Product Description

Learn to sing with the help of a patented real-time pitch recognition technology. Twenty lesson tutorial. See your voice on screen. Microphone headset included. Compose Mode. Imports MIDI's.System Requirements:Pentium II 400 MHz 128 MB Memory Video card for 16-bit color CD-ROM 200MB free disk space Display resolution 800x600Format: WIN MENT2000XP Genre: REFERENCE / LIFESTYLE Age: 183561000020 UPC: 183561000020 Manufacturer No: CAT320

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1207 in Software
• Brand: Carry-A-Tune Technologies
• Model: CAT320
• Released on: 2004-11-01
• Platforms: Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP
• Format: CD-ROM
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds

Features

• 20-lesson singing tutorial with real-time pitch recognition technology
• Automatically adjusts songs to specific vocal range; sheet music view
• Edit songs or compose new songs with compose mode
• Learn to sing with proper breathing and posture; measure performance
• Imports MIDI's; microphone headset included

From the Manufacturer
Carry-a-Tune is the fun way for everyone to sing better! As your pitch improves, your confidence will build. As your confidence builds, your singing will be better and you will have more fun!

Singing Coach’s animated characters will make learning to use the software and learning to sing easy and fun.

Pitch Tracking Line:

Singing Coach’s Pitch Tracking Line displays what note you are singing and the note you are supposed to be singing on a musical graph. This representation helps train your ear to know the exact pitch you are trying to sing.

Singing Lessons:

Singing Coach's Singing Lessons are an introduction to both Carry-a-Tune and to some basic singing concepts. You will first learn about the basic Carry-a-Tune controls, then about warm-ups for preparing your voice to sing, and techniques for correct singing.

The remaining lessons start with simple exercises and progress to complete songs. You will learn to sing on pitch and see your scores as you practice each exercise.

Determine Vocal Range:

Carry-a-Tune's Custom Vocal Range displays songs and exercises based on your voice or "vocal range." Your vocal range is the range of notes, from lowest to highest, that you can sing comfortably. In order to display songs and exercises in the best key for you, Carry-a-Tune needs to know what your vocal range is.

You will sing up to a high note, then down to a low note. These notes define your vocal range, and you can see how your vocal range compares to the standard vocal ranges such as Tenor and Alto. Carry-a-Tune will automatically put songs and exercises into your personal vocal range so you can sing comfortably without straining your voice.

Compose Mode:

Carry-a-Tune's Compose Mode allows you to compose your own songs by pointing and clicking to enter the melody and lyrics. You can also use the piano keyboard at the bottom of the screen if you prefer to enter pitches that way. If you have the sheet music for one of your favorite songs, you can easily enter the song into Carry-a-Tune.

Compose is simple enough to allow you to easily create short songs, and has the power to let you create quite complex songs and exercises.

Sheet Music View:

Carry-a-Tune's Sheet Music View is a unique graphical display providing a simple and effective method of showing you how you are singing on pitch. Many people are more familiar with sheet music, and Carry-a-Tune allows you to sing songs using Sheet Music View. You will see the familiar staff, time signature, and musical notations. Carry-a-Tune's Pitch Tracking Line effectively shows you whether you are hitting the notes on pitch. You can even use Sheet Music view to sing the songs you have composed.

Customer Reviews

Good Technology, But the Presentation is Really for Kids
The software appears to work quite well, and I believe that using this product will improve my singing. The real-time pitch tracking is a tremendous aid for anyone who (like me) has trouble finding notes with their singing voice. On this basis, I would have given the product 4 1/2 or 5 stars. However, the bad news is that the presentation of this product is really designed for kids. There are characters who guide you through the process, and unfortunately there does not seem to be a way to turn them off. It is a bit like watching an episode of Barney in terms of the level of hokiness (e.g., an opera singing octupus who talks like Chef Boyardee. Yuck!) Ideally, Carry-A-Tune should design a professional version designed for the over 13 crowd. The new version would just contain the core technology and do away with the annoying characters and story line. But as I said, the technology seems to work so I guess that I will suffer through the cartoonish qualities.

I WAS SKEPTICAL AT 1ST, BUT NO LONGER!
The designers have done a very nice job. Excellent user interface--I don't see any "bugs" at all! Extremely well designed and fun to use. No regrets. (No I don't work for them!)

A few of the reviews have suggested this tool is more suited for beginners--but it's not. Here's why:

1) You can choose from a variety of easy/med/difficult songs; It might be pretty easy to sing "Hot cross buns" but not so the more challenging songs;

2) You can adjust the precision level to your ability, so that your pitch must be more precise to get the same "score." In other words, you can make it as challenging as you want.

I especially enjoyed the feature that lets you see your vocal range. (It confirmed my bass range--So I shouldn't keep trying the Barry Manilow songs.)

I heartily recommend this program. I am very glad I spent the money. Both fun and educational, all in one!

Good for beginning voice training
Singing Coach Unlimited is helpful software for someone first beginning voice training or for "retuning" your voice after a long idle time. However, the lessons appear to be geared toward kids. I found the pitch tracking to be a nice feature.
The compose feature is limited and will only allow composing the melody (no accompaniment).
The ability to change keys for any song is great.
The song download selection from Carry-A-Tune is limited, although you can import songs form other sources.
I have had some software glitches (recording failures and recording delays) on my Windows XP PC which meets the recommended system requirements. (Carry-A-Tune has not yet responded with a fix.)