Patent ID: 8805657

Claim:
A method comprising: analyzing a musical recording by performing digital signal processing to obtain a mathematical analysis of sounds recorded in the musical recording; calculating a first derivative parameter of the musical recording from the mathematical analysis of the sounds recorded in the musical recording; using a computer, determining a second derivative parameter of the musical recording based on the calculated first derivative parameter of the musical recording, the second derivative parameter being a scalar that represents an extent to which a descriptor is humanly perceivable in music represented by the musical recording; storing the determined second derivative parameter of the musical recording as a characteristic of the musical recording; receiving a search query that references a portion of a representative recording for which a similar recording is sought; analyzing the portion of the representative recording by performing digital signal processing to obtain a further mathematical analysis of sounds recorded in the portion; calculating a further first derivative parameter of the portion from the further mathematical analysis of the sounds recorded in the portion; determining a further second derivative parameter of the portion, the further second derivative parameter being a further scalar that represents a different extent to which the descriptor is humanly perceivable in the portion; and in response to the search query, providing a search result that references the musical recording based on a comparison of the scalar to the further scalar.