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Topic: This may be more of a technical question...

This topic is old and might contain outdated or incorrect information.

Though it may be a tad on the silly side...we'll see...

I've only been playing around with the free version for a couple of weeks...I'm currently in the "home hobbyist" phase of mixing music. One of the things I'm working with is doing mixes of songs with dissimilar (but still compatible) key signatures (such as C to F, G to D, etc)

Since I come from a choral and wind-instrumental background in regards to music and music theory, I'm used to seeing naturals or flats in key signature names (G, D, A, E, B and F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb).

Is it possible to change the key signature displayed from C#, F#, etc. over to their more standard equivalent Db, Gb, etc? Can I make the changes in my head? Yes. However, it's something I've added to the ton of things I have to keep active in my head when I'm mixing music together.

If the question is better fit for another forum on here, I'll move it over.

Thanks in advance!
 
Posted Fri 27 Jul 12 @ 10:24 pm
Have you checked out the Camelot notation (read http://www.mixedinkey.com/HowTo ). Its a different approach on displaying the key of the music in such a way that you can immediately see the compatibility without needed to think to much on the actual musical key.
 
I am also interested in harmonic mixing using the camelot system. The VDJ v7 manual has a screen shot showing the key column with both the key and the Camelot notation eg 06A (Gm) but on my screen it only shows the Gm and I would like the 06A any clues how I can change it? Thank you
 
Read page 11 of the user guide....
 
kerridwen wrote :
I am also interested in harmonic mixing using the camelot system. The VDJ v7 manual has a screen shot showing the key column with both the key and the Camelot notation eg 06A (Gm) but on my screen it only shows the Gm and I would like the 06A any clues how I can change it? Thank you


Open VDJ Program put your mouse pointer on the tab where it says "key" column, right click on it, un-tick it then tick the "key(numreic)" on the list. You can have both of these [key and key(numeric)] appear on your screen if you like :)


Happy Mixing!
Ariel
 
I'll definitely check out the user guide. I printed it out for personal use and keep it handy next to my laptop...as you guys can see, I've since converted to Pro Full and am using the MixTrack Pro (love 'em both, btw).

I think you guys are right about the Camelot style (the MixTrack Pro skin actually has that notation style as its default). It's nice to know that a song is in a particular key, but it's more important to know how it relates to the other songs I have out there. I don't need to worry about ranges of instruments or voices when it comes to picking out my music.

A few weeks before I bought the MTPro and vDJ Pro Full, I bought the book, "How to DJ Right". It's mostly vinyl-oriented (about 10 years old, actually), but does discuss CD/MP3-format DJ'ing. One section in there shows a nice Camelot style harmonic circle...good stuff. :-)
 
Just be aware that VDJs key analysis is very heavily biased towards minor keys...

For some reason Atomix seem to think that DJs don't play songs in major keys!

It's been pointed out to them but so far nothing has changed. Maybe it will in VDJ 8.


What this bias means is that songs in Camelot B keys will be displayed as being in A keys.

Now, ordinarily a song in (say) 8B will mix with 7B, 9B and 8A - but not with the 'diagonal' keys of 9A or 7A.

If that song is displayed (incorrectly) by VDJ as being 8A, it will seem to be compatible with 9A and 7A when it's actually not.

My suggestion is to use Mixed In Key if you want more accurate results.
 
I use both Mixed in Key and the internal key scanning, and I must say that in general the internal scanning doesn't disappoint at all. Also Mixed in key is not 100% accurate. Eventually, even with harmonic mixing, you need to keep listening as well!

Hint: If using mixed in key, make sure it writes the key in the audio file and than you can re-update your Key in the VirtualDJ database using http://www.virtualdj.com/addons/13224/VDJFlacTags.html
 
jboerlage wrote :
Also Mixed in key is not 100% accurate.


I didn't say that it was 100% (no key detection software is) - but it is more accurate than VDJ, because it shows both minor and major keys.
 
Retract earlier written here ;P
 


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