YouTube has introduced a new experimental feature for Android devices, enabling users to identify songs by humming, singing, or recording. According to YouTube’s support page, the platform is currently testing a song search feature in its Android app. This novel functionality allows users to find songs on YouTube by humming, singing, or recording audio.
YouTube’s New Song Search Feature – Hum to Discover Music
For those with access to this trial, transitioning from the standard YouTube voice search to the song search feature is seamless. By humming, singing, or recording a song for at least three seconds, the platform can accurately identify the melody and then direct the user to relevant YouTube videos that feature the sought-after song. These videos may include official music videos, user-generated content, or Shorts.
Currently, the song search feature is available to a limited group of Android users. If it is rolled out more widely, it could become a valuable tool, considering YouTube’s popularity as a platform for discovering music.
Google vs. YouTube – Humming Your Way to Song Recognition
Interestingly, this recent experiment from YouTube may remind some users of a similar feature introduced by Google, YouTube’s parent company, in 2020. Google initially launched this feature in the Google app, Google Search widget, and Google Assistant, allowing users to identify songs by humming, whistling, or singing into the microphone icon. However, a notable difference is that Google’s feature requires humming for a longer duration, typically 10 to 15 seconds, to identify the song.
As previously explained by Google, its feature utilizes machine learning models to match a person’s hum with the unique “fingerprint” or signature melody of a song.
