SongKey MK4, chords, tempo and key finder, version 4.0.3 is available, this update is free for owners of the plugin and includes:
- Fixed macOS app not requesting permission to use audio input
- Added audio passthrough to stand alone app in mac and windows
- Slightly reduced CPU load
Realtime Chord, Tempo, and Song Key Finder Plugin: HoRNet SongKey MK4
HoRNet SongKey MK4 is the latest iteration of our advanced chord, key, and tempo recognition tool. Version 4 of SongKey goes beyond simple key detection by offering the capability to recognize not only the key of the song but also the chord being played and the song’s tempo. This versatile plugin has been designed to accommodate a variety of music production workflows, offering a powerful solution for musicians, producers, DJs, and sound designers.
One of the standout features of SongKey MK4 is its ability to process MIDI input, allowing users to detect the chords and key of MIDI tracks. This makes it possible to analyze MIDI compositions, extract key information, and edit the track as needed. Additionally, SongKey MK4 comes equipped with MIDI output functionality. This means that the recognized chords can be sent as MIDI data, enabling users to record and edit the detected chords directly. This feature is particularly useful for those who prefer working with MIDI to build their musical compositions or perform further edits in a DAW.
Furthermore, SongKey MK4 introduces a brand-new standalone version. This standalone app can generate a MIDI clock, allowing users to synchronize all their other MIDI gear with live audio input. This is particularly helpful for live performances or situations where you need to sync your hardware and software with real-time audio analysis. Whether you’re working in a studio environment or performing live, this synchronization feature helps you keep everything perfectly in time.
Improved Accuracy and Precision
SongKey MK4 offers significant improvements in both speed and precision. The key finder is now faster and more accurate, meaning you’ll spend less time searching for the right key and more time focusing on the creative aspects of your project. The chord detection has also been enhanced, ensuring that each chord is recognized with greater precision. Additionally, the BPM finder has been upgraded to provide more reliable tempo detection, ensuring you get the most accurate tempo reading possible.
One of the most significant advancements in SongKey MK4 is the upgrade to its “chromagram” feature. The chromagram is a visual representation of the intensity of each note played in the song, taking into account a broader octave range. By improving the chromagram, SongKey MK4 can filter out minor tuning discrepancies, resulting in a more accurate representation of the musical content. This chromagram feeds into an artificial intelligence (AI) unit, which processes the data to identify the chords being played. The AI has been trained to detect a wide range of chords, including sevenths, fifths, and suspended chords, making it highly adaptable to different musical styles.
Advanced Key Detection Engine
SongKey MK4’s key detection engine builds upon the chromagram and integrates an additional AI unit based on a statistical chord progression model. This model analyzes the sequence of chords and determines the key of the song. One of the major benefits of this system is that it works in real-time. Unlike earlier versions, which required a reset when changing keys in a song, SongKey MK4 can continuously track the key as it changes throughout the song. This is particularly useful for songs that modulate between keys or for dynamic compositions where the key may shift during the performance.
Another important feature of SongKey MK4 is its ability to function offline within your DAW. This means you can use it in a production environment without needing an internet connection. This is especially important when working in a studio or when performing live, where connectivity may not always be reliable or available.
User-Friendly Interface and Visualization
The plugin’s interface has been designed to be as intuitive and user-friendly as possible. The GUI (graphical user interface) now displays two chromagrams: one for chord recognition and another for key recognition. This dual-chromagram view gives you a clear visual representation of the musical content, allowing you to see which notes are being played and which ones you can use in your own track. This is especially useful for producers working with acapellas, samples, or other pre-recorded material, as it allows them to quickly identify the key and notes used in the sample and make informed decisions about how to complement it in their mix.
In addition to the chromagrams, SongKey MK4 includes a keyboard display that visually shows the keys being played. This feature is invaluable for musicians and producers who want to quickly check the pitch and tonal content of a track. By providing these visual cues, SongKey MK4 helps users better understand the musical landscape and facilitates smoother integration of various musical elements into their project.
Standalone App for Live Performance
SongKey MK4 also comes as a standalone app for both macOS and Windows. This standalone version of the plugin allows you to feed it with audio from other apps or a live recording, making it an excellent tool for live performance. Whether you’re analyzing a recorded track or feeding it live audio from a band or DJ set, SongKey MK4 processes the audio in real-time, providing instant feedback on the key, chords, and tempo.
Additionally, SongKey MK4 generates MIDI clock from the detected tempo, allowing you to synchronize your DAW or any other MIDI-compatible sequencer with the live sound. This feature ensures that your entire setup stays in time with the audio input, making it easier to perform live, record, or DJ without worrying about synchronization issues.
Practical Applications
SongKey MK4 is an invaluable tool for various scenarios. For instance, if you’re working on a song but don’t have an instrument available to help you figure out the key, chords, or tempo, SongKey MK4 provides a fast and accurate solution. Similarly, DJs can use SongKey MK4 to identify the key of a track, enabling them to create seamless mashups and mixes by ensuring that all the tracks are harmonically compatible.
