JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum Songsmith by Microsoft Research

So what's your take as a vocalist on this totally unique new product? - a surprise from the CES in Las Vegas in late 2008.

:)Steve S-N

"What is Songsmith?

Songsmith generates musical accompaniment to match a singer’s voice. Just choose a musical style, sing into your PC’s microphone, and Songsmith will create backing music for you. Then share your songs with your friends and family, post your songs online, or create your own music videos."

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/songsmith/

I thought it was a joke ...but no.... seemingly it is for real.... or is it?
The promo video alone is so bad it cannot be taken seriously and having heard some of the crappy accompaniments it blurts out it cannot be aimed at any serious musicians or singers. The promo video will go down in the anals of history as how not to try and sell a product. Here it is make up your own mind.

http://www.avoision.com/2009/01/09/songsmith_microsofts_cringe-wo.php

I saw this demonstrated on "Attack of the Show", a tech and internet oriented program on the G4 cable network, and I was not at all impressed.

I just watched some of the results using this thing. They are hilarious. The thing itself is a joke but can produce some real cringeworthy stuff.....if you like that sort of "youtube" thing.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencea...lawed-software-produces-comedy-gold.html

When I saw the promo video, I thought it was someone else making a joke at Microsoft's expense (kind of a parody of Garageband)....then found out it was REAL...

I have no idea how well it will do. I wouldn't have figured Guitar Hero and Rock Band II would do well either, but they've been very, very popular. At least with those, you can play along with hit songs pretty easily - very short runway on eliminating the "cringe" factor. I don't know if you can ever get rid of the cringe factor with Songsmith.

I believe it's an off shoot of Band in a Box.
You should check out some of the rock songs done, importing the bare vocal and letting biab do it's thing.
A real treat.

If it lowers the entry bar for folks to get involved with music -- why not?? If it was free (or real, real cheap), I would expect that all the non-musical JPF lyric writers should have it in their toolkit. Just because the first version might be incredibly cheesy, doesn't mean that version 3 or 4 won't be absolutely killer!

I got Band-In-A-Box 2009 over Christmas time and it is really pretty impressive.

Kevin

I agree Kevin. Anything that gets people involved in music is a good thing. The air guitar games are a novelty and bit of fun for non musicians as is the Songsmith thing BUT it is only a bit of fun and no serious musician could find it of much use.
The original question was what is your take. My take is it's useless as a serious musical tool but as a joke it is hilarious.

I saw a couple of videos on it and I have to agree with you. See, I can be a agreeable on some things -- just not on "Blinded By The Light"!

Kevin

Hey Kevin you have to have taste to appreciate Manfred's Blinded.

There is a new phenomenon on YouTube. People have taken the original vocal tracks from hit songs and given them the SongSmith treatment. Here's an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSWmh9ZTLOY

For more, just go to YouTube and search for "songsmith".

Hi Kevin yes that is what I was referring to....they are a hoot. Might be a new artform.

It succeeded at being funny.

Tom

Heck with the cheesy software. I just want a glow in the dark towel!