Mixed in Key 5.0 (is it worth the money 4 beginner dj's)

A beginner shouldn’t even be thinking about this yet. MIK is for assisting with advanced harmonic mixing techniques, not for beginners to use as a crutch. Whilst it may make things easier, this is not the way to improve your skills.

Dean Logan, post: 25759, member: 2944 wrote: Hey.

Well I have been DJ’n since about Christmas so im a little bit more advanced than a beginner. I wanted 2 take my mixing to th next level now and really nail it and this seemed to be th programme for it. I thought mixing was all about harmonic mixing etc, Im sure a Adele song wont mix in well with Slipknot (thats an extreme example).

I just think its alot of money for something that I could get for free. Why all th cost?

Greetings and welcome on board. Just a couple of points, glad you’re progressing well, but 8 months is still relatively a short time in terms of learning how to DJ, in fact, the learning process doesn’t really stop – you sort of suggest as much if you think ‘mixing is all about harmonic mixing’ – one element of a vast array of techniques/styles. Secondly I’m confused, why do you think you should get some software for free that people have spent time, expertise and money to create a product such as MiK, do you extend this to DJing software or music?!

This is not meant to be critical but you’ve received some good advice in the posts above but of course it’s up to you if you choose to take it onboard.

Cheers.

backtothefront, post: 25781, member: 1433 wrote: Greetings and welcome on board. Just a couple of points, glad you’re progressing well, but 8 months is still relatively a short time in terms of learning how to DJ, in fact, the learning process doesn’t really stop – you sort of suggest as much if you think ‘mixing is all about harmonic mixing’ – one element of a vast array of techniques/styles. Secondly I’m confused, why do you think you should get some software for free that people have spent time, expertise and money to create a product such as MiK, do you extend this to DJing software or music?!

This is not meant to be critical but you’ve received some good advice in the posts above but of course it’s up to you if you choose to take it onboard.

Cheers.

Well said.

A cheaper more comprehensive package is Beatunes. Think of it as ITunes for DJ’s. I loved the free trial so much I bought it 35 USD is a bargain. It does more than just find the key

So… I actually bought Mixed in Key. I’ve been learning for about the same time as you. I’ve actually found it useful…

I had been struggling to teach myself how to beat match. Like, sometimes no matter what I did it sounded like a train wreck, but I was never sure. I had read online that this can sometimes happen with key clashes. So whenever I couldn’t beatmatch right, I blamed it on a key clash and moved on.

The problem is that it made me lazy. Instead of looking at what I was doing I blamed it on the keys and figured it wasn’t me.

I bought MIK on a whim. Suddenly I couldn’t blame it on key clashes anymore because according to the “magic wheel” it should work.

This is the point where I discovered that everyone who claimed that the sync button doesn’t always work right wasn’t necessarily full of bunk. I started fighting with the track a bit more, discovered the importance of phrase matching, and suddenly the whole “beat matching” thing started to click!

So basically MIK allowed me to rule out key clashes and instead start focusing on why my mix wasn’t working. It also had the side effect of making my mixing more fun. I’ve been trying all kinds of crazy combinations just to see if I can make them work.

There was one I tried tonight… I think it was Derezzed by Daft Punk and Dance to the Music by Sly and the Family Stone. (Not sure, would have to look back). It was a bit out there, but in some parts it actually sounded cool! I wouldn’t play it for a live gig, but man… It’s fun to play around with.

I get what you guys are saying about it being a crutch. I respect the fact that I need to learn to do it the “right way”. What separates average from great is that extra 20% that nobody else bothers to do. I can now beatmatch entirely without the sync button and I’m way better off for it. I understand the same applies to harmonic mixing.

Anyway… I hope I don’t start an argument. I just thought OP would find my experience interesting. I am learning so much from these boards and I really appreciate all of you who share your knowledge so freely!