Vocaloid (ボーカロイド, Bōkaroido?)
is a
singing voice synthesizer. Its
signal processing part was developed through a joint research project
led by Kenmochi Hideki at the
Pompeu Fabra University in
Barcelona, Spain in 2000 (the same team
that later founded Voctro Labs
[1])
and originally was not intended to be a full commercial project. Backed
by the
Yamaha Corporation, it developed the
software into the commercial product "Vocaloid."
[2][3]
The software enables users to synthesize singing by typing in
lyrics and
melody.
It uses synthesizing technology with specially recorded vocals of voice
actors or singers. To create a song, the user must input the melody and
lyrics. A
piano roll type interface is used to input the
melody and the lyrics can be entered on each note. The software can
change the stress of the pronunciations, add effects such as vibrato, or
change the dynamics and tone of the voice. Each Vocaloid is sold as "a
singer in a box" designed to act as a replacement for an actual singer.
The software was originally only available in
English starting with the first Vocaloids Leon, Lola and
Miriam and
Japanese with Meiko and Kaito, but
Vocaloid 3 has added support for
Spanish for the Vocaloids Bruno, Clara and Maika;
Chinese for Luo Tianyi and Yan He;
Korean for SeeU,
Catalan for Ona, and French for ALYS.
The software is intended for professional musicians as well as light
computer music users and has so far sold on the idea that the only
limits are the users' own skills.
[4]
Japanese musical groups
Livetune of
Toy's Factory and
Supercell of
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
have released their songs featuring Vocaloid as vocals. Japanese record
label Exit Tunes of
Quake Inc. also have released
compilation albums featuring Vocaloids.
[5][6]
Artists such as
Mike Oldfield have also used Vocaloids within
their work for back up singer vocals and sound samples.
[7]
