Vocaloid#Vocaloid-Board
{{Short description|Singing voice synthesizer software}}
{{distinguish|Focaloid}}
{{About|the software as a whole|the first edition|Vocaloid (software)}}
{{use mdy dates|cs1-dates=ly|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Vocaloid
| logo = Vocaloid logo.svg
| logo size = 200px
| screenshot = Vocaloid5Main.jpg
| caption = Interface of Vocaloid 5
| author =
| developer = Yamaha Corporation
| released = {{Start date and age|2004|01|15}}
| latest release version = Vocaloid 6
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2022|10|13}}
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date =
| programming language =
| operating system = Microsoft Windows
macOS
iOS (Mobile Vocaloid Editor, Japan only)
| language = Japanese, English, Korean, Spanish, Chinese, Catalan
| genre = Voice synthesizer software
| license = Proprietary
| website = {{URL|https://www.vocaloid.com/en/}}
}}
{{Nihongo|Vocaloid|ボーカロイド|Bōkaroido}} is a singing voice synthesizer software product. Its signal processing part was developed through a joint research project between Yamaha Corporation and the Music Technology Group at Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona.{{cite thesis |last=Bonada |first=Jordi |date=2008 |title=Voice Processing and Synthesis by Performance Sampling and Spectral Models |url= |degree=PhD |chapter= |publisher=Universitat Pompeu Fabra |docket= |oclc= |access-date= |doi=10.5281/zenodo.3662127 |page=225}} The software was ultimately developed into the commercial product "Vocaloid" that was released in 2004.{{cite news | author = Werde, Bill | date = November 23, 2003 | title = MUSIC; Could I Get That Song in Elvis, Please? | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/23/arts/music-could-i-get-that-song-in-elvis-please.html?pagewanted=print | newspaper = The New York Times | access-date= October 23, 2010}}{{harvnb|Kenmochi|Ohshima|, Interspeech 2007}}
The software enables users to synthesize "singing" by typing in lyrics and melody and also "speech" by typing in the script of the required words. 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.
Various voice banks have been released for use with the Vocaloid synthesizer technology.{{cite web|title=Voice Bank product list|url=https://www.vocaloid.com/en/products/library|publisher=Yamaha Corporation|access-date=April 8, 2018}} Each is sold as "a singer in a box" designed to act as a replacement for an actual singer.{{cite web |title=Hatsune Miku and the Vocaloid Idol Revolution |url=https://archive.nerdist.com/hatsune-miku-and-the-vocaloid-idol-revolution/ |access-date=April 8, 2018 |website=Nerdist}} As such, they are often released under a moe anthropomorphism however there are also voice banks released without an assigned avatar. These avatars are also referred to as Vocaloids, and are often marketed as virtual idols; some have gone on to perform at live concerts as an on-stage projection.{{cite web|title=Who (or What) is Hatsune Miku? The Making of a Virtual Pop Star|url=https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/who-or-what-is-hatsune-miku-the-making-of-a-virtual-pop-star|website=The Shutterstock Blog|access-date=April 8, 2018|date=2014-10-16}}
The software was originally only available in English starting with the first Vocaloids Leon, Lola and Miriam by Zero-G, and Japanese with Meiko and Kaito made by Yamaha and sold by Crypton Future Media. Vocaloid 3 has added support for Spanish for the Vocaloids Bruno, Clara and Maika; Chinese for Luo Tianyi, Yuezheng Ling, Xin Hua and Yanhe; and Korean for SeeU.
The software is intended for professional musicians as well as casual computer music users.{{cite journal | author = Wilkinson, Scott | title = Humanoid or Vocaloid | url = http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_humanoid_vocaloid/index.html | journal = Electronic Musician | issue = August 1, 2003 | access-date = July 1, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040710064751/http://emusician.com/mag/emusic_humanoid_vocaloid/index.html | archive-date = July 10, 2004 | url-status = dead}} Japanese musical groups such as 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.{{cite web | title = 初音ミクなどの人気曲だけを集めた高音質コンピCDが登場! | trans-title=A High Sound Quality Compilation CD, Collecting Only Popular Songs such as Hatsune Miku's, Appears! | url = http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/170/170831/ | language=ja | work = Dengeki Online | publisher = ASCII Media Works | date = June 12, 2009 | access-date= January 22, 2011}}{{cite web | title = 初音ミクCD、週間ランキングでも初のオリコン1位に | trans-title=Hatsune Miku CD Scores the First Oricon Number-One on the Weekly Ranking | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1005/25/news066.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | date = May 25, 2010 | access-date= January 22, 2011}}
Technology
Image:Excitation plus Resonances (EpR) voice model (Bonada et al. 2001, Fig.1).svg (SMS)|Source-Filter model}} The model was developed in 2001 as a source-filter model for voice synthesis,{{harvnb|Bonada et al.|2001}} but was only implemented on top of the concatenative synthesis model in the final product{{citation needed|date=September 2022|reason=It seems an estimation based on a fact that the EpR model is not mentioned explicitly on the any official documents on the Vocaloid. (P.S. As one possibility, early Vocaloid before version 1.3 might use EpR model more, and later Vocaloid might use EpR model less, estimated from the explanation on the publishing events of "ボーカロイド技術論" in 2014)}} as a method of avoiding spectral shape discontinuities at the segment boundaries of concatenation.{{harvnb|Bonada|Loscos|2003}} In order to avoid spectral shape discontinuities at the segment boundaries we make use of the EpR model.
{{smaller|(based on Fig.1 on {{harvnb|Bonada et al.|2001}})}}]]
Vocaloid's {{interlanguage link|singing synthesis|ja|ボーカルシンセサイザー}} technology is generally categorized into the concatenative synthesis{{harvnb|DTM magazine|, January 2008 Special ed.|p=39}}{{harvnb|Kenmochi|Ohshima|, SIGMUS 2008}} in the frequency domain, which splices and processes the vocal fragments extracted from human singing voices, in the forms of time-frequency representation. The Vocaloid system can produce the realistic voices by adding vocal expressions like the vibrato on the score information.{{cite web | title = VOCALOIDについて | trans-title=Concerning Vocaloid | url = http://www.vocaloid.com/about.ja.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826153210/http://www.vocaloid.com/about.ja.html |archive-date=2011-08-26 |language=ja | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | access-date= January 9, 2011 | quote = {{smaller|VOCALOID歌唱合成の流れ ... さらに楽譜情報に歌声に必要な表情情報(ビブラートなど)を入れることにより、よりリアルな歌声を作ることができます。}}}} Initially, Vocaloid's synthesis technology was called {{nihongo|"Frequency-domain Singing Articulation Splicing and Shaping"|周波数ドメイン歌唱アーティキュレーション接続法|Shūhasū-domein kashō ātikyurēshon setsuzoku-hō}} on the release of Vocaloid in 2004,{{Cite news | date = February 26, 2003 | script-title= ja:歌詞とメロディを入力すると歌い出す ヤマハが歌声合成ソフト開発 | trans-title=Input Lyrics and Melody and Singing is Produced: Yamaha Develops Singing Synthesis Software | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/0302/26/njbt_06.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | access-date= January 9, 2011}} although this name is no longer used since the release of Vocaloid 2 in 2007.{{cite web | title = Vocaloid | url = http://www.vocaloid.com/ | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | language=ja | access-date= January 9, 2011}} "Singing Articulation" is explained as "vocal expressions" such as vibrato and vocal fragments necessary for singing. The Vocaloid and Vocaloid 2 synthesis engines are designed for singing, not reading text aloud,{{harvnb|Kenmochi|, DCAJ 2008|pp=33–50 | loc = [http://www.dcaj.or.jp/project/report/pdf/2007/dc08_03.pdf#page=38 第III章 歌唱合成システムVOCALOIDと初音ミク [Part 3. Singing Synthesis System VOCALOID and Hatsune MIKU]]}} though software such as Vocaloid-flex and Voiceroid have been developed for that. They cannot naturally replicate singing expressions like hoarse voices or shouts.{{harvnb|Kenmochi|, HIS 2008}}
=System architecture=
File:Vocaloid System (large font) - en.jpg
The main parts of the Vocaloid 2 system are the Score Editor (Vocaloid 2 Editor), the Singer Library, and the Synthesis Engine. The Synthesis Engine receives score information from the Score Editor, selects appropriate samples from the Singer Library, and concatenates them to output synthesized voices. There is basically no difference in the Score Editor and the Synthesis Engine provided by Yamaha among different Vocaloid 2 products. If a Vocaloid 2 product is already installed, the user can enable another Vocaloid 2 product by adding its library. The system supports three languages, Japanese, Korean, and English, although other languages may be optional in the future. It works standalone (playback and export to WAV) and as a ReWire application or a Virtual Studio Technology instrument (VSTi) accessible from a digital audio workstation (DAW).
