Hatsune Miku’s Move From Vocaloid, What We Know And What This Means For Fans & Producers

 Posted by at 3:37 am  Hatsune Miku, Software  No Responses »
Sep 042019
 

At the recent Hatsune Miku: Magical Mirai 2019 in Tokyo, Crypton Future Media’s Wataru Sasaki (head of Crypton Future Media’s Piapro Character development) announced in a talk session some details regarding Hatsune Miku and the other Piapro Character vocal synth software development from this point moving forward.

Simply put, Crypton Future Media will be moving Hatsune Miku and their other characters away from Yamaha’s VOCALOID engine. This is arguably the biggest change to happen to Hatsune Miku’s software since her initial release in 2007, so there’s understandably quite a few fans that might be confused as to what this means, and might even be worried. So here’s a rundown of what the known changes are, and what they will mean for Vocaloid fans as consumers, and Vocaloid music creators.

– Hatsune Miku’s voicebank, along with Crypton’s other character voicebanks, will become less tied to Yamaha’s VOCALOID engine.
– There will be no updates utilizing Yamaha’s VOCALOID 5 engine.
– A new engine/product for the characters was developed using in-house algorithms by Crypton Future Media.
– This new engine has been in development for 2 years.
– The ‘identity’ of the voices are planned to remain the same with the new engine.
– This new product is aimed to be compatible with existing tools.
– The new product is currently not named.
– 11 new effector VSTs will be included in the new product. These include Cherry Pie, HS Booster, Vocal Drive and more.
– Patches/updates to the voicebanks themselves will now be possible.
– The new product will be released as a new series along with the next generation Piapro Studio in 1H 2020.
– Relationships with Yamaha will continue going forward (vocal synth promotion, and other partnerships).
– More info on this change is expected later this year.

Effector VST demo video




What does this mean for Hatsune Miku and Cryptonloid fans as listeners? Possibly not too much, since this move aims to keep Miku sounding mostly as she currently does, while adding more functionality and enhancing the tools available to the music producers. And for the producers, this translates to more options and flexibility in production, and possibly even a lower product price since there wont be a royalty fee paid to Yamaha in future product iterations.

These changes allow Crypton more flexibility in in the updates and add-ons to their software, which creates more exciting possibilities in the future for everyone! For further details, we will have to wait for more in-depth announcements from Crypton Future Media and Yamaha later this year.

Thank you to Ejiwarp for sharing info from the info panel!

VOCALOID5 Engine Officially Announced by YAMAHA

 Posted by at 9:40 pm  Merchandise, Software  No Responses »
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

VOCALOID5 Engine Confirmed in Leak From AH-Software on Amazon Japan

 Posted by at 6:42 pm  Merchandise, Software  No Responses »
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!