Lost Waves Wiki:Checklist: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 07:36, 3 June 2024

Checklist for Identifying Lost Waves

Initial Analysis

Are there lyrics or any form of spoken word in the song, if so what are they?
Are there any key instruments or unique sounds that can be used to identify the genre?
Does the song sound like it was professionally recorded, homemade or recorded from live gig?
Are there external noises that may indicate a particular setting the song was recorded in? (eg. A snippet of a radio DJ at the beginning or dialogue from a movie over the track.)
If there are vocals, what language/languages are they in?

Technical Analysis

Can you identify tempo, key, or BPM?
Are there notible effects or instruments used on the song that could indicate a rough time period? (eg. A Synthesiser made in 1984)
Is it part of a larger piece? (eg. Indication that the song has been cut off at some point or links to a wider soundtrack or discography)

Lyric and Audio Search

Can the lyrics be searched on Google or Genius? If the song has already been posted as an unknown song, try adding Before:(insert year or date) to your search to see if there are earlier results.
Can the artist or name be identified through Shazam?
Has the audio been analyzed for hidden frequencies? (eg. A tone that indicates it was recorded from a particular radio station or TV broadcasting district).

Community and Social Media Inquiries

Check if there us any discussion about the song on r/lostwave or TheMysteriousSong Discord or the Fond My Mind Discord.
Ask on active forums or Facebook groups for the genre. Please do not pester groups constantly about a specific song that they have already been contacted about!
Trying to get viral attention can be a double edged sword; more people joining the search can be helpful, however this may lead to you receiving an influx of spam or hoax information.

Historical and Cultural Context

Research into key genre markers of a song, such as the instrumentation and tone. Try to find bands and artists that sound similar. Reach out to experts on the genre or collectors for more information about the style of the period.
Are there accents or references that indicate a specific country or culture of origin?
Are there any lyrics or markers in the song that reference pre-existing material? (eg. A sample from a more famous song or lyrics referencing events of a movie).

Database and Archive Search

Have you checked Archive.org for music with similar key words?
If you are experienced with filesharing sites, such as Soulseek, have you explored them? Have you checked the myspace archives if you think the song was posted in that era?
Have you looked up key phrases within the song on Discogs? Have you sorted by genre and decade or made use of the advanced search features?
If there are indicators of the country of origin or platform of origin, have you checked to see whether they have an active archive that can be accessed online or searched via request? (eg. Archived recording of radio broadcasts)
Are there any collectors, record stores or record labels with reasonable connections to the song that can be contacted?
Are there any physical publications for songs of the genre, such as magazines or catalogues?

Audio Manipulation

Audio manipulation such as pitch-shifting or remastering a track can be helpful for identifying what the vocalist may truly sound like or cleaning up a track that has suffered disc rot. However, this is not useful for every song and can possibly create false avenues of search that can detract from real leads. (eg. When Above The Clouds was still lost, many assumed it needed pitch-shifting to identify the real voice of the singer but this was an unnecessary avenue.)

Utilizing Metadata

If you yourself did not record the song, check the file metadata, which may reveal hidden information. This is also is important to check for the presence of audio manipulation, such as artifical distortion, which may indicate the song is an edit, mix or a hoax.

