Microsoft Songsmith

Region

United States; Australia

Associated With

Microsoft Research - developer

Defining Feature

Automatically generated instrumental backing for a sung melody

Status

Active - full version listed for classroom use

Overview

Microsoft Songsmith turned a melody sung into a PC microphone into an instrumental backing track.

Developed from the MySong research project, it launched as a Windows application at CES in Las Vegas in January 2009. Users chose a style and tempo, sang, then could adjust chords, instruments or the arrangement.

Microsoft offered a free trial and a US$29.95 full version in the United States. Its current project page lists the full version for classroom use and a time-limited download for other users.

Why It Mattered

Songsmith let novices start making a song with their own melody, without first learning to play an instrument or write its chords. They could then reshape the generated backing rather than accept a fixed result. Teachers later explored that combination in classrooms. A 2011 workshop paper reported encouraging feedback, while explicitly leaving thorough validation beyond its scope. Those reports suggest possible uses in music teaching; they do not establish improved learning outcomes.

From Voice to Arrangement

• Users selected a musical style and tempo, sang into a PC microphone, and received an instrumental accompaniment.
• Songsmith allowed later changes to chords, instruments, styles and the arrangement.
• Microsoft advertised 30 included styles at launch, with optional add-ons from PG Music and Garritan.

From MySong Research to CES Release

• The earlier MySong prototype appeared in the CHI 2008 proceedings before the commercial Songsmith release.
• Dan Morris and Sumit Basu of Microsoft Research developed the work with Ian Simon of the University of Washington.
• Microsoft Research launched Songsmith at CES in Las Vegas on 8 January 2009, with a free trial and a US$29.95 full US version.

Remixes, Classrooms and Current Access

• Ars Technica documented early hobbyist remixes that ran isolated vocal tracks from familiar songs through Songsmith’s accompaniment engine.
• A 2011 workshop paper described exploratory Songsmith classroom deployments in the United States and Australia, with teacher feedback rather than validated educational outcomes.
• Microsoft’s current project page offers a time-limited download more broadly and says the full version is available only for classroom use.

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