Stop assuming everyone owns Mixed In Key and Platinum Notes

Sortero only needs key and BPM tags to exist; it has never cared what wrote
them. The UI said otherwise at every turn, naming two paid tools as if they
were requirements. rekordbox, Serato, Traktor and Mixxx all analyse for free,
and most people already have one.

Prompts now say "your analysis tool", with those named as examples rather than
prerequisites, and the README lists the free options alongside the paid one.

The Platinum Notes ordering reminder is now conditional on actually using it,
and says plainly that it is optional: it improves audio quality and writes
nothing Sortero reads. The warning still explains why order matters, because
getting it wrong fails silently - mastering after analysing leaves the tags
describing a file that no longer exists, with no error to notice.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Author: sparkly-quasar

README.md

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ DJ Collection/
   Mixes/                               recordings over 20 minutes
   _Playlists/*.m3u8                    every folder you had, as a playlist
   _Quarantine/                         duplicates and rejects, never deleted
-  To Be Processed/                     your Platinum Notes / Mixed In Key stage
+  To Be Processed/                     tracks waiting to be analysed
   Processed/                           analysed and ready to file
 ```
 
@@ -47,25 +47,37 @@ DJ Collection/
 | **Tags** | Strips download-site spam from Genre/Comment, infers missing Artist/Title from filenames, normalises Genre, and promotes Mixed In Key energy into the sortable Grouping field. |
 | **Duplicates** | Exact (identical audio) and Likely (same artist/title/version, same length). Different remixes are never grouped. Extras move to `_Quarantine`. |
 | **Import** | Add files or folders. Analysed tracks go straight to `Tracks/<Genre>`; anything missing key/BPM lands in `To Be Processed`. Tracks already in the library are flagged, not copied. **"Sort the 'Processed' folder"** files everything you've already run through PN and MIK. |
-| **Needs Work** | Everything Sortero can't fix by itself, filtered by what's missing (key/BPM, energy, genre, artist, low bitrate). Select tracks and stage them in `To Be Processed` for Platinum Notes (first) then Mixed In Key (second). Your own set recordings are excluded. |
+| **Needs Work** | Everything Sortero can't fix by itself, filtered by what's missing (key/BPM, energy, genre, artist, low bitrate). Select tracks and stage them in `To Be Processed` for whichever analysis tool you use. Your own set recordings are excluded. |
 | **Playlists** | Rebuild a Spotify or TIDAL playlist against your local files, or rebuild the folder playlists. |
 | **History** | Every operation, with one-click undo. |
 
 ## The analysis loop
 
-Sortero can compute genre, artist and titles, but not key, BPM or energy —
-those need Mixed In Key and Platinum Notes. The **Needs Work** tab closes that
+Sortero works out genre, artist and title on its own, but not key, BPM or
+energy — those come from an analysis tool. The **Needs Work** tab closes that
 loop:
 
 1. Filter by *Missing key or BPM* and select what you want.
 2. **Stage selected in 'To Be Processed'.**
-3. Run that folder through **Platinum Notes first**, then **Mixed In Key second**,
-   saving the results into `Processed`.
+3. Run that folder through your analysis tool, saving the results into `Processed`.
 4. **Import → "Sort the 'Processed' folder"** files them by genre automatically.
 
-> **Order matters.** Platinum Notes re-encodes the audio. Run it *after* Mixed In
-> Key and you throw that analysis away — the key and energy tags won't match the
-> file you end up with. Sortero repeats this reminder when you stage tracks.
+Sortero doesn't care which tool wrote the tags — only that key and BPM are there.
+Any of these work:
+
+| Tool | Notes |
+|---|---|
+| **rekordbox / Serato / Traktor** | Already analyse on import. Free, and you probably have one. |
+| **[Mixxx](https://mixxx.org)** | Free and open source on every platform. Built-in key and BPM detection. |
+| **[Mixed In Key](https://mixedinkey.com)** | Paid. Widely considered the most accurate for key, and the source of the 1–10 energy rating. |
+| **KeyFinder** | Open source, key detection only. |
+
+> **If you use Platinum Notes, run it *before* analysing.** It re-encodes the
+> audio, so mastering afterwards leaves key and energy tags describing a file
+> that no longer exists — silently, with no error. Platinum Notes is entirely
+> optional; it improves audio quality and writes no tags Sortero needs. For the
+> loudness part alone, [MP3Gain](https://alternativeto.net/software/mp3gain/) or
+> your DJ software's auto-gain is a free substitute.