==Score Editor==
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical |width=220
| image1 = Vocal synthesizer piano roll - Sakura Sakura.jpg
| caption1 = Score Editor (example)
| image2 = Sakura Sakura.song.ogg
| caption2 = Song example: "Sakura Sakura"
}}
The Score Editor is a piano roll style editor to input notes, lyrics, and some expressions. When entering lyrics, the editor automatically converts them into Vocaloid phonetic symbols using the built-in pronunciation dictionary. The user can directly edit the phonetic symbols of unregistered words. The Score Editor offers various parameters to add expressions to singing voices. The user is supposed to optimize these parameters that best fit the synthesized tune when creating voices. This editor supports ReWire and can be synchronized with DAW. Real-time "playback" of songs with predefined lyrics using a MIDI keyboard is also supported.
==Singer Library==
Each Vocaloid license develops the Singer Library, or a database of vocal fragments sampled from real people. The database must have all possible combinations of phonemes of the target language, including diphones (a chain of two different phonemes) and sustained vowels, as well as polyphones with more than two phonemes if necessary. For example, the voice corresponding to the word "sing" ([sIN]) can be synthesized by concatenating the sequence of diphones "#-s, s-I, I-N, N-#" (# indicating a voiceless phoneme) with the sustained vowel ī. The Vocaloid system changes the pitch of these fragments so that it fits the melody. In order to get more natural sounds, three or four different pitch ranges are required to be stored into the library.{{cite magazine | script-title=ja:クリプトン社佐々木氏インタビュー | trans-title=Interview to Wataru Sasaki (Wat) of Crypton | language=ja |magazine=DTM magazine | volume = 17 | issue = 2 | page =106 | date = February 2010 | publisher = Terajima Joho Kikaku | asin = B002ZHYKL6}}{{Cite journal | author = Inoue, Satoru | date = January 14, 2008 | script-title= ja:技術フロンティア 肉声に近づいた音声合成(ヤマハ、クリプトン・フューチャー・メディア、アニモ) | trans-title=Technology Frontier: Singing Synthesizer Gets Closer to a Natural Voice (Yamaha, Crypton Future Media, Animo) | language=ja | journal = Nikkei Business | issue = 1424 | pages =78–80 | issn = 0029-0491}} Japanese requires 500 diphones per pitch, whereas English requires 2,500. Japanese has fewer diphones because it has fewer phonemes and most syllabic sounds are open syllables ending in a vowel. In Japanese, there are basically three patterns of diphones containing a consonant: voiceless-consonant, vowel-consonant, and consonant-vowel. On the other hand, English has many closed syllables ending in a consonant, and consonant-consonant and consonant-voiceless diphones as well. Thus, more diphones need to be recorded into an English library than into a Japanese one. Due to this linguistic difference, a Japanese library is not suitable for singing in eloquent English.{{citation needed|date = April 2018}}
==Synthesis Engine==
File:Vocaloid Synthesis Engine - en.jpg
The Synthesis Engine receives score information contained in dedicated MIDI messages called Vocaloid MIDI sent by the Score Editor, adjusts pitch and timbre of the selected samples in frequency domain, and splices them to synthesize singing voices. When Vocaloid runs as VSTi accessible from DAW, the bundled VST plug-in bypasses the Score Editor and directly sends these messages to the Synthesis Engine.
;Pitch conversion
:Since the samples are recorded in different pitches, pitch conversion is required when concatenating the samples. The engine calculates a desired pitch from the notes, attack time, and vibrato parameters, and then selects the necessary samples from the library.
;Timing adjustment
:In singing voices, the consonant onset of a syllable is uttered before the vowel onset is uttered. The starting position of a note ("Note-On") must be the same as that of the vowel onset, not the start of the syllable. Vocaloid keeps the "synthesized score" in memory to adjust sample timing so that the vowel onset should be strictly on the "Note-On" position. No timing adjustment would result in delay.
;Sample Concatenation
{{multiple image |total_width=415px
| image1 = Vocaloid's phonemes crossfading - en.jpg
| caption1 = Spectral envelope interpolation between samples
| image2 = Spectral Peak Processing (SPP) sample transformation (Bonada & Loscos 2003, Fig.3).svg
| caption2 = Spectral Peak Processing (SPP) for timbre manipulation (based on Fig.3 on {{harvnb|Bonada|Loscos|2003}})
}}
:When concatenating the processed samples, discontinuities are reduced by spreading the phase between samples via phase correction and estimating spectral shape using a source-filter model called the Excitation plus Resonances (EpR) model.
;Timbre manipulation
:The engine smooths the timbre around the junction of the samples. The timbre of a sustained vowel is generated by interpolating spectral envelopes of the surrounding samples. For example, when concatenating a sequence of diphones "s-e, e, e-t" of the English word "set", the spectral envelope of a sustained ē at each frame is generated by interpolating ē in the end of "s-e" and ē in the beginning of "e-t".
;Transforms
:After pitch conversion and timbre manipulation, the engine does transforms such as Inverse Fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to output synthesized voices.
{{Clear}}
Software history
{{see also|List of Vocaloid products}}
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical |width=220
| image1 = Vocaloid1 screenshot.jpg
| caption1 = Screenshot of the software interface for Vocaloid
| image2 = Freely Tomorrow.ogg
| caption2 = "Freely Tomorrow" by Mitchie M
A song with vocals provided by the Vocaloid character Hatsune Miku.
}}
=Vocaloid=
{{main|Vocaloid (software)}}
Yamaha started development of Vocaloid in March 2000 and announced it for the first time at the German fair Musikmesse on March 5–9, 2003.{{cite web | title = New Yamaha VOCALOID Singing Synthesis Software Generates Superb Vocals on a PC | url = http://www.allbusiness.com/manufacturing/miscellaneous-mfg-musical-instrument/5721117-1.html | work = Business Wire | publisher = AllBusiness.com | date = March 4, 2003 | access-date= October 25, 2010}} It was created under the name "Daisy", in reference to the song "Daisy Bell", but for copyright reasons this name was dropped in favor of "Vocaloid".{{cite web | title = 初音ミク 6th Anniversaryニコ生で「初音ミク誕生までと、これから」特集 | trans-title=Hatsune Miku 6th Anniversary Nico Nama (live streaming) featured: Hatsune Miku before the birth and from now | url = http://vocaloid.blog120.fc2.com/blog-entry-16738.html | language=ja | work = Hatsune Miku Miku | date = September 4, 2013 | access-date= July 26, 2014}}
=Vocaloid 2=
{{main|Vocaloid 2}}
Vocaloid 2 was announced in 2007. Unlike the first engine, Vocaloid 2 based its results on vocal samples, rather than analysis of the human voice.{{harvnb|Red Bull Music Academy|2014}} The synthesis engine and the user interface were completely revamped, with Japanese Vocaloids possessing a Japanese interface.
