A method for automatically creating a database of parameters (e.g., fingerprints/landmarks) used in a media sample recognition system. The user places a media sample in his media player, e.g., a CD or DVD player in his personal computer. A software process installed on the user's personal computer, to which is connected the CD/DVD player, extracts the constellation or "raw parameters" from the CD tracks as the CD plays, or under control of the software process. This extraction process may operate in the background. These raw parameters are then transmitted via the Internet (or other computer network) to a server coupled to a recognition database. The raw parameters are stored in the database. At some point in time, the raw parameters are processed into fingerprint/landmarks (e.g., using linkage) using another software process and then stored either back in the database or in random access memory (RAM) for use during a subsequent recognition process. The media sample can also be simultaneously identified during playback, which identity information is then sent to the server coupled to the recognition database.