#BEATUNES VS TUNE UP HOW TO#
There are a couple of tutorials on my website that explain the theory and how to use the tool. The technique sounds great, most decent DJs already do this subconsciously. It is a tool for DJs with a basic music training or understanding, who wish to add more depth to their sets by actively considering the keys the tracks are in and mixing coherent keys with it. So, I press the A Major button and the display informs me that the keys E Major, F Sharp Minor, and D Major all share similar harmonic frequencies and will blend smoothly without disharmony. For example, I’m spinning a track in A Major, I know the most harmonious key would also be A Major but I would like to shift into another key (I have a lot more songs in other keys, and I’m running out of A Major). Once complete, I don’t need to use the tool (I know the circle of fifths) but if I didn’t I can also use the tool to inform me of harmonic keys that will match the key I’m pressing. Once done, I’ll mark the key in my tune’s metadata. Once I’ve identified the musical key I’ll tap the screen to get an accurate estimate of the song tempo which I use to warp the track. I move the track to a part of the music score that has easily identifiable tonal information (a melody line, or bass line) and compare the tune playing to one of the tunes played by hitting the key buttons on the app. I will get the tunes into my DJ rig, and play the first tune.
Its a niche app, but I think DJs who are already manually keying their new tracks could find it useful. I put a torch on it - bit random I know - but I always forget to bring one, and end up groping around plugging my kit into mixers in the dark.
#BEATUNES VS TUNE UP CODE#
It gives the standard music notation and the key code notation used by some DJ software. It also displays the other musical keys that will mix with the selected key with the least number of discordant notes (based on the circle of fifths). I wrote an app that does the same, in effect: it will play a chord from any of the 24 major and minor diatonic scales so you can compare with a song you’re listening to.
I used to key my own songs with a synth to act like a tuning fork.
#BEATUNES VS TUNE UP SOFTWARE#
I also note that Beatport and other sites supplying key information seem to use the same automatic software to do so.Įd.: That’s en excellent DJ TechTools write-up, covering Mixed in Key 5, Rapid Evolution 3, and BeaTunes 3: Key Detection Software Showdown: 2012 Edition D JTechTools did a recent article, and their tests between 20%-40% accuracy for the three products tested. I found automatic key recognition software to be too inaccurate for my needs. It is something I wrote for myself maybe a year ago, and I use it so much, I thought it might be useful for others.
I’ve recently published an app for the iPhone called DJ Tools. (I can also imagine this being useful to remixers tracking a lot of tunes, as well as DJs.) Pete writes: Whether you’re obsessive about mixing in key or new to some of these ideas, the answers reveal what this app might do for you, as well as how Pete DJs. I asked Pete to explain not only what the software does, but what it means in his DJ workflow. He turns the ever-popular iPhone into a handheld, pocketable companion for DJ sets. One DJ and developer, Pete Simpson, decided to solve that problem – and like a lot of software ideas, initially built that solution for himself. What would you want in your pocket for DJing? How about some key recognition and tracking, key mixing aid, BPM tap - and a flashlight (torch)?įor the DJ who cares about mixing songs together in key and precise tracking of BPM, automatic recognition may just not cut it.