What to try when a song finder cannot find the song
Practical fixes for quiet music, voiceovers, wrong matches, blocked links, and short clips.
By the FindTunes team
Open the song finderSeparate a link problem from a music problem
If FindTunes says it could not open the link, the music has not necessarily been checked. The site hosting the video may block access, require a login, or have removed the post. Try uploading a copy you have permission to use, or record the music while it plays.
If the video opens but no song is found, the recognizer may not have enough clear music. The recording may also be a live performance, an edit, or a track that is missing from the recognition catalog.
Choose the clearest section
Find a section with continuous music and as little talking as possible. In an uploaded clip, use Trim to select it. A chorus or instrumental passage can be more useful than an intro full of dialogue. Do not cut so tightly that you leave only a single beat.
If a video uses several songs, test each section separately. A result for the opening music does not mean the same track plays throughout the video. Longer scans sample multiple moments but can still miss short transitions.
Make recording easier
When using your microphone, allow microphone access and keep the music audible. Move away from other conversations or competing speakers. Avoid very low volume, but do not turn it up so far that the sound distorts.
Headphones can stop the phone's microphone from hearing music played on that same device. If recording is not practical, use a link or upload instead. You can stop a recording rather than waiting if you realize the microphone is hearing the wrong sound.
A wrong match is worth checking
Open the listening link and compare the melody or vocal with the video. Catalog results sometimes identify the original song behind a remix, sample, or sped-up edit. Write down the artist and title, then check the video's description and comments for the exact version.
If none of these approaches works, look for lyrics you can clearly hear or ask the person who posted the video. Not every piece of music is commercially released. Repeating the same unclear sample many times is unlikely to help; try a different section first.