Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Martha Bebinger, NPR/WBUR Boston
August 19, 2014

Lorelei Erisis taps the screen of a borrowed iPhone. The key of A, with kazoo-like resonance, fills her living room in Ayer, Mass.

Erisis taps another button labeled "start," takes a deep breath, and sings the word "he," trying to match the tone.

A number, 75 percent, pops onto the screen.

"My pitch was too low," Erisis says. "Oh well. Let me try again."

Erisis, a transgender woman, is trying out Eva, a mobile phone app that may be the first of its kind. Transgender men and women who want to raise or lower the pitch of their voice can go through a series of breathing and pitch exercises designed to help with what can be the most difficult characteristic to change — their voice.

Listen to the story: http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/08/transgender-voices (http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/08/transgender-voices)

That app seems interesting, but according to the description through iTunes, its part of a 5 app family (at $4.99+tax each) with Eva Pitch and Eva Breath being the 2 essential ones while Pitch 2-4 are add on lessons.

I'd love to know if anyone here has actually tried them as there aren't many reviews for apps (5 total for pitch, 2 for breath, and none for the others) and what they thought

I haven't tried it, but even if it is moderately helpful, $25 is pretty cheap compared to other options.

I'd love to try it, but the cost is too steep. Not the app, the iPhone. Perhaps they'll port it to Android some day.

I saw that one as well but my speech therapist says don't bother paying for one of those apps because you can get one for free that does basically the same thing. I got one for free on my phone that measures my pitch.

Tho, on the other hand, if it shows you how to do it w/o having to see someone, will prolly save you a ton of money that way!

Quote from: LivingTheDream on August 19, 2014, 10:36:24 PM
I saw that one as well but my speech therapist says don't bother paying for one of those apps because you can get one for free that does basically the same thing. I got one for free on my phone that measures my pitch.

Tho, on the other hand, if it shows you how to do it w/o having to see someone, will prolly save you a ton of money that way!

What's the app called?

I was thinking about how you don't have to see anyone- as I move around alot, and it is supposed to have lessons (i think) for adjusting pitch. Granted, I can sing in multiple pitches, but talking... idk. I figure the app in the original post can help out, unless there's something better

Livingthedream what app are you talking about that measures your voice

Quote from: Kassie on August 19, 2014, 10:50:42 PM
Livingthedream what app are you talking about that measures your voice

Eva|Pitch, Eva|Pitch 2-4, and Eva|Breath

I didn't see livingthedream in the app store other than a magazine

I use mtools lite for my iphone, that is the best free one that I have found so far. I was told that any piano tuning app or instrument app can work for voice tho as well so if you find that this one don't work for you or want a different better find, try looking for one of those.

Haha. Wow. I quoted the wrong post. Hahahahaha

mtools seems like an app that measure pitch  but offers no help in adjusting or anything- seems like its made for piano or guitars.

With singing, I can hit a range from barry white to axl rose, but speaking is a different story...

Are there any other apps made for the voice?

Quote from: Dee Walker on August 19, 2014, 10:33:33 PM
I'd love to try it, but the cost is too steep. Not the app, the iPhone. Perhaps they'll port it to Android some day.

It's on Android too.

I just bought Eva pitch. It's a very helpful app. And I saw it in the android market, I think it's just for certain android releases though. It's def worth the $5 I paid for it

Quote from: ♥ Dutchess on August 21, 2014, 03:45:43 PM
I just bought Eva pitch. It's a very helpful app. And I saw it in the android market, I think it's just for certain android releases though. It's def worth the $5 I paid for it

Do you think the Eva Breathe that goes with it is also worth getting?

Quote from: ♥ Dutchess on August 21, 2014, 03:45:43 PM
I just bought Eva pitch. It's a very helpful app. And I saw it in the android market, I think it's just for certain android releases though. It's def worth the $5 I paid for it

Yes, only for some. Not for mine. *pout!*

I had seen this for a while, and was sad that it only work for the Galaxy platform -droid phones, mine's a Droid HD, but I have an ipad, so I got all 5 modules.  I have used the breathing and speaking practice modules (1 & 2), but have just not sat down with the pitch one yet..  $25 is still pretty cheap rather than pay for a voice coach, tho the immediate feedback you'd get from a coach is immensely better than from an app.

I ended up getting Eva Breathe, and it turned out to be a waste for me. I hit 100% every time on the exercises and the lesson didn't teach me anything- my posture was already right. I'm debating buying the others, hoping they're better, but not expecting it