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This program will save you from having to keep a song in your head

This program will save you from having to keep a song in your head

Vote: (3 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Shazam Entertainment Ltd.

Works under: Windows

Also available for Mac Android

Vote:

Program license

(3 votes)

Free

Developer

Shazam Entertainment Ltd.

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Mac Android

Pros

  • Tremendous Music Database
  • Excellent Social Features
  • Highly Intuitive
  • Searched Song History

Cons

  • Can't Recognize All Songs

Shazam is an app that lets you find out information about any song you hear on TV, the radio, or anywhere else. You can learn the name of the song, the artist who wrote it, and the album on which it was originally released.

When you hear a song that you don't recognize but still enjoy, you can find out the name of the song by opening the Shazam app on your PC and placing the output speaker near the PC input microphone. Once everything is ready, click the icon that says 'Tag Now'. The app will take a few seconds to record some of the song, and you'll soon be given all the pertinent details about the piece of music.

Once the song has been identified by the app, it will give the option to play the full song through the Google Play Store, Rdio, or Spotify. If you like the song, you can buy the full track from the Google Play Store. The software also includes a history of every song you've ever tagged under the 'My Tags' menu.

Spotify has been integrated into Shazam fully, which means you can use the streaming music service to listen to songs in your Shazam playlists. When you link a Spotify account to Shazam, the software creates an automatic playlist called 'My Shazam Tracks'. This provides you with a simple, easy-to-reference list of every song you Shazam. Beyond title and artist, the software also provides links to related videos and, in some cases, song lyrics.

Shazam works by recording a small sample of the song currently playing, then it compares that sample with the online database of songs via an internet connection. If the software hits on a match, it will instantly show the associated information for that song, and it gives you the ability to share the info with a friend via email. The software isn't infallible, so there are some songs that it won't recognize, and in some instances it'll mismatch a song if the sample is insufficient. However, Shazam is able to accurately recognize many of the most common popular songs.

You'll notice the UI for Shazam is exceptionally basic, which is good because it helps streamline the process so you can look up a song in seconds. The software is an ideal solution to the problem of trying to find out the name of a song you just heard for a few seconds.

The newest version of Shazam includes a few new improvements, including several to the News Feed in the app. These improvements are designed to help you learn more about musicians or groups that you've searched for. It will show you new videos and tracks from those artists, and you'll be able to see more activity from your friends so you can see what sort of music they are listening to.

Pros

  • Tremendous Music Database
  • Excellent Social Features
  • Highly Intuitive
  • Searched Song History

Cons

  • Can't Recognize All Songs