At CES, Microsoft Introduces the Unexpected: Songwriting Software
By Yardena Arar, PC World
You sing, Songsmith-a new desktop application-makes beautiful music, at least according to its creators at Microsoft Research.
At first I thought the e-mail was a joke, but apparently it's not. Microsoft Research today announced the availability of Songsmith, an application that creates music as you sing to your PC.
Sound weird? It gets weirder. Watch the Microsoft promotional video on the Songsmith page above: I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It shows an ad jingle writer, who--stuck on a campaign for glow-in-the-dark towels--is inspired by seeing his tween daughter crooning away with her notebook. Pretty much the whole video is sung.
A free 6-hour trial version of the software is available for download on the Songsmith web site; you can purchase it for $30 online. If you like it you can expand its capabilities by purchasing more musical styles (the software comes with 30) from PG Music and additional instrument files from Garritan, Microsoft's partners in this project.
Meanwhile, check out PC World's music and video sharing downloads, as well as our MSN Tech & Gadgets 2009 CES coverage.
Content by:
Related: Slide Shows from CES 2009
- CES 2009: Some gadgets missed the mark
- Best products of CES 2009: Let us introduce you
- Smartphones impress at CES
- Hot new notebooks shine in Vegas
- CES audio innovations sound sweet
- Say cheese: CES's coolest cameras
- Show-stopping gear from CES
- CES Slide Show: Great Images From Day One
- Great Digital Experiences at CES 2009
- Green tech at CES 2009
- WowWee robots of CES 2009
- Useful tech at CES 2009
- Fun tech at CES 2009
- CES 2009 Unveiled
- CES 2009 gadget parade begins
- CES Innovations 2009 Awards honorees
