LOL: Microsoft Songsmith - CLASSIC FAIL! :)

[James Steele]

It's not so much an "ad" really... they might have shown it at Comdex or something... like a trade show unveiling.

[billf]

.

[billf]

I'm sure there's some interesting technology underneath the hood... I will grant that. I would even try it out, but I don't really have a Windows machine that would be equipped to try it out. But that really is the most god-awful promotional video ever. Ick! I don't expect a Mac verison.

It's essentially Band-in-a-Box with some pitch recognition thrown on top:

January 08, 2009 - Microsoft Songsmith incorporates PG Music Technology!

Microsoft has just released a new program called Songsmith which 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.
PG Music Inc. is pleased to be a part of this exciting new program, opening up the songwriting experience to everyone who likes to sing while offering an "intelligent scratchpad" for all songwriters and musicians.

http://www.pgmusic.com/news/archives/20 ... songs.html

[James Steele]

I'm sure there's some interesting technology underneath the hood... I will grant that. I would even try it out, but I don't really have a Windows machine that would be equipped to try it out. But that really is the most god-awful promotional video ever. Ick! I don't expect a Mac verison.

It's essentially Band-in-a-Box with some pitch recognition thrown on top:l

Yeah... I read that part. What's deeper as you alluded to is the pitch recognition. Not only must it recognize pitch, but unless it prompts the user to supply an actual key for the song, it must at some point sample a certain number of notes sung and then make a guess at the key center before it can go about applying tonic, subdominant, dominant, etc. This determination of the overall context and how accurate it may or may not be seems interesting.

It also claims to deal with being off-pitch. And can work even when a singer is sharp or flat. If you're tone-deaf and can't sing, you're out of luck... or you buy Rapsmith. Hehehe.... j/k...

[Tonio]

My wife was really mad at me for watching that in the kitchen. She spent the next hour with that song going through her brain. I think she threw some metal in the CD player when she went to work just to clean her brain out. Seriously.

I'm not knocking the software (although the interface looked a bit odd in the add). Interesting concept. It's the add itself that should never have been released. Writing major corporate jingles (for glowing towels) with Band-In-the-Box software? I suspended my disbelief until my arms broke off and dropped it over a cliff.

I need to drill a hole in my head and let the sap out now...

ahhh, man if its that bad, I think I'll pass this one AND I mean just clicking that link.

T

[Shooshie]

I like the "jazzy" slider. Not too bebop... just the right amount of flat 9's and 11 chords. Oh wait... it still did I IV V7 I. Well, maybe he didn't have the slider engaged.

Gonna have to get me some of those towels.


Shoosh

[billf]

Not only must it recognize pitch, but unless it prompts the user to supply an actual key for the song, it must at some point sample a certain number of notes sung and then make a guess at the key center before it can go about applying tonic, subdominant, dominant, etc. This determination of the overall context and how accurate it may or may not be seems interesting.

True enough, although given the sophistication of pitch recognition software these days, that would be a logical extension of what Melodyne can do (or even DP). I have to wonder if MS also licensed something from Antares or Celemony. I also wonder if this Soundsmith signals MS's intention to come out with a pro level DAW. Not that I would buy it, but such a move would alter the DAW landscape if the thing was halfway decent.

[Phil O]

It made me nauseous. I'm running to the bathroom now.

[donreynolds]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! STUPID!!!
Microsoft made by MATTEL Kid's toy

There is a floor model guitar vocal processor out that does something similar. It created harmonies to your vocal and also detects the guitar chords to assist with setting up the harmony vocal pattern. that is a whole lot more useful.

[Tomrabbit]

Wow, that was Bad!

Not only must it recognize pitch, but unless it prompts the user to supply an actual key for the song, it must at some point sample a certain number of notes sung and then make a guess at the key center before it can go about applying tonic, subdominant, dominant, etc. This determination of the overall context and how accurate it may or may not be seems interesting.

True enough, although given the sophistication of pitch recognition software these days, that would be a logical extension of what Melodyne can do (or even DP). I have to wonder if MS also licensed something from Antares or Celemony. I also wonder if this Soundsmith signals MS's intention to come out with a pro level DAW. Not that I would buy it, but such a move would alter the DAW landscape if the thing was halfway decent.

And what about something like this? :
PowerTracks Pro Audio from PG Music (http://www.pgmusic.com) has added Audio Chord Wizard 2, which figures out the chords from any audio CD track, MP3, WAV, or WMA (Windows Media Audio) file and writes the results in PowerTracks' chords window.

I posted " what the heck is this" on a previous thread but no one replied. Just wondered. AND I posted that on Sept. 4 . but I clicked that link today and what do I see on the same web page? Just look! Top right. Amazed and puking.

Songsmith ...... Hey Shoosh, can this thing also shoe a horse?

[Kubi]

Can't WAIT to see the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" TV ad that spoofs this...

[nk_e]

SNL could not have done a better job.

What rubes.

[billf]

And what about something like this? :
PowerTracks Pro Audio from PG Music (http://www.pgmusic.com) has added Audio Chord Wizard 2, which figures out the chords from any audio CD track, MP3, WAV, or WMA (Windows Media Audio) file and writes the results in PowerTracks' chords window.

I posted " what the heck is this" on a previous thread but no one replied. Just wondered. AND I posted that on Sept. 4 . but I clicked that link today and what do I see on the same web page? Just look! Top right. Amazed and puking.

You're right Tomrabbit, you have discovered the source for Songsmith. Hmm, innovation Redmond style.

[kassonica]

I'm sorry but I'm gonna KNOCK the crap out of that software. It is the foully designed piece of crap I've ever seen.

AS for that ad, those actors will be ashamed and their friends will never let them forgot it in the future.

PLus it really looks like a MAC laptop at the start

I wonder how many people will have that app and use ZUNE

[kassonica]

Err maybe this explains it

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=m6rqXHX3O48