Adobe's best known software program is surely Photoshop, a program so powerful and influential that it has permanently changed the visual media landscape, and the software company is hoping that its new pilot software, 'Project VoCo,' can have the same effect for aural media. Project VoCo, which was developed in collaboration with Princeton University, is software for editing voices rather than images.
Adobe describes Project VoCo as "Photoshopping Voiceovers" because it allows users to make changes to sound clips of people's voices with the same imperceptible real-ness that Photoshop applies to images of people.
Though Project VoCo is currently just a bare bones pilot program, it still functions well. To use it, one enters a sample into the program, and it automatically transcribes that into a text editor. Users can then change the text, just like making an edit on a word processor, and the program will be able to replay the voice clip with the changes.
Voice-Imitating Software Programs
Adobe's 'Project VoCo' is Photoshop for Voices
Trend Themes
1. Voice Editing Software - The development of Project VoCo by Adobe and Princeton University demonstrates a growing trend of voice editing software programs with the potential to disrupt media and entertainment industries.
2. Imperceptible Audio Manipulation - As Project VoCo's technology advances, it could lead to a trend of imperceptible audio manipulation, with implications in industries such as forensic investigation and voice-over narration.
3. Text-to-speech Synthesis - The use of text-to-speech synthesis in Project VoCo highlights a trend in machine learning and natural language processing, with opportunities for disruption in industries such as virtual assistants and e-learning.
Industry Implications
1. Media and Entertainment - Voice editing software programs like Project VoCo have the potential to disrupt the media and entertainment industry by allowing for more realistic voice acting and post-production editing.
2. Forensic Investigation - As imperceptible audio manipulation technology advances, it could disrupt forensic investigation by challenging the authenticity of voice evidence.
3. Virtual Assistants - The use of text-to-speech synthesis in Project VoCo highlights opportunities for disruption in the virtual assistant industry, by allowing for more natural and human-like text-to-speech conversion.