SoundHound On Laptop: A Complete Guide

by Jhon Lennon 39 views

Hey music lovers! Ever found yourself humming a tune, but you just can't place the song? Or maybe you're at a coffee shop, and a catchy track is playing in the background, driving you crazy because you need to add it to your playlist ASAP. Well, that’s where SoundHound swoops in to save the day! While many of us are used to whipping out our phones for this magical music identification, let's dive into how you can get SoundHound up and running on your laptop.

What is SoundHound?

Before we get started, let's talk about what makes SoundHound so awesome. Simply put, SoundHound is a music recognition app that identifies songs by listening to them. Unlike some of its competitors, SoundHound is incredibly fast and accurate, even if the music is being played in a noisy environment, or if you're just humming or singing a portion of the song. This impressive capability makes it a go-to app for music enthusiasts around the globe. It has a huge database of songs, constantly updated, ensuring it can identify everything from the latest pop hits to those obscure indie tracks. Moreover, SoundHound offers more than just song identification; it also provides lyrics, artist information, and links to stream the song on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. This makes it not just a utility but also a discovery tool that can expand your musical horizons. For anyone who loves discovering new music or quickly identifying a song, SoundHound is an indispensable tool that brings a world of music information to your fingertips.

Can You Download SoundHound Directly on Your Laptop?

Okay, so here’s the deal. Officially, SoundHound is designed as a mobile app, primarily for iOS and Android devices. That means there isn't a dedicated desktop version you can download directly from the SoundHound website or app store. Bummer, right? But don't lose hope! There are still ways to get the SoundHound experience on your laptop, and we're going to explore those workarounds. While a native application would be ideal, the methods we'll discuss can provide similar functionality, allowing you to identify songs playing on your computer. These solutions might require a bit of setup, but they're relatively straightforward and can be quite effective. Whether you're trying to identify a tune from a YouTube video or a song playing on a streaming service through your laptop speakers, these methods will help you bring the power of SoundHound to your desktop environment. Keep reading, and we'll walk you through the steps to get everything set up.

Method 1: Using an Android Emulator

One of the most reliable ways to use SoundHound on your laptop is by using an Android emulator. Think of an emulator as a program that creates a virtual Android device on your computer. This allows you to download and run Android apps, including SoundHound, as if you were using a smartphone or tablet. There are several Android emulators available, but some popular choices include BlueStacks, NoxPlayer, and MEmu Play. These emulators are generally free to download and use, though some may offer premium versions with additional features. Once you've chosen and installed an emulator, you'll need to sign in with your Google account to access the Google Play Store. From there, you can search for and install SoundHound just like you would on an Android device. Once installed, you can open SoundHound within the emulator and use your laptop’s microphone to identify songs playing nearby. This method is particularly useful because it provides the full functionality of the mobile app, including song history and the ability to connect to streaming services. So, if you're looking for a comprehensive SoundHound experience on your laptop, using an Android emulator is a great option.

Step-by-step guide to using BlueStacks:

  1. Download BlueStacks: Head over to the BlueStacks website and download the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows or macOS).
  2. Install BlueStacks: Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install BlueStacks on your laptop. This might take a few minutes, so grab a coffee while you wait.
  3. Sign in to Google Play Store: Once BlueStacks is installed, launch it. You'll be prompted to sign in with your Google account. This is necessary to access the Google Play Store.
  4. Install SoundHound: Open the Google Play Store within BlueStacks and search for SoundHound. Click the install button to download and install the app.
  5. Open SoundHound: Once the installation is complete, you can find SoundHound in the BlueStacks app drawer. Click the icon to open the app.
  6. Start Identifying Music: Now that SoundHound is running, simply hold your laptop's microphone near the music source and tap the SoundHound button in the app. It will analyze the audio and (hopefully!) identify the song for you.

Method 2: Using Online Music Identification Services

If installing an Android emulator seems like overkill, or if you're looking for a quicker, simpler solution, you can use online music identification services. These websites allow you to upload a sound recording, or in some cases, provide a URL to an online audio source, and they will attempt to identify the song. While they might not be as feature-rich as the SoundHound app, they can be a convenient alternative for occasional use. Some popular online services include Midomi, ACRCloud, and WatZatSong. Midomi, for example, allows you to hum, sing, or play a recording to identify a song. ACRCloud is often used for commercial purposes but offers a free trial for individual use. WatZatSong is a community-based platform where you can upload a recording and have other users help you identify the song. These services are particularly useful if you only need to identify songs occasionally or if you want to avoid the resource overhead of running an emulator. While their accuracy might vary depending on the quality of the audio and the size of their databases, they offer a practical and accessible way to identify music on your laptop without the need for additional software installations.

How to use Midomi:

  1. Go to the Midomi Website: Open your web browser and navigate to the Midomi website.
  2. Sing or Hum: Click the