There's A Decent Chance New Microsoft Songwriting Software Will Not Produce The Next Cobain
Posted Thursday 01/15/2009 1:21 PM in
Blender Blog
by
Conrad Doucette
Computers and composing go hand in mouse these days. With Garageband a heaven Cupertino-sent gift to demo recorders everywhere, and ProTools becoming the recording and mixing tool of choice for more pros than you think, Microsoft has lagged far behind in the music recording software market.
Until now.
Future music legends of the world, feast your eyes and ears on Songsmith, a new app from... Microsoft! They want in on this music crap, too! So what does Songsmith do? Essentially, you sing a melody into it, choose a genre or style ("Reggae", say, or "Pop Ballad"), then let the app build a chord progression and accompanying instrumentation around your original vocal melody. Microsoft touts it as a fun development tool for novices, as well as a songwriting aid for more serious musicians.
Nothing against music software, obvs, but damn if I'm not dumbfounded by this dumb app. Actually, allow me to clarify. I am appalled at this ad/video with which Microsoft is promoting this thing. So, before we go any further, please watch this:
Are you speechless? You are, right? Pretty ironic reaction to a music-themed ad. Who wrote this piece, the glow-in-the-dark towel ad guy/father in the commercial? How does he have a career in advertising? And how about that songwriter/musician guy in the coffee shop. "Microsoft, huh? So it's easy to use?" Yeah, it is. It also crashes five times before you get to the second verse. Later, this dude notes to himself that his bandmates have found his recent songwriting to be "stale." I don't know what band he's in, but where I come from, talk shit like that to the principal songwriter, and you won't be in the band long. Frankly, I'm starting to think that little girl is the most talented person in this spot.
It's not such a bad app. Anything that gets anyone excited about music is okay with me. But really, the ad makes me wish for not only the end of Songsmith, but the end of music itself. I mean, that ad. I'm just... wow.
