry to be healthy and strong. We want people to buy music and make fans dance to it. We want to kick the economy's ass.

Let's support each other, and today is Beatport's day -- check out their new website.

DJ Profile: Enferno, Madonna's official DJ

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

DJ Enferno, Madonna's official DJ

From humble beginnings as a mobile event DJ at the age of 16, DJ Enferno has worked his way to the top, winning the DMC USA Finals in 2003 and placing Runner Up at the DMC World Finals. He is now the official tour DJ for Madonna's Sticky and Sweet World Tour.

We recently caught up with DJ Enferno and asked him how Mixed In Key has helped him. He said:

"If you come from a musically trained background, you're more likely to already have an ear for what's in key and what isn't. But if you don't have musical training or perfect pitch, MIK can be a great tool for a number of things. I use it to add another dimension to my club mix sets. At the clubs, I spin a number of genres, including house, hip-hop, rock, and old school. MIK helps me find links between songs of any genre, making transitions between them sound smooth.

I also use MIK in the studio. Before MIK, I was already producing harmonic mashups and remixes. But MIK makes it easier and quicker, allowing you more time to be creative. I apply the same principles when working on my Live Remix Project, where I'm creating music 'live' on the spot. Having all of my music already 'key-tagged' frees up more time for me to concentrate on production and performance."

Here is an example of the Live Remix Project, "Work It Harder"

Enferno (Eric) is a huge inspiration for us -- he's one of the greatest hip hop / all format DJs using Mixed In Key. Check out his page here:
http://www.djenferno.com

~Yakov

Yakov's Advice: How To Design the Perfect DJ Logo

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Musicians and DJs benefit from having a strong brand. It gets you booked more often. Fans will remember your name. You don't need major label support: you can design your own identity.

The most important thing to realize is that most DJs don’t have a logo. If you have a symbol or custom font associated with your name, you’re already ahead of the competition.

Here is how you can design your logo:

1) Your goal is to come up with 5-10 different variations of your DJ name and some symbols that inspire you. Take a pencil and sketch some ideas on paper. Think about the music you play. If it’s friendly and vocal, use smooth and elegant fonts. If it’s minimal and techy, use sharper edges and corners.

2) Ideally, your logo should fill this rectangle:

A horizontal logo is easier to read than a vertical logo.

3) Take the ideas you sketched, and ask your close friends to pick their favorite design. Take the winning sketch, and draw a bigger version of it. Add extra details. For example, Kaskade's logo has vines and leaves:

He plays organic, soulful House Music, and these symbols make sense for him. I like adding small details because they make the logo more interesting.

4) Don’t overthink it – you can always change your design later on. At this point, ask a graphic designer to create your logo in Adobe Illustrator and JPEG formats.

We've worked with many designers over the years, and here is what we learned so far:

1) The best people are in high demand. If you want a professional designer to create your logo from a pencil sketch, it’s best to work with a small boutique agency. Their prices range from 750 to 3000 US dollars. My favorite designer is Antonio from Artifice Studios – he created our Harmonic-Mixing.com logo:

2) If you want to go a different route, you can post a contest on 99 Designs for thousands of freelance designers to compete and create different variations of your sketch. I recommend a guaranteed award of at least $450.

Many people say that 99 Designs is unfair because only one winner gets paid. I understand their point. But, competition is healthy. If an art student wants to spend an hour on my project, is it really that bad? I think it's a nice way to build a graphic design portfolio.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide whether to hire a professional designer or post your project on 99 Designs. I like to do both.

Here is the concept I posted on that site:

I included a detailed description of what I wanted, and got this logo as a result:

Here are the logos I like at the moment:

So give it a shot, it's worth it. Having a great logo can take your fame to a higher level. As soon as you have your final design, start using it everywhere. Build your brand, and earn worldwide recognition.

-Yakov Vorobyev, president of Mixed In Key

Yakov's Advice: Top 5 ways to build the fastest DJ computer

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

I have been building my own computers since I was a teenager. I have learned a lot and I am going to share my advice. If you want to build a perfect computer, read on.

Section 1: Hard Drives

This is the biggest secret in the computer industry: Hard drives are ALWAYS the slowest part of your computer. If you want faster performance, upgrade your hard drive first.

Here are the numbers that you need to know:

160 Gb refers to the size of the hard drive. This doesn’t tell you anything about the speed.

5400, 7200, 10k RPM: This refers to the speed of the hard drive. This is the magic number that you need to know when buying your computer. 5400 hard drives are common today – they are present in nearly all Apple Macbooks, Dell/HP/Toshiba laptops. They are horrendously slow.

An Apple Macbook with a 7200 RPM hard drive is 53% faster than an Apple Macbook with a 5400 RPM hard drive. How else can you upgrade your computer to see a 53% boost? There is nothing else in the world that can do that.

Here is secret #1: Buy a 7200 RPM hard drive for your laptop. You’ll see a great improvement.

So how much better are 10,000 RPM hard drives? They are incredible. You’ll see an additional 30-40% improvement in speed. They aren’t available for laptops, but if you’re building a desktop computer, ALWAYS buy a 10,000 RPM hard drive. Your audio software will load almost instantly.

Section 2: Memory

By default, many computers come with 1 GB of memory. It is barely enough to load Windows or Mac OS X, and it’s absolutely terrible for DJing and production. 3 GB is the magic number that you need for a fast computer as of November 2008.

Here is secret #2: Spend your money on memory instead of CPU speed. Having more memory is better than having a faster CPU. Always buy at least 2 GB, but aim for 3 GB.

Section 3: Video cards

Video cards don’t matter. In 95% of cases, they don’t improve performance of your computer. If you have an option to customize your video card, go for one of the cheapest options available. Save money and invest it into better hard drives and memory instead.

Here is another reason to skip the dedicated video card: It drains battery life. If you’re building a laptop for DJing and music production, use the built-in (“integrated”) video card to add hours of battery life.

Section 4: Optimize your software and operating system

You can improve the performance of your computer by doing three things:

A "custom installation" laptop may have only 50,000 files, while a “Default” installation laptop may have 400,000.

Section 5: Intel X-25

Did you know that Intel makes hard drives? They are the fastest in the world right now. My copy of Traktor Pro loads in a second, and Ableton Live loads almost instantly as well.

Compare the benchmarks:

A computer with a 5400 RPM hard drive reads files at about 45 megabytes per second. An Intel X-25 Hard Drive reads files at 250 Mb per second. My hard drive is literally 5 times faster than an average 5400 RPM hard drive.

If you want the best performance from your laptop or desktop, get the Intel X-25. It’s like a Ferrari Enzo compared to a Geo Metro. It costs $625, but it’s the best improvement you can make to any computer.

Buy Intel X-25M from Amazon.com

Extra advice:

On CPUs: Notice how I didn’t mention CPUs. They do not matter. CPUs are rarely maxed out because they are so fast already. My recommendation is to buy a mid-range CPU to save money. Other components are more important.

On the subject of monitors: If you want a perfect computer monitor for your desktop, consider the Dell Ultrasharp 24"

If you are buying a laptop, pay careful attention to your screen. My recommendation is to choose a MATTE display, not a glossy display. They are easier to see outside, you won’t see your own reflection, and they are much more beautiful.

There are only two companies that make matte displays. They are Apple and Lenovo (formerly, IBM). If you want a Mac-based laptop, get the Macbook Pro with a matte display. If you want an awesome Windows laptop, get the Thinkpad T500. It’s the best Windows laptop in the world right now, and it’s not expensive.

Please DIGG this page if you agree.

Interested in creating your own software? Check out BizSpark

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

Here is a little-known secret: If you qualify, you can get all Microsoft software for free. You can download unlimited copies of Windows Vista, Windows XP, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, SQL Server, and much more.

What’s the catch? You have to be a software developer. About a month ago, I learned that Microsoft has created a benefits program called "BizSpark" to help companies like Mixed In Key LLC. I signed up, and I was able to download any product that Microsoft has ever created.

If you are a software developer, you may qualify for the BizSpark program as well. You are eligible if:

You are developing a software product or service that generates revenue for your company

Your company must be privately held, in business for less than 3 years, and must earn less than 1 million dollars in annual revenue.

Consider this: Microsoft wants small companies to succeed in tough economic times. This program enables companies like ours to create great software for our customers. In return, Microsoft gets “good will” and lots of software created for the Windows operating system.

