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What is Carry-A-Tune Technologies?
Carry-A-Tune Technologies is the developer and marketer of a unique new family of software products that use specialized computer-aided pitch tracking to teach people how to sing in tune and on tempo. Carry-A-Tune Technologies's initial two consumer products are Singing CoachTM and Singing Coach Unlimited, which were launched nationwide in the fourth quarter of 2004.
These products combine patent-pending technology with entertaining, animated on-screen vocal coaching to teach people at all levels to sing better. Users will be successful whether or not they can read music. These first-of-their-kind products take the fun of karaoke and add real-time visual feedback of the singer's pitch and rhythm to enable adults and children alike to sing better and enjoy singing.
Founded in 2000, Carry-A-Tune Technologies is based in Tampa, FL. The privately held company was created by one of the principals of the Thompson Group, a leading catalog publisher and direct marketing company also based in Tampa. The president of Carry-A-Tune Technologies is a principal in the family-owned and run Thompson Group, allowing the new software business to leverage Thompson Group's substantial physical facilities and significant marketing and distribution resources.
What is the company's PC-based "learn-to-sing" system?
Singing Coach and Singing Coach Unlimited are both powered by Carry-A-Tune technology. They help people learn to sing by teaching them to sing in tune. The software tracks their pitch as people sing and displays it as a pitch-tracking line on the screen, superimposed on either a 'sheet music' or 'graphic' view of the song. This system allows the singer to actually see what he or she is singing on a real-time basis.
The Singing Coach learn-to-sing system has as its fundamental goal making it easy for anyone even the so-called hopelessly 'tone deaf' to learn to control their pitch and rhythm and thereby learn to sing in tune. Simple to install and easy for singers ages 6 to 106 to use, Singing Coach works on PCs running Windows XP, ME and 2000. Users get a high-fidelity headset with built-in microphone plus a selection of practice songs and free song downloads from the Carry-A-Tune Technologies online song library of 200-plus selections ranging from hits to standards.
In the basic version, users get 12 practice songs and four free downloads; in the unlimited version, users get 24 practice songs and 12 downloads. Users can also purchase additional songs from the on-line music store. These songs include number one songs from Warner Chappell, one of the world's largest music publishers.
Singing Coach Unlimited includes a 'compose mode,' in which users can enter any song from sheet music by simply pointing and clicking, or compose their own original songs. It also includes an 'import MIDI' feature that allows the user to import standard MIDI files with embedded lyrics. There are over 10,000 songs available for purchase at varying prices from the three currently selected sites that are currently linked to the Carry-A-Tune Technologies' online music store including songs made famous by artists from the Beatles to Beyonce. The 'compose mode,' coupled with the 'import MIDI' feature, truly makes the product 'unlimited'.
The suggested retail price is $49.95 for Singing Coach and $99.95 for Singing Coach Unlimited.
How does it work?
Carry-A-Tune Technologies's musical software products offer numerous features that act like 'training wheels' for the person who can't carry a tune. The primary support device is a visual, real-time depiction of the singer's actual pitch compared to the 'target' or pitch he or she should be singing. Many other features make the process of learning to sing easy, fun and perhaps most importantly, free of public embarrassment.
In either 'graphic view' (no need to read music) or 'sheet music view', the program shows users their actual pitch on screen while displaying the target for each note as they sing. Singing Coach lets users see and hear how to adjust their voice to stay in tune. When users finish singing a song, the software calculates a score (from 1 to 100) and displays it on screen. Both Singing Coach's basic and unlimited versions allow users to compete with one another for fun using a singing scoreboard. The scoring also provides a completely objective method to assess singing.
What features make Singing Coach unique?
Singing Coach and Singing Coach Unlimited give users real-time feedback and assistance with their singing. The programs features a 20-lesson tutorial, after which singers are able to sing the basics (i.e., Hot Cross Buns, This Old Man) on pitch and in tune and can move on to more difficult songs. Additional unique features of this learn-to-sing software are:
- Custom vocal range when a new user signs in, he sets his own vocal range. Once that is set, each song and exercise is automatically transposed into a key that makes the song easy for that person to sing.
- Visual depiction of pitch Singing Coach shows the actual pitches sung with its Pitch Tracking Line. There are two views where pitch tracking is used: Graphic View and Sheet Music View. The Graphic View is similar to an X/Y graph in which X represents time and Y represents pitch. Each note is shown as a "target" pitch bar, with the lyrics displayed below the target pitch bars. The Sheet Music View mimics a piece of sheet music complete with treble clef, notes, rests, key signature, etc. The "pitch targets" are the note heads.
- Scoring After a singer completes an exercise, he or she receives a score (0 to 100) which indicates what percentage of the time they sang "in tune."
- Tempo change If a song is difficult for a singer, he or she can slow the tempo down (without changing the key) which will allow them to learn to sing the song. After he or she learns to sing it, the tempo may be increased.
