Rapid Evolution or Keyfinder are free alternatives, with better usability. Seriously, people who are paying so much for so few features need to research more. I don't want to bash though but make your own opinion please:
http://www.mixshare.com/software.html http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
Backed. I have a licence for the old melodyne (2.0) and even that is the best pitch correction I have.. Now they have version 4 and that can pitch and time correct multiple tracks in 1 window. Meaning you can do all your vocals for a chorus in 1 sweep.
Still, for finding keys it isn’t very reliable, especially with eastern music and dirty vinyl samples. Plus you have to analyse all of your audio to see what key its in and that takes a bit of CPU power. Just for workflow reasons I've included two links here that make finding the key of the song even easier then stated above
app for Mac called key finder... that’s easier to find a key just FYI
http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
Vst that tells you the key and chord playing. https://www.hornetplugins.com/plugins/hornet-songkey-mk2/
Just... Don't play music in keys that don't mix?
If you're not trained, use something like KeyFinder (it's free) http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
or open an online piano and whack some chords until you find what key the track is in.
Ibrahim's Key finder is a free alternative to Mixed in Key and is pretty good with meta data customization. http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
Harmonic mixes are not the holy grail, and staying in the same key can sound lifeless if you rely on it exclusively. It's good to know how tracks will compare, but use it as a tool for quick fixes, or to test ideas with. Happy musical accidents happen when you break rules.
Also, be aware that unless you have pitch lock on, changing the speed of your tracks will also adjust the pitch. +/-6% speed is +/- 1 semitone, or a step on the wheel. This is why many people stick to tracks that are close in BPM, but with awareness of this, you can do some really cool layering with intentional pitch warping. Midtempo (ZA style) and speed garage have large components of their sounds based upon this.
Rules and tips are shortcuts, use your ears, never stop experimenting, tell a story, be an artist, and work with the crowd.
I use KeyFinder because it's free and highly accurate. They're actually in the middle of a big retune effort involving a huge database of songs, so it's going to get even more accurate.
I leave the BPM detection to Traktor because of it's going to set up a grid anyways. And if it messes it up, I'm going to fix that within the app anyways.
Depends on your DAW I imagine. With Logic Pro there is a simple and mostly reliable way to extract midi data from a recorded sample.
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To find the key of the song download an app called "KeyFinder" by Ibrahim Sha'ath.
With Drum Racks you will only be able to play loops using a transposition that allows the sample to match the BPM of your track. Therefore, I'd recommend using Audio tracks for anything that you want to loop as you can warp them and transpose any way you want without changing the BPM, giving you a lot more freedom.
You might also want to get yourself a key finder. Load a few samples into it and find out if they mix, or use a bit of common sense and you'll be able to transpose them so that they do mix. This one's free and has served me well;
Of course though, you should always trust your ears.
None of the keys are missing. As Rhyneav said, it's because you can say C# or Db. Check it out here.
There are plenty of softwares to find out your keys. My favorite is KeyFinder. It's free, really easy to use, and really quick.
One last thing, don't rely too much on keys. It does help, but don't get stuck because you want to transition from a 1A into a 8b. Sometimes, it just works even though the keys say it shouldn't.
A more recent option that needs a lot more love is Keyfinder by Ibrahim Sha'ath. http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
Dude did it for his MS thesis, and his report is available as well which outlines the technical bits. It replaced Rapid Evolution 3 for me as soon as I tried it - it's a simple and efficient tool, one efficient hammer for one kind of nail. Good stuff.
If you're looking for software to find the key of a song I'd recommend KeyFinder.
http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
It's very easy to use, you just drag in a song.
As for finding the tempo of a track, if you have a "tempo tap" feature in your DAW you could just tap along to the sample and get a decent idea of the tempo. There's also websites for this:
If I'm unable to determine what the key is by ear, or want to confirm for sure, I use this software called KeyFinder.
http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
It's definitely a really great tool to use and is very helpful. Ultimately I try to train my ear when it comes to these things, and would recommend you do to, but this is still a great resource.
Transpose your 808 up 12 or 24 semitones, sometimes it’s easier to pick up the higher note. Then just put it back to it’s original state.
http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
^ this programs great as well.
I usually use keyfinder to find the key a sample is in then add 808s. If you dont know what notes are in the key then just google it. Definitely beneficial to also try to learn music theory so you can identify what kind of progression is happening and make the 808 fit well with it. Also make sure that the 808 you are using is tuned to C if it is a one shot.
There is already one that can scan keys. Approx 80% accurate. and gives names to it but the BPM thing is something new.