=Vocaloid 3=
{{Main|Vocaloid 3}}
Vocaloid 3 launched on October 21, 2011, along with several products in Japanese, the first of its kind. Several studios updated their Vocaloid 2 products for use with the new engine with improved voice samples.{{cite web | title = VOCALOID3: Release Date, New Features and Voicebanks | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/06/14/vocaloid3-new-features-and-voicebanks/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = June 14, 2011 | access-date = June 14, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=Vocaloid 4=
{{Main|Vocaloid 4}}
In October 2014, the first product confirmed for the Vocaloid 4 engine was the English vocal Ruby, whose release was delayed so she could be released on the newer engine. In 2015, several V4 versions of Vocaloids were released.{{cite web | author = Wataru Sasaki [crypton_wat / @vocaloid_cv_cfm] | date = October 28, 2014 | script-title=ja:やっと、新型ルカの名前が決まった...新機能の名前も...公開まで、もう少々お待ち下さい。 | trans-title = Finally, it was decided the title of new Luka ... and also the name of new feature ... please wait a little until publication | url = https://twitter.com/vocaloid_cv_cfm/status/526998220837113856 | language=ja | work = Twitter | publisher = Crypton Future Media | access-date= November 1, 2014}} The Vocaloid 5 engine was then announced soon afterwards.
=Vocaloid 5=
{{Main|Vocaloid 5}}
Vocaloid 5 was released on July 12, 2018,{{cite web|url=https://www.kvraudio.com/news/yamaha-releases-vocaloid-5---drag-and-drop-to-create-a-singing-voice-set-any-lyrics-and-singing-style-you-like-41925|title=Yamaha releases Vocaloid 5 - Drag and drop to create a singing voice, set any lyrics and singing style you like|publisher=KVR Audio|date=July 12, 2018}} with an overhauled user interface and substantial engine improvements. The product is only available as a bundle; the standard version includes four voices and the premium version includes eight.{{cite web|url=https://www.vocaloidnews.net/vocaloid-5-confirmed-4-new-banks-and-4-upgrades-from-yamaha/ |title=VOCALOID 5 Confirmed! 4 New Banks and 4 Upgrades From YAMAHA!|website=Vocaloid News Network|date=July 12, 2018|access-date=July 12, 2018}} This is the first time since Vocaloid 2 that a Vocaloid engine has been sold with vocals, as they were previously sold separately starting with Vocaloid 3.
= Vocaloid 6 =
{{Main|Vocaloid 6}}
Vocaloid 6 was released on October 13, 2022, with support for previous voices from Vocaloid 3 and later, and a new line of Vocaloid voices on their own engine within Vocaloid 6 known as Vocaloid:AI. The product is only sold as a bundle, and the standard version includes the 4 voices included with Vocaloid 5, as well as 4 new voices from the Vocaloid:AI line. Vocaloid 6's AI voicebanks support English and Japanese by default, though Yamaha announced they intended to add support for Chinese. Vocaloid 6 also includes a feature where a user can import audio of themselves singing and have Vocaloid:AI recreate that audio with one of its vocals.{{Cite web |title=Yamaha New Comprehensive Vocal Synthesis Software VOCALOID™6 |url=https://www.yamaha.com/en/news_release/2022/22101301/ |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=www.yamaha.com |date=October 13, 2022 |language=en}}
Derivative products
=Software=
Image:Vocaloid + HRP-4C Miim collaboration (clip), Yamaha booth, CEATEC JAPAN 2009.jpg cosplaying as Gumi, a mascot of Megpoid, at CEATEC JAPAN 2009]]
;{{vanchor|Vocaloid-flex}}
:Yamaha developed Vocaloid-flex, a software application which contained a speech synthesizer. According to the official announcement, users could edit its phonological system more delicately than those of other Vocaloid series to get closer to the actual speech-language; for example, it enabled final devoicing, unvoicing vowel sounds, or weakening/strengthening consonant sounds.
{{cite web | title = ヤマハが歌声合成ソフトVOCALOID(ヴォーカロイド)の新バージョン 表現豊かにしゃべる機能を付加したVOCALOID-flexの提供を開始 | trans-title = The Start of the New Version of Yamaha's Singing Synthesizer Vocaloid Presents an Additional Rich Speaking Function called Vocaloid-flex | url = http://www.yamaha.co.jp/news/2010/10022501.html | language=ja | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | date = February 25, 2010 | access-date = July 27, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150603014440/http://www.yamaha.co.jp/news/2010/10022501.html | archive-date = June 3, 2015 | url-status = dead}}
It was used in a video game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker released on April 28, 2010. It was mainly a corporate product with a consumer version never seeing a full release.{{cite web | title = ヤマハ、"しゃべる"機能を追加した「VOCALOID-flex」を開発 | trans-title=Yamaha's Added "Speaking" Function "Vocaloid-flex"'s Development | url = http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100225_351164.html | language=ja | work = Internet Watch | publisher = Impress Corporation | date = February 25, 2010 | access-date= July 27, 2010}} This software was also used for the robot model HRP-4C at CEATEC Japan 2009.{{cite web | last = Matsuo | first = Kōya | date = October 6, 2010 | title = CEATEC JAPAN 2010:美少女ロボ「HRP-4C未夢」と「ぼかりす」を結ぶ産総研内コラボ「ぼかうお」とは? | trans-title=CEATEC Japan 2010: What is the AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)'s internal collaboration "VocaWatcher" (BokaUo), which combines the beautiful girl robot "HRP-4C Mīmu" with "VocaListener"? | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1010/06/news074.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | access-date= October 24, 2010}} Gachapoid was the only commercially released software that had access to this engine under the name of V-Talk. Users could use the software for six months, free of charge from the date of installation before its retirement on February 13, 2015.{{cite web | title = V-Talkサービス | trans-title=V-Talk Service | url = http://www.ssw.co.jp/vtalk/ | language=ja | publisher = Internet Co., Ltd. | access-date= April 29, 2011}}
;{{vanchor|VocaListener}}
:Another Vocaloid tool that was developed was VocaListener, a software package that allows for realistic Vocaloid songs to be produced by analyzing an audio recording of a singing performance (a cappella) and imitating it to generate Vocaloid singing parameters automatically.{{harvnb|VocaListener|2009}}
;{{vanchor|MikuMikuDance}}
{{See also|MikuMikuDance}}
:To aid in the production of 3D Vocaloid animations, the program MikuMikuDance was developed. This freeware allowed a boom in the birth of fan-made and derivative characters, as well as a boost in the promotions of Vocaloid songs.{{Harvnb|MikuMikuDance|2008}} MikuMikuDance's developer went on a hiatus in May 2011 (initially announced as a retirement from development),{{cite web | title = MikuMikuDance v7.39 is the final release. | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/05/29/mikumikudance-v7-39-is-the-final-release/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = May 29, 2011 | access-date = May 29, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120318103759/http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/05/29/mikumikudance-v7-39-is-the-final-release/ |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |url-status=dead}} but started updating the software again in June 2013.