 
 Staging a track out of a set or vibe folder does **not** cost you that
 curation. Before anything moves, Sortero writes the folder out as a playlist

sortero/app.py

@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ def render(self, h):
 
         self.issues.delete(0, "end")
         for label, items, hint in [
-            ("missing key/BPM", h["needs_analysis"], "Platinum Notes 1st, Mixed In Key 2nd"),
+            ("missing key/BPM", h["needs_analysis"], "run through your analysis tool"),
             ("missing genre", h["no_genre"], "Tags tab can normalise what exists"),
             ("missing artist", h["no_artist"], "Tags tab can infer from filename"),
             ("spam in genre", h["spam_genre"], "Tags tab clears these"),
@@ -764,16 +764,16 @@ class ImportTab(BaseTab):
     def build(self):
         ttk.Label(self, foreground="#666", wraplength=980, justify="left",
                   text="Add new music. Tracks with key and BPM go straight to Tracks/<Genre>. "
-                       "Anything missing analysis lands in 'To Be Processed' for Platinum Notes "
-                       "and Mixed In Key. Tracks already in the library are flagged, not copied."
+                       "Anything missing analysis lands in 'To Be Processed' for your "
+                       "analysis tool. Tracks already in the library are flagged, not copied."
                   ).pack(anchor="w", pady=(0, 8))
         pf = ttk.Frame(self)
         pf.pack(fill="x", pady=(0, 8))
         ttk.Button(pf, text="Sort the 'Processed' folder",
                    command=self.intake_processed).pack(side="left")
         ttk.Label(pf, foreground="#666",
                   text="  — file everything you have already run through "
-                       "Platinum Notes then Mixed In Key").pack(side="left")
+                       "your analysis tool").pack(side="left")
 
         btns = ttk.Frame(self)
         btns.pack(fill="x", pady=(0, 8))
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ class NeedsWorkTab(BaseTab):
     """Find and act on tracks whose metadata still needs outside help."""
 
     FILTERS = [
-        ("Missing key or BPM — needs Platinum Notes + Mixed In Key",
+        ("Missing key or BPM — needs analysing",
          lambda r: not r.analyzed),
         ("Missing key only", lambda r: not r.key),
         ("Missing BPM only", lambda r: not r.bpm),
@@ -917,18 +917,21 @@ class NeedsWorkTab(BaseTab):
 
     def build(self):
         ttk.Label(self, foreground="#666", wraplength=980, justify="left",
-                  text="Everything here needs something Sortero can't compute itself. "
-                       "Pick a filter, select the tracks you want, then stage them in "
-                       "'To Be Processed', then run that folder through Platinum Notes "
-                       "FIRST and Mixed In Key SECOND. When they land in 'Processed' "
-                       "the Import tab files them automatically."
+                  text="Everything here needs something Sortero can't work out itself. "
+                       "Pick a filter, select the tracks you want, and stage them in "
+                       "'To Be Processed'. Run that folder through your analysis tool — "
+                       "Mixed In Key, rekordbox, Mixxx, or whatever you use — and when "
+                       "the results land in 'Processed', the Import tab files them "
+                       "automatically."
                   ).pack(anchor="w", pady=(0, 4))
         ttk.Label(self, foreground="#8a5a00", font=("Helvetica", 12, "bold"),
-                  text="Order matters:  1. Platinum Notes  →  2. Mixed In Key"
+                  text="If you use Platinum Notes: run it BEFORE your key/BPM analysis"
                   ).pack(anchor="w", pady=(0, 2))
         ttk.Label(self, foreground="#666", wraplength=980, justify="left",
-                  text="Platinum Notes re-encodes the audio, so running it after "
-                       "Mixed In Key throws the analysis away."
