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!
