iPod和iPhone變身卡拉OK唱機

The iPod and iPhone could soon be helping to teach people how to sing along to their favorite tracks under plans drawn up by Apple to turn the devices into mobile karaoke machines.

It found worldwide success by inventing a device that transformed the way people listened to music. Now a patent application submitted by Apple has revealed its plans to help teach amateur singers how to hit the right pitch and key by iPod and iPhone.

There is also good news for those forced to listen： the technology will be able to make off-key warbling sound in-tune. The device will allow users to select their favorite songs to sing along to， displaying the words as a video on screen much like traditional karaoke machines.

As the user sings， however， the iPod will analyze their voice， comparing it with how the song is supposed to sound and providing them with feedback if they are off key to help them correct their performance.

If the singer hits the pitch and key perfectly， then they will be rewarded by having their performance enhanced to give a concert hall effect that is pleasing to listen to. But when they are off key or sing at the wrong pitch， the device will exaggerate their mistake so that they can hear it in a pair of earphones they are wearing.

The system would also be able to change the output from the speakers. If the singer was performing in front of an audience， so they did not have to endure bad singing. Instead it would “fuzz” the singer’s voice to disguise the fact they are off key.

The patent also proposes allowing users to record their performances and edit them later， while a digital sound wave read out would also allow them to see how they had performed compared to the original.

Apple refused to comment on how it intends to develop the patent and when its karaoke system will be available on the market， but the company’s online music store sells music under a category of karaoke.

Tracks include popular karaoke favorites by artists such as MCHammer， Blondie， The Beach Boys and Tina Turner.

蘋果計劃將它的iPod音樂播放器和iPhone智能手機轉變成移動“卡拉ok”唱機，不久這些小玩意兒就可以教人們唱自己喜愛的歌曲了。

蘋果發明的iPod音樂播放器在全球范圍內大獲成功，徹底改變了人們聽音樂的習慣。如今，蘋果提交的一份專利申請表示，將通過iPod音樂播放器和iPhone智能手機來幫助業余歌手正確掌握音高和音調。

這對于那些被動聽這些業余歌手唱歌的人來說無異于是一種福音，因為該技術能夠讓唱歌經常跑調的人找到調子。

這種設備將允許用戶選擇他們最喜愛的歌曲并跟著哼唱，還將顯示歌詞和視頻畫面，類似于傳統的“卡拉ok”唱機。但不同的是，使用者唱歌時，iPod能夠分析他們的聲音，并將其與歌曲正確的唱法進行比對。如果跑調了，系統就會及時給予反饋，從而幫助歌唱者糾正錯誤。

如果歌唱者的音高和音調掌握得很到位，就會得到獎勵，他們的聲音就會被轉換成非常好聽的音樂廳的效果。但是，當他們跑調或唱錯音高時，這個設備就會放大他們的錯誤，這樣他們就能從自己戴著的耳機中聽到了。

這個系統還能改變歌唱者傳輸到揚聲器上的聲音。如果歌唱者在觀眾面前表演，觀眾就可以不必再忍受糟糕的歌聲了。因為這個系統會“修飾”歌唱者的歌聲，這樣觀眾就聽不出他們跑調了。

這項專利還允許用戶錄制自己的歌聲，以便日后編輯。同時，數字化音波還可使用戶將他們的歌聲與原唱進行對比。

蘋果拒絕透露研制這項專利的方法以及這個“卡拉ok”系統上市的時間，但是該公司的網絡音樂商店已在售賣卡拉ok類別的音樂。

這些音樂包括美國黑人說唱歌手MC哈默、金發美女樂隊、沙灘男孩樂隊和蒂娜·特娜等藝人的流行歌曲。