Whenever we talk about the limits of machine learning, we like to use the arts as a prime example of all the things humans will always beat computers at. I find this way to make music fascinating because I instinctively want to dislike it. Blob Opera is showcase of machine learning - four performers taught a computer music by singing to it, and what you hear when you use the opera yourself is a machine's interpretation of music, and more importantly, how several people are supposed to sound together, rather than just pre-recorded samples by artists that you can play around with. The story behind Blob Opera makes everything about it even better, because it's a genuine feat of technology, rather than a cute toy. You can even record it and share it with others. It's a deceptively simple setup, but it allows you to make music with little more than your finger or your mouse. You can only control one blob at a time, the rest will automatically follow suit. Drag it forward and it sings a different vowel sound. Making music is easy - drag a blob upwards and it stretches like taffy, changing pitch.

While I felt the slight of this choir not including a contralto voice, I was soothed by how fun it was to play with. Each of them represents a voice in a choir - bass, tenor, mezzo-soprano and soprano. On screen, you have four blobs that with their round eyes and big mouths remind me of Rayman's best friend Globox. This virtual choir isn't just something you listen to, it's a toy with the tactile charm of a Google doodle. Kicking things off is Malindy and a piece about the pleasure of making stuff.Ī while back now, Google Arts and Culture released Blob Opera, a virtual choir designed by Google's artist in residence, David Li. Hello! This week we're going to be celebrating the intersection of music and games in many of its forms, and we're calling it Music Week.

Blob opera games