Mixed In Key 5

Mixed In Key 5 offers multi-processor support for both Mac and Windows machines. Another highlight is the new Audio Player, which lets users audition the key-detected songs and samples from within the software. In addition to existing support for MP3 and WAV file formats, Mixed In Key 5 adds M4A and MP4 (video file) support.

The new key-detection algorithm can detect key changes within songs. Key changes are shown in the waveform display of the Audio Player, allowing users to see where in the song the change occurs. Whereas the key detection in previous versions looked at a song-file as a single entity, the new algorithm analyzes it as a series of beat-aligned segments. This ability to analyze short audio files means that remixers and producers can use Mixed In Key when working with sample and loop libraries.

As with previous versions, Mixed In Key 5 uses the “Camelot Wheel” system, which displays key names on a circular chart that is numbered and color-coded. This approach is designed to make harmonic mixing easier by graphically showing which songs are compatible with each other. In version 5, a clickable Camelot Wheel offers a new way to see key-detected material. Once the software has analyzed a collection of songs (for example, an iTunes library), clicking on a key name on the Camelot Wheel brings up a list of all the files in that key.