Check out the Microsoft BizSpark website for start-ups, and Microsoft Dreamspark for students.

I love this approach -- Microsoft rocks.

-Yakov Vorobyev
President, Mixed In Key

GREAT NEWS: Mixed In Key Version 4.0 is now available!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends.

We have great news! Version 4.0 is ready for launch:

Check out the Homepage to see more:

www.MixedInKey.com

The full version still costs only $58.

Do you already have a VIP Code for Version 3.0? Upgrade your VIP Code

New Features

Improved algorithm for the world's best DJs.

You can now copy "Browse Collection" results into multiple collections. This makes playlist management very easy.

Edit information and ID3 tags of each song -- a simple way to organize your music.

If the song doesn't sound perfect (the volume is too loud, it has too many clipped peaks, the song is off-key, etc), Mixed In Key will show a gentle warning. It will suggest how to improve your MP3 or WAV files to make them sound great.

Create keywords for each song to make them easy to find. Type in words like "anthem" or "fall 2008" and search for them later.

Cool new feature -- "Elite Mode"
Tons of tweaks to make the software even better.

Winner of the "Best DJ Tool" 2008 Award

Awarded "Best DJ Tool of 2008" in the annual DJ Mag Tech Awards (October 2008)

New Quotes

BT (Brian Transeau) says... "This software kicks a huge ass. No more sitting with a synth to key my tracks. A must-have for anyone interested in mixing harmonically."

David Guetta says... "I have been using harmonic mixing for many years, but I had to find keys with a keyboard. Mixed In Key is as good, in less time. Magic!"

Enjoy Version 4.0! Thank you for buying our software.

Official homepage link.

Mixed In Key acquires Harmonic-Mixing.com

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

PRESS RELEASE

MIXED IN KEY ACQUIRES HARMONIC-MIXING.COM

Washington D.C. - August 13, 2008 - Mixed In Key LLC has announced the acquisition of Harmonic-Mixing.com, an educational website for DJ’s to learn harmonic mixing, a professional DJ technique that eliminates key clashes.

“As the inventor of the Camelot notation and the Camelot wheel, Harmonic-Mixing.com has changed the face of DJ’ing. This system enables thousands of professional DJ’s to play creative sets, create mash-ups on the fly and sound highly polished and professional,” said Yakov Vorobyev, President of Mixed In Key. “Mark Davis from Harmonic-Mixing.com is the secret behind Mixed In Key’s success and we are proud to announce this acquisition because it will bring our resources together. We will teach more DJ’s about harmonic mixing and will promote Harmonic-Mixing.com as a helpful information portal.”

Launched in 2006, Mixed In Key quickly gained recognition in the DJ arena and is currently used by thousands of professional DJs, as well as GRAMMY®-winning producers. In late 2006, Mixed In Key became a software partner of British mixer manufacturer, Allen & Heath Ltd.

Mixed in Key’s acquisition of Harmonic-Mixing.com includes all copyrights and trademarks for the Camelot notation, Camelot wheel and the www.harmonic-mixing.com website.

“I am very pleased to enter this new relationship with Mixed In Key. Harmonic mixing is an introduction to music theory, which is the core of music education. It is our belief that music education improves cognitive functioning, which in turn improves intelligence. We want to increase the DJ’s understanding of music everywhere in the world,” said Mark Davis, owner of Harmonic-Mixing.com.

Website links:

www.harmonic-mixing.com
www.mixedinkey.com
www.allen-heath.com

About Mixed In Key LLC

Mixed In Key LLC is a DJ-powered company launched in Washington, D.C. Founded by Yakov Vorobyev in early 2006, Mixed In Key LLC quickly gained recognition for creating the #1 harmonic mixing DJ tool of the same name. Mixed In Key software is currently used by tens of thousands of professional DJs, as well as GRAMMY®-winning producers. In late 2006, Mixed In Key became a software partner of Allen & Heath Ltd, the English company responsible for creating premium-quality DJ equipment.

About Harmonic-Mixing.com

Harmonic-Mixing.com is an educational website created by Mark Davis in 1998. Over the last 10 years, Harmonic-Mixing.com has served as the primary resource for DJs to learn about harmonic mixing. Mark Davis is the also inventor of the Camelot wheel and the Camelot notation, the de-facto standards for key mixing.

About Allen & Heath

Established for nearly 40 years, Allen & Heath designs and manufactures professional audio mixing consoles for an international clientele in the live sound, installed systems and nightclub markets.

Press contact: Yakov Vorobyev (yakov@mixedinkey.com)

This brought a huge smile to my face

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Graffiti -- Wall animation

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

This is crazy if it's real.

Kaskade Top 10 - Our favorite House music

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

Our friend Kaskade has posted his favorite chart on http://www.Traxsource.com

Check it out!

1. Mike Dunn pres. The MD X-Spress - "The ER Track" (Mike & Skatta Man Waiting Room Mixx)

2. Datakid - "Shake Well" 5:35

3. Lil Mo Yin Yang - "Reach 2008" (TV ROCK Mix) 8:20

4. Danism feat. Haze - "Mesmerise" (Original Mix) 6:47

5. Joey Youngman - "Double Stacked" 7:21

6. Late Night Alumni - "I Knew You When" 3:42

7. Knee Deep - "Darlin" 6:14

8. Jimpster - "Dangly Panther EP" 6:53

9. Jerome Sydenham - "Negus" 4:35

10 . Tiger Stripes feat. Hanna Hais - "Consecration" (Dub) 6:37

MixedInKey.com downtime earlier today

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear All,

Mixed In Key was down for approximately 4 hours today. I am very upset about this. Mixed In Key has excellent uptime (it's down no more than 30 minutes every month), so this is a terrible thing to happen on a Friday. I know that Fridays are imporant for many DJs because we have DJ gigs coming up. We need to analyze our music. I sincerely apologize about the downtime and the problem we caused by not having a more reliable web host.

We will have a serious talk with our web hosting company about this unexpected downtime. We hope that this never happens again, and that we'll remain at under 30 minutes of maintenance per month.

Once again, please accept our sincere apologies about the technical problems we had today. We'll do the best we can to fix it if it happens again. For now, let's get back to DJing and good luck this weekend.

All the best,
Yakov Vorobyev
President, Mixed In Key

Mixed In Key and Morgan Page Remix Contest!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi Everyone!

We are excited to offer you a great way to get some publicity and great software from Mixed In Key!

We are hosting a contest to create the best mash-up of Morgan Page's "The Longest Road." This contest is sponsored by Nettwerk, the major music label that has worked with Sarah McLachlan, DJ Tiesto, BT, and many others. Morgan Page is one of their artists, and he's a big fan of Mixed In Key. This is a perfect opportunity for you to get noticed by a major label that works with electronic dance music artists.

We will give away free copies of Mixed In Key and Platinum Notes to the top 3 winners. Entries must be submitted prior to May 23rd, and the winners will be announced on May 30th.

Visit MixedInKey.com/MorganPage.aspx for details and to get the acapella and remix parts.

Cheers,

Chad

Provide feedback for Mixed In Key

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

We came up with a new way to improve Mixed In Key's algorithms. Instead of updating our technology based on our own music, we want you to send us your favorite tracks by using the dropbox below.

Our developers and musicians will analyze your music for research. We promise to keep your music private.

To participate, please upload a .ZIP file with 15-20 MP3s of your favorite tracks. Our dropbox allows uploads up to 300mb per file.

Here is the link:

Click here to send us your favorite DJ tracks

Show us what music you love!

Thank you,
Yakov

Yakov's photos from Miami 2008 (Paul Van Dyk, Pete Tong)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

For the second time in a row, I went to beautiful Miami Beach for the Winter Music Conference.

(First thing I saw in Miami)

(Here are my friends Viggo, Boge and Frank from Norway)

(Here's Kaskade and I -- our entire crew attended the Grammy panel at WMC, and I met Kaskade to talk about his upcoming album)

(I met Paul Van Dyk to talk about Mixed In Key and ask for his feedback)

(Beatport parties are full of good people and talented DJs)

(These are my friends Jonas Tempel, the CEO of Beatport, and Sam, one of his business partners. Jonas was hanging out onstage at Mansion for Roger Sanchez's night. It was one of the best WMC events I've ever been to)

Next day, we sponsored the Vital Talent event at Gansevoort hotel. Vital Talent is a booking agency for Sasha and Digweed, Moby and many others.

