Do you have a passion for music? Maybe you are learning to play an instrument such as the guitar, drums, or piano. Or maybe you prefer to sing. If you enjoy music and technology, perhaps you’ve used a synthesizer to create new songs. If this sounds like you, you might already be familiar with our Wonder of the Day topic: What Is Vocaloid? It is a widely used voice synthesizing software. It enables users to create entire songs, lyrics included, right from their computers.
Vocaloid’s history stretches back to 2000. That year, Kenmochi Hideki collaborated with Yamaha to create the initial version of this innovative technology. Since then, Vocaloid software has undergone continuous development and has experienced considerable growth in popularity.
How Vocaloid Works
So, what is Vocaloid and how exactly does it function? Vocaloid utilizes voice banks composed of recordings of actual human voices. These voice banks are commonly associated with characters, often designed as anime figures. Once a user selects a voice bank, they can input lyrics and melodies directly into the program. Vocaloid then processes this information to produce a complete song.
Alt: Vocaloid interface displaying editable lyrics and music notation for vocal synthesis.
Yamaha launched the fifth iteration of Vocaloid software in 2018. Currently, voice banks are available in five languages: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and English. However, the majority of options are in Japanese, reflecting the strong popularity of Vocaloid songs in Japan.
Hatsune Miku: The Virtual Pop Star
The most famous Vocaloid character today is undoubtedly Hatsune Miku. She is typically depicted by animators as a Japanese teenager with turquoise hair. Voiced by Saki Fujita, Hatsune Miku has been featured in over 100,000 songs. Her popularity is so immense that many consider her to be a virtual pop star. Her name translates to “the first sound from the future.”
Alt: Digital art of Hatsune Miku, a popular Vocaloid character with long turquoise pigtails and a futuristic outfit, standing in a vibrant pose.
While Hatsune Miku remains the most well-known Vocaloid character, other characters have also gained popularity in recent years. These include Meiko, Kaito, and Kagamine Rin. Oliver is currently the most popular English-speaking Vocaloid.
Have you ever listened to music created with Vocaloid? Perhaps you’ve even experimented with the technology yourself! Is Vocaloid truly the “sound from the future”? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Vocaloid has already revolutionized music creation.
The Future of Vocaloid
What is Vocaloid‘s future? As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more sophisticated and realistic Vocaloid software. Perhaps we will see Vocaloid integrated into other creative tools, such as virtual reality or augmented reality. The possibilities are endless, and the future of Vocaloid is undoubtedly bright.
