Pitch-correction of vocal performance in accord with score-coded harmonies

A method for use in connection with vocal performance capture, the method comprising:

• retrieving a computer readable media encoding of a vocal score temporally synchronizable with a corresponding backing track and lyrics, the vocal score encoding (i) a sequence of notes for a vocal melody and (ii) at least a first set of harmony notes for at least some portions of the vocal melody;
• audibly rendering the backing track and concurrently presenting corresponding portions of the lyrics on a display in temporal correspondence with the audible rendering;
• capturing a vocal performance of a user and pitch correcting the captured performance in accord with the score-encoded vocal melody to produce a first version of the user's vocal performance;
• pitch shifting at least some portions of the user's captured vocal performance in accord with the score-encoded harmony notes to produce at least a second version of the user's vocal performance;
• and
• adding a temporal delay to the second version of the user's vocal performance, wherein the audible rendering is in real-time correspondence with the user's vocal performance and mixes either or both of the first and temporally delayed second versions of the user's vocal performance with the backing track.

A vocal performance capture and processing system comprising:

• a portable computing device having a display;
• a microphone interface;
• an audio transducer interface;
• a data communications interface;
• user interface code executable on the portable computing device to capture user interface gestures selective for a backing track and to initiate retrieval of at least a vocal score corresponding thereto, the vocal score encoding (i) a sequence of notes for a vocal melody and (ii) at least a first set of harmony notes for at least some portions of the vocal melody;
• the user interface code further executable to capture user interface gestures to initiate (i) audible rendering of the backing track, (ii) concurrent presentation lyrics on the display and (iii) capture of the user's vocal performance using the microphone interface;
• first pitch correction code executable on the portable computing device to, concurrent with said audible rendering, continuously pitch correct the user's vocal performance in accord with the score-encoded vocal melody to produce a first version of the user's vocal performance;
• second pitch correction code executable to continuously pitch shift at least some portions of the user's vocal performance in accord with the score-encoded harmony notes to produce at least a second version of the user's vocal performance;
• third pitch correction code executable to add a temporal delay to the second version of the user's vocal performance;
• and
• a local rendering pipeline executable on the portable computing device to mix either or both of first and temporally delayed second versions of the user's vocal performance with the backing track and render a resulting mixed performance via the audio transducer interface in real-time correspondence with the user's vocal performance.

A computer program product encoded in one or more media, the computer program product including instructions executable on a processor of the portable computing device to cause the portable computing device to:

• retrieve via a communications interface, a vocal score temporally synchronizable with a corresponding backing track and lyrics, the vocal score encoding (i) a sequence of notes for a vocal melody and (ii) at least a first set of harmony notes for at least some portions of the vocal melody;
• audibly render the backing track and present in temporal correspondence therewith corresponding portions of the lyrics on a display of the portable computing device;
• capture and pitch correct a vocal performance of the user in accord with the score-encoded vocal melody to produce a first version of the user's vocal performance;
• at least initiate pitch shift of at least some portions of the user's captured vocal performance in accord with the score-encoded harmony notes to produce at least a second version of the user's vocal performance;
• and
• add a temporal delay to the second version of the user's vocal performance,
• wherein the audible rendering is in real-time correspondence with the user's vocal performance and mixes either or both of first and temporally delayed second versions of the user's vocal performance with the backing track.