Jul 112018
 



 
YAMAHA Corporation has officially announced the VOCALOID5 engine and VOCALOID Editor 4.5 for release beginning today! It’s also shaping up to be quite an update to the software platform, much more than the previous VOCALOID4. Here’s what’s included in the release.

VOCALOID5 Standard (Windows & Mac, 4 voicebanks, 25,000 yen)
VOCALOID5 Premium (Windows & Mac, 8 voicebanks, 40,000 yen)

VOCALOID Official Site: https://www.vocaloid.com/en/

•Features & Function Overview

Drag-and-drop song creation … Over 2,000 preset phrases & audio
Allows for realistic vocal expression … Attack & Release effects, emotion tools
Instant conversion of your desired styles & voices … Style function
Fine control of vocal tension and amount of breath … 3 new vocal expression parameters
Includes a weath of voices for every genre … 4 voicebanks (male & female, Japanese & English
Create complete vocal tracks with a single application … 11 kinds of audio effects
Better external functionality, improved production efficiency … VST, AU, external MIDI output
Power up your favorite voices with VOCALOID5 … Compatible with VOCALOID3 & 4 voicebanks
Includes software support for Cubase … VOCALOID 4.5 Editor for Cubase

•Comes with 4 voicebanks (male & female, in Japanese & English) – Unique singing voices compatible with every genre

Amy (Left): Expressive English-language female voicebank, ideal for contemporary singing. The versatile voice boasts natural pronunciation and varied vocal tones, suited to genres from R&B to pop music.

Chris (Center left): Authentic R&B English-language male voicebank. Capable of singing over a wide range from delicate, soft bass to powerful, sustained high tones.

Kaori (Center Right): Japanese-language female voicebank with a soulful vocal quality. Long vocal sustains make it perfect for powerful singing.

Ken (Right): Sharp, clear Japanese-language male voicebank, with a light vocal quality ideal for singing J-pop.

•VOCALOID3 & 4 voicebank compatible: Power up your favorite voices with the expressive power of VOCALOID5

The singing voice libraries of VOCALOID3 and VOCALOID4 can be used as voicebanks. Richer expressions can be achieved by simply adding VOCALOID5 effects.

•[Bonus extra] Includes VOCALOID4.5 Editor for Cubase software

The VOCALOID4.5 Editor for Cubase software, capable of importing VOCALOID features into Steinberg’s Cubase DAW software – widely used around the world for music production – is included as a bonus extra.
*All VOCALOIS5 voicebanks can be used. The functions for editing are the same as in VOCALOID4. New OS and Cubase environments scheduled for future release are not supported.

•VOCALOID5 Upgrade Editions also available

VOCALOID5 Upgrade Editions are also available for those who have already purchased VOCALOID3 Editor (SE), VOCALOID4 Editor, VOCALOID Editor for Cubase (NEO), or VOCALOID4 Editor for Cubase.

VOCALOID5 Standard, Upgrade Edition – 15,000 yen
VOCALOID5 Premium, Upgrade Edition – 24,000 yen

Jul 112018
 

Someone accidentally let some news slip a little early. It looks like one of YAMAHA’s VOCALOID software partners, AH-Software, confirmed the upcoming announcement of the next generation VOCALOID5 synthesis engine with one of their products listed for preorder on Amazon Japan. YAMAHA themselves have not even announced such a product yet. The release is announced for July 26th, 2018, so we can likely expect YAMAHA to formally announce the VOCALOID5 engine soon.

Link: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07DZY25M8/
Webarchive Backup: https://web.archive.org/web/20180711180105/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07DZY25M8/

The software titled “VOCALOID SAKURANO SORA (COMPLETE) NATURAL & COOL” clearly mentions the inclusion of the VOCALOID5 editor. It even briefly mentions some of the VOCALOID5 editor’s parameters, called “VOICE COLOR, ATTACK & RELEASE”, the last two of which are all-new features we have not heard of before.

What does this mean for Hatsune Miku fans, though? An update to her software can likely be expected sometime in the near future, of course!