(Views from the Gansevoort hotel)

(This is Hernan Cattaneo, a very talented DJ and a good friend)

Back on South Beach, I went to the Sagamore Hotel for BBC's Essential Mix show.

It was packed from start to finish:

(Dan Rosenthal, a super cool guy and Paul Oakenfold's manager at Perfecto Records)

(My personal hero, Pete Tong. This photo is special for me because Pete inspired me to play House music and create Mixed In Key software.)

(Too many Mojito's at Radio1 events)

(I met The Scumfrog at Crobar, and went to lunch with him the next day. If you're on South Beach, Pelican has the best food. His friend on the left is Static Revenger, another talented musician)

(Ultra on Saturday, Carl Cox headlining. The festival was very good, but I am starting to be too old to go there -- Most fans were under the age of 21)

Last day in Miami:

(Relaxing on Sunday morning)

(Nice cars outside my restaurant)

In summary, I loved WMC :) I had the best time ever. I met my business associates (Traxsource, Beatport, friends from Native Instruments), talked with my favorite DJs, sponsored a VIP event, went to see great DJ shows.

My favorite show was Kaskade at Crobar. My second-favorite was Roger Sanchez at Mansion. I'd love to see both of them again.

What was your favorite WMC moment?

Best way to get into any club -- be a DJ

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

How to look best in the club

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

I am scared. For more hilarious footage, click here.

Hernan Cattaneo does an Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

I just heard that Hernan Cattaneo has done an Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1. Hernan played the best DJ set of WMC last year, so I am very excited about this mix.

Listen to the mix here.

Track listing:

Programme Intro) Hernan Cattaneo & John Tinks ‘Anime (Sequential Remix)’ (Urbantorque)
(Mix Intro) Kraftwerk ‘La Forme (King Of The Mountains Mix By Hot Chip)’ (EMI)
Kimouts ‘Down To Earth’ (Buzzin Fly)
Martin Buttrich ‘Stoned Autopilot’ (Planet E)
Code Talkers ‘Its Amazing’ (Fade Records)
Ralph Falcon ‘The Dig (Radio Slave Remix)’ (Renaissance)
The Jinks ‘Man Up (Tiger Stripes Dub)’ (Jinks Inc Records)
Kenny Hawkes & David Parr ‘The Boobytrap’ (Arcobaleno)
Mario Zar & Marco Berto ‘Infrared (Presslaboys Mix)’ (Viva Music)
Thomas Schwartz ‘Jupiter Caliing’ (The Clubbers)
Mos ‘Zero’ (CDR)
Chymera ‘The Pillar In My Heart’ (Tishomingo)
Kosmas Epsilon ‘Wild Beach’ (Soul Glow)
Hernan Cattaneo & John Tonks ‘Anime (Rocco Dub Remix)’ (Urbantorque)
Hernan Cattaneo & John Tonks ‘Anime (Rocco Main Remix)’ (Urbantorque)
Torro Remote ‘Prog100′ (CDR)
Julien Parise ‘A5b’ (Imprime Records)
Gel Abril ‘Your Face Is A Mess (Deetron Remix)’ (Be As One)
Underworld ‘Beautiful Burnout (Julio Torres Mix)’ (CDR)
Chemical Brothers ‘The Test (Daneel Bootleg Remix)’ (CDR)
Applescal ‘Joey’s Mouse’ (Groovecollection Records)

MP3 download links: http://www.gigasize.com/get.php?d=7q640vz6qrc

http://uploaded.to/?id=b3ly0z
http://uploaded.to/?id=00ejmu

http://depositfiles.com/files/3569856
http://depositfiles.com/files/3569867

Hernan wrote a great testimonial for Mixed In Key, "Mixed in key is really good piece of software, very useful for DJs." It's great to see our friends get this kind of publicity.

DJ Tutor video about XONE Mixed In Key

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

DJ Tutor (ellaskins) has posted this video in his YouTube channel. Check it out:

He just did two more, you can view them by clicking on the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oze9iA60DEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PerB7-svnk&feature=related

Kaskade interview: "People must hear the soul"

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

Mixed In Key has recently interviewed Kaskade (Ryan Raddon), an incredible House Music producer from San Francisco. Kaskade's music is loved by DJs and fans from all over the world.

Our goal was to learn his production techniques and share them with our Community.

Click here to read Kaskade's interview

Kaskade is a happy Mixed In Key user on the Mac OS X platform.

Please post your feedback, and we'll forward your questions to him!

Kaskade productions:

The Secret DJ Technique: How To Create the Perfect DJ Mix

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

I am going to tell you about a special DJ technique that is used by hundreds of top DJs. It will help you create a perfect DJ mix that gets heard by thousands of people. If you release and sell your CDs, this mix will get higher review scores. If you're making a mix for your friends, there's a higher chance that they will burn it onto CDs and copy it to their iPods. This magic "sauce" creates the perfect DJ mix.

Here is how you do it:

1) Your first track must be an instrumental (no vocals)

2) Your second track must have vocals

3) The duration of your first track must be shorter than 2 minutes 30 seconds

4) The duration of your second track must be shorter than 4 minutes

5) All subsequent tracks must be shorter than 5 minutes

Your DJ sets will sound much better. DJ Tiesto has used this technique hundreds of times in his DJ sets. Try it yourself and hear how good it sounds.

-DJ Yakov

Please Digg This!

The 100 best...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Great list! I recommend watching all of those movies if you haven't seen them yet.

Complete BPM List Posted Online - Harmonic-Mixing.com

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

From Camelot Sound: We have now posted a FREE Artist/Title/BPM list of over 55,000 records on our harmonic mixing website. (Musician-reported keys, of course, are available to customers for each track.) Check it out at http://www.harmonic-mixing.com

PS: Note from Yakov - All "Camelot Sound" results are hand-keyed by a professional musician, and cover the last two decades of music. It's a great catalog of results if you're looking for mash-up ideas and songs to remix.

An overview of harmonic mixing methods

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

Here is an overview of the most popular harmonic mixing methods. You can reply to this topic to add your own techniques.

Here are the best harmonic mixing methods:

1) The best mix requires you to stay in the same keycode. For example, mix from 10A to 10A. It will be perfect every time.

2) Mixing -1 or +1 from your current keycode. For example, 10A can go to 9A or 11A. This is how DJs move around the Camelot circle for smooth harmonic mixing.

3) Changing the letter: For example, 10A to 10B, or vice versa. This is how you can go from inner circle to outer circle on the Camelot wheel. In music theory, it means you're mixing into the Relative Major, or Relative Minor keys. It's a smooth mix as well.

Modulation mixing

Modulation mixing creates an interesting effect on the dance floor. For example, you can raise and lower the energy by playing a specific sequence of keys.

You should never overlay two tracks using modulation mixing. Only quick cuts will sound good.

Here are some modulation mixes:

4) Mixing +2 from your original keycode. For example, 10A to 12A. Great mix.

5) Mixing -2 from your original keycode. For example, 10A to 8A. This lowers the energy and cools off the dance floor (to a point that people might stop dancing). Not advisable.

6) Mixing from absolute Minor to absolute Major (like 10A to 1B, or vice versa). This causes a pretty bad key clash, but it's an interesting transition.

7) Mixing +7 (for example, 10A to 5A). This mix clashes horribly. It's the "little brother" of the Energy Boost mix, but I prefer not to use it. +2 sounds better than +7.

8) Mixing -7 (for example, 10A to 3A). This mix clashes badly as well, plus it lowers the energy. Guaranteed way to make people stop dancing and go home.

My favorite methods are #1 through #4. For the sake of learning, try #5 - #7. Avoid method #8 because mixing -7 is bad for business.

In summary, modulation mixing will always key clash. If you use this technique, you are looking to create a "special effect" on the dance floor such as raising or lowering the energy. It's a good technique to use in between smooth mixing provided by methods #1 through #4.

Best stand-up comedy

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Lee Evans - XL Tour 2005 - The best bits

Lee Evans is my favorite comedian :)

Mixed In Key questions -- Tell us about yourself!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

We want to learn more about your DJ style. Please tell us more about yourself:

1. What was your earliest memorable experience with music?

2. What’s your favorite DJ software and hardware? What do you like about them?

3. What do you bring with you when you are DJing?

4. Who is your favorite DJ and why?

Cheers!