;{{vanchor|NetVocaloid}}
:NetVocaloid was an online vocal synthesis service. Users could synthesize singing voices on a device connected to the Internet by executing the Vocaloid engine on the server. This service could be used even if the user did not own the Vocaloid software. The service was available in both English and Japanese.{{cite web | title = NetVocaloid | url = http://www.y2lab.com/en/technology/netvocaloid.html | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | access-date= October 7, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090615042443/http://www.y2lab.com/en/technology/netvocaloid.html | archive-date=2009-06-15}} However, as of April 2012, the service was no longer being offered on Yamaha's website.
;{{vanchor|MMDAgent}}
:MMDAgent is a software developed by the International Voice Engineering Institute in the Nagoya Institute of Technology,{{cite web | last = Matsuo | first = Kōya | date = October 7, 2010 | title = 初音ミクとも簡単に対話できる「MMDAgent」、その詳細を聞いてきた | trans-title=I Heard about The Details of "MMDAgent", Which Allows You to Easily Talk with Hatsune Miku Too | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1010/07/news052.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | access-date= October 15, 2010}} and the Alpha version was released on December 25, 2010.{{cite web | title = MMDAgent - Toolkit for Building Voice Interaction Systems | url = http://www.mmdagent.jp/ | publisher = MMDAgent | access-date= January 21, 2011}} This particular software allows users to interact with 3D models of the Vocaloid mascots. The software is made from 3D models and sound files that have already been made available on the internet and will be disputed as freeware for that reason.{{cite web | title = MMDAgent - Talk to any 3D model you want interactively! | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2010/09/25/mmdagent-%e2%80%93-talk-to-any-3d-model-you-want-interactively/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = September 25, 2010 | access-date= October 6, 2010}}
;{{vanchor|Vocaloid Editor for Cubase}}
{{See also|Vocaloid Editor for Cubase}}
:This particular version of Vocaloid is built solely for Cubase. It features no additional voices but will use any voice from Vocaloid 2 and Vocaloid 3 and acts as a plugin for the Cubase software. The result is that this version is compatible with most functions of Cubase 6.5 and can use its tools such as buses, filters and mixers without worrying about complications.{{cite web | title = Vocaloid Editor for Cubase | url = http://jp.yamaha.com/products/music-production/software/vocaloid/vocaloid_editor_for_cubase/ | language=ja | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | access-date= September 5, 2012}}
;{{vanchor|Vocaloid β-STUDIO}}
:β-STUDIO is described by Yamaha as an open-beta to encourage producers to seek the future of singing voice synthesis. It is a limited service software, with service planned to end March 31st, 2024.{{Cite web |title=VOCALOID β-STUDIO について |url=https://vocaloid.beta.yamaha.com/about/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=VOCALOID β-STUDIO |language=ja}} The software uses AI capability to enhance the quality and ease of use of software for users. The first voicebanks announced were ports of the UTAU voicebanks Gekiyaku and Kazehiki.
;{{vanchor|VocaloWitter}}
{{Infobox software
| name = VocaloWitter
| logo =
| screenshot = Vocalowitterscreen.jpeg
| screenshot size = 200px
| caption = screenshot of Aoki Lapis vers.
| author =
| developer = Yamaha Corporation
| released =
| latest release version =
| latest release date =
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date =
| programming language=
| operating system =
| platform =
| language=Japanese
| genre = Voice Synthesizer Software
| license = Proprietary
| website =
}}
:Originally introduced as "i-Vocaloid", this is a mobile app version of the Vocaloid software with Vocaloid2 technology and was released for the iPhone. Yamaha announced a version of the Vocaloid software for the iPhone and iPad, which exhibited at the Y2 Autumn 2010 Digital Content Expo in Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1010/14/news093.html|title=デジタルコンテンツEXPO:VOCALOIDがiPad/iPhoneアプリに ヤマハが開発|work=ITmedia ニュース|access-date=27 April 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dcexpo.jp/programs/y2/ |title=Link 2 |access-date=2010-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007200048/http://www.dcexpo.jp/programs/y2/ |archive-date=2010-10-07 |url-status=dead }}
;{{vanchor|VocaloWitter products}}
- VY1, a Japanese feminine vocal. This was first announced in December 2010, VY1 was released in an adapted version of the Vocaloid software "iVOCALOID" for the iPad and iPhone as "VY1t".{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/vocalowitter/id396082845?mt=8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111111511/http://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/vocalowitter/id396082845?mt=8|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 11, 2012|title=VocaloWitter|date=1 December 2010|publisher=Yamaha Corporation|work=App Store|access-date=27 April 2016}}
- VY2, a Japanese masculine vocal, was due for release. VY2's version would have adjusted the VY1 version for compatibility and performance reasons. However, it has never been released.{{cite web|url=http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1104/15/news084.html|title=コードネームは「勇馬」 ヤマハ純正のイケメンボカロ「VY2」の話を聞いてきた|work=ITmedia ニュース|access-date=27 April 2016}}
- Aoki Lapis was added to this software in December 2012. This is a Japanese female vocal.{{cite web|url=http://i-style.surpara.com/app|title=i-style Project|work=VOCALOID3 i-style Project|access-date=27 April 2016}} This particular version of the VocaloWitter app took first place out of all paid-for apps on the iTunes store on 11 September 2013.{{cite web|url=http://vocaloid.blog120.fc2.com/blog-entry-16881.html|title=初音ミクみく|access-date=27 April 2016}}
{{clear}}
;{{vanchor|iVocaloid}}
{{Infobox software
| name = iVocaloid
| logo =
| screenshot = IVocaloidvers.jpg
| caption = iPhone and iPad vers. with VY1t loaded
| author =
| developer =
| released =
| latest release version =
| latest release date =
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date =
| programming language =
| operating system =
| platform =
| language = Japanese
| genre = Voice synthesizer Apps
| license = Proprietary
| website = https://www.vocaloid.com/mveditor/
}}
:This was a more advanced version of the VocaloWitter app and was for the iPhone and iPad, it was based on the Vocaloid2 and Vocaloid3 engine. It was originally released alongside the iOS version of Vocaloid called "i-Vocaloid" (later renamed VocaloWitter) and was released using a version of the Vocaloid 2 software. It contains many of the same functions as Vocaloid 2 software although some functions are absent. It was released at a much lower price than the full Vocaloid 2 software, offering a cheap alternative to buying the PC version. However, it is only available in Japanese and requires a Japanese chip to install. In August 2014, it was upgraded, enabling users to download the update. The update allowed access to the Vocaloid Net Cloud storage service. For the first time, users could exchange VSQX files with Vocaloid 3 or the Vocaloid 3 Neo version. Using Vocaloid Net gave users free access to a standard song writing service for the first time.{{cite web|url=http://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/1404/24/news165.html|title=クラウドでボカロをより便利に ヤマハが「ボカロネット」発表、歌詞入力だけでOKの自動作曲機能も|work=ねとらぼ|access-date=27 April 2016}}
;{{vanchor|iVocaloid products}}:
- VY1: A feminine vocal released for the software. This was the first vocal sold.{{cite web|url=http://jp.yamaha.com/products/apps/ivocaloid-vy1/?mode=model|title=iVOCALOID-VY1|access-date=27 April 2016}}
- VY2: In October 2011, VY2 was made available, this is a masculine vocal.{{cite web|url=http://www.vocaloid.com/lineup/ios/vy2.html|title=VOCALOID|author=ヤマハ株式会社|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041345/http://www.vocaloid.com/lineup/ios/vy2.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
- Aoki Lapis: Lapis was added in November 2012, she is a female vocal.{{cite web|url=http://jp.yamaha.com/products/apps/ivocaloid-lapis/?mode=model|title=iVOCALOID 蒼姫ラピス|access-date=27 April 2016}}
- Merli: Merli was added August 2014, she is a female vocal.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/ivocaloid-meruri/id836306893?mt=8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620211344/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/ivocaloid-meruri/id836306893?mt=8|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2014|title=iVOCALOID メルリ|date=8 April 2014|publisher=Yamaha Corporation|work=App Store|access-date=27 April 2016}}
{{clear}}
;{{vanchor|Unity with Vocaloid}}
:Originally introduced under the name "Vocaloid for Unity", this is a version of the Vocaloid engine for the Unity game engine.
