How to Shazam a Video: Identify Music in Any Video
Have you ever been watching a video online – maybe a YouTube vlog, an Instagram reel, or even a TikTok – and been captivated by a song playing in the background? You rack your brain trying to remember the lyrics, the artist, anything that might help you find it, but come up empty. Thankfully, there’s a solution: Shazam! While most people know Shazam for identifying music playing in their surroundings, many are unaware that it can also identify music within videos. This article will guide you through the process of using Shazam (and alternative methods) to discover the name and artist of that elusive song.
## What is Shazam and How Does It Work?
Shazam is a popular mobile app (available on both iOS and Android) that identifies music playing around you. It uses sophisticated audio fingerprinting technology. Here’s a simplified explanation of how it works:
1. **Audio Recording:** When you tap the Shazam button, the app records a short snippet of audio. It’s crucial to capture a clear, uninterrupted recording of the music you want to identify.
2. **Acoustic Fingerprint Creation:** Shazam analyzes the recorded audio and creates a unique digital “fingerprint.” This fingerprint is a representation of the sound’s characteristics, including frequencies and patterns.
3. **Database Matching:** The acoustic fingerprint is then compared to a vast database of music fingerprints stored on Shazam’s servers. This database contains millions of songs.
4. **Identification:** If a match is found, Shazam identifies the song’s name, artist, and other relevant information, such as album art and links to streaming services.
## Can Shazam Identify Music From a Video? The Challenges
The short answer is yes, Shazam can often identify music from a video. However, it’s not always a guaranteed success. Here are some factors that can affect Shazam’s ability to identify music in a video:
* **Audio Quality:** The clearer the audio in the video, the better Shazam’s chances of identifying the song. Background noise, talking, or other sounds can interfere with the recording and make it difficult for Shazam to create an accurate fingerprint.
* **Music Volume:** The music needs to be loud enough for Shazam to pick it up. If the music is barely audible, the app might not be able to identify it.
* **Overlapping Sounds:** If there are multiple audio tracks playing simultaneously (e.g., music with someone speaking over it), Shazam might struggle to isolate the music and create a clean fingerprint.
* **Song Obscurity:** Shazam’s database is extensive, but it doesn’t contain every song ever recorded. If the song is obscure, rare, or from an unknown artist, it might not be in the database.
* **Remixes and Covers:** If the music in the video is a remix, cover version, or altered in some way, Shazam might not be able to identify it, especially if the alterations are significant.
* **Copyright Restrictions:** While rare, in some cases, copyright restrictions or licensing agreements might prevent Shazam from identifying certain music.
Despite these challenges, Shazam is often successful at identifying music in videos, especially if the audio quality is good and the song is relatively well-known.
## How to Shazam a Video: Step-by-Step Guide
Here are the detailed steps on how to Shazam a video effectively. We’ll cover a few different scenarios and methods to maximize your chances of success.
**Method 1: Using Shazam Directly (If You Have Two Devices)**
This is the most straightforward method if you have two devices (e.g., a smartphone and a tablet, or two smartphones).
1. **Download and Install Shazam:** If you don’t already have Shazam installed, download it from the App Store (for iOS devices) or the Google Play Store (for Android devices) on one of your devices. It’s a free app.
2. **Open the Video on the Second Device:** On your other device, open the video containing the music you want to identify. This could be a YouTube video, an Instagram reel, a TikTok video, or any other video file.
3. **Prepare Shazam:** Open the Shazam app on your first device. Make sure the volume is turned up on both devices. Reduce any background noise in your environment.
4. **Play the Video and Shazam Simultaneously:** Start playing the video on your second device. As the music plays, tap the Shazam button (the large, prominent button with the Shazam logo) on your first device.
5. **Wait for Shazam to Identify the Song:** Shazam will listen to the music for a few seconds. If it can identify the song, it will display the song title, artist name, and album art. You can then tap on the result to get more information, such as links to stream the song on Spotify, Apple Music, or other platforms.
6. **Troubleshooting:**
* If Shazam doesn’t identify the song on the first try, try again. Make sure the volume is loud enough, and that there’s minimal background noise.
