Microsoft Research on Thursday is releasing software that gives musicians, both casual and professional, a new way to speed up song development. Called Songsmith, the $29.99 application creates musical accompaniment based on whatever is sung into the computer's microphone.
In order to do this, the software processes the pitch and tone of what's recorded and lets users hear how it might sound if they had a little backup in the form of a virtual piano, drums, and keyboard. Microsoft is expecting them to use the new track either as inspiration for further song development or as a simple way to create karaoke-quality recordings for friends and family members.
The software lets users change the feel of a song completely using various sliders that adjust mood, volume levels, tempo and what instruments are being used. Users are also able to purchase additional instruments from Garritan for a small fee that can drastically change the way a track sounds. Each purchased instrument comes wrapped in a special installer that automatically adds it to Songsmith. Dan Morris of Microsoft Research tells me there may eventually be a marketplace for other sample providers, although for now the software is using it exclusively because of its the only compatible format.
Songsmith lets you simply sing into your computer's microphone to hear what it would sound like if you had a back-up band.
(Credit: CNET Networks)Songsmith is starting out as a digital download only, and will be available from Microsoft's recently launched digital downloads store front. Morris says there are no current plans to make the software part of a larger suite of music oriented products from Microsoft. Competitor Apple has offered a slightly similar feature in its Garageband software that gives you virtual band mates that can accompany you as you record music with an in-line microphone, however each of the instruments must be programmed by the user.
One interesting thing to note is that the technology is fully capable of providing automated accompaniment in near real-time. Morris says the only hurdle there is that the programming does all its magic by seeing where users are going with a melody and compensating accordingly. Morris also says a Web based version of the software could be possible later on down the line, although development in that area has been slowed down due to latency and recording quality bottlenecks.
Embedded below are before and after clips of what Songsmith is capable of. As mentioned before, to change the sound of this song users simply need to adjust a slider or two.
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GPS vendor TomTom announced Thursday that it has launched an online mapping solution to compete with MapQuest and Google Maps. Dubbed TomTom Route Planner, the free service provides door-to-door route planning options to any address in the U.S. or Canada.
Using TomTom's MapShare technology, the service provides users with continued map improvements made by TomTom users that see flaws and correct them. According to the company, improvements are uploaded regularly to provide up-to-date driving conditions. TomTom's IQ Routes feature will offer more accurate arrival estimates by accessing average speeds for each road instead of employing posted speed limits to determine arrival. The service is currently in beta and available now to all users.
Local.com, a company that offers local search and networking, announced Thursday that it has signed an agreement with coupon provider Valpak to distribute local business offers through the Local.com network. According to the company, Valpak coupons will appear on the site's search results and profile pages. Users will be able to print the Valpak coupons for redemption at local businesses.
The Karaoke Channel Online, a service that lets people record themselves singing their favorite songs, says that it will now allow its users to publish their recordings across Facebook, MySpace, Delicious, and other social networks. To participate, users will need to pay $14.95 per month for unlimited access to the site's 5,000 songs. A full-year membership costs $99.95.
In its monthly Global Threat Report released Thursday, SaaS (software as a service) Web security firm ScanSafe reported that the rate of zero-day malware blocks increased to 26 percent in November, up from 16 percent in October and the 19 percent average for the year. According to the company's senior security researcher, Mary Landesman, "attackers were more intent than ever on ensuring the malware they used would bypass traditional security measures" during November. A sign of even more Web threats to come?
Goober Networks, a company that offers consumer communication services online, announced the launch of CallingAmerica.com Thursday. According to the company, the site will allow anyone in the U.S. to access the site and place an unlimited number of VoIP calls to any landline or mobile phone in the U.S. Registered users can make an unlimited number of calls, while those who choose not to register can only place calls that last no longer than two minutes in duration. To monetize the service, Goober Networks has partnered with advertisers that will place ads of 15 seconds or less before a call is placed.
MySpace announced on Wednesday that it launched a freshly redesigned MySpace Karaoke page. The new service includes better navigation, improved sharing between friends, a dedicated upload manager, and most importantly, video recording.
The MySpace Karaoke recorder allows users to record video in either standard-definition or high-definition formats, with as little as a microphone and Webcam. Once users pick a song they want to perform, they can click on the "Play" button, which will bring them to the Karaoke page for the particular song.
Unlike before, the video player now includes a red "Record" button, which, once clicked, immediately allows users to record on MySpace itself without performing any other computer tasks.
"MySpace Karaoke is a great way for the MySpace community to express themselves, share their musical talents, and connect around shared interests--the type of interaction MySpace has encouraged and fostered since its inception," said Nimrod Lev, senior vice president of MySpace Karaoke. "In less than six months since its launch, over 4 million users have visited MySpace Karaoke, and there are over 500,000 recordings, making it the largest karaoke venue in the world."
MySpace entered licensing partnerships with all the major and independent labels to provide MySpace Karaoke users with access to thousands of licensed tracks. Right now, the most popular song on the service is "Kindly Unspoken," in the style of Kate Voegele. It's a sight to behold.
But if you think you have what it takes to make it big on MySpace Karaoke, the company will be hosting a series of contests over the next few months to get users to try out the site. Contestants will perform and record a particular artist's hit song, and the winner will be chosen by the artist. The top three finishers will be awarded prizes.
The first MySpace Karaoke contest kicks off today and will run through October 27. The contest's artist will be Jesse McCartney.There's going to be an Elvis karaoke contest on MySpace. That is not a joke. I can't seem to figure out whether it's trying to market Elvis to a younger generation or MySpace to an older one--or if it's just for kicks.
The News Corp.-owned social network, best known for attracting a demographic for whom the King has always been dead, announced Monday that it will be hosting an official Elvis karaoke competition for "Elvis Week 2008," which runs from August 9 to 17. It's in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, and members can enter through August 4 by submitting videos of Elvis song performances to MySpace's karaoke site. Elvis Presley Enterprises, for that matter, has launched an official MySpace page as well.
The winner gets to perform live onstage at Elvis' historic Graceland home, backed by entertainers who actually performed with Elvis himself. Ten second-place winners get a DVD of Viva Las Vegas as well as some variety of MP3 player loaded with Elvis songs. Third-place prizes, of which there are 20, are one-year memberships to an "Official Elvis Insiders" club.
The contest is a singing one, not an impersonation one, but I'm presuming there will be plenty of video entrants decked out in sunglasses and gold-studded leather jackets. Let's hope they welcome contest entrants in Elvis regalia a little more warmly than they do with the media.
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