;{{vanchor|Mobile Vocaloid Editor}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Mobile Vocaloid Editor
| logo =
| screenshot = MobleVocaloidEditorscreen.png
| screenshot size = 200px
| caption = iPad and iPhone versions of the software
| author =
| developer = Yamaha Corporation
| released =
| latest release version =
| latest release date =
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date =
| programming language =
| operating system =
| platform =
| language = Japanese, English
| genre = Vocal Synthesizer Apps
| license = Proprietary
| website = https://www.vocaloid.com/mveditor/
}}
:Mobile Vocaloid Editor is an iPad and iPhone version of the Vocaloid 4 engine. It comes with VY1 "Lite" as standard and demo songs are bundled with the app. The app offers "DYN", "PIT" and "VIB" and handles 16 tracks of data. It can do 999 bars of music, but, in comparison to the full Vocaloid 4 editor, cannot do "growl" or "cross-synthesis".{{cite web|url=http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20150403_696090.html|title=iPad/iPhoneで本格ボカロ制作できる「Mobile VOCALOID Editor」。PC版とほぼ同等|author=株式会社インプレス|work=AV Watch|access-date=27 April 2016|date=2015-04-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dtmstation.com/archives/51934087.html|title=iOS版VOCALOIDが刷新、ボカロ曲制作はiOSで完結可能に!|work=藤本健の"DTMステーション"|access-date=27 April 2016|date=2015-04-03}} The input entries of the app differ from the normal Vocaloid 4 method of importing data. Most functions can be used with one or two fingers and it is possible to draw parameter lines with a single finger. Compared also to iVocaloid, it can achieve the full C2~G8 range of notes. Despite the inclusion of English vocals, it currently has no English interface and is sold only in Japan.
;{{vanchor|Mobile Vocaloid Editor products}}:
The following products are able to be purchased;
- VY1: The full version of the Japanese feminine VY1 vocal.
- ZOLA Project: Yuu, Wil and Kyo are 3 male vocals, each are sold separately.
- Aoki Lapis: Japanese female vocal.
- Merli: Japanese female vocal.
- Mew: Japanese female vocal.
- Galaco: Japanese female vocal, she comes with two versions "red" and "blue" both are sold separately.
- Cyber Diva: English female vocal.
- Yuzuki Yukari:{{cite web|url=https://net.vocaloid.com/articles/yuzukiyukari|title=クリエイター集団「VOCALOMAKETS」発信のバーチャル・シンガー「結月ゆかり」特集|author=ヤマハ株式会社|access-date=27 April 2016}} Japanese female vocal, has 3 versions "Jun", "Onn" and "Lin" which are each sold separately.
- Sachiko: Japanese female vocal.
- Megpoid:{{cite web|url=https://net.vocaloid.com/articles/mve_megpoid|title=「Mobile VOCALOID Editor」にMegpoid登場!|author=ヤマハ株式会社|access-date=27 April 2016}} Female vocal, has two vocals "Native" which is a Japanese vocal and "English" both are sold separately.
- Unity-Chan: Japanese female vocal.{{cite web|url=https://net.vocaloid.com/articles/mve_unity-chan|title=iPhone/iPadでunity-chan!を歌わせよう!|author=ヤマハ株式会社|access-date=27 April 2016}}
{{clear}}
=Hardware=
;{{vanchor|Vocaloid-Board}}
:Vocaloid is set to become a hardware version called Vocaloid-Board.{{cite web | title = 歌声合成ソフト「VOCALOID」と同等な機能を持つ、各種機器に組み込み可能なハードウェア『VOCALOID-board』を開発 | trans-title = The development of a "Vocaloid-Board", an embeddable hardware version of Vocaloid singing synthesis software, including Equivalent Functionality and the Every Kind of Tool. | url = http://www.yamaha.co.jp/news/2010/10101402.html | language=ja | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | access-date = October 21, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160505183551/http://www.yamaha.co.jp/news/2010/10101402.html | archive-date = May 5, 2016 | url-status=dead}}
;{{vanchor|eVocaloid}}
{{See also|List of Vocaloid products#eVocaloid}}
:This is a LSI sound generator that uses the voice of VY1 (version dubbed "eVY1") and can be used for mobile devices and unlike the software version of Vocaloid, works in real-time computing.{{cite web | title = 出た!「eVocaloid」対応のヤマハ音源LSI 『NSX-1』が量産出荷開始 | trans-title=It's out! "eVocaloid" compatible Yamaha's sound LSI "NSX-1" have been started the mass production & shipping. | url = http://vocaloid.blog120.fc2.com/blog-entry-17320.html | language=ja | work = Hatsune Miku Miku | date = October 23, 2013 | access-date= October 24, 2013}} One such device confirmed to contain an eVocaloid chip is the Pocket Miku device.{{cite web | script-title=ja:【お知らせ】4月3日に『歌うキーボード ポケット・ミク』が発売決定!全国の書店で買えちゃうよ | trans-title= [Notice] "Singing keyboard Pocket Miku" have been determined to be released in upcoming April 3! It can be bought on the book shops across Japan. | url = http://blog.piapro.jp/2014/02/43.html | language=ja | publisher = Crypton Future Media | date = February 18, 2014 | access-date= February 28, 2014}}
;{{vanchor|Vocaloid Keyboard}}
{{main|Vocaloid Keyboard}}
:This is a keytar which has Vocaloid voices loaded into it.