+                  text="Platinum Notes re-encodes the audio, so analysing first and "
+                       "mastering second leaves the tags describing a file that no "
+                       "longer exists. Skip this if you don't use it — Sortero only "
+                       "needs the key and BPM tags, whatever wrote them."
                   ).pack(anchor="w", pady=(0, 8))
 
         row = ttk.Frame(self)
@@ -1034,11 +1037,10 @@ def stage(self):
             return
         if not messagebox.askyesno(
                 APP, f"Move {len(recs)} tracks into 'To Be Processed'?\n\n"
-                     "Then, in this order:\n"
-                     "  1. Platinum Notes  (re-encodes the audio)\n"
-                     "  2. Mixed In Key    (reads the final audio)\n\n"
-                     "Save the results into 'Processed', then use Import → "
-                     "\"Sort the 'Processed' folder\".\n\n"
+                     "Run them through your analysis tool, save the results into "
+                     "'Processed', then use Import → \"Sort the 'Processed' folder\".\n\n"
+                     "If you use Platinum Notes, run it BEFORE analysing — it "
+                     "re-encodes the audio.\n\n"
                      "Reversible from History."):
             return
         root = self.app.root_dir.get()
@@ -1055,12 +1057,10 @@ def done(res):
             path, n = res
             messagebox.showinfo(
                 APP, f"Staged {n} tracks in 'To Be Processed'.\n\n"
-                     "Remember the order:\n"
-                     "  1. Platinum Notes  FIRST\n"
-                     "  2. Mixed In Key    SECOND\n\n"
-                     "Platinum Notes re-encodes the audio, so running it second "
-                     "would discard the Mixed In Key analysis.\n\n"
-                     "Save the results into 'Processed'.")
+                     "Run that folder through your analysis tool — Mixed In Key, "
+                     "rekordbox, Mixxx — and save the results into 'Processed'.\n\n"
+                     "If you use Platinum Notes, run it FIRST. It re-encodes the "
+                     "audio, so mastering after analysing discards the analysis.")
             self.app.tab_history.refresh()
             self.app.scan()
 

sortero/importer.py

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Rules, in order:
   1. Already in the library (same content signature) -> flagged as duplicate.
-  2. No key/BPM               -> 'To Be Processed'  (your Platinum Notes / MIK stage).
+  2. No key/BPM               -> 'To Be Processed'  (your analysis staging lane).
   3. Otherwise               -> Tracks/<Genre>/Artist - Title.ext
 Spam tags are stripped on the way in so junk never enters the library.
 """
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def plan(root, sources, library_recs, progress=None):
         elif not (r.key and r.bpm):
             dest = os.path.join(root, TO_PROCESS, target_filename(r))
             results.append({"rec": r, "dest": dest, "action": "to-process",
-                            "reason": "missing key/BPM - run Platinum Notes + Mixed In Key"})
+                            "reason": "missing key/BPM - needs analysing"})
         else:
             g = resolve_genre(r)
             dest = os.path.join(root, TRACKS_DIR, safe(g, 60), target_filename(r))

sortero/library.py

@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 from .common import AUDIO_EXTS, is_spam, clean_stem, split_artist_title, to_camelot
 from .tagio import Track
 
-# Folders Sortero never touches. The user's Platinum Notes / Mixed In Key staging
-# areas, plus Sortero's own quarantine.
+# Folders Sortero never touches: the user's analysis staging lanes, plus
+# Sortero's own quarantine.
 PROTECTED = {"To Be Processed", "Processed", "_Quarantine", "_Playlists"}
 
 # Folders holding your own recordings rather than tracks to play. Nothing in
-# here ever needs Mixed In Key / Platinum Notes analysis.
+# here ever needs key/BPM analysis.
 RECORDING_DIRS = {"Recorded Mixes", "Mixes", "Recordings"}
 
 

sortero/membership.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Remember which playlists a track belonged to while it is away being analysed.
 
-Staging a track for Platinum Notes / Mixed In Key moves it out of the folder it
+Staging a track for analysis moves it out of the folder it
 was curated in, and it comes back renamed, in a different place. Without a
 record of where it came from, that track would quietly fall out of the set or
 vibe playlist it belonged to.

