What the Identify page does
Identify Song is BootStepper's built-in music recognizer. It records from your device microphone, sends a short sample for analysis, and returns the best-matching track. When that track is already in BootStepper's song database, the page does more than a generic "name that tune" app: it loads the full song card and lists every line dance that uses the song, the same way the song detail page would if you had navigated there from search.
You do not have to type lyrics, hum a melody, or remember whether the title had a "featuring" credit. The audio clip carries the information the matcher needs, which is why it is especially useful in loud rooms where the PA is clear but conversation is not.
Matching dances and "swapped" versions
For songs that are already in the database, you will see Matching Dances: the choreographies written to that recording. A popular country or pop track often has more than one dance, at different levels or by different choreographers, so the list is your single place to compare them before you open a specific dance.
Some DJs and instructors teach a dance to a substitute track. When that substitution is recorded in BootStepper, the Identify results can also list Dances Swapped to Use This Song. That helps when the dance you are looking for is not the "original" music entry but a version the floor is actually using that night.
If no dances are linked yet, the song card still gives you a starting point: you can add a dance later or explore related songs from the same artist on the main Songs area of the site.
When the song is not in BootStepper yet
Recognition can name a track that exists on streaming services before anyone has created the song entry in BootStepper. In that case you will see title and artist (and a Spotify track identifier when available) with a path to create the song. Adding the song is what unlocks dance linking and community metadata for that recording going forward, so the identify flow becomes a natural on-ramp for contributors as well as dancers.
Identification history
If you are signed in, you can open Your Identification History on the Identify page to revisit past matches—useful at the end of a long night when you only remember you saved three songs but not which three. The history reuses the same song cards, so you can jump back into a track without re-recording. Guests can still use Identify; they just will not have a persistent list unless they create an account.
Permissions, browsers, and a smooth recording
The feature needs microphone permission in the browser. For the most reliable experience, use a current version of a mainstream browser. Mobile Safari and mobile Chrome are supported with extra care around audio format and upload; if something fails, try a slightly longer sample, a quieter environment, or another browser on the same device. Desktop browsers generally record in WebM; iOS often prefers M4A-style containers—BootStepper handles the differences on the client before sending the clip.
If you see an error about sending the recording, it is often network-related or a strict browser policy. Retrying the capture after allowing the permission prompt, or after moving closer to the speakers, fixes most issues.
How this connects to the rest of your workflow
Identify is the fastest way to go from "I hear this every week" to "here are the dances" without manual search. For a slower, browse-first path—starting from the Songs catalogue, filters, and class planning—the From Song to Floor article walks through the end-to-end workflow. Many instructors use Identify at an event, then add their pick to a collection or favorite list once they are back on Wi-Fi.