;{{vanchor|Anizon VOCALOOP}}
{{main|Anizon VOCALOOP}}
Marketing
Though developed by Yamaha, the marketing of each Vocaloid is left to the respective studios. Yamaha themselves do maintain a degree of promotional efforts in the actual Vocaloid software, as seen when the humanoid robot model HRP-4C of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) was set up to react to three Vocaloids—Hatsune Miku, Megpoid and Crypton's noncommercial Vocaloid software "CV-4Cβ"—as part of promotions for both Yamaha and AIST at CEATEC in 2009.{{cite web | title = Diginfoビデオレポート:歌声合成ソフト「VOCALOID」を使った 歌を歌うロボット | trans-title = Diginfo Video Report: The Singing Robot Which Uses the Singing Synthesis Soft "Vocaloid" | url = http://www.japancorp.net/japan/Article.Asp?Art_ID=50029 | language=ja | publisher = Japan Corporate News Network | date = October 18, 2009 | access-date = July 24, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130530003349/http://www.japancorp.net/japan/Article.Asp?Art_ID=50029 | archive-date = May 30, 2013 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web| title = 新VOCALOID「CV-4Cβ」、CEATECで歌う 声は中村繪里子さん | trans-title=The New Vocaloid "CV-4Cβ" Sings at CEATEC. The Vocal Comes from Eriko Nakamura | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0910/08/news107.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | date = October 8, 2009 | access-date= July 24, 2010}} The prototype voice CV-4Cβ was created by sampling a Japanese voice actress, Eriko Nakamura.{{cite web | last = Matsuo | first = Kōya | date = October 9, 2009 | title = CEATEC JAPAN 2009:ミク、めぐぽ、春香——3つの歌声を持つヒューマノイドに会ってきた | trans-title=CEATEC Japan 2009: I Met a Humanoid Which Has Three Singing Voicals—Miku, Megupo And Haruka | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0910/09/news055.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc| access-date= October 24, 2010}}
Japanese magazines such as DTM magazine are responsible for the promotion and introduction for many of the Japanese Vocaloids to Japanese Vocaloid fans. It has featured Vocaloids such as Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin and Len, and Megurine Luka, printing some sketches by artist Kei Garou and reporting the latest Vocaloid news. Thirty-day trial versions of Miriam, Lily and Iroha have also contributed to the marketing success of those particular voices. After the success of SF-A2 Miki's CD album, other Vocaloids such as VY1 and Iroha have also used promotional CDs as a marketing approach to selling their software. When Amazon MP3 in Japan opened on November 9, 2010, Vocaloid albums were featured as its free-of-charge contents.{{cite web | title = Amazon MP3、日本版スタート DRMフリーで音楽配信 | trans-title=Japanese Version of Amazon MP3 Starts. Music Downloads with DRM-Free | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1011/09/news030.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | date = November 9, 2010 | access-date= November 15, 2010}}{{cite web | title = AmazonがMP3ダウンロードサービス開始! しかもDRMフリーで0円の曲まで | trans-title=Amazon Begins the Service of MP3 Downloads! Furthermore, There Are 0 Yen Songs with DRM-Free | url = http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5128578/ | language=ja | work = Gadget Tsushin | publisher = Livedoor | date = November 9, 2010 | access-date= November 15, 2010}}
Crypton has been involved with the marketing of their Character Vocal Series, particularly Hatsune Miku, has been actively involved in the GT300 class of the Super GT since 2008 with the support of Good Smile Racing (a branch of Good Smile Company, mainly in charge of car-related products, especially itasha (cars featuring illustrations of anime-styled characters) stickers). Although Good Smile Company was not the first to bring the anime and manga culture to Super GT, it departs from others by featuring itasha directly rather than colorings onto vehicles.
Since the 2008 season, three different teams received their sponsorship under Good Smile Racing, and turned their cars to Vocaloid-related artwork:
- Studie, which participated in the 2008 and 2009 seasons with BMW Z4 E86, and BMW Z4 GT3 in the 2011 season.{{cite magazine | title = "4代目"ミク号はZ4 GT3! 谷口&右京SDが新加入 | trans-title = "4th" Car of Hatsune Miku Is Z4 GT3! Taniguchi and Ukyō SD Newly Join the Team | url = http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=31846 | language = ja | magazine = Autosport | date = February 6, 2011 | access-date = February 7, 2011 | archive-date = 2011-07-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720204417/http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=31846 | url-status = dead }} Their car was painted in official Hatsune Miku art in 2008 season, but started using fan-derivative versions of Hatsune Miku in some races since the 2009 season.{{cite web | title = The Rumored No. 808 Hatsune Miku Studie Glad BMW Z4 Latest News | url=http://ww2.supergt.net/gtcgi/prg/NList02.dll/Code?No=NS010942&List=13 |language=ja | publisher = Super GT.net | date = August 18, 2008 | access-date = August 21, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080823142828/http://ww2.supergt.net/gtcgi/prg/NList02.dll/Code?No=NS010942&List=13 | archive-date = August 23, 2008 | url-status = dead}}{{cite web | title = Itasha storm in Super GT. Report of Final Race at Mt. Fuji (Page 3) | url = http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/187/187441/index-3.html | language=ja | publisher = ASCII | date = November 11, 2008 | access-date= November 16, 2008}} The team was crowned as 2011 Super GT season GT300 Champion by winning in three out of eight rounds (Sepang, Fuji 250km, as well as Motegi), which are all from pole to checkered flag.
- Team MOLA, using a Nissan Fairlady Z, and they received sponsors on the final race in Fuji in the 2008 season. Images of Kagamine Rin and Len was added on their original colorings. The Fuji round, in fact, is the first FIA race to feature two unique itasha cars competing in a single race.{{cite web | title = Itasha storm in Super GT. Report of Final Race at Mt. Fuji (page 2) | url = http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/187/187441/index-2.html | language=ja | publisher = ASCII| date = November 11, 2008 | access-date= November 16, 2008}}{{cite web | title = 2008 Super GT Champions | url = http://supergt.net/supergt/2008/08series/index_e.htm | publisher = Super GT | date = November 11, 2008 | access-date = November 16, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081216122340/http://supergt.net/supergt/2008/08series/index_e.htm | archive-date = December 16, 2008 | url-status = dead}}
- Team COX, participating in the 2010 season, which used a Porsche 996 GT3 RSR and a Porsche 997 GT3-R. Their car used Racing Miku (an official Hatsune Miku derivative, wearing an orange race queen suit) as their image.
As well as involvements with the GT series, Crypton also established the website Piapro.{{cite web | title = PIAPRO(ピアプロ){{!}}CGM型コンテンツ投稿サイト | trans-title=Piapro {{!}} CGM Style Contents Submission Site | url = http://piapro.jp/| language=ja | publisher = Crypton Future Media| access-date= July 11, 2010}} A number of games starting from Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA were produced by Sega under license using Hatsune Miku and other Crypton Vocaloids, as well as "fan made" Vocaloids. Later, a mobile phone game called Hatsune Miku Vocalo x Live was produced by Japanese mobile social gaming website Gree.{{cite web |title=Hatsune Miku on TV ad |url=http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com/index.php/vocaloid-news/49-hatsune-miku-on-tv-ad |work=Vocaloid Creativity Community |date=October 26, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213101318/http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com:80/index.php/vocaloid-news/49-hatsune-miku-on-tv-ad |archive-date=December 13, 2010}} TinierMe Gacha also made attire that looks like Miku for their services, allowing users to make their avatar resemble the Crypton Vocaloids.{{cite web | title = Hatsune Miku x TineirMe Gacha | url = http://www.tinierme.com/tinierme/html/shop_gacha/gacha/2010/07/20100720_miku_gacha.html | publisher = Gcrest Entertainment | access-date= July 23, 2010}}{{cite news | title = Hatsune Miku to Appear in American MMO TinierMe | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2010-07-21/hatsune-miku-to-appear-in-american-mmo-tinierme | work = Anime News Network | date = July 21, 2010 | access-date= July 23, 2010}}