* Try moving the Shazam device closer to the speaker of the device playing the video.
* If you’re using headphones on the device playing the video, remove them.
**Method 2: Using Shazam on the Same Device (With Screen Recording)**
This method is useful if you only have one device. It involves using a screen recording app to capture the video’s audio, then playing back the recording for Shazam to listen to.
1. **Install a Screen Recording App:**
* **iOS:** iOS devices have a built-in screen recording feature. You can access it from the Control Center. If it’s not already there, go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and add “Screen Recording.”
* **Android:** Many Android devices have a built-in screen recording feature as well. Look for it in your quick settings panel. If your device doesn’t have a built-in screen recorder, you can download a free one from the Google Play Store. Popular options include AZ Screen Recorder, XRecorder, and ADV Screen Recorder. Make sure to grant the app the necessary permissions.
2. **Open the Video:** Open the video containing the music you want to identify on your device.
3. **Start Screen Recording:** Start the screen recording. On iOS, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open the Control Center, then tap the Screen Recording icon (a circle inside a larger circle). On Android, access the quick settings panel and tap the screen recording icon.
4. **Play the Video:** Play the video from the beginning or the point where the music starts. Let the video play for at least 10-15 seconds to give Shazam enough audio to analyze. Ensure the volume is adequately high.
5. **Stop Screen Recording:** Stop the screen recording after you’ve captured enough of the audio. On iOS, tap the red status bar at the top of the screen and select “Stop.” On Android, tap the screen recording icon in the notification shade or the quick settings panel.
6. **Open the Screen Recording:** Open the screen recording you just created. This will usually be in your Photos app (on iOS) or your Gallery app (on Android).
7. **Open Shazam:** Open the Shazam app on your device.
8. **Play the Screen Recording and Shazam Simultaneously:** Play the screen recording and immediately tap the Shazam button. Hold your device close to the speaker so Shazam can clearly hear the audio from the recording.
9. **Wait for Shazam to Identify the Song:** Shazam will listen to the audio from the screen recording and attempt to identify the song. If successful, it will display the song title, artist name, and album art.
10. **Troubleshooting:** If Shazam fails the first time, repeat the process, ensuring the volume is high and there’s minimal background noise during the screen recording and playback.
**Method 3: Using Shazam’s Pop-Up Mode (Android Only)**
Some Android devices allow Shazam to run in a “pop-up” or “floating” mode, which lets you identify music playing in other apps without leaving those apps. This method can be convenient for identifying music in videos playing within apps like YouTube or Instagram.
1. **Enable Shazam Pop-Up Mode (if available):** The availability and method for enabling pop-up mode vary depending on your Android device and Shazam version. Typically, you’ll find the option in Shazam’s settings. Look for settings related to “Pop-Up Shazam,” “Shazam from Notification,” or similar terms. Follow the instructions provided within the Shazam app to enable this feature. You may need to grant Shazam additional permissions to draw over other apps.
2. **Open the Video:** Open the video containing the music you want to identify in the app where it’s playing (e.g., YouTube, Instagram).
3. **Activate Shazam Pop-Up:** Once enabled, a Shazam icon (usually a floating button) should appear on your screen. This icon allows you to quickly activate Shazam without leaving the app.
4. **Play the Video and Tap the Shazam Icon:** Play the video. While the music is playing, tap the Shazam pop-up icon.
5. **Wait for Shazam to Identify the Song:** Shazam will listen to the music in the background. If it can identify the song, it will display a notification with the song title, artist name, and album art.
6. **Troubleshooting:** If the pop-up mode doesn’t work as expected, check Shazam’s settings to ensure it’s properly enabled and that all necessary permissions are granted. Restarting your device may also help.
**Method 4: Using a Computer (With Microphone or Audio Routing Software)**
If you’re watching the video on a computer, you can use Shazam on your smartphone or tablet to identify the music. Alternatively, you can use audio routing software to send the computer’s audio directly to Shazam on your computer or another device.
