A manufactured widget may be "pinged" as part of quality control. A trained human listener can detect cracks or other defects in the widget from the sound that emanates. The Comparisonics technology can compare this sound with the desired sound to automate this process.

Defects in metal can be heard in metal forming and cutting operations. Leaks in oil and gas pipelines can be discovered by sound.

Audio components can be tested for faithful reproduction of sounds. Copies of recordings produced by audio replication processes can be verified for accuracy. Broadcast audio can be monitored for quality.

The Comparisonics technology can listen for unexpected sounds in a home or office as part of a security system, and can listen for the sounds of suspects in a room under surveillance by law enforcement.

Unknown sounds can be matched against a database of known sounds. By comparing background noise, a recording can be linked to a particular recording device and/or environment. When the authenticity of a recording is questioned, its colored waveform display can be examined to find discontinuities that may be evidence of tampering.

Advertisers and market researchers want to know which commercials have been aired on radio and television, and when. Currently, human listeners/viewers are tasked with gathering this information. The Comparisonics technology can be used to automatically identify commercials in radio and television broadcasts. Songs and programs can also be identified.

The Comparisonics technology can help scientists to study and identify birds and animals from their sounds. Microphones are placed in habitats to survey populations. Many species are more readily heard than seen. Cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins) are recorded underwater.