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 patentapplication submitted by Apple has revealed its plans to help teach amateur singers how to hit the right pitch and key by iPpod 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 MC Hammer, Blondie, The Beach Boys and Tina Turner.


据英国《每日电讯报》21日报道，苹果计划将它的iPod 音乐播放器和 iPhone 智能手机转变成移动"卡拉ok"唱机，不久这些小玩意儿就可以教人们唱自己喜爱的歌曲了。

苹果发明的iPod音乐播放器在全球范围内大获成功，彻底改变了人们听音乐的习惯。如今，苹果提交的一份专利申请表示，将通过iPod音乐播放器和iPhone智能手机来帮助业余歌手正确掌握音高和音调。

这对于那些被动听这些业余歌手唱歌的人来说无异于是一种福音，因为该技术能够让经常跑调的人找到调子。

这种设备将允许用户选择他们最喜爱的歌曲跟着哼唱，并显示有歌词和视频画面，非常类似于传统的"卡拉ok"唱机。

但不同的是，使用者唱歌时，iPod能够分析他们的声音，并将其与歌曲正确的唱法进行比对。如果跑调了，系统就会及时给予反馈，从而帮助歌唱者纠正错误。


如果歌唱者的音高和音调掌握得很到位，就会得到奖励，他们的声音就会被转换成非常好听的音乐厅的效果。

但是，当他们跑调或唱错音高时，这个设备就会放大他们的错误，这样他们就能从自己戴着的耳机中听到了。


这个系统还能改变歌唱者传输到扬声器上的声音。如果歌唱者在观众面前表演，观众就可以不必再忍受糟糕的歌声了。因为这个系统会"修饰"歌唱者的歌声，这样观众就听不出他们跑调了。

这项专利还允许用户录制自己的歌声，以便日后编辑。同时，数字化音波还可使用户将他们的歌声与原唱进行对比。


苹果拒绝透露研制这项专利的方法以及这个"卡拉ok"系统上市的时间，但是该公司的网络音乐商店已在售卖卡拉ok类别的音乐。

这些音乐包括美国黑人说唱歌手MC.哈默、金发美女乐队、沙滩男孩乐队和蒂娜-特娜等艺人的流行卡拉ok歌曲。

• device [di´vais] n.装置；器具；策略 (初中英语单词)
• patent [´peitənt, ´pæ-] a.专利的 n.专利品 (初中英语单词)
• application [,æpli´keiʃən] n.申请；申请书；应用 (初中英语单词)
• amateur [´æmətə, ,æmə´tə:] n.业余爱好者 (初中英语单词)
• screen [skri:n] n.银幕 vt.遮蔽 (初中英语单词)
• supposed [sə´pəuzd] a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词)
• singer [´siŋə] n.歌手，演唱者 (初中英语单词)
• performance [pə´fɔ:məns] n.履行；行为；工作 (初中英语单词)
• system [´sistəm] n.系统，体系，制度 (初中英语单词)
• output [´autput] n.产品；产品；计算结果 (初中英语单词)
• audience [´ɔ:diəns] n.听众；观众；接见 (初中英语单词)
• endure [in´djuə] vt.忍耐，忍受；坚持 (初中英语单词)
• disguise [dis´gaiz] vt.假装；隐瞒 n.伪装 (初中英语单词)
• comment [´kɔment] n.&v.评论；评注；注意 (初中英语单词)
• available [ə´veiləbəl] a.可用的；有效的 (初中英语单词)
• hammer [´hæmə] n.锤子 v.重击 (初中英语单词)
• perfectly [´pə:fiktli] ad.理想地；完美地 (高中英语单词)
• pleasing [´pli:ziŋ] a.使人愉快的；合意的 (高中英语单词)
• exaggerate [ig´zædʒəreit] v.夸张，言过其实 (高中英语单词)
• traditional [trə´diʃənəl] a.传统的，习惯的 (英语四级单词)
• category [´kætigəri] n.种类；部属；范畴 (英语六级单词)
• turner [´tə:nə] n.车工 (英语六级单词)