Two unofficial manga were also produced for the series, Maker Unofficial: Hatsune Mix being the most well known of the two, which was released by Jive in their Comic Rush magazine; this series is drawn by Vocaloid artist Kei Garou. The series features the Crypton Vocaloids in various scenarios, a different one each week. The series focuses on the Crypton Vocaloids, although Internet Co., Ltd.'s Gackpoid Vocaloid makes a guest appearance in two chapters. The series also saw guest cameos of Vocaloid variants such as Hachune Miku, Yowane Haku, Akita Neru and the Utauloid Kasane Teto. The series comprises the original 28 chapters serialized in Comic Rush and a collection of the first 10 chapters in a single {{Lang|ja-latn|tankōbon}} volume.{{cite book | script-title=ja:メーカー非公式初音みっくす 1 | trans-title=Maker Unofficial: Hatsune Mix 1 | language=ja| id= {{ASIN|4861765897|country=jp}} }} A manga was produced for Lily by Kei Garou, who also drew the mascot.{{cite web | title = anim.o.v.e 02 情報更新! | trans-title = anim.o.v.e 02 News Update! | url = http://avexnet.jp/id/movex/news/details/20100618003.html | language=ja | publisher = Avex Group | date = June 22, 2010 | access-date = October 5, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203444/http://avexnet.jp/id/movex/news/details/20100618003.html | archive-date = 2013-10-29 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | title = Schwarzgazer digicomic movie 動画サイトアップ! | trans-title = Schwarzgazer Digicomic Movie on Video Sites! | url = http://avexnet.jp/id/movex/news/details/20100728001.html | language=ja | publisher = Avex Group | date = July 28, 2010 | access-date = October 5, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202558/http://avexnet.jp/id/movex/news/details/20100728001.html | archive-date = 2013-10-29 | url-status = dead }} An anime music video titled "Schwarzgazer", which shows the world where Lily is,{{cite web | title = Lily 情報 | trans-title=Lily News | url = http://www.ssw.co.jp/products/vocal/lily/topics/index.html | language=ja | publisher = Internet Co., Ltd. | access-date= October 5, 2010}} was produced and it was released with the album anim.o.v.e 02, however the song is sung by Move, not by Vocaloids. A yonkoma manga based on Hatsune Miku and drawn by Kentaro Hayashi, Shūkan Hajimete no Hatsune Miku!, began serialization in Weekly Young Jump on September 2, 2010.{{cite web | script-title=ja:ヤンジャンで"辛口"初音ミクの4コマギャグがスタート | trans-title=A Yonkoma Gag of "Outspoken" Hatsune Miku Starts on Yanjan | url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/4969256/ | language=ja | work=Comic Natalie | publisher=Livedoor | date=August 26, 2010 | access-date=October 10, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006043751/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/4969256/ | archive-date=October 6, 2012 | url-status=dead }} Hatsune Miku appeared in Weekly Playboy magazine.{{cite news | title = Virtual Idol Hatsune Miku to Appear in Japan's Weekly Playboy | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-03-22/virtual-idol-hatsune-miku-to-appear-in-japan-weekly-playboy | work = Anime News Network | date = March 22, 2011 | access-date= March 24, 2011}} However, Crypton Future Media confirmed they will not be producing an anime based on their Vocaloids as it would limit the creativity of their user base, preferring to let their user base to have freedom to create PV's without restrictions.{{cite web | author = Macias, Patrick | title = CRN Interview: The Creators of Hatsune Miku | url = http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2011/07/21/crn-interview-the-creators-of-hatsune-miku | publisher = Crunchyroll | date = July 21, 2011 | access-date= August 3, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724021811/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2011/07/21/crn-interview-the-creators-of-hatsune-miku | archive-date=2011-07-24}}
Initially, Crypton Future Media were the only studio that was allowed the license of figurines to be produced for their Vocaloids. A number of figurines and plush dolls were also released under license to Max Factory and the Good Smile Company of Crypton's Vocaloids. Among these figures were also Figma models of the entire "Character Vocal Series" mascots as well as Nendoroid figures of various Crypton Vocaloids and variants. Pullip versions of Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Len and Rin have also been produced for release in April 2011; other Vocaloid dolls have since been announced from the Pullip doll line.{{cite web | title = New Groove Pullip Dolls | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/01/11/new-groove-pullip-dolls/#more-9033 | work = Vocaloidism | date = January 11, 2011 | access-date= January 14, 2011}}{{cite web | script-title=ja:かわいい研究家さまご一行 来社! | trans-title=A Group of Cute Researchers(?) Visit Our Company! | url=http://groove.ws/news.groove.ws/?p=7674 | language=ja | publisher=Groove Inc. | date=January 23, 2011 | access-date=January 28, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317170334/http://groove.ws/news.groove.ws/?p=7674 | archive-date=March 17, 2012 | url-status=dead }} As part of promotions for Vocaloid Lily, license for a figurine was given to Phat Company and Lily became the first non-Crypton Vocaloid to receive a figurine.{{cite web | title = Magazine scans July 2010 | url = http://www.nekomagic.com/?p=14530 | work = Neko Magic | date = July 22, 2010 | access-date= July 25, 2010}}
With regard to the English Vocaloid studios, Power FX's Sweet Ann was given her own MySpace page and Sonika her own Twitter account. In comparison to Japanese studios, Zero-G and PowerFX maintain a high level of contact with their fans. Zero-G in particular encourages fan feed back and, after adopting Sonika as a mascot for their studio, has run two competitions related to her.{{cite web | title = Sonika's New Look Competition!!! | url = http://sonika-vocaloid.com/competition | publisher = Zero-G | access-date = July 8, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100126034505/http://sonika-vocaloid.com/competition | archive-date = January 26, 2010 | url-status = usurped }}{{cite web | title = Sonika Song Competition!!! | url = http://sonika-vocaloid.com/new-song-competition | publisher = Zero-G | access-date = July 8, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100916081442/http://sonika-vocaloid.com/new-song-competition | archive-date = September 16, 2010 | url-status = usurped }} There was also talk from PowerFX of redoing their Sweet Ann box art and a competition would be included as part of the redesign.{{cite web | title = Interview: Bil Bryant (Production and CEO of PowerFX) | url = http://engloids.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/interview-bil-bryant-production-and-ceo-of-powerfx/ | work = Engloids (powered by WordPress) | date = January 4, 2010 | access-date= July 4, 2010}} The Vocaloid Lily also had a competition held during her trial period.{{cite web |title=Drawing Contest to win a copy of Vocaloid Lily |url=http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com/index.php/vocaloid-news/10-drawing-contest-to-win-a-copy-of-vocaloid-lily |work=Vocaloid Creativity Community |date=August 10, 2010 |access-date=October 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717080146/http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com/index.php/vocaloid-news/10-drawing-contest-to-win-a-copy-of-vocaloid-lily |archive-date=July 17, 2011}} English Vocaloids have not sold enough to warrant extras, such as seen with Crypton's Miku Append. However, it has been confirmed if the English Vocaloids become more popular, then Appends would be an option in the future. Crypton plans to start an electronic magazine for English readers at the end of 2010 in order to encourage the growth of the English Vocaloid fanbase. Extracts of PowerFX's Sweet Ann and Big Al were included in Soundation Studio in their Christmas loops and sound release with a competition included.{{cite web | title = Soundation Studio Includes Vocaloid Christmas Song Excerpts | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2010/12/15/soundation-studio-includes-vocaloid-christmas-song-excepts/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = December 15, 2010 | access-date= December 15, 2010}}