P.S. Feel free to post your twitter account if you have one : )

Shane 54 interview: "There are no rules in music."

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

We have interviewed one of our favorite DJs, Shane 54. He has recorded the famous 5-minute Megamix posted on the Mixed In Key website, and has inspired many people to learn harmonic mixing.

Here is the full interview on MixedInKey.com

Check it out and post your thoughts.

Improvements in Version 3.0.1 for Windows

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We have made significant improvements to Mixed In Key for Windows. We are very happy with how it came out.

Version 3.0.1 improvements:

Fixed all decoding problems with MP3 files
Fixed all known crash bugs
Made sure that file renaming and ID3 writing work correctly every time
Improved drag-and-drop for both Windows Vista and XP
Improved performance of "Analyze Songs" window
Included the ability to double-click on a result in "Browse Collection", and play the file even if it was renamed
Fixed the Windows Media Player bug
Added "Export to Excel" function for individual Collections
Re-added the ability to analyze networked drives
Re-added the ability to analyze folders located on your Desktop
Added network proxy support
Implemented drag-and-drop for multiple folders into the "Analyze Songs" window

How to download the free update

Please open your copy of Mixed In Key 3.0 for Windows, and click on the "Download Latest Version" button. You will be able to download this version for free, as always.

Buying the new version

If you are new to Mixed In Key, please buy the full version online for just $58 USD. Here is the digital download link. We hope to have you on-board soon!

Cheers,
Yakov

We just released Platinum Notes 1.0 Beta for Windows

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

We are looking for beta-testers to help test the Windows version of Platinum Notes. If testing goes well, the final version will be released on Saturday.

If you've purchased Platinum Notes already, please e-mail me and ask for a download link! My email is yakov@mixedinkey.com and I'll be happy to invite you into the beta.

Cheers,
Yakov

Anyone seen this video

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct_P3ajs7Oo

LMAO

Support topic: How we are solving the MP3 decoding bug in Windows

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

As our community grows, we keep getting reports that Windows versions of our software are struggling to decode certain MP3 files. Instead of being able to analyze and process MP3s, our software shows a message like "Cannot decode MP3, please convert to WAV manually."

Here is how we are fixing this problem:

1) If the MP3 file's ID3 tags are damaged in any way, Mixed In Key may fail to analyze those files. We have hired a new developer to create a plug-in that corrects ID3 tags on the fly. The next version of our software will analyze MP3s with "damaged" ID3 tags correctly.

2) Other audio/video software may have a conflict with Mixed In Key. We know that PowerDVD, ROXIO 10, InterDVD and Samsung PC Studio can cause Mixed In Key to stop reading MP3 files.

Our new solution is to bypass the default Windows decoding and specify which codec we want to use. It means that regardless of what software you have installed on your Windows computer, Mixed In Key will work correctly every time.

3) We are creating a back-up solution that uses our previous MP3 decoding method. If the modern Version 3.0 method does not work despite solutions #1 and #2, our software will create a temporary WAV file and analyze that instead.

Fixing this problem is our top priority, and we are working as fast as we can. Please rest assured that we will post a working solution as soon as we finish it.

Many thanks for your patience and kind support,
Yakov Vorobyev
President, Mixed In Key

Mixed In Key "status update" - Our progress in the last month

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

It's time for another status update.

1) Since launching approximately 6 weeks ago, Mixed In Key Version 3.0 software has analyzed over 2,500,000 audio files. It's a huge milestone for us, and we are happy that so many talented DJs use Mixed In Key.

2) We celebrate the fact that many of our DJs are getting into music production. We keep hearing great releases from Mixed In Key fans. To give our producers more exposure, we are planning a music remix contest. The winning remix will be released on our upcoming Mixed In Key music label. There will be cash prizes.

3) We are creating a new section for our Community. Stay tuned for a major announcement soon.

4) Last, but not least -- both Mixed In Key software and Platinum Notes will be updated in the near future. We're fixing bugs and making both products even better. As always, all updates are free.

Some non-Mixed In Key-related news:

Our friends at Ableton are working on Live 7. Live 7 will be a major upgrade, and we recommend that everyone downloads the demo version when it becomes available. We love Ableton's team and we support their work. I have personally beta-tested Live 7 and I love how it works.

Not to be outdone, our friends at Native Instruments have just released Traktor 3.3. It's stable, reliable, and perfect software for digital DJs. Read more about Traktor to see if it's a good fit for you.

Thank you for your great support, and feel free to ask any questions! We'd love to hear what you guys are working on.

Cheers,
Yakov

DJ Magazine Top 100 - Harmonic Mixing

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

DJ Mag has just posted results of their top 100 poll.

Here are the winners for 2007:

1. ARMIN VAN BUUREN (Harmonic mixing DJ)

2. TIESTO

3. JOHN DIGWEED (Harmonic mixing DJ)

4. PAUL VAN DYK (Harmonic mixing DJ)

5. SASHA (Harmonic mixing DJ)

6. ABOVE & BEYOND

7. CARL COX

8. FERRY CORSTEN

9. INFECTED MUSHROOM

10. DAVID GUETTA

11. DEEP DISH (Ali Dubfire is harmonic)

12. PAUL OAKENFOLD (Harmonic mixing DJ)

13. MARKUS SCHULZ

14. HERNAN CATTANEO (Harmonic mixing DJ)

15. SANDER VAN DOORN

16. EDDIE HALLIWELL

17. JAMES ZABIELA (Harmonic mixing DJ)

18. ASTRIX

19. RICHIE HAWTIN

20. MARCO V (Harmonic mixing DJ)

Nice results :) 9 out of Top 20 DJs in the DJ Mag poll use harmonic mixing. Please support them if they visit your city!

Cheers,
Yakov

Chad P. joins the Mixed In Key team

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

A new person named Chad has joined our team. Chad will be helping with community tasks and with marketing. He is a bright and enthusiastic guy and we're excited to have him on-board. Chad will help improve Mixed In Key through his attention to DJ feedback and his understanding of the music scene. It means that free Mixed In Key updates will come more often, and with great new features.

Welcome on-board Chad! :)

-Yakov

Hernan Cattaneo's testimonial

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

We just heard back from Hernan Cattaneo, the famous South-American DJ. Hernan writes, "Mixed in key is really good piece of software, very usefull for DJs."

We love his mixing, so it's an honor to have him on-board. Hernan's page is here:

www.HernanCattaneo.com

MySpace: Hernan Cattaneo @ MySpace.com

Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_In_Key

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

We started a Wikipedia.org article about the history of Mixed In Key: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_In_Key

Please contribute if there is anything important we missed. Please make sure that your edits are appropriate given Wikipedia's policy -- we followed Ableton's article as the template.

The main harmonic mixing article is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_mixing

Winners of the "DJ Equipment Giveaway"

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Winners have been chosen at random from everyone who bought our software in the past.

Random winners for giveaway #1 are:

Bruce G. won the $50 Beatport Gift Certificate -- (Mixed In Key purchase on 5/10/2007)

Rita G. won the $50 Beatport Gift Certificate -- (Mixed In Key purchase on 4/25/2007)

Phillipe M. won the $250 Allen & Heath DJ Headphones -- (Platinum Notes purchase on 9/21/2007)

Cris C. win the $700 Allen & Heath XONE:2D Mixer -- (Mixed In Key purchase on 12/01/2006)

Join our newsletter to receive our next DJ Equipment giveaway + best harmonic mixing information:

Click here to join our Mixed In Key newsletter

Please remember -- if you buy our software, you are automatically entered to win DJ Equipment. Our next giveaway will be announced soon.

Here is our previous contest from our Newsletter:

In celebration of this launch, we are announcing a free prize giveaway. Every customer who bought our software from the launch of our company until September 25th (the Tuesday of next week) will be eligible to win one of four prizes.

The prizes are:

Four winners will be selected at random to receive the above prizes. If you've been holding out, now is a great time to buy Mixed In Key. For the next 7 days, all new purchases will be eligible for our random giveaway list.

The rule is: Each purchase counts as one entry. If you buy separate copies for Windows and Mac OS X, your email will be entered twice. Please remember that we ask all DJs to purchase a second copy if you use Windows and Mac OS X platforms at the same time. DJs who purchase Platinum Notes are also entered into the giveaway automatically.

