So how many of you folks mix harmonically?

[Seabass123]

I do for sure. I haven't ever done a live set or anything, so it's usually when im just sitting at home doing an hour set or something, I'll just file through my songs for one that works harmonically.

Also, I miss smoking pot... damn BSc

[VanGogo]

Almost always. Mixes sound so much better IMO.

[mistertuckshop]

I do it a lot - generally sort my library by key, I just find there's a better chance of two songs going well together if they're in compatible keys, rather than just guessing and trying loads like I used to.

[GPS]

There is an article or two on what has bee discussed here (mainly the insane inaccuracy of Mixed in Key, and why mixing harmonically is not always needed).

Personally I never try to. I am more of a person that selects the song based off the energy level f the current track and how the crowd is feeling. Fair enough tradeoff if you think about it.

But I do tend to mix in songs in areas where there isnt much harmony to sync...harmonically?

Anyways, as long as you know your songs well, key is really not that important.

[mostapha]

If by "mix harmonically" you mean "play with the key knob in Traktor Pro or the transpose knob in Live to see if it sounds better before it sounds worse and then pick a different track if you can't keep it from clashing," then yes.

I know far too much about music theory to trust software that doesn't appear to know anything about modes, scales, or even chord progressions and pretends to tell you that a bastardized version of the circle of fifts makes you a "harmonic DJ."

I'm sorry, C, I like you…but you wasted your money just like so many others on what is either a huge scam or a ridiculous troll.

[JesC]

I try to mix in key, mostly by ear. If done right it makes your set work and sound great.

[fullenglishpint]

If by "mix harmonically" you mean "play with the key knob in Traktor Pro or the transpose knob in Live to see if it sounds better before it sounds worse and then pick a different track if you can't keep it from clashing," then yes.

I know far too much about music theory to trust software that doesn't appear to know anything about modes, scales, or even chord progressions and pretends to tell you that a bastardized version of the circle of fifts makes you a "harmonic DJ."

I'm sorry, C, I like you…but you wasted your money just like so many others on what is either a huge scam or a ridiculous troll.

OK, for someone who's well versed in musical theory i can imagine that something MIK wouldn't help. However, for those of us who only ever made it to grade 3 on the clarinet back at the age of 14, having a simplified (/bastardised if you must) version of the circle of fifths to make things easier is a good thing.

I've run all my tracks through MIK having tried Rapid Evolution 2 and found it to be the least stable piece of software since the Sims 1 on MSDOS, and I find it really helps. I don't stick to it meticulously, and I have enough of a musical ear to know if something is going to sound horrible, but unlike theory I normally mix on the fly and find it a very nice starting point to arrange everything in the browser by key.

[wrong chris]

to a certain extent yeah, but not religiously. i make sure to mix keys and chords that don't clash, not with software just by ear....

i try to rely on instinct and feel more than using software to tell me what goes with what. key and chords are another clue to indicate if a certain track fits with another track, but it's just one of several clues (energy/mood, genre, bpm, vocal or instrumental etc.) that help me decide if not only that song meshes, but if it has the right energy/mood to keep the flow of the mix going where i want to take it.

sets that are too "by the books" with key tend to sound kind of flat imo, what's gained in consistency you can lose in the jazzy element of surprise if there's not enough variation. when done tastefully, introducing unexpected keys or chords act as a way to rinse and refresh the palette, it's nice to have a few "reset" moments in a mix because it opens up more opportunities for new flavours.... it's a balancing act i haven't mastered myself, but it's one i strive for and definitely appreciate hearing in dj's sets.

[xtianw]

http://www.djtechtools.com/2010/03/2...key/#more-5337

[Filterkat]

i mix in key for the most part, but not allways, its nice to add a bit of variation in the set at some points... supprise the crowd. i tend to mix by ear aswel because MIK isnt heaps accurate, i just use it as a guide to make track selection that little bit quicker.