Start with what you actually have: a video playing on another device, a clip saved to your phone, a link, or just a few words from its soundtrack. The best next step depends on that source. HumToSearch currently records microphone audio or accepts a supported audio file; it does not accept video files or extract a soundtrack from a pasted video link.
HumToSearch interface checked on September 25, 2026. This local preview uses a simulated “no match” response to show the help flow; it is not a recognition-accuracy test.
Video playing on another device
Find a section where the music is louder than speech. Start playback on the other device, then open our recorder in “Music is playing” mode and record about 12 seconds. Keep the recorder page visible until capture finishes. If you use headphones for playback, the recording device may hear very little.
Check the candidate’s chorus and performer. A title resembling the video caption is not enough to confirm a match. If the recording fails, use the original-music checklist before repeating it.
A video saved on the same phone
Switching from the recorder to your video app can interrupt capture. Use a second device for playback if one is available. If you already have the soundtrack as an audio file, select that file instead: it must be decodable by the browser, at least 10 seconds long and no larger than 20 MB. The current tool processes only its first 12 seconds, so the music needs to be at the beginning.
This website does not yet offer video-to-audio conversion or trimming. If you use an editor you already trust to prepare a short sample, use material you have permission to process and choose an audio export. Changing a .mp4 filename to .mp3 does not convert it.
Speech, sound effects and edits
Look for a section without narration. A transition, bass drop or sound effect may obscure a very short sample. Try a different section once rather than repeatedly sending the same noisy fragment. We do not automatically separate vocals, remove noise or reverse speed changes. Even a clean recording may be a cover, remix or version outside the matching catalogue.
A link or caption may be a better clue
Check the creator’s description, credited audio, pinned comment and on-screen title. Treat these as clues: creators sometimes credit a remix differently from its original. If words are audible, use the lyric search steps. If you remember only the tune after closing the clip, use the humming guide.
Do not paste a private video link into public comments. If you ask a community for help, describe where the clip came from, its approximate date, language and instrumentation without exposing other people’s private recordings.
When another tool makes sense
After checking the recording and clues, an external original-audio recognizer such as Shazam can provide a second catalogue. A community such as WatZatSong may help when automatic matching fails; follow its posting and privacy rules. These services are independent from HumToSearch.
What is verified here
The recording duration, audio-file limit and interruption behavior above were checked against the September 25, 2026 implementation. Our development experience includes successful matches for original music played aloud, but we have not measured a representative video-recognition accuracy rate. No screenshot or example in this guide should be read as a promise that every clip will match.