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.

Privacy and Security

Microphone Permission

idapp.io requires microphone access to record audio for song identification. Here's what you need to know:

  • Browser-controlled: Your browser manages microphone permissions. We never get access without your explicit approval.
  • Recording duration: We only record for 10 seconds (or less if you tap to identify early).
  • Visual indicator: You'll see the FFT visualisation while recording, so you know exactly when audio is being captured.
  • One-time permission: Grant permission once per browser session. You can revoke it at any time through your browser settings.

What Audio Data Do We Send?

When you identify a song:

  • Short audio clips: We send a brief audio recording (up to 10 seconds) to our audio fingerprinting service.
  • Identification only: The audio is used solely for matching against the music database. It is not stored, analysed for other purposes, or shared with third parties beyond the identification service.
  • No permanent storage: Once the song is identified, the audio data is discarded. We do not retain recordings.
  • No listening: No human ever listens to your audio. The entire process is automated.

What We Store Locally

Your browser stores the following information locally (not on our servers):

  • Authentication token: A 7-day JWT token to keep you logged in.
  • Song history: Your 50 most recent identifications, stored in localStorage.
  • Account details: Email address, subscription tier, and trial usage information.

You can clear this data at any time by logging out or clearing your browser's local storage.

Data We Store on Our Servers

We maintain minimal server-side data:

  • Email address: For authentication and account management.
  • Trial usage: Number of identifications used and trial expiry date.
  • Subscription status: Current tier and payment status (when applicable).
  • Login metadata: Last login time and login count for security.

Security Measures

  • No passwords: Magic PIN authentication eliminates password vulnerabilities.
  • Single-use tokens: Each magic PIN expires after 15 minutes and can only be used once.
  • Rate limiting: Maximum of 5 authentication requests per hour to prevent abuse.
  • HTTPS only: All communications are encrypted in transit.
  • JWT tokens: Secure authentication tokens with 7-day expiry.

Contact Us About Privacy

If you have questions about how we handle your data, please email [email protected].

Identifying Music

How It Works

idapp.io uses audio fingerprinting technology to identify songs in just 10 seconds.

Steps to Identify a Song

  1. Click the microphone button to grant permission
  2. Play the music you want to identify
  3. The app will record for 10 seconds
  4. View real-time FFT visualisation as it listens
  5. 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.
  • Spacebar shortcut: Hit the spacebar on your computer to trigger a match instantly!
  • 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.
  • Watch the frequency response: You want to see a good response across the whole frequency range. If the visualisation looks sparse or weak, move closer to the sound source or turn up the volume.

Good vs Bad Frequency Response

Good frequency response - full spectrum coverage

✅ Good - Full frequency range

Strong response across all frequencies gives the best chance of identification.

Bad frequency response - sparse coverage

❌ Bad - Weak response

Sparse or weak frequencies make identification difficult. Turn up the volume or move closer.

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)

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:

  1. Click the lock icon in your browser's address bar
  2. Find the microphone permission
  3. Change it to "Allow"
  4. 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