- Breathing indicators In the graphic view, the spots where the singer should breathe are indicated with a "B" symbol. This insures that the singer has enough breath to get through each phrase on pitch.
- From 'pitch-matching' to 'a cappella' Users can learn a song with or without metronome, melody, or accompaniment. Different instruments can be selected to play the melody. This allows a beginner to 'pitch-match' while a pro can sing the much more challenging style of 'a cappella' or without any music at all.
Who uses Singing Coach?
In its first year of test marketing, people from across the country and of all different backgrounds have used Singing Coach and Singing Coach Unlimited. Users range from music teachers to school districts to families to professional singers to celebrities.
Additional users include: Jessica Sierra, a semi-finalist on Star Search and American Idol; Dr. Kirk Kassner, music educator with the Federal Way School District, Federal Way, Wash.; Dr. Susan Homan, professor and childhood educator with the University of South Florida; Dr. Arthur Harvey, a neuromusicologist at the University of Hawaii and past president of the Hawaii Music Educators Association; Nashville-based professional singer/songwriter Ally White; and Richard Watson, editor, Music Trades magazine.
What markets does the company serve?
While Singing Coach and Singing Coach Unlimited are appropriate for children and adults alike, Carry-A-Tune Technologies has targeted specific markets including:
- household consumers,
- from shower singers to true performers;
- schools/education focusing on kindergarten through higher education and home schooling;
- musical instrument dealers including piano and organ dealers;
- senior citizens; and
- religious institutions.
How is the product distributed?
Carry-A-Tune Technologies has mapped out a multi-dimensional sales and distribution strategy for its Singing Coach and Singing Coach Unlimited. The national retail store launch is being marked by the products' initial distribution in Fry's Electronics, with 28 stores in California, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Washington, Oregon and Nevada. In addition, Carry-A-Tune Technologies is leveraging the vast structure of the Thompson Group catalog enterprise including its more than 200 telephone sales representatives who have been trained to offer Singing Coach products to customers of its key catalogues including Casual Living USA. The products are also available through: CompUSA, some Target stores, MediaPlay, J&R Music World, and other online retailers.
What key trends are impacting the market?
Key trends influencing the Carry-A-Tune Technologies business include the penetration of PCs and the Internet globally along with the growth in sales of computer games and educational software. In addition, sales of downloaded music have been skyrocketing. Singing Coach ties into this country's cocooning trend in the past few years and provides a great family activity that cuts across every economic stratum. In the past, families sat around the piano and sang together. With Singing Coach, 21st century families may sit around the computer and sing together. Singing Coach also ties in well with the popularity of reality TV programs like American Idol, but instead of non-objective scoring of the singer's talent, Singing Coach gives singers an objective score at the end of every song, indicating what percentage of the time he or she is on pitch and on tempo, providing a colorblind, objective approach to assessing one's singing talent.
What is the company's history?
As a 13-year-old, company founder Carlo Franzblau 'earned' the starring role of Conrad Birdie (think Elvis Presley) in his summer camp's production of Bye Bye Birdie with one condition he would not be singing any of the heartthrob's songs. Every time Carlo started to sing, he was either mobbed by hysterical groupies on stage or in one case, he was 'punched' to prevent his singing. The fact that he couldn't determine whether he was singing on key or on pitch remained with Mr. Franzblau through his undergraduate days at Harvard and his graduate work at Harvard Business School. Finally, in early 2000, he had the resources, and the time, and found a software developer with the expertise to assist him in developing Carry-A-Tune Technologies's pitch tracking software. Carry-A-Tune was founded in 2000 with Mr. Franzblau's family and family business, Thompson Group, supporting the company and product development efforts. Singing Coach was launched on a trial basis in late 2003.
Who heads the company?
Carlo Franzblau, president and founder, and Kenneth Spiegel, vice president and general manager, run the day to day operations of the company.
For more information please contact info@carryatune.com
Who Distributes Carry a Tune in the UK?
Interactive Ideas Ltd distributes Carry a Tune software in the
UK. Interactive Ideas is one of the UK's leading value-added software
and peripheral distributors. The company's customers include a wide
spectrum of both national and independent retailers, etailers, mail
order companies and resellers. This customer base includes specialist
computer retailers and resellers, gaming, music and video chains
as well as bookshops and supermarkets. The company ranges and markets
some 4,000 different product lines on both non-proprietary and exclusive
bases, with particular strength in software and peripherals that
run on the PC.
Founded in 1994, Interactive Ideas has a history of dynamic growth
together with consistent profitability making it one of the most
stable companies in the sector. In December 2003, Interactive Ideas
was included in the prestigious Inner City 100 awards for its status
as one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK. Since inception,
Interactive Ideas has been a relationship driven company, placing
great emphasis on its flexibility and service ethos to meet our
customers and suppliers needs.
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