This giveaway is a token of our appreciation for our DJ community. Thank you for your great support over the last 18 months.

You can buy Mixed in Key 3.0 here:

It's a digital download, so it will be delivered to you via e-mail. For the Allen & Heath version, please visit Xone.MixedInKey.com

You can also reply to this e-mail if you have any questions. We are happy to help.

Stay tuned, and you'll be entered into our next giveaway as well!

Congratulations to DJs who won this random drawing.

-Yakov
Mixed In Key

Mixed In Key has analyzed over one million files

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Version 3.0 has analyzed 1,000,000 files in the first two weeks after the launch. That's approximately 24,000 GB (24 terabytes) of music. Everything is running smoothly and we're proud to have so many talented DJs on-board. Thank you for all your feedback.

Please tell your friends about our software!

Thank you,
Yakov

Wedding of Nathalie and Yakov from Mixed In Key

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We have exciting news. Nathalie and I are getting married tomorrow, Saturday, September 29th. Nathalie is a big part of Mixed In Key and we're proud that our company has remained a "family" business.

It's a hectic time for us, but we are very excited about our wedding. Our email responses will be slow in the next several days. Personal life is very important right now. Thank you for your patience, and we will get back to you soon :)

Here is a picture of us from our favorite beach in St. John:

Wedding pictures will come after the wedding ;)

Premier "beta" program invitation

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce a new beta program for Mixed In Key. We are inviting the most experienced Mixed In Key users into our new team called "Premier." The goal of "Premier" is to improve Mixed In Key's algorithm by finding hard-to-detect MP3 files.

Here is how the process works:

1) A special "Premier" version of Mixed In Key scans your music files, and generates a harmonic signature for every file.

2) Hard-to-detect files are flagged as "should be analyzed by professional musicians."

3) The "Premier" version shows you which files we'd like to analyze manually. You can pick which files you are OK with sharing.

4) Once you click submit, your MP3 files are uploaded directly to us for manual analysis by two professional musicians.

5) The improved version of the algorithm will show up in Version 3.1

The privacy implications are:

"Premier" version knows which files you are analyzing (regular Mixed In Key Version 3.0 does not)

Your MP3 music is shared directly with us for musician analysis

To join the "Premier" program, we ask that you have the following qualifications:

You must be a Mixed In Key customer for at least 6 months

You don't mind sending your MP3s to our musicians

You are currently using a Windows PC

If you are a Mixed In Key customer, you could help us improve the algorithm. We look forward to having you on-board!

You can post a reply here, or email us at contact@mixedinkey.com to let us know that you're interested.

Thank you,
Yakov

Amazon.com launches a new MP3 download store

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Amazon.com has launched a new music store where you can download high-quality MP3s.

Here is the link: Amazon.com MP3 Downloads

I wonder what bitrate are their MP3 files?

Re-cap of Mixed In Key 3.0 launch - 100,000 files in 24 hours

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Version 3 launch was a big success. In the first 24 hours, Mixed In Key's online server analyzed 100,000 files. Everything worked perfectly. It was a smooth launch, and we appreciate everyone's feedback and ideas for next versions.

In case you're wondering, we cannot see what files are being analyzed. We have a total count, but that's it. We are committed to protecting your data, so we have a strong privacy policy that applies to everything we do.

Thank you again for your feedback. Please let us know if you have any questions! Our email address is contact@mixedinkey.com

I am going back to work :)

Cheers,
Yakov

The difference between Original and Xone Mixed In Key

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Mixed In Key comes in two versions. We have our Original version, but we also created a special edition for Allen & Heath called "Xone Mixed In Key"

Here is the Original screenshot (Windows):

Here is the Allen & Heath screenshot (Windows):

The color schemes are different, but the functionality is exactly the same. Both products get free lifetime updates.

Editors Note: We no longer offer free lifetime updates. This was a promotion that ended on April 15, 2008.

Links

Original website: http://www.MixedInKey.com

XONE website: http://Xone.MixedInKey.com

"Innovative New Product" nomination and our August newsletter

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

From: Nathalie and Yakov, Mixed In Key LLC

	1. Mixed In Key is nominated for the "Innovative New Product" award Dear Friends, DJ Magazine has nominated Mixed In Key as an "Innovative New Product" for their 2007 Tech Awards. To win, we need your vote! If you're a fan of Harmonic Mixing and you want us to beat Korg, JBL, Vestax and Numark, please vote for us: (Voting finished) We're in the first category. Your vote will help us win this great award.
	2. Platinum Notes for Mac OS X Our audio-mastering software is now available for Mac OS X! If you're a Mac-based DJ like Paul Van Dyk and John Digweed, you should get the latest version from this link: Platinum Notes will do the following: It will give your MP3 files perfect volume so you can DJ without tweaking the gain It will correct the pitch of every song so you can enjoy on-key harmonic mixing even if the song was detuned before It will fix clipped peaks so there is no distortion in the song Hundreds of DJs currently use Platinum Notes. We look forward to having you on-board with either the Windows or the Mac version. If you need the Windows version, please download it here: Just a kind reminder: Platinum Notes uses the best technology from iZotope (makers of Ozone) and Zplane Development (the makers of Mixed In Key's key detection algorithm).
	4. Five star review I-DJ has recently reviewed Mixed In Key and gave it 5/5 stars. The verdict was: "A stunning piece of software that is a must buy for any DJ," along with an "I-DJ Approved Innovation" award. We scanned the review for our DJs to read. Click here for the large version:
	5. Get new music from Beatport Our friends at Beatport offer a huge collection of dance music. We've shopped on their website for over two years: Buy new dance music from Beatport We discovered a great dance music store called Play It Tonight. It has DJ music that you may not find anywhere else. Please visit their website if you want to download exclusive 320 Kbps MP3s for your DJ collection: Get exclusive tunes from Play It Tonight 5. Our website links: MixedInKey.com -- Our harmonic mixing software that we sell for $58 US (instant digital download). Xone.MixedInKey.com -- The Allen & Heath version with a XONE color scheme -- check it out if you love Allen. & Heath mixers PlatinumNotes.com -- Our audio mastering software that gets your MP3s ready for flawless mixing. Stay tuned for free giveaways! ~Nathalie and Yakov Mixed In Key

Great sounds in dance music -- learning where they came from

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Here is a page that documents the history of dance music and where all the great samples came from:

http://www.synthmania.com/Famous%20Sounds.htm

Great way to spend an hour :)

What have we been working on? Answers inside!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

The short answer is:

Everything!

1) Platinum Notes on Mac just got released for public beta testing.

2) We finished most of the development work for Mixed In Key Version 3.0 This will be a free upgrade available to customers in late August.

3) We are updating our website to include new testimonials. We hope to hear from John Digweed soon -- he's been using Mixed In Key and he is enthusiastic about our work.

4) Community will get a nice upgrade when we get closer to Version 3 release.

5) We will post new magazine articles soon -- we've gotten great reviews and notable mentions in DJ Mag, I-DJ, Promo Only and several other publications.

6) We're putting together a DJ Shopping Guide to make amazing music easier to find. We know a few hidden ways to find cool tunes online, and we'll link to them.

On top of that, I just turned 25 today, so I am celebrating :) Thank you for your continous support and encouragement.

Onward!
~Yakov
Mixed In Key

Mac OS X version of Platinum Notes -- Available now!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Patrick, Nathalie and I are proud to release Platinum Notes for Mac OS X. It is available as a digital download right now:

Platinum Notes will process your audio files and make them sound great. The program costs $98.00 USD and will be delivered by email as soon as your payment is processed.

Right now, our Mac version is still "beta". We welcome all user feedback and we will promptly answer any support questions.

We want to take this opportunity to thank iZotope, Inc. (makers of Ozone) and Zplane (makers of Mixed In Key algorithms) for letting us license their best technology and making this product possible.

Cool article about Fatboy Slim

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

The Independent (UK) published a cool article about Fatboy Slim and some of his boating adventures:

http://travel.independent.co.uk/europe/article2740931.ece I came across it on some random blog but liked it enough to re-post here... It looks like DJs/producers have pretty interesting lives outside of the dance music business :)

MySpace -- Mixed In Key finally gets a profile page!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Mixed In Key now has a profile on MySpace.com. Please add us as your friend, and we'll do the same so people can see that you use harmonic mixing!