Mar 142018
 

The massive hit kabuki play from last year “Kuruwa Kotoba Awase Kagami“, starring the virtual idol Hatsune Miku and the kabuki actor Nakamura Shidō II, will be getting its own VR application for PlayStation VR starting in April for free, Dwango announced. The play told of a love story in a geisha quarter, and was performed at the Nico Nico Chokaigi 2017 event on April 29th~30th, 2017.

The VR application allows you to relive the Chokabuki experience in virtual reality, walk around the virtual world with a lantern, or snap photos with Hatsune Miku on the spot and share them online. Visit the official sites below for full gallery, or check out the official trailer now on Nicovideo!

Official site: http://chokabuki.jp/vr/
PlayStation Store JP: https://www.jp.playstation.com/games/chokabuki-vr-kuruwa-kotoba-awase-kagami-ps4/

Feb 152018
 

Prepare yourself for a musical extravaganza! The Vocaloid Goddess Hatsune Miku will once again grace us with her presence in Brave Frontier, bringing with her spectacular dungeons quests and other Vocaloid characters. In conjunction with Snow Miku 2018 Festival this February, starting from February 7 to March 19, gumi Inc. and Crypton Future Media will present Hatsune Miku’s Winter and Spring Collaboration in Brave Frontier!

The highlights of this collaboration are as follows:

Winter Chapter

  • COLLABORATION SUMMON: SNOW MIKU  (Feb 7 – Mar 6)
    Coming this winter season, get a chance to summon Snow Miku 2018! Adding more to the festivities, Snow Miku 2017 will be available in the Collaboration Summon as well! Be charmed by their uplifting melodies and refreshing voices as they journey across Grand Gaia. The perfect companions for your favorite Squad!
  • WINTER DUNGEON: MELODY OF WINTER (Feb 7 – Feb 28)
    While looking for her animal friends during a snowstorm, Snow Miku accidentally stumbled into Grand Gaia. Blessed with an ability to create soothing melodies to quiet storms and pacify the greatest of monsters, she bravely ventured into the unknown. Lost and unsure of the way back home, will you be her guide and help her return to her own world?Venture into the dungeon, collect “Yukine Tokens” and exchange them for the event exclusive Sphere, Kagura Suzu! And while you play, enjoy The Snow Miku 2018 Festival theme song Round Off The Square Earth by TOKOTOKO as the background music!

Spring Chapter

  • COLLABORATION SUMMON: SAKURA MIKU (Feb 28 – Mar 19)
    Spring is coming with more Hatsune Miku! Celebrate the season of a thousand cherry blossoms with the phenomenal Senbonzakura Miku! But wait, there’s more! Back for a rerun, grab the chance to summon Mankai Sakura Miku from the Spring Themed Summon Gate during this period as well!
    * More events related to the Spring Chapter will be announced on the Brave Frontier official channel at a later time.

Returning Contents

  • EVENT DUNGEON: SONGSTRESS OF LIGHT (Feb 7 – Mar 19)
    The Hatsune Miku dungeon from the first collaboration is back! Catch her famous performance deep in the ancient ruins during the event period. Don’t miss this chance to get yourself the one and only, the original, Hatsune Miku!
  • COLLABORATION SUMMON: VIRTUAL SINGERS (Feb 7 – Mar 19)
    Furthermore, the 2014 Virtual Singers series returns for another round of fun! Seize the chance to summon all of the 2014 Virtual Singers – Meiko, Kaito, Rin, Len, and Luka at the Special Summon Gate!

Other Events

  • COLLABORATION LOGIN & MILESTONE CAMPAIGN
    Log in daily and work together with other Summoners to achieve dungeon clear milestones and obtain valuable items such as Summon Tickets, Gems, Elementum Tomes, and Omni Frogs.

Brave Frontier is available for download globally on iOS, Android, Amazon, and Windows Phone devices.

Note: All dates mentioned are PST.

Brave Frontier updates are available on:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BraveFrontierGlobal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bravefrontiergl
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BraveFrontierGlobal
Official Site: http://bravefrontier.gumi.sg/

Dec 032017
 

For the first time in nearly 3 years, MikuMikuDance has received an update, although it’s actually a fairly small one. Specifically, the version 9.27 update fixes a mouse bug with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

If you run Windows 10, and encounter issues with the controls in MMD, be sure to grab the latest version from the official site! → http://www.geocities.jp/higuchuu4/index_e.htm