sortero/organize.py

@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ def folder_playlist_name(rec):
 
 
 def stage_for_analysis(root, recs, all_recs=None, log=print, progress=None):
-    """Move chosen tracks into 'To Be Processed' for Platinum Notes / Mixed In Key.
+    """Move chosen tracks into 'To Be Processed' for key/BPM analysis.
 
     Their current folder membership is written to playlists first and recorded
     as pending, so filing them back out of 'Processed' restores them to the

sortero/version.py

@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "0.3.4"
+__version__ = "0.3.5"

sortero/wizard.py

@@ -246,8 +246,8 @@ def _folder_note(self):
         msg = f"Found: {d}"
         if have:
             msg += ("\n\nSortero can see your " + " and ".join(f"'{h}'" for h in have) +
-                    " folder. Those are your Platinum Notes / Mixed In Key staging "
-                    "area and are never reorganised.")
+                    " folder. Those are your analysis staging area and are never "
+                    "reorganised.")
         else:
             msg += ("\n\nSortero will create 'To Be Processed' and 'Processed' folders "
                     "for the analysis workflow when it first needs them.")
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ def _render_scan(self):
                 f"{h['pct_analyzed']:.0f}%  have key and BPM\n"
                 f"{h['pct_genre']:.0f}%  have a usable genre\n"
                 f"{h['pct_energy']:.0f}%  have an energy rating\n\n"
-                f"{len(h['needs_analysis'])} tracks need Platinum Notes / Mixed In Key\n"
+                f"{len(h['needs_analysis'])} tracks need analysing for key and BPM\n"
                 f"{len(h['no_genre'])} need a genre — most can be inferred")
         ttk.Label(self.scan_box, text=text, font=("Menlo", 11),
                   justify="left").pack(anchor="w")
@@ -457,14 +457,17 @@ def done(_):
     def _analysis(self):
         self._heading("Tracks that need Mixed In Key",
                       "Sortero works out genre, artist and title itself, but key, BPM "
-                      "and energy need Mixed In Key and Platinum Notes. It can gather "
-                      "those tracks into 'To Be Processed' ready for you to run them.")
+                      "and energy come from an analysis tool — Mixed In Key, rekordbox, "
+                      "Mixxx, whichever you use. Sortero can gather the tracks that need "
+                      "it into 'To Be Processed' ready to run.")
         ttk.Label(self.body, foreground="#8a5a00", font=("Helvetica", 13, "bold"),
-                  text="Order matters:  1. Platinum Notes  →  2. Mixed In Key"
+                  text="If you use Platinum Notes: run it BEFORE analysing"
                   ).pack(anchor="w", pady=(0, 2))
         ttk.Label(self.body, foreground="#666", wraplength=690, justify="left",
-                  text="Platinum Notes re-encodes the audio, so running it after Mixed "
-                       "In Key throws that analysis away."
+                  text="It re-encodes the audio, so mastering after analysing leaves the "
+                       "tags describing a file that no longer exists. Ignore this if you "
+                       "don't use it — Sortero only needs the key and BPM tags, whatever "
+                       "wrote them."
                   ).pack(anchor="w", pady=(0, 10))
         if not self.recs:
             ttk.Label(self.body, text="Nothing scanned yet.").pack(anchor="w")
@@ -480,10 +483,10 @@ def _analysis(self):
         if not pending:
             self.an_btn.configure(state="disabled")
         ttk.Label(self.body, foreground="#666", wraplength=690, justify="left",
-                  text="\nAfterwards: Platinum Notes first, then Mixed In Key, saving "
-                       "into 'Processed'. Then use Import → \"Sort the 'Processed' "
-                       "folder\". Tracks staged out of a set rejoin its playlist "
-                       "automatically when they come back."
+                  text="\nAfterwards: analyse them, save the results into 'Processed', "
+                       "then use Import → \"Sort the 'Processed' folder\". Tracks staged "
+                       "out of a set rejoin its playlist automatically when they come "
+                       "back."
                   ).pack(anchor="w", pady=(10, 0))
 
     def _apply_stage(self):