MySpace page: myspace.com/mixedinkey

Cheers,
Yakov

Mixed In Key is getting dedicated hosting

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We are moving to a new dedicated server. We've outgrown our shared hosting plan, and we need to get better hardware in preparation for Mixed In Key 3.0 launch.

Over the next few days, we'll post updates about our transition. You may experience short delays with website, but your ability to use Mixed In Key software will not be affected.

We're moving to the next stage of Mixed In Key development :)

Cheers,
Yakov

Mixed In Key team patents a new method for key detection

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Today is a proud day for everyone else on the Mixed In Key team. We filed our first-ever patent with the US Patent Office and it was accepted.

We invented a new process for key detection that will show up in Mixed In Key Version 3. It will show you how much the song is detuned and whether several keys fit the song. The new technology will provide more information about every file that you analyze.

It's an amazing feeling to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather who received many patents from the Russian Patent Office in the 1950s, 60s and 70s for his inventions in electrical engineering. I am happy to invent a new technology that will help our fellow DJs.

What's next for Platinum Notes?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Two updates about Platinum Notes:

1) Our Windows version is moving ahead quickly and should reach Version 1.0 soon

2) Our Mac OS X version is going through "beta" builds this week and we're working hard to release it this summer

Overall, we're making excellent progress and both products are getting ready for magazine reviews :)

We're also creating a demo version of Platinum Notes so you can try this product before you purchase it. Please stay tuned for more updates and feel free to ask your questions here.

Here we go -- Platinum Notes 0.95 Official Release

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We just released Platinum Notes version 0.95.

Every customer will receive a download link by e-mail shortly. Please let us know if you have any questions and we'll be happy to help.

Main improvements are:

1) Increased stability

2) Ability to analyze certain MP3 files that could not be analyzed before

3) Copy ID3 tags from original to processed files

4) Improved processing for acapellas and tracks with long breakdowns

5) Slightly tweaked bass on loud sound systems

The quality of this release should be wonderful. We are getting closer to the official Version 1.0 release!

Sincerely,
Yakov

Mashup video. Queen vs Outkast

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi
One of my most popular mashups finally got a video.

Enjoy!!

youtube video

kind regards
djprince
www.djprince.no

We just released Version 2.8 for Mac OS X!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We have a surpise for you. We are releasing Mac OS X Version 2.8 today! It contains the following major improvements:

Automatic tempo detection

File renaming

Advanced ID3 tag support

Here is a new screenshot for the Original version:

Thank you for all the feedback you've given us over the last several months!

Also, a thank you to Patrick, our Mac OS X guru who programmed the latest update. He is amazing to work with because his Mac software works right the first time!

Right now, we are sending free updates to every customer. If you don't already have a copy of Mixed In Key, please purchase the newest versions here:

Original version

Allen & Heath XONE version

Cheers,
Yakov

Request from Mixed In Key team -- Please send us your Mixed In Key results

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We are improving Mixed In Key to send you free updates. We want to generate anonymous statistics about the types of files analyzed by Mixed In Key.

Mixed In Key never uploads your "Browse Collection" results online. We respect your privacy, so we cannot get this information without your help.

Please help us out -- send your Collection.xml file as an e-mail attachment. We'll add it to our huge database of processed files and run anonymous statistics, like what genre of music was analyzed and whether Mixed In Key has encountered that song before. I bet that Beatport Top 100 and Traxsource's Top 20 chart gets analyzed the most often.

To help us, please send your Collection.xml file to contact@mixedinkey.com. Collection.xml file can be located in the following folders:

On your Windows XP computer:

Open C:\Program Files\Mixed In Key\

Locate file called "Collection.xml"

On your Mac OS X computer:

Open Finder, "Your Name", Application Support, Library, Mixed In Key

Locate file called "Collection.xml"

We will use this information for anonymous statistics only. It doesn't matter if you analyzed five songs or 10,000 -- this information will improve Mixed In Key in the future, and we'll send you free updates in return. We need at least 100 files to generate proper statistics.

Thank you for your help!

~Yakov

Pete Tong from BBC Radio 1 writes about Mixed In Key

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Just got this in the mail:

"Mixed In Key has proved to be a valuable and creative tool in both radio and club programming, I'm hooked!" - PETE TONG, BBC Radio 1

Check out these links:

PeteTong.com and MySpace/PeteTong

Awesome! :)

Update on Platinum Notes

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

We are making steady progress with Platinum Notes development. The next version (0.93) will add the following benefits:

Copy ID3 tags from original MP3 files into Platinum Notes results

Improved volume analysis filter -- better results for Acapellas and songs with lots of silent parts

Improved error handling if there are any problems

The new version should be released in less than two weeks.

Mixed In Key in Tokyo

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Greetings everyone,

Victor and Yakov from Mixed In Key are currently visiting Tokyo. We are about 13 time-zones away from our home base, so our replies may be delayed by up 48 hours.

Talk soon, and we'll be sure to post photos when we return.

Cheers,
Yakov

Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" Documentary

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

We found a great 40-minute documentary posted about this album:

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v232601GZem9Hxb

If you want to see how "Dark Side Of The Moon" was created, this is a great video to watch. I want to experiment with a few of these techniques in Ableton Live.

Mixed In Key teams up with Beatport.com!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Today is a wonderful day for the Mixed In Key team. We are joining Beatport to bring Mixed In Key software to a bigger DJ audience. Please check out the left-side menu on Beatport's homepage:

https://www.beatport.com/

Cheers,
Yakov

MixedInKey.com website has been updated

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

We just updated our MixedInKey.com website with a better look and more information on the "How To" page. We also posted magazine scans on our In The News page.

Check it out -- does everything look ok?

Press Release: Platinum Notes announcement

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

Here is the official Platinum Notes press release with a quote from Mark Ethier, iZotope's CEO:

MIXED IN KEY presents “PLATINUM NOTES” SOFTWARE

The Next Generation of Audio Mastering Software

Washington, D.C. – April 17, 2007 – Mixed In Key today introduced Platinum Notes, a breakthrough audio-mastering software that heals music by analyzing MP3 and WAV files and correcting areas that need improvement. Platinum Notes gives you the cleanest sound on any sound system.

Platinum Notes uses premium-quality algorithms to adjust volume, correct pitch, and improve the dynamics of every song. By simply adding songs to the “Analyze and Process Songs” window and clicking one button, Platinum Notes will process thousands of songs automatically. Originally designed for professional DJs, Platinum Notes is so easy to use that it can process any music collection.

Simple and Elegant Design

The main window of Platinum Notes contains three buttons: “Add Folder” and “Add File” let you add music to the processing queue; “Start Processing” enables you to process thousands of songs automatically. Original files are never overwritten -- Platinum Notes creates new MP3 or WAV files after processing. Platinum Notes was designed with simplicity in mind.

“We are enthusiastic that Platinum Notes will improve your audio quality,” said Yakov Vorobyev, Mixed In Key’s President. “With Platinum Notes, you can adjust your entire music collection with one click. It is a joy to listen to the results. If you are a DJ, this product gives you a competitive advantage as you will literally sound better than your peers. If you are looking for a clean, powerful sound, this is your ‘one-click’ solution.”

World-Class Algorithms

In addition to developing in-house algorithms, Mixed In Key LLC included audio effects licensed from iZotope, Inc. and zplane.development. iZotope’s multiband compression and IRC™ Limiter technology perfect the volume and dynamics of music files.

“Platinum Notes addresses an important problem faced by DJs and music enthusiasts. The combination of Platinum Notes' simple interface and iZotope signal processing enables customers to make the most of their music libraries,” said Mark Ethier, CEO of iZotope, Inc.

Platinum Notes uses zplane.development’s key detection algorithm called tonart to detect if the song needs pitch correction. élastique from zplane.development corrects the pitch without changing the tempo of your song.

To create perfect output files, Mixed In Key LLC licensed the official MP3 encoding patent from Fraunhofer Institute and Thomson. This allows Platinum Notes to create MP3 files at 320 Kbit, the highest bit rate possible.

WAV support is added for music enthusiasts who want to keep their music in uncompressed WAV format.

Pricing & Availability

Platinum Notes is available as a digital download for $108 (US) from http://www.PlatinumNotes.com.

