squeeq

Have you ever wished to find yourself singing like a famous pop-idol? No? Probably, because you think you just can’t do it. And you’re probably right. If you have the guts to accept that, there is no need to download Microsoft Research’s newest super-duper-mega-heist: Songsmith.

After more than a year, 8 billion (!) dollars and at least a kilo of the worst crack cocaine, Microsoft came up with an application that is – at most – somewhat new to the market. Songsmith gives you fiddlers out there the chance to sing whatever you dream of and constructs a cluster around it which is supposed to be music. OK, let’s be fair. The idea is pretty neat. And if Apple came up with it in the latest release of Garageband, everybody would have loved it.

The fact that the whole internet is not even polarized, but just hates it, is most probably the result of the crappy – and a little scary – demo video, MS just released. Forget the MacBook Pro which was raped by sticking flower badges all over it. Forget even the lamest and most prophanic lyrics. Forget the trailertrash, elevator-like, ear-ripping samples. The problem lies within.

Some people believe, it is a viral marketing gag, some think that something just totally went wrong. Either or, any publicity is good publicity, and spending money on R&D is always a positive thing if you can afford it. But is this the right way?

If you still want to try it out, download it. It is actually kind of funny (I tried it myself), and it even works up to a certain point. Let’s see what you think.

“Nice try MS, probably rethink the video, unless your time machine is broken and your stuck in a black hole between the 69’s and the 93’s”.

[Download via Microsoft Research]