Edit: Key finder
And no I wouldn't wanna change my file names unless the program is 100% accurate
For some reason, I can't learn the sequence even though I'm usually great at such things, but I use it for every one of my mixes, no exception! This works best with KeyFinder. Great little piece of freeware that detects the track key. /u/lucasmarchal
Keyfinder if youre on mac
i know there are other alternatives out there for windows. you can also sometimes judge the key of a sample by it's eq peak- if two samples are peaking in the same area of your eq they are likely in the same key
What program do you use? Pretty much all of them offer included key-tagging these days although accuracy will vary.
KeyFinder is free, but only available for OSX.
RapidEvolution is also free. A little clunky in interface, but it people seem to find it pretty accurate.
Serato DJ is probably the easiest. Yes you need licensed hardware to DJ, but the offline mode plus all the features are usable with the download and you can use it for free.
The problem with these programs is it tags in traditional classical notation only as I believe the Camelot system is actually exclusive to Mixed in Key. The only thing you can do is to re-tag everything in camelot manually if you want to use that system.
Serato will actually display the keys in Camelot even though it tags in classical notation, so it would be easier to manually retag en-masse since it's already displaying in Camelot.
Currently Mixed in Key is the most accurate, but not really by all that much. The only big advantage after that is the automatic tagging system in MIK (allows you to choose where to set the tag in you file which is actually kind of nice) and the fact that it natively tags in camelot.
Whether that's worth $100 is up to you.
There was an article on DJ tools a while back that compared all the key finding software out there and Mixed In Key is the best, easily. That said, the best free alternative is KeyFinder http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
I've been using it for a while - it's fully customizable, can do pretty much anything you want it to and can handle batch jobs really, really quickly.
-Free Software works amazing for what I need
-I consider the key for every song I mix, from there I choose if it is necessary to mix harmonically (remember is there is little going on especially in the mids then you can often get away with non-harmonic mixes)
-If you have Serato, you should have a keylock function which allows the pitch slider to have no effect on the pitch, only the tempo. I'm pretty sure Traktor has a similar function. This is most important if you are speeding or slowing the song down as you don't want an obvious big change in key.
Another free alternative is KeyFinder (Windows and Mac).
One caution: I have a computer on which it crashes. The cause seems to be a version clash of the Qt libraries it uses and the version of those used in other programs. (especially in free projects)
Otherwise, it's much more stable than Rapid Evolution.
You're contemplation CDJs of $2500 a piece because the library of Traktor makes no sense? And key detection? There's a good, free program that does it: KeyFinder. And there's Rapid Evolution too (also free), though I don't like it much. And Mixed In Key is actually reasonably priced, compared to the price of these CDJs.
Recording engineer here, I use a key finder. I’ve tried mixed in key and Antares’ auto key but they’re not as good as the link I’m gonna provide you. This one is COMPLETELY FREE and definitely the best/most accurate key finder I’ve ever used!
Nope. They don't provide that information and it's not in the track metadata when you download it.
I use KeyFinder. http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/ That doesn't help if you want to know the key before you download.
MIK is probably the most accurate software out there, but I would like to mention KeyFinder as well. It's free, open-source and almost as accurate. (2019 comparison)
What I do is chop the section I want to know the note of. Then I export that small snippet of audio and drag it into this software called keyfinder. It will tell you the "Key" of the snippet. That normally is the note that you are trying to figure out. Here is the link to get the software (its free)
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http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
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Hopefully this helps
Use the tap tempo to get the BPM. Use Keyfinder to find the key. Its FREE! Here is the link.
http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
Just drag and drop the track into the key finder and run analysis and it tells you the key. I even use this when finding basslines. It works well.
Most DJ software has a key finder (Recordbox, serato).
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Hopefully this helps you.
http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
This is pretty cool software, that'll find the key of any audio. So when it does something like an drum sample which doesn't really have a "key", whatever it's says is usually the root note. It works pretty good, I'd say 9/10 times it's right. Even if it's not spot on for something like a drum sample, if you know the key at least it reduce your options of what it could be.
Bonus it has a setting where it'll write the key tag into your file name for you.
I've never used it for Windows but if you want that one, it's at the bottom under older versions.
The one that I use is called simply "KeyFinder." It's really good, most likely up there with the paid software, though it's not being worked on anymore.
I would say that you should try relying on your ear as much as you can, but sometimes you simply don't get it right.
This is the link, have fun! (if you don't want to open my link, search "music keyfinder" on Google)
It might not be in-box but I love this program . You can drag and drop audio from Ableton into it. I just leave it open in the background when I’m working with samples, super simple and it doesn’t really eat any of your CPU. Added bonus is it’ll tag all your MP3s with their key for iTunes. Good if you’re a DJ or just like really organized files (guilty). If anyone’s interested in the later part I can explain how to do it properly to not mess anything up.
