Social music system and method with continuous, real-time pitch correction of vocal performance and dry vocal capture for subsequent re-rendering based on selectively applicable vocal effect(s) schedule(s)

摘要

Vocal musical performances may be captured and, in some cases or embodiments, pitch-corrected and/or processed in accord with a user selectable vocal effects schedule for mixing and rendering with backing tracks in ways that create compelling user experiences. In some cases, the vocal performances of individual users are captured on mobile devices in the context of a karaoke-style presentation of lyrics in correspondence with audible renderings of a backing track. Such performances can be pitch-corrected in real-time at the mobile device in accord with pitch correction settings. Vocal effects schedules may also be selectively applied to such performances. In these ways, even amateur user/performers with imperfect pitch are encouraged to take a shot at “stardom” and/or take part in a game play, social network or vocal achievement application architecture that facilitates musical collaboration on a global scale and/or, in some cases or embodiments, to initiate revenue generating in-application transactions.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
using a portable computing device for vocal performance capture, the portable computing device having a touch screen, a microphone interface and a communications interface; responsive to a user selection on the touch screen, retrieving via the communications interface, a vocal score temporally synchronized with a corresponding backing track and lyrics, the vocal score encoding a sequence of target notes for at least part of a vocal performance of the user against the backing track; at the portable computing device, audibly rendering the backing track and concurrently presenting corresponding portions of the lyrics on a display in temporal correspondence therewith; capturing via the microphone interface, and in temporal correspondence with the backing track, the vocal performance of the user; applying at least one vocal effects schedule to the user's captured vocal performance; and computationally evaluating correspondence of at least a portion of the user's captured vocal performance with the vocal score to generate an evaluation result and, based on a threshold figure of merit and the evaluation result, awarding the user a license or access to at least a locked portion of the vocal effects schedule.