The chord detection feature is particularly useful for designing bass lines, pads, and other musical elements. By understanding the underlying chord progression, you can tailor your production to fit the harmonic structure of the song, making it easier to create complementary parts and ensure everything fits together smoothly.
Conclusion
HoRNet SongKey MK4 represents a major leap forward in key, chord, and tempo detection technology. With improved accuracy, a real-time key detection engine, enhanced chord recognition, and advanced features like MIDI input/output and live sync capabilities, this plugin offers an invaluable tool for musicians, producers, DJs, and anyone working with music in a creative capacity. Whether you’re working in a studio, performing live, or DJing, SongKey MK4 provides the flexibility and precision you need to take your music production to the next level.
Demo
We decided to not provide a demo for SongKey MK4 because we don’t want to to cripple our product too much and limiting the capability of this plugin for a demo would mean to provide a bad testing experience.
For this reason we offer an instantaneous full refund within 15 days of your purchase if you buy SongKey MK4 and you don’t like it
Features
- Artificial Intelligence driven key identification that follow key changes
- Realtime audio and MIDI chord detection
- Confidence display for each found key
- Key and Chord chromagram that shows each note level
- Key and Chord piano roll view to see which notes are active
- Sample mode for short sounds analysis
- Realtime tempo detection
- MIDI output of detected chords
- Stand alone App for both Mac and Windows
- MIDI clock output (in the stand alone App)
- Sharp and Flat notation
- Resizable vector GUI
- Hardware accelerated GUI
- Apple Silicon native support
- macOS (10.11 and later) and Windows (7 and later, OpenGL 2.1 required) support.
- 64-bit only plugins for macOS and Windows.
- Audio Units, VST, VST3 and AAX format.
Copy protection
The HoRNet SongKey MK4 has no copy protection, we don’t believe in copy protection, they are always cracked and they are annoying for the users, we all know you are not going to give away the plugin on the internet…
So simply download the plugin and enjoy your recordings!
Great plugin, but I wanted to pass the BPM to a downstream VST, I cannot see how to get the BPM out as a parameter.
This is brilliant. Thank you!
Saverio, thanks! I just got this plugin. I can see how it could be helpful.
I watched the video on the sales page. However, how does the MIDI output work? I didn't see it reviewed in the video.
Not great. Wanted this for BPM detection. Even with an electronic pop drum generator, SongKey was several BPM off the actual tempo and it takes too long to register a change in tempo, if it detects the change at all. Has potential but not reliable.
I admit I use it a lot, for samples, tracks and root notes. The design is great, minimalist and overall clean. However, the accuracy decreases with the number of notes and, for example, chord-heavy EDM tracks are usually inaccurate by a semitone.
This is decent for simple chords but seems to get confused when playing 5 or 6 note chords. Accuracy definitely dips when dealing with more complex stuff, hence the rating.
Any idea when the AAX version will be ready for Pro Tools 2023 on Apple Silicon? Without it, my harmonies sometimes sound like a tone deaf Balkans choir… (Just kidding, but it IS such a useful plugin.)
Hello.
I think it would be useful to have a MIDI detection priority button and an audio detection priority button on the MK4.
Very useful plugin, I really like the standalone app
Come to iOS Auv3 please
Exactly what I need and no more.
I don't need more instruments, I don't need a ton of junk in my plugins. I just need to do one thing and one thing right. I'm very happy that Hornet Plugins has created this piece of software!
El plugin es inestable y genera saturación de CPU en Ableton Live Standar 11.1.6.
Me estaba volviendo loco hasta que descubrí que este pequeño estaba usando el 100% de CPU. W10, I9 11900k, 32gb RAM DDR4, Disco Samsung nmve 1tb y pc a estrenar casi. Utizaba el 3 y no me pasaba nada de esto. Ya avisareis cuando lo solucionéis. Son buenos productos y me gusta la compañía.
Tempo detection doesn't seem to work properly. For example for "Dirty Mind" (PandaBoyz) it says 123 bpm when the actual bpm is 126. That song has a strong kick & bass for the first 8 bars that should be easy enough to detect.
Nice plugin though… but a more reliable bpm detection would be nice.
I just bought but Im getting audio glitches in NI Maschine with this plugin, needs optimization. I tried both AU and VST same thing..
I am a full time Mix Engineer. I didn't expect to, but I use Songkey MK4 regularly, and has been part of my Pre-Mix Template. since MK3, to verify my findings, It does what they say they'll do. Their free upgrades is an indicator to me of how much a company cares about their customers, as opposed to companies like the $29 special price company that nickel-dimes you at every turn. .
Thank you for the demo Saverio:) Fantastic plugin! I am not a musician but a producer and songwriter and this would really speed up the process of finding chords as base to be inspired from for an arrangement. I should definitely try it out.
Best,
DJFLX
We updated drastically the detection engine with SongKey MK3, this update is an evolutive update keeping the same detection engine but improving the crhromagram generation. IF you want to know more just drop me a line
could you please let us have the tracks that misbehave?
Hi we'll shot a video soon demonstrating how the plugin works!
Very useful plugin! I use it to quick balance all my imported track.
Question… is the MK4 update free to MK3 owners?