Long-Term Monitoring

If you are involved with Lostwave search that has gained traction and met the minimum standards for this wiki, consider creating a page for the song to document debunked leads and information about the track so that old leads aren't continuously investigated. This can also help new people get involved in the search without contacting previously debunked artists.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Checklist for Identifying Lost Waves ==
 === Initial Analysis ===
-* What are the lyrics or spoken words?
+* Are there lyrics or any form of spoken word in the song, if so what are they?
-* Are there any specific instruments or unique sounds?
+* Are there any key instruments or unique sounds that can be used to identify the genre?
-* What genre does it belong to? Does it sound professional, homemade, old, or modern?
+* Does the song sound like it was professionally recorded, homemade or recorded from live gig?
-* Are there noises suggesting a particular setting?
+* Are there external noises that may indicate a particular setting the song was recorded in? (eg. A snippet of a radio DJ at the beginning or dialogue from a movie over the track.)
+* If there are vocals, what language/languages are they in?
 === Technical Analysis ===
-* Can you identify tempo, key, or production techniques?
+* Can you identify tempo, key, or BPM?
-* Are there effects that indicate a specific time period?
+* Are there notible effects or instruments used on the song that could indicate a rough time period? (eg. A Synthesiser made in 1984)
-* Is it part of a larger piece like a song or soundtrack?
+* Is it part of a larger piece? (eg. Indication that the song has been cut off at some point or links to a wider soundtrack or discography)
 === Lyric and Audio Search ===
-* Have lyrics been searched in databases like Google or Genius?
+* Can the lyrics be searched on Google or Genius? If the song has already been posted as an unknown song, try adding Before:(insert year or date) to your search to see if there are earlier results.
-* Can apps like Shazam or SoundHound identify it?
+* Can the artist or name be identified through Shazam?
-* Has the audio been analyzed for hidden markers?
+* Has the audio been analyzed for hidden frequencies? (eg. A tone that indicates it was recorded from a particular radio station or TV broadcasting district).
 === Community and Social Media Inquiries ===
-* Has it been posted on platforms like Reddit or Discord?
+* Check if there us any discussion about the song on r/lostwave or TheMysteriousSong Discord or the Fond My Mind Discord.
-* Are there online communities for its music genre?
+* Ask on active forums or Facebook groups for the genre. Please do not pester groups constantly about a specific song that they have already been contacted about!
-* Could a catchy post help it go viral for more recognition?
+* Trying to get viral attention can be a double edged sword; more people joining the search can be helpful, however this may lead to you receiving an influx of spam or hoax information.
 === Historical and Cultural Context ===
-* Could it be from a certain era or cultural movement?
+* Research into key genre markers of a song, such as the instrumentation and tone. Try to find bands and artists that sound similar. Reach out to experts on the genre or collectors for more information about the style of the period.
-* Do accents or phrases suggest a specific location?
+* Are there accents or references that indicate a specific country or culture of origin?
-* Could it be linked to a specific event or movie?
+* Are there any lyrics or markers in the song that reference pre-existing material? (eg. A sample from a more famous song or lyrics referencing events of a movie).
 === Database and Archive Search ===
-* Have you checked specific music archives at libraries or universities?
+* Have you checked Archive.org for music with similar key words?
-* Are there databases for unreleased tracks or demos, Discogs for example?
+* If you are experienced with filesharing sites, such as Soulseek, have you explored them? Have you checked the myspace archives if you think the song was posted in that era?
-* Could organizations like the BBC or Library of Congress help?
+* Have you looked up key phrases within the song on Discogs? Have you sorted by genre and decade or made use of the advanced search features?
+* If there are indicators of the country of origin or platform of origin, have you checked to see whether they have an active archive that can be accessed online or searched via request? (eg. Archived recording of radio broadcasts)
-=== Music Industry Resources ===
+* Are there any collectors, record stores or record labels with reasonable connections to the song that can be contacted?
-* Can metadata from platforms like Spotify provide clues?
+* Are there any physical publications for songs of the genre, such as magazines or catalogues?
-* Have DJs, producers, or industry insiders been contacted?
-* Have trade magazines or professional groups been checked?
-=== Advanced Technology Use ===
-* Have machine learning tools analyzed the audio?
-* Can software identify associated visual elements?
-* Can blockchain and metadata tools trace digital footprints?
-=== Documenting and Sharing Findings ===
-* How are processes and findings recorded?
-* Is there a central database for snippets?
-* How is progress communicated to followers?
-=== Engaging with Experts ===
-* Have experts in musicology been consulted?
-* Could audio experts enhance the quality for better analysis?
-* Are there opportunities with academic institutions?
-=== Online Search Techniques ===
-* Have different keyword combinations been tried?
-* Is reverse image search applicable for any associated visuals?
-* Have specialized search tools been used?
 === Audio Manipulation ===
-* Have you tried changing the audio's speed or pitch?
+Audio manipulation such as pitch-shifting or remastering a track can be helpful for identifying what the vocalist may truly sound like or cleaning up a track that has suffered disc rot. However, this is not useful for every song and can possibly create false avenues of search that can detract from real leads. (eg. When [[This One’s Gonna Fly|Above The Clouds]] was still lost, many assumed it needed pitch-shifting to identify the real voice of the singer but this was an unnecessary avenue.)
-* Can isolating vocals or instruments reveal more details?
-* Have you attempted to recreate the melody?
 === Utilizing Metadata ===
-* Has all attached metadata been thoroughly checked?
+If you yourself did not record the song, check the file metadata, which may reveal hidden information. This is also is important to check for the presence of audio manipulation, such as artifical distortion, which may indicate the song is an edit, mix or a hoax.
-* What clues do the file's properties provide?
-* Have tools been used to recover deleted metadata?
-=== Expanding the Search Network ===
+=== Long-Term Monitoring ===
-* Have local and international stations been contacted?
+If you are involved with Lostwave search that has gained traction and met the minimum standards for this wiki, consider creating a page for the song to document debunked leads and information about the track so that old leads aren't continuously investigated. This can also help new people get involved in the search without contacting previously debunked artists.
-* Can university and community media offer insights?
-* Have relevant podcasters been approached?
-=== Leveraging Music Recognition Technology ===
-* Have different technologies been tried under various conditions?
-* Can non-commercial AI systems be accessed?
-=== Sector-Specific Forums and Discussions ===
-* Have specific music genre forums been explored?
-* Are there groups for particular media formats?
-* Have chat groups been engaged?
-=== International and Cultural Exploration ===
-* Has the snippet been shared with diverse audiences?
-* Can translation or local insights help?
-* Have consultants offered insights based on style or content?
-=== Professional and Academic Engagement ===
+[[Category:Useful Information]]
-* Have audio engineers or therapists offered insights?
-* Can students engage with the snippet in their studies?
-* Could these venues provide expert opinions?
-=== Utilizing Public Libraries and Archives ===
-* Have digital collections or loan systems been explored?
-* Can rare media sections offer new insights?
-* Are there local preservation groups with useful archives?
-=== Creative Public Engagements ===
-* Could hosting an event help identify the snippet?
-* Would a challenge or reward motivate identifications?
-* Can online events attract a diverse audience?
-=== Long-Term Monitoring ===
-* Are alerts set for relevant topics or keywords?
-* Is there a system for revisiting unresolved cases?
-* How are useful contacts maintained and managed?