If I load a track, it seems to do its own analysis and oftentimes the key is not accurate.
I use Mixed in Key as well as tagging tracks manually but it appears DJay is doing its own analysis and ignoring the key stored in the metadata of the file.
There doesn’t appear to turn this off other than to manually set the key field in DJay after it gets it wrong (which appears to be in its own database than the initial_key ID3 tag that Serato or Mixed in Key use.
Hi @SpinThis, djay does perform its own key analysis and there currently is not an option to use other metadata for this or to overwrite the djay analyzed key value. I used to use Mixed In Key myself. The work around that I used was to have MIK write the Key and Energy level as a prefix to the Artist Name. Then I could sort the Artist column.
I have changed this topic from a bug report to a suggestion and passed this onto the dev team for consideration. In the meantime, please use the blue Vote button at the top left of this page so we can gauge user demand for this feature. Thanks!
This is how Serato treats analysis, it gives you an option on what to do which I think would work well in DJay (though DJay has better bpm/beat grid options that you probably don’t want to turn off!)
Before uploading my local music to Apple Music, I analyze everything in Mixed and Key. And it’s annoying to see that in 2025, djay doesn’t respect the key tag that’s already in the file. Serato and VDJ have an option to activate this feature if you want the program’s analysis to write the key tag or simply read it and not overwrite it. I have to manually correct every incorrect key.
Don’t programmers review other DJ software to see its features and bring the best to DJAY Pro?
Hi @LuisCervants, I have merged your new topic with this existing suggestion and will share your feedback with our dev team. Please use the blue Vote button at the top left of this page ao we can gauge user demand for this feature.
In the meantime, the workaround that I’ve been using for many years is to adjust the Mixed In Key settings to write their analyzed Key and Energy Level as a prefix to the Artist. Then you can sort the Artist Column to sort by MIK Key.
YOUR QUESTION:
Following on from this thread, I wanted to ask the community whether it would be helpful to have a setting in djay Pro that doesn’t re-analyse tracks if key information already exists in the file metadata?
A lot of us use tools like Mixed In Key to write key data, and currently djay Pro will re-analyse tracks and overwrite that information. Having a toggle to respect existing key metadata (unless we manually trigger re-analysis) could help preserve established metadata.
Curious to hear if others would find this useful, or if you’ve run into similar issues?
This would be a good feature (rekordbox and serato both have the option to turn off some features of the analysis process (bpm, waveform, pharae, key can be turned off)
But, for djay, here is the problem if we were to turn off key analysis;
A) For us who use serato first to prep tracks, then djay would accept serato key instead of djay’s
B) So even if we were to turn key off, we would again need a setting for djay to accept only MIK keys or only Serato key, or only rekordbox keys, or only traktor keys .
See the problem?
Having said that, we need to note that djay has the best waveform and stems analysis in the market now, so I believe it also has the most spot-on key analysis too. I am not expert in listening to keys but someone could help me there.
I trust djay track analysis globally
Thanks for the suggestion @jaysnbrwn. I’ve merged it with this existing one as they are closely related. Please use the blue Vote button at the top left of this page. Thanks!
Hi again @LuisCervants, can you please provide more examples of where djay’s Key analysis does not match MIK (Please provide full Title and Artist)? Thanks!
@Slak_Jaw
There are many examples of tracks that are fairly close [MIK/DJP]
J-Kwon - Tipsy [8A/9A]
Alicia Keys - No One [12B/12A]
Kodak Black - Roll In Peace [2A/3A]
Chance the Rapper - No Problem [10A/10B]
GloRilla - TGIF [7A/6A]
Could give you hundreds of these examples of those. But some of the tracks with bigger differences;
XXXTentacion - Look At Me [4A/9A]
JT - Okay [9A/1A]
Coi Leray - Bops [9A/1A]
Blxst & Bino Rideaux - Get Away [10A/11B]
Thanks again for the list of incorrect keys @jaysnbrwn. I shared this with engineering and it’s super helpful. They check one example "Kodak Black - Roll In Peace [2A/3A]" - djay is correct here (3A), 2A is incorrect. For reference, you can clearly hear it by playing a G key on the piano over the song (which sounds off as it belongs to the 2A scale, but not to the correct 3A scale). Can you please let us know what method you are using to verify the correctness of keys for songs, e.g. manually by “keying” them on an instrument or by looking up some data base online? Thanks again!
My personal approach, has always been to simply rely on one source for key analysis and not bother comparing between different softwares. In my mixing, I’m less concerned about the accuracy of the actual analyzed key and more about if it’s compatible with the rest of the analyzed keys in my library. I use the Camelot/Numerical notation so as long as, for example, all the 2A’s in my library sound good when mixed together I’m happy. Plus I always pre-cue in my headphones to make sure. At least that’s how I’ve always approached it, but I’m not a producer or musician.