1. **Option 1: Using Shazam on a Separate Device (Smartphone/Tablet):** Follow the steps outlined in Method 1, using your computer to play the video and your smartphone/tablet with Shazam to identify the music. Make sure the microphone on your smartphone/tablet is positioned close to your computer’s speakers.
2. **Option 2: Using Shazam on Your Computer (with Audio Routing Software):**
* **Install Shazam on Your Computer:** If you don’t already have it, download and install Shazam for your computer (if available). Some operating systems may not have a dedicated Shazam app, in which case you’ll need to use the website method described later.
* **Install Audio Routing Software:** To send your computer’s audio to Shazam, you’ll need audio routing software. Popular options include:
* **Windows:** VoiceMeeter Banana, VB-Cable
* **macOS:** BlackHole, Loopback (paid)
* **Configure Audio Routing:** Follow the instructions for your chosen audio routing software to route the audio from your computer’s default output device (where the video’s audio is playing) to a virtual audio input device. This virtual input device will then be used by Shazam.
* **Configure Shazam:** In Shazam’s settings, select the virtual audio input device as the audio source. This will tell Shazam to listen to the audio coming from the virtual input.
* **Play the Video and Shazam Simultaneously:** Play the video on your computer. Simultaneously, activate Shazam. It will now listen to the audio being routed through the virtual audio input.
* **Wait for Shazam to Identify the Song:** Shazam will analyze the audio and attempt to identify the song.
* **Troubleshooting:** Audio routing can be complex. Consult the documentation for your chosen audio routing software for detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips.
## Alternatives to Shazam
While Shazam is the most popular music identification app, several alternatives are available that you can use to identify music in videos.
* **Google Assistant/Google App:** If you have Google Assistant enabled on your Android device or use the Google app on iOS, you can ask “What’s this song?” or tap the microphone icon and hum or sing the melody. Google will then attempt to identify the song.
* **SoundHound:** SoundHound is another popular music identification app that works similarly to Shazam. It also has a feature that allows you to hum or sing the melody of a song, which can be helpful if you don’t have a recording of the music.
* **YouTube Music:** If you’re watching the video on YouTube, YouTube Music can sometimes identify the song playing in the background, especially if it’s a popular track. Look for a “Song Information” or “Music in this video” section below the video.
* **Musixmatch:** Musixmatch is a music lyrics app that also has a music identification feature. It can identify songs playing around you or from a recording.
* **Online Music Identification Services:** Several websites offer music identification services. These websites typically allow you to upload an audio file or provide a link to a video. Examples include:
* **AHA Music:** A Chrome extension that identifies songs playing on websites.
* **AudioTag.info:** A website where you can upload an audio file.
* **WatZatSong:** A community-based website where you can upload an audio clip and ask other users to help identify the song.
## Tips for Successful Music Identification
To increase your chances of successfully identifying music in a video, consider the following tips:
* **Minimize Background Noise:** Reduce any background noise in your environment. Turn off the TV, close windows, and minimize talking or other sounds.
* **Increase the Volume:** Make sure the volume of the video is turned up high enough so Shazam (or your chosen alternative) can clearly hear the music.
* **Get Close to the Speaker:** Position your device (with Shazam running) close to the speaker of the device playing the video.
* **Isolate the Audio:** If possible, try to isolate the audio track from the video. Some video editing software allows you to extract the audio from a video file. You can then upload the audio file to an online music identification service.
* **Try Different Methods:** If one method doesn’t work, try another. Experiment with different apps, websites, and techniques.
* **Be Patient:** Sometimes, it takes a few tries for Shazam or another music identification service to identify a song. Don’t give up after the first attempt.
* **Search for Lyrics:** If you can understand any of the lyrics, try searching for them online. Even a few words can be enough to find the song.
* **Ask the Video Creator:** If you know who created the video, try contacting them and asking them what song is playing in the background. Many video creators are happy to share this information.
## Conclusion
Identifying music in videos can be a fun and rewarding experience. While Shazam is a powerful tool for this purpose, it’s not always foolproof. By following the steps outlined in this article and experimenting with different methods and alternatives, you can significantly increase your chances of discovering the name and artist of that song that’s been stuck in your head. Happy Shazaming!