Live data from Hacker News

Creating Shazam in Java

redcode.nl

21–30 of 49 posts

Re: Creating Shazam in Java

#21

After using Shazam, I was kind of hoping there was more to it than just a time windowed frequency domain peak-pick algorithm. The algorithm itself is pretty basic from a signal processing perspective, but I think the key insight here was that the results are unique enough to store off and compare other samples against at some later point in time.

Yeah, this is the obvious implementation. As he said in his follow-up post:

>And second, I’d like to know which patents are in play. Because I just couldn’t think that something this easy (music-fingerprint is a hash, and we do a lookup) can be patented.. Maybe in the States, but in Europe?

Re: Creating Shazam in Java

#22
This is very cool. Minimum clear implementation of the algorithm that replicates the effect of Shazam. It's refreshing to see a blog with actual code sample got voted up instead of all the press releases.

Re: Creating Shazam in Java

#24
One possible way to solve the legal troubles is to just remove any references to the product name 'Shazam'. You could title the blog post "Algorithm in Java that identifies music similar to other commercial products" (too long.. but use your imagination)

Re: Creating Shazam in Java

#25

One possible way to solve the legal troubles is to just remove any references to the product name 'Shazam'. You could title the blog post "Algorithm in Java that identifies music similar to other commercial products" (too long.. but use your imagination)

That wouldn't do a thing. Patents cover the code, not the names. (Well, the "embodiment", but since all there is here is code, it is clearly covering the code.) That would only help a trademark infringement, and there isn't one here.

Re: Creating Shazam in Java

#26
post #25

One possible way to solve the legal troubles is to just remove any references to the product name 'Shazam'. You could title the blog post "Algorithm in Java that identifies music similar to other commercial products" (too long.. but use your imagination)

That wouldn't do a thing. Patents cover the code, not the names. (Well, the "embodiment", but since all there is here is code, it is clearly covering the code.) That would only help a trademark infringement, and there isn't one here.

Ah.. good point.

Re: Creating Shazam in Java

#29
post #23

From where Shazam gets its content - fingerprint database? I mean, did they bought/rent mp3's?

I haven't had a chance to google for a source so take this as anecdotal but I vaguely remember reading an interview with the people behind it (when Shazam first launched in the UK) and in it they said they were ripping thousands of CDs a day/week (can't remember which) and running each track through their algo. Can't remember if they bought the CDs or had some deal in place with the record labels.
Post reply on HN