Free Tools for Identifying Songs and Completing Music Metadata

Music enthusiasts often find themselves in a situation where they want to identify a song or complete its metadata but lack the necessary tools. Fortunately, there are several free applications available that can help with these tasks. This article will explore a variety of these tools, including popular choices such as Shazam, SoundHound, MusicBrainz Picard, and Tunatic.

Popular Free Tools for Identifying Songs

Shazam: Shazam is a well-known mobile application available on both iOS and Android. It can identify songs playing around you by listening to them. Additionally, it provides useful details such as the artist, album, and release year. The user interface is user-friendly, making it accessible for anyone to use.

SoundHound: SoundHound is another application that can recognize songs by listening to them or allowing the user to hum or sing a melody to identify a song. It offers a slightly different feature set compared to Shazam, making it a valuable alternative for music enthusiasts.

MusicBrainz Picard

MusicBrainz Picard: This is a desktop application that can tag music files by matching them with the MusicBrainz database. It supports various audio formats and can automatically fetch metadata for your music collection. The user interface is straightforward, and the app requires no installation, making it convenient for both musicians and casual listeners.

Other Free Tools and Clients

BeaTunes: BeaTunes is a powerful application developed specifically for Mac users. Although it requires a paid subscription, a free trial version can be downloaded. It offers extensive features, including advanced music organization and tagging capabilities, making it a preferred choice for those looking for a high-end tool.

iriver Plus 4: For users of the Windows platform, iriver Plus 4 is an excellent choice. It is free and open-source, supplied with an excellent song-based media recognition feature provided by the All Music Guide (AMG). The client offers unique features not found in other systems, and the metadata quality is unparalleled.

MusicBrainz: MusicBrainz is a leading open-source music metadata database project. It can be accessed through various clients, enabling users to find and organize music metadata effectively. The project's contributors include highly talented individuals who are dedicated to improving the metadata quality.

Additional Resources

There are also more specialized tools available. For example, ACRCloud offers a free tier for developers to integrate song recognition into their applications. However, this tool may require some technical knowledge to implement.

A fingerprinting service built by the talented team at SingingTok can also be utilized. This service is particularly useful for those seeking accurate song recognition and metadata. The GitHub repository for the client provides detailed information and documentation, making it easy to integrate into existing systems.

Conclusion

Whether you are a casual listener or a professional musician, these free tools can significantly enhance your experience with music. From identifying songs to completing metadata, these applications provide a wide range of features that cater to different needs. By leveraging their power, users can enjoy a more enriching and organized listening experience.