Assignment 4: Text, Video and Picture

The newest Japanese sensation: VOCALOID New Singing Synthesis Technology by Crypton Future Technology. Continuing with Japan's main two traditions, pop idols and anything cute, Crypton has made the internet explode with thousands of videos and songs from these fictional singers and their hundreds of derivatives.

Let's take a look, shall we?



Adorable, isn't it?

In order of listed apperance, Vocaloid Library Mascots: MEIKO*, Rin and Len Kagamine, Miku Hatsune, KAITO.

(Alter personas in the middle: Miku Hachune army led by Chibi MEIKO**)

Fan made Vocaloid and UTAU*** mascots: Haku Yowane (Miku-based model), Teto Kasane (UTAU), Neru Akita (Miku-based model)

*The model in the video is actually named "Meiko Sakine", meant to be a younger 'pop idol' version of MEIKO (with software upgraded to Vocaloid 2 standards, making her sound younger but with a more refined voice), however many fans don't always make the distinction between Sakine and the original MEIKO.
**There might actually be a different name for this particular persona, however I'm having difficulty locating it.
***UTAU is another voice producing software, but unlike the paid-for Vocaloid program it's actually freeware. What it lacks in functionality it makes up for with the ability load in the user's voice as a base to create the music. As such, there are likely hundreds of UTAU fanmades floating around on the internet. Teto is one of the more well known ones due to her status as an internet prank gone right She was 'released' on April 1st by the internet message board 2Chan with the claim of being the newst Vocaloid. When the truth got out, some one gave her an UTAU voice and it simply ran from there.


[Click to see the full picture.]

(Tonarine Sai*, Haku Yowane, Akita Neru, Miku Zatsune**, Miku Hatsune, MEIKO, Rin Kagamine, KATIO, Len Kagamine, Miku Hachune, Kasane Teto, Acme Iku***
Top: Juon Kiku****)

*Tonarine is a version of Miku that uses a voice bank sung by a real person. She's not as well known as the other dirivates.
**Zatsune is a 'sexier' version of Miku with a slightly deeper, sultry voice.
***Iku is actually not Vocaloid or UTAU. She's a synth reproduction of what's called an 'eroge', a girl who voice stars in pornographic animes.
****Unfortunately no one knows who Juon Kiku is.

An early fan art picture with several of the original and fan made Vocaloid, UTAU, and other voice synth mascots. Several offical ones have been added since then, including Kamui Gakupo who used the voice of famous Japanese pop singer Gackt as a base, Luka Megurine who has a dual Japanese/English library, and the soon to be released GUMI (alternately, Megpoid) who will be voiced by Megumi Nakajima.

Alternately, there were original releases on the first Vocaloid program of English libraries with named but never animated mascots. They're not as popular as the Japanese mascots due to their unrefined and often robotic sound. Leon was the first of these in 2004, followed by Lola (both standard professional American style singers), Miriam (British style), Prima (Operatic), Big-Al (Sweedish Rock vocalist) and Sweet Ann (another American style). Big-Al and Sweet Ann were released with the Powerfx version of Vocaloid and are slightly more refined than their predecessors.

(And while it might not really interest anyone, I think it's fairly obvious by my blog's theme who this blogger's favorite Vocaloid is. She may be fan made, but Haku Yowane will always be my number one. ^_^)