Smule (app)

TechCrunch explained: An update of the app added new filters such as one that makes the user sound like they are singing in the shower. Smule continued to invest resources in developing audio and video filters. In October 2020, they announced Styles - pre-made templates with video and/or audio effects that enhance the performance and allow for more self-expression. Users can sing duets with other Smule users anywhere in the world in real-time. Smule has been granted a patent for how it handles latency in this scenario. To make it easier for casual singers to explore singing, in 2021 Smule introduced a feature called Moments which gives users the ability to also select and sing just a small section of a song. ==Music collaboration==

Users choose a song and either sing along to it as a solo, duet, or group performance. Performances are uploaded to Smule's database and the user decides if they would like to keep the performance private or share it with the community and invite others to join their performance. Users can enable video recording mode if they want to record both video and audio. A private flag may also be enabled, if users don't want to allow others to listen to their recording. ==Critical reception==

Smule has been received positively by their growing user base over the last decade for their innovative collaborative capabilities, video features and variety of FX at user disposal. As of May 2021, the Smule app had a 4.5 rating out of 5 in the App Store with over 136k ratings given by users. In a surge of popularity in May 2021, the app briefly rose to the #2 Free App in the App Store and the #1 Music App in the App Store for over a week. 148Apps said "Sing! Join the global karaoke party! is either going to horrify or delight people, depending on their point of view on karaoke, in general. Yes, there are a lot of bad singers out there, but the name of the game is to have fun, and with the whole world as a stage, Sing! can be an awful lot of fun." AppAdvice said "As far as music selection, the free app is a mixed bag." Appolicious concluded "That’s the beauty of Sing! It may or may not yield a Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, Idina Menzel, John Mayer or even a Rebecca Black, but it is a wonderful way for singers the world over to unite and make a joyful communal sound." ==References==