User Guides
Why IDapp?
The Problem with Existing Music ID Apps
Apps like Shazam are great at identifying songs, but they have significant limitations:
- Limited platform support: Most apps only link to one or two streaming services
- Spotify-centric: Heavy focus on Spotify, with minimal support for alternatives
- No choice: Users are locked into whatever platform the app prefers
Why We Built IDapp
We created IDapp for people who want choice and control over their music streaming:
- Moving away from Spotify: We deliberately exclude Spotify due to their investments in non-musical ventures that don't align with our values
- Platform freedom: Get links to Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud
- Support alternatives: Help grow and support streaming platforms that focus on music
- Your choice: Pick the platform that works best for you
Who IDapp Is For
- Vinyl enthusiasts who want to find digital versions across multiple platforms
- Users actively leaving or avoiding Spotify
- Music lovers who want platform choice
- People who value ethical business practices in tech
Getting Started
1. Request Beta Access
Visit idapp.io and enter your email address to request beta access.
2. Check Your Email
Look for a magic PIN in your inbox. Enter this PIN on the verification page. The PIN expires after 15 minutes, so use it promptly.
3. Start Identifying
Once logged in, you'll have access to 50 free identifications or 7 days of trial access, whichever comes first.
Identifying Music
How It Works
idapp.io uses audio fingerprinting technology to identify songs in just 10 seconds.
Steps to Identify a Song
- Click the microphone button to grant permission
- Play the music you want to identify
- The app will record for 10 seconds
- View real-time FFT visualisation as it listens
- Get results with links to all major streaming platforms
Pro Tips
- Skip the wait: Tap the FFT visualisation before the 10 seconds has elapsed if you feel enough of the good stuff has been recorded to match. This speeds up identification when the audio quality is strong.
- Best results: Capture vocals or distinctive instrumental sections for the most accurate matches.
- Avoid silence: Start recording during an active part of the song, not during quiet intros or outros.
Supported Platforms
idapp.io provides links to:
- Apple Music
- YouTube Music
- Tidal
- Deezer
- Amazon Music
- SoundCloud
Note: We do not support Spotify due to their recent business practices.
Platform links: Multi-platform links are powered by the SongLink API, which has rate limits. If you see "Platform links rate limited", it means we've temporarily hit the API limit. Song identification still works - only the multi-platform links are temporarily unavailable.
Your Account
Trial Account
Free trial includes:
- 50 song identifications
- 7 days of access
- Full access to all streaming platform links
- Song history (up to 50 most recent)
Premium Plans
Upgrade for unlimited identifications:
- Pro Monthly: £3/month
- Pro Annual: £30/year (save 17%)
Song History
Your 50 most recent identified songs are stored locally in your browser. You can export this history at any time.
Troubleshooting
Microphone Permission Denied
If you accidentally denied microphone permission:
- Click the lock icon in your browser's address bar
- Find the microphone permission
- Change it to "Allow"
- Refresh the page
No Match Found
If a song isn't identified:
- Ensure the music is playing clearly
- Reduce background noise
- Move closer to the audio source
- Try a different section of the song
Magic PIN Expired
Magic PINs expire after 15 minutes. Simply request a new one from the login page.
Rate Limit Reached
You can request up to 5 magic PINs per hour. Wait a bit and try again.
Error Codes
If you encounter an error, here's what they mean:
- ERROR 1: Generic error - Something went wrong with the identification process. Try again in a moment.
- ERROR 2: Network/connection error - This typically occurs when switching WiFi networks or losing connectivity. Check your internet connection and try again.
- ERROR 3: Request aborted - The identification request was cancelled before completion. Try identifying the song again.
Platform Links Rate Limited
The SongLink API (which provides links to multiple streaming platforms) has usage limits. When rate limited:
- Song identification still works normally
- Platform links will be temporarily unavailable
- Multi-platform links will return once the rate limit resets
- This typically resolves within an hour