Facebook recently released its content creation app named BARS for budding rappers. Rumoured as a competitor of existing short video applications like TikTok, BARS is not merely a lip-syncing application to create content. The application is designed by New Product Experimentation (NPE), which is a social media company and R&D team of Facebook.
Why was the need to create the BARS app?
The conventional short-video applications like Tik-Tok and Instagram Reels led to a trend among the creators to arrange expensive equipment and studio bookings. Although these apps have in-built music, they don’t offer sufficient features for rappers. The BARS app allows budding rappers to concentrate on their lyrics and flow rather than investing their time and effort in the equipment. Besides, the app assists rappers to modulate their vocals using auto-suggested effects.
According to DJ Iyer, BARS Community Manager, “The coronavirus outbreak was one of the major reasons for developing the BARS app. I know access to high-priced recording studios and production equipment can be limited for aspiring rappers. On top of that, the global pandemic shut down live performances where we often create and share our work. So, along with a group of aspiring rappers, we’ve been building BARS: a place for aspiring rappers to create and share their art.”
How does Facebook’s BARS app work?
In contrast to short-video sharing services like Tik-Tok and Instagram Reels, BARS is particularly designed for creating videos in rapping style. To help the performers, the app provides pre-recorded rhythms and beats to deliver your words in rap style. To get the flow like a professional rapper, you get rhymes from a dictionary suggested by the application. The Challenge mode helps you develop the ability to freestyle using auto-suggested lyrics. As soon as you perform your rap, you can add various kinds of audio and visual filters to make your rap content look more attractive. You get advanced tools like Clean, AutoTune, Imaginary Friends, and AM Radio to modulate the rap vocal as per your preference. The BARS app allows you to save your rap videos to your Camera Roll or share them with your friends on social media.
According to DJ Iyer, BARS Community Manager, “Rap has a rich and varied history that has influenced culture for over 40 years. I’m inspired by the art form and the culture, and while I work at Facebook, I’m also a hip-hop songwriter and ghostwriter under the alias D-Lucks. I know access to high-priced recording studios and production equipment can be limited for aspiring rappers. On top of that, the global pandemic shut down live performances where we often create and share our work. So, along with a group of aspiring rappers, we’ve been building BARS: a place for aspiring rappers to create and share their art.”
Can the BARS app replace Tik-Tok?
Tik-Tok has so far dominated the market of short video making services. Recently, Facebook released Instagram Reels and Collab to compete with Tik-Tok and has been quite successful especially in the backdrop of the Chinese apps ban in India. The new BARS app is a unique venture to attract budding rappers in the content-creating domain. It is yet to witness if it becomes successful in dominating Tik-Tok in the international market.
Is the BARS application available for you?
Currently, the BARS app is available for download only in the US market as a beta version. If you are an iPhone user, you can download the app as well as sign up on the waitlist from the US App Store. Facebook expects to increase the reach of the BARS app in batches, beginning with U.S. updates and news about invites. The interested rappers can install the app to secure their username. Availability in India is still not clear, however, India is a big market for the US based company so chances are the app will come to our land as well.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date with the Gadget Bridge Android App.
