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iTunes Signature Maker

Cool toy if you use iTunes to listen to your music: the iTunes Signature Maker.

> People often ask me what music I listen to, and I find it difficult to describe my enormous music collection in just a few sentences. So I created iTunes Signature Maker (iTSM) to answer in sound a question I cannot answer in words. iTSM analyzes your music collection and creates a short audio signature to represent it. > > iTSM selects a small number of your “favorite” tracks based on some simple selection criteria, such as the number of times you have played them or the rating you have assigned them. Then it analyzes the audio content of these files, combining a small bit of each of them to create the signature.

Here’s my first one (464 Kb .mp3, 23 seconds).

And with slightly different settings, one more (1.2 Mb .mp3, 64 seconds).

Here’s the analysis that iTSM provides — if you know the songs and listen fast enough, you can hear them all in this order.

(via Kottke)

First try (23 seconds)
TitleArtistAlbumStarting AtEnding At
BelovedVNV NationFutureperfect4:56.35:00.0
Bring on the Dancing HorsesEcho and the BunnymenPretty In Pink0:23.30:25.3
BreakKleptones, TheA Night at the Hip-Hopera1:03.91:08.2
When You Don’t See Me (German Release)Sisters of Mercy, TheTemple of Love0:25.10:27.2
If I Only Had a BrainMC 900 Ft JesusOne Step Ahead of the Spider3:09.33:12.5
Sex on the FlagK.M.F.D.M.Money1:31.71:33.4
Pleasant Smell (Rethought by Clint Mansell and Keith Hillebrandt for the Nothing Collective)12 RoundsPleasant Smell4:38.74:41.7
TemptationSister Machine GunMetropolis2:13.52:16.0
Kathy’s Song (Come Lie Next to Me)Apoptygma BerzerkWelcome to Earth0:01.80:03.6
I’m On My WayClumsy Lovers, TheBarnburner1:38.31:41.9
Destillat (VNV Nation)Das IchRe_Laborat0:27.00:29.2
Another RhymeTruffles, TheTruffula2:23.52:27.6
Goodbye Forever Once AgainWebley, JasonCounterpoint0:24.20:26.9
Da Da DaOut of the OrdinaryWelcome to the Future2:50.32:54.5
Mind Your Own BusinessPigfaceEasy Listening…2:33.72:37.0
WastedAnd OneVirgin Superstar1:24.71:27.3
Take California and PartyPropellerheads feat. The Jungle BrothersTake California2:28.32:32.2
Allen’s Got A New Hi-FiLa TourLa Tour3:23.33:26.1
Sympathy for the DevilJane’s AddictionJane’s Addiction0:00.00:03.4
Going Going Gone (Razed in Black)Information SocietyInSoc Recombinant1:52.41:56.9
Second try (64 seconds)
TitleArtistAlbumStarting AtEnding At
If I Only Had a BrainMC 900 Ft JesusOne Step Ahead of the Spider2:41.12:45.9
Pleasant Smell (Rethought by Clint Mansell and Keith Hillebrandt for the Nothing Collective)12 RoundsPleasant Smell4:38.74:43.3
Everybody KnowsCohen, LeonardI’m Your Man3:50.63:53.8
Will the Circle Be UnbrokenStaple Singers, TheFolk, Gospel and Blues: Will the Circle Be Unbroken0:40.50:42.6
BelovedVNV NationFutureperfect4:56.35:01.6
TemptationSister Machine GunMetropolis3:09.63:13.8
Goodbye Forever Once AgainWebley, JasonCounterpoint0:13.10:17.5
WastedAnd OneVirgin Superstar1:06.91:11.2
Another RhymeTruffles, TheTruffula1:55.82:01.4
Take California and PartyPropellerheads feat. The Jungle BrothersTake California0:27.30:32.8
Sympathy for the DevilJane’s AddictionJane’s Addiction0:05.00:10.1
Mind Your Own BusinessPigfaceEasy Listening…2:32.02:37.0
Bring on the Dancing HorsesEcho and the BunnymenPretty In Pink0:22.40:26.1
Destillat (VNV Nation)Das IchRe_Laborat0:28.00:32.0
Making BelieveSocial DistortionSomewhere Between Heaven and Hell0:00.00:02.7
Drive DrivenYelloEssential0:03.00:06.1
Sex on the FlagK.M.F.D.M.Money1:35.41:38.8
I’m On My WayClumsy Lovers, TheBarnburner2:29.52:34.7
Da Da DaOut of the OrdinaryWelcome to the Future2:49.62:55.3
BreakKleptones, TheA Night at the Hip-Hopera1:03.91:09.8
Inbetween DaysEddie, JohnRubáiyát: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary0:10.00:13.3
Down By the WaterHarvey, P.J.To Bring You My Love0:31.20:33.6
Allen’s Got A New Hi-FiLa TourLa Tour3:12.93:17.5
I Got You (Hot Tracks)Split EnzEdge, The Level 24:28.34:31.0
GalileoIndigo GirlsFolk, Gospel and Blues: Will the Circle Be Unbroken0:08.80:11.7
Kathy’s Song (Come Lie Next to Me)Apoptygma BerzerkWelcome to Earth0:03.50:07.1
ObsessionBlue Eyed ChristShut Up Kitty1:41.11:43.6
Dreamer’s Ball (Live)QueenLive Killers0:47.60:49.8
When You Don’t See Me (German Release)Sisters of Mercy, TheTemple of Love0:27.00:30.9
Going Going Gone (Razed in Black)Information SocietyInSoc Recombinant1:50.91:56.9

Posted in Links, Music.

By Michael Hanscom
December 9, 2005

3 comments

3 Responses

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  1. gracesine said
    on December 9, 2005

    You know; a certain someone would be eternally grateful and would be making with the cleavage if someone else wanted to share any And One or Apoptygma Berzerk that they had.

    Just sayin….

  2. Mikey said
    on December 9, 2005

    Awesome program

  3. ray said
    on December 21, 2005

    It’s funny that iTSM and Wishmix came out about the same time. Are these guys related?

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