Platinum Notes currently runs on Windows. Mac OS X version will be released in 2-3 months.

Payment is accepted from 175 countries and regions. Customers can pay using PayPal, Google Checkout, and all major credit cards.

Platinum Notes Website:

http://www.PlatinumNotes.com

How To Organize Your Music CDs for Harmonic Mixing

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi everyone,

Here is a method that may help you organize your music CDs. It's fun, easy to use, and helps you get into Harmonic Mixing.

Organize Your CDs For Harmonic Mixing

1. Detect the key of every song in your music collection

2. Burn separate CDs for each key. For example, put all your 8A tracks on one CD. Put 9A on another CD.

3. If you burn two copies of every CD, you can mix between songs in the same key. Added benefit: If one CD gets scratched, you can play another copy.

4. Print a CD label with the following information:

Keycode on top (8 in this case)

Date the CD was made

Full track names

Using Color Labels

Add some color on top. This will help you find the right CD because your visual memory will connect "8A" with red.

We use three different colors to label our CDs:

Blue for keycodes 11 to 1

Orange for keycodes 2 to 5

Red for keycodes 6 to 10

Here is an example of 8A:

Here is an example of 4A:

Here is 11A:

Color Can Help You

Color association helps you find CDs quickly. In a dark club, you'll remember that you burned your favorite tune onto a Blue CD. It must be in keycode 11, 12 or 1. You'll find it quicker if you use color labels on every CD.

How To Sort Your CDs

We usually put 1A / 1B in the front and 12A / 12B in the back. Sort your CDs from low numbers to high numbers. This way, you can flip one page forward or one page backward, and see other compatible songs. It makes finding "the next tune to play" very easy.

In Summary

Burn separate CDs for each key

Make two copies of every CD

Sort your CD wallet from low to high numbers

Your CD collection will be a joy to browse. We have field-tested this method for many years and it worked great for us.

Question For You

How would you improve this method? What are your thoughts?

New version update: Platinum Notes 0.92

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We have successfuly updated Platinum Notes to Version 0.92. Here is the list of useful changes:

Added an option to save "result files" in the same folder as your original files

Improved MP3 writing: No more problems with Sound Forge and ACID

Platinum Notes gives friendly warnings if something didn't work

If files cannot be written correctly, they are not written at all. You will not get files that don't sound right

Lots of small tweaks and enhancements based on user feedback

It's been less than 3 days since we launched Platinum Notes officially, and we have already released our first update. Thank you for providing your feedback, and please keep it coming!

We will send this free update to customers right now.

-Yakov

A good example of harmonic mashup

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

This is quite amazing.

Mixed by Norwegian recycle

8 becomes 1

youtube video

Contains samples from:

Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love
Savage Garden - Crash And Burn
Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
Atomic Kitten - It's Ok!
U2 - With Or Without You
Billie The Vision & The Dancers - Summercat
Remy Zero - Fair

download it here:
download

kind regards
djprince, norway
www.djprince.no

Mixed In Key photos from Miami: DJ Prince, Yakov and Shane 54

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hey all,

The Mixed In Key team and many of our friends attended Winter Music Conference this year. Held at the end of March in Miami, it is like the whole Ibiza summer season packed into one week of total madness.

We absolutely loved it. Here are some of our favorite photos:

Taxi from the airport

First night in Miami:

Yakov on the left, Aleq Katien (another Mixed In Key user) on the right.

Walking on South Beach:

At the same time, my friends were stuck in Frankfurt because their flight to Miami was delayed.

They made the best of it:

After a brief delay, they landed in Miami. Naturally, we took some pictures:

Just kidding. Of course, we have better pictures.

Our team in Miami:

That's Viggo, Frank, DJ Prince and Yakov. Prince and I have been friends for over a year, and we finally met each other at WMC.

Shane 54 - Laptop DJ:

This is Shane 54, the brilliant Harmonic Mixing DJ who recorded Mixed In Key's 5-minute mega mix.

Now, Shane 54 works as a TV show host. He has his own TV show called "Laptop DJ" about night life, clubbing and famous DJs. It gets over one million viewers per episode. He interviewed me on camera about Mixed In Key software -- Thanks!

Here is his professional video crew:

Let's get the party started:

After drinking ridiculous alcohol that DJ Prince bought in Frankfurt, we went to see Hernan Cattaneo, Sandra Collins and Paul Oakenfold at Cameo. It was an amazing night and we walked away very happy.

Hernan Cattaneo will become even more famous soon.

WMC Panels:

Next day, we attended several WMC panels and did some record shopping:

Picture of me:

We had great fun in South Beach:

We bought expensive cars:

Just kidding. We didn't buy expensive cars, but we did party like crazy:

That's Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello making the crowd go wild.

We attended award shows:

We contributed free copies of Mixed In Key to a Global Underground launch event for Ali 'Dubfire':

Overall, we attended 12 clubs, met people from our favorite companies, and heard hundreds of amazing DJs.

WMC is really all about the DJ.

So, who is coming with us next year?

Favorite key?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

It seems that every key has a different feel and different vibe to it. What's your favorite?

I would start with 10A or 11A -- Mellow, ambient progressive house and progress into 6A-6B territory by the end of the night because of their warm feel and exotic vibe.

How to get a cheap "DJ Mag" subscription

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

I just learned about this yesterday:

You can get a digital version of "DJ Mag" for only 80 cents per issue. It includes EVERYTHING you see in the magazine, but it's a digital .PDF file. "DJ Mag" saves a lot of money on printing and distribution, so they can offer this incredible deal. I signed up yesterday and it rocks.

Here is the link:

DJ Mag Online Subscription

This could be the future of magazine distribution...

Our visit to Allen & Heath in England

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi All,

We are still in England, but we are flying back to Washington DC tomorrow. Our visit to Allen & Heath was a huge success. We met most of A&H's team and got a guided tour of their English factory. XONE mixers are incredible and it was great see how they are made. The entire team at Allen & Heath is very warm and dedicated to building the best DJ equipment. We want to go back already :)

To see new pictures of Allen & Heath products, please visit http://www.allen-heath.co.uk. There are some new announcements from the NAMM show that you may not know about.

Cheers,
Yakov and Nathalie

"Mixed In Key" magazine reviews - 2 new mentions

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Since we sold our first copy of Mixed In Key on March 21st, 2006, we've been featured in multiple DJ magazines.

You can receive a $20 gift certificate if you can tell us any other magazine mentions. You can use your certificate at any music store (retail or digital).

Please be on the lookout for any new mentions!

1. Future Music UK (FM175) - June 2006

2. Computer Music Special - Digital DJ - Summer 2006

3. DJ Mag (Vol 4, No 20) - Full review, 4.5 out of 5 stars, August 2006

4. Computer Music UK (CM104) - Full review, 8 out of 10, September 2006

5. DJ Mag (Vol 4, No 25)

6. Computer Music UK (CM105) - October 2006

7. Chicago Sound Source - January 2007

8. DJing for Dummies by John Steventon - Wiley Books, 2007

Acknowledgements and Page 267.

Beatmixed.com posts Mixed In Key review

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Matt Hite from Beatmixed.com has written a comprehensive review of Mixed In Key software. Matt's positive encouragement and criticism are spot on. We learned a lot from Matt's feedback and we are already improving our product based on his suggestions.

You can read the full review on BeatMixed.com

How To: Understanding key and tempo in harmonic mixing

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Overview

Harmonic mixing is based on the idea of mixing harmonically-compatible songs. The standard approach is to detect root notes at the song’s original tempo and find other compatible songs that will fit.

However, it is important to understand that changing the tempo of the song will change the key as well. Even the smallest tempo change will alter the key, but a 6% difference will change the key to a whole new one.

6% Rule

6% is thus the magic number: it will move your song to the adjacent key on the piano, as illustrated below:

If your original song was recorded in F Minor, increasing the tempo by 6% will move the song one key to the right to give you G-Flat Minor.

This is equivalent to adding 7 to your current Camelot number. Since F Minor has an equivalent keycode of 4A, adding 7 will give you the result of 11A. The piano roll above shows you that 11A is indeed equivalent to Gbm.

