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PickTrack vs Mixed In Key: Do You Need Both?
By the PickTrack team · Updated · 3 min read
Mixed In Key made the Camelot wheel famous among DJs, and PickTrack uses the same notation. But one works on your library and the other on the music you do not have yet.
What Mixed In Key is
Mixed In Key is paid desktop software for Mac and Windows. It analyses the audio files in your own library for key, tempo and energy level, and writes the results into tags that DJ software such as rekordbox, Serato and Traktor can read. It can also suggest cue points.
It is a library tool: it works on music you already own.
What PickTrack is
A DJ music discovery platform: monthly Top 100 and Hot 100 charts in 16 genres, ranked by real listener engagement on SoundCloud (likes and reposts weighed against plays), with no label deals or paid placement. The point is to show which new tracks people actually respond to, so a DJ can find them in minutes instead of digging for hours.
BPM and Camelot key on nearly every track. Does not sell files. Every track links to SoundCloud, and 1,600+ chart tracks link to the artist's own free download (3 a month on the free plan, unlimited with Pro, web). Top 3 of every chart free; Pro $7.99/month or $79/year on the web, first month $4.99.
Mixed In Key vs PickTrack side by side
| Mixed In Key | PickTrack | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Desktop software that analyses your own files | A DJ music discovery platform: monthly Top 100 and Hot 100 charts in 16 genres, ranked by real listener engagement on SoundCloud (likes and reposts weighed against plays), with no label deals or paid placement. |
| BPM and key | Key (Camelot), BPM and energy level of your files | BPM and Camelot key on nearly every track |
| Getting the files | Works on files you already have | Does not sell files. Every track links to SoundCloud, and 1,600+ chart tracks link to the artist's own free download (3 a month on the free plan, unlimited with Pro, web) |
| Price | Paid software | Top 3 of every chart free; Pro $7.99/month or $79/year on the web, first month $4.99 |
| Catalog | Your own library | Underground and independent tracks on SoundCloud that listeners are reacting to, across 16 genres |
| Set preparation | Key and energy tags for your DJ software; cue points | Harmonic sort, BPM / key / year filters, and sending a finished playlist to your SoundCloud |
| Platforms | Mac and Windows | Web, iPhone / iPad and Android |
Where Mixed In Key is the better choice
- Your own files — Accurate analysis of the exact files you will play.
- Energy levels — An energy rating per track helps plan the shape of a set.
- DJ software tags — Results land in the tags rekordbox, Serato and Traktor read.
Where PickTrack is the better choice
- Finding tracks — Ranked monthly charts in 16 genres.
- Key before you download — BPM and Camelot key are shown before you get the file.
- Free downloads — 1,600+ chart tracks link to the artist's free download.
Where Mixed In Key falls short for discovery
- No new music — It cannot tell you which tracks to get next.
- Needs the files first — You have to own or download a track before it can be analysed.
Best Mixed In Key alternatives (sites like Mixed In Key)
The right alternative depends on what you use Mixed In Key for.
- rekordbox, Serato and Traktor — Built-in key and BPM detection when you analyse your library.
- Tunebat — Look up the key of a song before you buy it.
- PickTrack — BPM and Camelot key on new tracks before you download them.
Which one should you use?
They complement each other. Find new tracks on PickTrack (key and BPM already shown), get the files, then let Mixed In Key analyse your library for energy levels and cue points.
Related
- Camelot wheel key chart
- Harmonic mixing with the Camelot wheel
- How to find tracks by BPM and Camelot key
FAQ
Does PickTrack replace Mixed In Key?
No. PickTrack is for finding new music with the key already shown; Mixed In Key analyses files you own. Many DJs would use both.
Does PickTrack use Camelot notation like Mixed In Key?
Yes. Keys on PickTrack are shown in Camelot notation (for example 8A = A minor).
Is there a free alternative to Mixed In Key?
DJ software such as rekordbox, Serato and Traktor can detect key on its own. For new music, PickTrack shows the Camelot key before you download anything.
What are the best Mixed In Key alternatives?
It depends on the job: rekordbox, Serato and Traktor (built-in key and BPM detection when you analyse your library); Tunebat (look up the key of a song before you buy it); PickTrack (BPM and Camelot key on new tracks before you download them).
Published 2026-11-12 · updated 2026-11-12. Product details are from each service's public information; check current pricing on their sites. PickTrack is not affiliated with the other services mentioned.
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