TikTok is stepping up its game against YouTube Music and Shazam with an innovative new feature called “Sound Search.” This cutting-edge tool allows users to identify songs by singing, humming, or playing them. Currently available to select users in specific regions, TikTok confirmed to TechCrunch that the feature is not yet globally accessible.
Discovering Trends with Sound Search
Sound Search offers an exciting new way to explore content on TikTok. In a platform where song-based trends evolve rapidly, this tool could become essential for keeping up with and understanding the latest trends.
A Step Beyond Competitors
Sound Search on TikTok mirrors YouTube Music’s song detection feature, which also identifies songs through singing, humming, or playing them. While Shazam remains the most renowned song recognition tool, TikTok and YouTube Music’s features surpass Shazam by enabling song identification through vocal input, not just audio playback.
However, TikTok’s tool offers a unique twist: it doesn’t just find the song but also shows you videos that feature it. This integration provides a richer user experience by connecting the song to the broader TikTok community.
Real-World Testing: Successes and Glitches
From personal testing, it appears that Sound Search is particularly adept at recognizing popular songs on the app. For instance, humming Rihanna’s “Umbrella” quickly brought up popular videos using the song or its remixes. Similarly, singing the catchy “oh no oh no oh no no no” sound yielded immediate recognition.
Yet, the tool has its limitations. It struggles with less popular songs not commonly used in TikTok videos. For example, while it identified Hilary Duff’s “Fly,” it failed to show relevant videos, instead displaying generic search results for “fly.” Playing One Direction’s “Magic” produced a similar outcome.
Interestingly, TikTok clarified that the tool is designed to find songs, not TikTok-specific sounds. Despite this, testing revealed that it could detect TikTok sounds and memes, such as the “Oh my gosh, she’s bald” sound from “Totally Spies” and the “Nobody’s gonna know” sound created by a TikTok user.
How to Access Sound Search
If you have access to this feature, navigating to it is simple. Head to the search bar in the app, click the microphone icon, and select “Sound Search.” This straightforward process makes it easy for users to leverage this powerful new tool.
Enhancing TikTok’s Search Capabilities
Many users already turn to TikTok as a search engine, and this new feature significantly enhances the app’s search capabilities. The next time a song gets stuck in your head or you hear a catchy tune while out and about, TikTok hopes you’ll use its app over YouTube Music, Shazam, or even Google.
The Importance of Sounds on TikTok
Sounds are a cornerstone of TikTok, driving trends and even propelling songs to chart-topping status. Given this, it’s no surprise that TikTok is introducing a feature to boost song discovery on its platform. This move not only enhances user experience but also strategically encroaches on Shazam and YouTube Music’s territory.
Future Availability
As of now, there is no information on when TikTok plans to roll out Sound Search to all users. But given the feature’s potential, it’s likely to become a staple of the TikTok experience.
With Sound Search, TikTok is poised to revolutionize how users discover and interact with music on its platform. Whether you’re a casual user or a trendsetter, this feature promises to make finding and enjoying your favorite sounds easier than ever.
