Voice Cross Trainer is an Android app that hopes to keep singers’ voices in tip-top condition. Put together with key advice from hit UK vocal trainer, Kim Chandler, Voice Cross Trainer features a wide range of exercises. Included too, are introductions from Kim for each exercise as well as an audio walkthrough for each exercise. Voice Cross Trainer is an app that works well on tablets, which is a nice touch as tablets are often used heavily in musicians’ studios and it also makes the app more accessible. Read on as we take a look at what Voice Cross Trainer has to offer.
As with other apps on Android, you can download Voice Cross Trainer from the Play Store. It is a paid app, but that does mean that it doesn’t feature any ads or anything like that. Users of the app are treated to a video introduction by Kim Chandler herself.
The fact that Kim’s advice is not just used to build the app, but available for every exercise is a nice touch, after all it’s always easier to take advice from someone who knows what they’re talking about, rather than an app that just presents info.
There are different levels of training in Voice Cross Trainer, and you can start with any of them whenever you like, but it’s a good idea to start with the first level.
Each Level of exercises has a selection of exercises on offer, and the app will keep track of how long you spend in each of these exercises, giving you an idea of which one you spent more time with, and possibly which one was more effective.
Again, Kim introduces each exercise and then there’s an audio track to follow along with yourself. There are full screen, proper videos from Kim that show the physical aspect of breathing exercises as well as an in-depth description of why the exercise is worth doing, and why it’s a good idea to keep doing it.
One aspect of the app that I didn’t quite appreciate, was the fact that despite you pay for the app upfront, you only get access to the first level of exercises and have to pay for others. Something that I was unable to even try due to an error, but this seems more like Google’s issues.
Voice Cross Trainer is a fantastic concept, and while the user interface could be a little more modern, it works well. Now, I’m no singer and wouldn’t pretend to be one, but I have friends that perform locally and lend their voices to backing vocals from time-to-time and this sort of app would be great for them. The fact that it actually makes use of the larger displays found on tablets is actually a big deal and would make this another tool for those that use tablets to prepare for shows etc. Kim Chandler obviously knows her stuff, and she explains things in an articulate and straightforward manner. Nothing is skimmed over, and for those that have never tried vocal exercises, Kim does a good job of explaining why you should approach these exercises for better vocal health.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – Vocal Cross Trainer is a quick app, and there were no issues testing the videos.
- Features (4/5) – With a wide range of exercises that are well explained, this has a lot on offer for those looking to keep their voice in top form.
- Theme (4/5) – The UI looks good on tablets, and it’s nice and easy to work with. The pop-out videos look good and offer singers a way to relate to and understand the exercises.
- Overall (4/5) – This is a solid application that musicians will really appreciate, it is a shame that you have to pay for the further levels, but there’s a good amount on offer here and there’s real experience and guidance from a real person here, too.
Pros
- Takes good advantage of the extra display space available on tablets.
- Kim’s advice obviously comes from first-hand experience, and she does a great job of explaining the exercises and instructing users.
- Voice Cross Trainer tracks how often you’ve been training with the app, giving you a good idea of how your vocals have improved since you started.
- Offers musicians a great way to keep their voice in shape at their own pace with professional advice.
Cons
- Despite being a paid app, users need to then pay for the next few levels of training.
- More accurate exercise assessment feature would be nice.
Voice Cross Trainer is a good app that I’m sure will easily find a place in any musician’s arsenal and it’s got a lot of good value on offer. It’s unfortunate that users need to pay for the other courses behind the first one, but those that really want to take care of their voice should give them a go. A great app that has a lot to offer, Voice Cross Trainer works well, and should be a welcome addition to musicians’ toolboxes.