Anybody know of a...?

This is probably a major long shot, but does anybody know if there is a plugin for Windows Explorer that would allow you to associate musical keys to audio files and then sort by these in the explorer window?

Right-clicking columns gives you lots of different column options you can add and take out, if it's not already there, perhaps you can add it as a custom column? I can't check - macs at work... Or perhaps as a comment or some other unused but appropriate column.

Yeah I know, I have thems set up how I want them with bitrate etc (is there a way to do adjust the master setting for a folder including all subfolders btw? I'm doing it folder by folder at the mo ), but one that could detect the musical key is probably going to a ibt specialist.

Is it possible to set up custom columns?

You actually want it to DETECT the key? Or you're going to use Mixed in Key or similiar to write that to the file?

I'm pretty sure you can make Mixed in Key write the key to whatever part of the music tag file you want - just get it into one that Explorer uses? Like comments?

You need to use mixed in key to find the key first.
THen you need to figure out how you can output the data from MIK to the ID3 comment tag of the MP3 file, using some bulk renamer similar to tagscanner, then sort your directory by comment (I think its a sorting option for Vista when using MP3 files.

I can see this is where the problems will start.

As it stands I use MixMeister to detect the key of my tunes. I highly doubt I'll be able to export that info into the ID3s from there. Does MIK have this capability?

(shrug) never used it.

Maybe somebody else knows....

If I can sort by key in MixMeister this might all be easier, then I could use a batch renamer to achieve this end. It all hinges on being to sort by key in the first place though because doing it one file at a time is

99% certain it does yeah. That's how you use it in Serato, have it write to the Comments field (or whatever) so you can see it in Serato.

Ah of course, will look into it, ta

Are you sure Mixmeister doesn't update the ID3 tags with the info it generates? It must do? Can't be rescanning every time?
So you need to find where it rights the key on the ID3 I suppose - and if that's not available on Explorer then some kind of app to transfer fields on ID3 tags maybe?

Do I need to stand up for those rights when I find them?

It doesn't scan every time, it has a library and catalogues all the files you put into it. As far as I know it stores this information itself, referencing the original file (location) without actually changing the ID3 tags at all. Will look into it though...

Heh.
Yeah I'd download a basic ID3 reader and see if they key is anywhere in there. MIK uses a setting to update ID3 tags so guess it must have it's own library as well if you choose not to update them

Looks like Mixed In Key does what I want...

http://community.mixedinkey.com/Topic.aspx?ID=4926

And (the MM competitors claim) that Mixmeister isn't as accurate... hrmm.

Yeah, it looks like ID3 tags do hold a place for key after all, its just a matter of finding out if MM can write the info for me, or if I have to buy MIK...

CT MIK is what you need.

Its wicked and has become a lot faster and more accurate with recent updates. Well worth the small purchase fee.

Anyway MIK will scan your tracks and detect the bpm and key for each, you can then have these written to either the ID3 'comment' field or the the 'key' and 'bpm' fields.

If you are using Traktor the key will show up in the file browser and most other mixing software I think.

One thing to note though is that if you are using Traktor you do not want MIK writing to the BPM field as Traktor does not seem to like this. Instead let Traktor find the BPM's its self while analysing the waveform etc. Duno if you are using Traktor but its important info for anyone that might be.

Oh and the MP3 Tag program to end all which will let you view them explorer style...

http://www.mp3tag.de/en/

Here's an example of what I think your after...

http://www.audiogenus.net/misc/tags.jpg