Key Finder is a great free tool that analyzes and estimates which key a song is in and even displays some imagery that shows which frequencies (notes) are repeated the most. Then, plug that key into the Scale Navigator and you'll have the notes ya need to get started. Doing this will help you narrow down which notes to plunk around within to find the actual notes you want to play.
I didnt say someone is obliged or they have to it just would be nice. Like I said, you drop it in this and it takes about 3 seconds. http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
I didnt demand it I just said why isn't ? 20 secs for them since they already downloaded the fullsong or have the acapella could save me hours.
Just a thought I dont need etiquette user police thanks though
Fastest way to find the note of a single note sample: use a spectral analysis tool. Edison, Wavecandy, or an EQ with a spectral view.
Fastest way to find the key of a multi-note sample, such as an acapella: use Keyfinder.
And I bought it. Thanks for your work!
What are your thoughts on KeyFinder?
Comparisons seem to show it's more accurate than any other.
I usually find it by ear but I use Ableton. I would think there are tutorials on youtube to help you with that on FL. There is also http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/ That gets me close but I always double check it with my ear.
keyfinder really helps me find the key of samples that I don't have quite the ear to hear. I'd take the results as a starting point and not concrete though.
I did the note ear training on here http://www.musictheory.net/exercises For about a week. I also know the layout of a natural minor scale. So then with my midi keyboard i would play along till i found the notes that fit. It's pretty quick after you know how it take about 10 seconds to find out the key.
Or you can dl keyfinder from here http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/ it's really accurate for me
Are you offering to write one? Keyfinder is pretty effective for this, I set mine to put both camelot and key in the comment and it's very useful for me. The only caveat is that due to patent/copyright issues you have to enter in the camelot codes in the options menu the first time you use the app. This image is a cheat sheet for doing so.
> Then there's clear errors like the insistance that musicians spend tons of money on software to figure out the key of a song. No they dont.
yep, here's the free one I use, which works pretty well.
I use KeyFinder it's free and 90% accurate from my experience (and about 99% accurate at getting close enough).
I recommend going into the preferences and renaming the keys to the Camelot system so instead of having to rely on the circle of fifths you can just compare numbers to see which songs are compatible.
Oh and keep in mind that if you use Traktor or Virtual DJ key detection is built-in. All you gotta do is enable the key display in the file browser.
Sorry, a few links
reddiquette noob so excuse the non hotlink text
http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/ -- Keyfinder
http://www.mixedinkey.com/Cloud/Book/CamelotWheel.jpg --- The camelot code/wheel of 5ths explained
This one gives the best results I've seen: http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/ Oh, and it's free :) But you have to go to settings and name the keys by yourself if you wanna use the "Camelot" wheel. Here's how to do it
If you want some aid I use KeyFinder and it works pretty well: http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/
This will - to a degree anyways - detect the key of your songs. I'd give this a run on your library and try matching songs of the same key to start with.
Note this doesn't magically make everything work, but you'll have a higher chance and it might help you learn for branching out later (ie, mashing up songs out of key).
Note that the deep dark secret behind a good studio mix is usually a crap load of prep and screwing around with songs to see what sounds good with one and other.
The other day I spent over an hour playing with just 10 songs from my first track figuring out where to drop it, what I could do, what ones worked, what ones wouldn't, etc. This was just for the very first and second song in my mix :)
This tool is pretty handy for finding the Key of a Song: http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/. Sometimes its wrong but if it is it will be a note in the correct scale anyways. I use it to quickly find keys of songs for harmonic mixing.
Use a piece of software like Keyfinder http://www.ibrahimshaath.co.uk/keyfinder/ or Mixed In Key to go through a directory of those samples, preferably one that tags the samples. Might not get the octave right, but you'd know you're starting with a "C" or an "F" without listening to the sample. Then I reckon you could go back through and check them with a spectrograph to see which octave and verify pitch.
That's just a guess, but it's what I do to batch check the keys of tracks.
I agree on Rapid Evolution. :)
As for the accuracy: it's not worse than the competition, at least. This chart even states that it's actually (probably) more accurate, but that result may be skewed, due to the exact choice of test material... Besides, 100 tracks is not enough to be conclusive, and the author agrees.
Speedwise, I think it takes about 1/2 minute per track. That depends strongly on the speed of your computer -- mine is quite old. (It crashes on my newer laptop, due to incompatibilty problems with the (free) Qt library; apparently a lot of programs use it and all with a different version...)
There's an excellent free one written as part of a CompSci degree: KeyFinder (Mac and Windows).
It's really fast, very accurate, simple and does iTunes playlists. Keying Traktor Playlists doesn't work for some reason. You can also teach it Camelot or any other notation (In Germany, they use H instead of B, for example). Also, as opposed to MixedInKey, it also works when you're offline.
And honestly: keying your tracks makes a massive difference in how coherent and smooth your mixes sound. This makes it really easy.