Decreasing the tempo by 6% has the reverse effect: It moves your song one key to the left, or the equivalent to subtracting 7 from your current Camelot number. This is illustrated below:

3% Rule

There is a basic rule for smaller increments: If you change the tempo by less than 3%, keep your original key. If you change the tempo by 3% or more, use the 6% key.

It works in this way because 3% is the middle point. Anything below 3% will be closer to your original key (F Minor) and anything above 3% will be closer to your 6% key (Gb minor or E minor, depending whether you increase or decrease the tempo).

Examples

Two songs in F Minor that have roughly the same BPMs: 130 and 131. We can harmonically mix them together because the tempo difference is less than 3%.

Next up are two songs in A Minor with different tempos. First song is 128 BPM and the second is 136 BPM. To beatmatch the slower song with the faster song, we’ll have to increase its tempo by exactly 6.25%. This will move the slower song one key to the right, making it B-flat Minor rather than A Minor. The new keys will no longer result in a harmonic mix because A Minor (8A) and B-Flat Minor (3A) are not compatible Camelot numbers.

Using “Master Tempo”

If your DJ equipment or software supports “Master Tempo,” use it! Master Tempo is a pitch-correction technique that makes it easy to use harmonic mixing at any tempo. If you increase the tempo of an A Minor song by 6.25%, your “Master Tempo” button will keep the song in A Minor.

Conclusion

In summary, if your tempo change is less than 3%, use the original key. If your tempo is greater than 3%, use the 6% key. The new +6% key can be figured out by adding 7 to your current Camelot code. The new -6% key can be figured out by subtracting 7 from your current Camelot code.

Understanding the relation between changing tempos and changing keys can help move your harmonic mixing to the next level.

This has been a big help for me while beginning to utilize harmonic mixing.

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Using Mixed In Key and utilizing harmonic mixing has been another big step forward for me as a DJ. Thanks Yakov for your hard work and dedication to this. It has been a great help!

My tip refers to cataloging. I use Traktor DJ Studio and FinalScratch to perform. In Traktor I made 24 playlists, 1 for each note on the Camelot Scale. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A... etc.

I add to each playlist only songs that will mix harmonic with that particular note. For example, in 5A I added all 4A, 5A, 6A and 6Bs. Now, whenever I am playing, I can simply click on the playlist that coorosponds with the track I am playing and I am shown all of the music in my library that can mix harmonicly. Further, I can then sort the songs within that playlist by genre, bpm, date added, or whatever else.

This has made it very easy for me to bring back old tracks that I may have forgotten about at just the right times. Also it makes finding the right song much faster.

This adds a step when importing, but it is worth it. After I analyze my tracks in MIK, then import in Traktor, I immediately add, one by one, the new tunes to all the corrosponding playlists of which they are harmonic with. Each song should end up in 4 of the playlists.

This may be a no brainer to some but may be helpful for some others.

Cheers!

Coming to London and Miami

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hi all,

Our goal is to travel more in 2007. We are going to Miami next weekend and then traveling to London in early February. We're planning to visit Fabric + Turnmills in London and Mansion + Nikki Beach in Miami.

If you live in those areas, please let us know and we can meet up! Traveling abroad is fun, and it gets even better when we can meet our fellow DJs :)

Company Update: Working on Mixed In Key full time

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear All,

As some of you may already know, I am now working on Mixed In Key as a full-time job. Before today, I was employed by one of the top Law Firms in the United States. I gave my two-week resignation notice in mid-December and worked my last day on 1/2/2007.

I wanted the opportunity to develop next versions of Mixed In Key software at a faster pace. My goal is to give you faster, better support. We are hungry to revolutionize the DJ world with Mixed In Key software. With help from Allen & Heath, we will introduce more DJs to harmonic mixing and establish it as the most powerful mixing technique.

A round of applause goes to everyone who provided feedback for our software in the past 9 months. Your feedback made Mixed In Key a DJ-powered application! Thank you again for your feedback and advice.

One more thing: Please add me to your MSN or AIM list. My MSN address is Yakov@djyakov.com and my AIM name is DJYakovV. I welcome all members of this community to get to know me. We can talk about Mixed In Key or DJing in general. It would be great to hear your story and what genre of music you love to mix.

Have a happy and successful year 2007!

Cheers,
Yakov Vorobyev
President, Mixed In Key LLC

Allen & Heath announces partnership with Mixed In Key, new software available!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Dear Friends,

We are proud to announce our new partnership with Allen & Heath to create "Xone Mixed In Key" software. Allen & Heath is an English company known for their incredible DJ equipment. We are passionate about creating simple and elegant DJ software. Our partnership is a natural fit for both companies. We will work hard to introduce harmonic mixing to more DJs all over the world.

Here is our new "Xone Mixed In Key" homepage:

http://xone.mixedinkey.com

Press release:

XONE ENABLES DJ’S TO MIX IN KEY

Allen & Heath, manufacturer of the leading Xone mixer range, has teamed up with Mixed In Key to offer new software which enables DJ’s to analyse and harmonise tracks. This partnership is the first seamless integration of top-class mixing equipment with the fastest growing DJ application on the market.

‘Xone Mixed In Key’ is Windows / Mac OS X software that allows DJs mix in total harmony. It analyses MP3 and .WAV files, identifies the key of a track, and highlights which other tracks are harmonically compatible. Xone Mixed In Key allows the DJ to discover harmonically-compatible songs in their music collection. The benefit is extremely smooth mixing with no key clashes.

“Xone Mixed in Key is a fantastic innovation for DJ’s, and eliminates the time-consuming and laborious task of manually detecting the root note of every track. Allen & Heath has a golden reputation in the DJ community, and we're excited to offer Xone Mixed In Key software to a wider audience,” writes Mixed In Key president, Yakov Vorobyev.

“The explosion of digital DJ’ing over the past couple of years has introduced a wealth of technical advantages to the art of DJ’ing. Xone Mixed In Key is a case in point. DJ’s have instant access to thousands upon thousands of new music files and this software can quickly and easily enable them to put tracks into musical context,” concludes Xone designer, Andy Rigby-Jones.

Xone Mixed In Key is available as a digital download from http://xone.mixedinkey.com at a RRP of $58 USD. Both Mac OS X and Windows versions are available.

Thank you,
Yakov Vorobyev
President, Mixed In Key LLC

How-To: Energy boost mixing

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Editor's note: We're going to make this a sticky topic because it benefits many DJs.

Overview

"Energy boost mixing" is a great technique to create energy on your dance floor.

How-To

Here is how to use it: Detect the key of your current song, and pick the next song to be 1 or 2 semitones above it.

If you're in C Minor, your next key should be D-flat Minor (+1 semitone) or D Minor (+2 semitones). Take a look at the image above. The rule is always the same, just go "right" on the piano from your original key.

The effect is really interesting: Energy on the dancefloor will rise every time. It doesn't work with every song, but most of the time it can create a pleasant effect.

Does this translate to Camelot numbers?

Yes. To go up one semitone, add 7 to your current Camelot number. If you're in E-flat Minor (2A), add 7 and you'll be in E Minor (9A).

To go up two semitones, just add 2 to your current Camelot number. If you're in C Minor (5A), add 2 and you'll get D Minor (7A). Play your next tune in 7A, and you'll experience an energy boost mix.

Who uses it?

I've heard Sasha and Armin Van Buuren use this technique many times. I personally love mixing +2 semitones since it does not clash as much as mixing +1 semitone. Every DJ should try this mix: The effect is really interesting.

Yakov

Listen to harmonic music while you work

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Click here:

My favorite sets are #35-39 and #29-31

DJing for Dummies - Woho, we're in the book!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Hey all,

Our good friend John Steventon just published a book called "DJing for Dummies". John is a great writer and the creator of www.recess.co.uk. It's informative and funny, and we'll all enjoy reading the book. I will post my thoughts once Amazon delivers my package.

You can purchase "DJing for Dummies" from Amazon.co.uk. It costs only £9.59.

Update: DJ Prince, Harmonic-Mixing.com and Mixed In Key are talked about in the book! There is a full chapter on harmonic mixing. I'll ask John if we can post a short sample of his writing.

Cheers,
Yakov

The best filesharing service- neat and fast!!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:49 GMT

Check out this file sharing service, no nonsense, no popups, timeouts, countdowns or heavy ads

http://www.speedyshare.com/

support up to 125mb, perfect for livesets :-)

kind regards
djprince, norway
www.djprince.no