Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A computing device stores reference song characterization data and receives digital audio data. The computing device determines whether the digital audio data represents music and then performs a different process to recognize that the digital audio data represents a particular reference song. The computing device then outputs an indication of the particular reference song.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for indicating a reference song. A computing device stores reference song characterization data that identifies a plurality of audio characteristics for each reference song in a plurality of reference songs. The computing device receives digital audio data that represents audio recorded by a microphone, converts the digital audio data from time-domain format into frequency-domain format, and uses the digital audio data in the frequency-domain format in a music-characterization process. In response to determining that characterization values for the digital audio data are most relevant to characterization values for a particular reference song, the computing device outputs an indication of the particular reference song.