Crypton and Toyota began working together to promote the launch of the 2011 Toyota Corolla using Hatsune Miku to promote the car. The launch of the car also marked the start of Miku's debut in the US alongside it.{{cite web | title = The 2011 Toyota Corolla Marks Miku's US Debut | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/05/06/the-2011-toyota-corolla-marks-mikus-us-debut/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = May 6, 2011 | access-date = May 6, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130731130241/http://www.vocaloidism.com/the-2011-toyota-corolla-marks-mikus-us-debut/ | archive-date = July 31, 2013 | url-status = dead}} Crypton had always sold Hatsune Miku as a virtual instrument, but they decided to ask their own fanbase in Japan if it was okay with them to market her to the United States as a virtual singer instead.{{cite web | author = Wataru Sasaki [crypton_wat / @vocaloid_cv_cfm] | date = May 10, 2011 | title = ブレスト小休止中:アメリカと日本で、お国柄が違う事を確認しながら、前提として、cmではじめてミクを知った人達と、web上のファンの心象にもっと配慮する事。軸として「バーチャル"シンガー"としての初音ミク」という意見を強調しています。...さてはて | trans-title=A break in brainstorming: while confirming the difference of the national characteristics between the United States and Japan, as a major premise, more consideration should be given to (both) the people who first knew Miku in commercial advertisements, and the mentality of fans on the Web. And as a fundamental, we emphasize an opinion "Hatsune Miku as a virtual SINGER" ... Well, and then ? | url = https://twitter.com/vocaloid_cv_cfm/status/68183188400381952 | language=ja | work = Twitter | publisher = Crypton Future Media | access-date= May 14, 2011}}
=Promotional events=
The largest promotional event for Vocaloids is "The Voc@loid M@ster" (Vom@s) convention held four times a year in Tokyo or the neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture. The event brings producers and illustrators involved with the production of Vocaloid art and music together so they can sell their work to others. The original event was held in 2007 with 48 groups, or "circles", given permission to host stalls at the event for the selling of their goods. The event soon gained popularity and at the 14th event, nearly 500 groups had been chosen to have stalls. Additionally, Japanese companies involved with production of the software also have stalls at the events.{{cite web | title = ボーカロイドonly event「THE VOC@LOiD M@STER」 | trans-title=Vocaloid Only Event "The Voc@loid M@ster" | url = http://ketto.com/tvm/ | language=ja | publisher = Ketto | access-date= November 3, 2010}}{{cite web |title=Upcoming Vom@s to be the largest ever |url=http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com/index.php/vocaloid-news/52-upcoming-voms-to-be-the-largest-ever |work=Vocaloid Creativity Community |date=November 2, 2010 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213101322/http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com:80/index.php/vocaloid-news/52-upcoming-voms-to-be-the-largest-ever |archive-date=December 13, 2010}} The very first live concert related to Vocaloid was held in 2004 with the Vocaloid Miriam in Russia.{{cite web | title = Vocaloid's FIRST public performance! | url = http://www.jasminemusic.com/vocaloid/first_public_performance.htm | publisher = Jasmine Music Technology | date = December 6, 2004 | access-date= January 3, 2012}}
Vocaloids have also been promoted at events such as the NAMM show and the Musikmesse fair. In fact, it was the promotion of Zero-G's Lola and Leon at the NAMM trade show that would later introduce PowerFX to the Vocaloid program. These events have also become an opportunity for announcing new Vocaloids with Prima being announced at the NAMM event in 2007 and Tonio having been announced at the NAMM event in 2009.{{cite web | title = Vocaloid TONIO announced at NAMM 2010! Brand new male classical virtual singer | url = http://www.zero-g.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1059 | publisher = Zero-G | access-date= July 11, 2010}} A customized, Chinese version of Sonika was released at the Fancy Frontier Develop Animation Festival, as well as with promotional versions with stickers and posters. Sanrio held a booth at Comiket 78 featuring the voice of an unreleased Vocaloid. AH-Software in cooperation with Sanrio shared a booth and the event was used to advertise both the Hello Kitty game and AH-Software's new Vocaloid.{{cite web | author = Fujimoto, Ken | date = August 16, 2010 | title = ハローキティといっしょ!×VOCALOID2って何だ!? | trans-title=Hello Kitty Together with Vocaloid 2; What the!? | url = http://dtm.newsblog.jp/archives/51468636.html | language=ja | work = Ken Fujimoto's DTM Station powered by Livedoor News | publisher = Livedoor | access-date= August 20, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100820075623/http://dtm.newsblog.jp/archives/51468636.html | archive-date=2010-08-20}} At the Nico Nico Douga Daikaigi 2010 Summer: Egao no Chikara event, Internet Co., Ltd. announced their latest Vocaloid "Gachapoid" based on popular children's character Gachapin.
Originally, Hiroyuki Ito—President of Crypton Future Media—claimed that Hatsune Miku was not a virtual idol but a kind of the Virtual Studio Technology instrument.{{cite web | last = Okada | first = Yuka | date = March 18, 2008 | script-title=ja:初音ミクは「権利者」か | trans-title=Is Hatsune Miku a Right Holder? | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0803/18/news032.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | access-date= December 3, 2010}} However, Hatsune Miku performed her first "live" concert like a virtual idol on a projection screen during Animelo Summer Live at the Saitama Super Arena on August 22, 2009.{{cite news | title = Hatsune Miku Virtual Idol Performs 'Live' Before 25,000 | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-23/hatsune-miku-virtual-idol-performs-live-before-25000 | work = Anime News Network | date = August 23, 2009 | access-date= August 26, 2009}}{{cite web | script-title=ja:影山、堀江、初音ミクも!「アニサマ」出演者追加 | trans-title=Also Kageyama, Horie and Hatsune Miku! Performers for "Anisama" Are Added | url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/68248/ | language=ja | work = Oricon Style | publisher = Oricon | date = August 6, 2009 | access-date= July 15, 2010}} At the "MikuFes '09 (Summer)" event on August 31, 2009, her image was screened by rear projection on a mostly-transparent screen.{{cite web | last = Hirota | first = Minoru | date = September 1, 2009 | script-title=ja:初音ミクが歌って踊る! ミクフェス '09(夏)レポート | trans-title=Hatsune Miku Sings and Dances! Report on MikuFes '09 (Summer) | url = http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/456/456009/index-2.html | language=ja | publisher = ASCII Media Works | page = 2 | access-date= October 29, 2010}} Miku also performed her first overseas live concert on November 21, 2009, during Anime Festival Asia (AFA) in Singapore.{{cite web | title = Virtual Idol "Hatsune Miku" to perform overseas at "I LOVE anisong" stage! | url = http://afa09.com/i_love_miku.html | publisher = Anime Festival Asia | access-date= November 24, 2009}}{{cite news | script-title=ja:「電子の歌姫」初音ミクが海外初公演 | trans-title="Electronic Diva" Hatsune Miku's First Oversea Concert Is Held | url = http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/f-et-tp0-20091121-568383.html | language=ja | newspaper = Nikkan Sports | date = November 21, 2009 | access-date= July 15, 2010}} On March 9, 2010, Miku's first solo live performance titled "Miku no Hi Kanshasai 39's Giving Day" was opened at the Zepp Tokyo in Odaiba, Tokyo.{{cite news | title = Hatsune Miku Virtual Idol to Hold 1st Solo Concert | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-10/virtual-idol-hatsune-miku-to-hold-1st-solo-concert | work = Anime News Network | date = December 10, 2009 | access-date= July 15, 2010}}{{cite web | script-title=ja:初音ミクによるソロコンサートが開催、39個の秘密も明らかに | trans-title=Hatsune Miku Performs A Solo Concert, And 39 Secrets Are Revealed | url = http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1232809_1124.html | language=ja | publisher = Famitsu | date = March 10, 2010 | access-date= July 15, 2010}} The tour was run as part of promotions for Sega's Hatsune Miku: Project Diva video game in March 2010.{{cite web | title = Online Movement: Hatsune Miku World Tour | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2010/07/18/online-movement-hatsune-miku-world-tour/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = July 18, 2010 | access-date= October 6, 2010}} The success and possibility of these tours is owed to the popularity of Hatsune Miku and so far Crypton is the only studio to have established a world tour of their Vocaloids.
Later, the CEO of Crypton Future Media appeared in San Francisco at the start of the San Francisco tour where the first Hatsune Miku concert was hosted in North America on September 18, 2010, featuring songs provided by the Miku software voice.{{cite web | title = Hatsune Miku: Virtual Idol Film Concert | url = http://www.newpeopleworld.com/films/films-9-2010/#miku | publisher = New People | date = September 18, 2010 | access-date= October 6, 2010}}{{cite news | title = San Francisco to Host Hatsune Miku's 1st U.S. 'Concert' | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-09-07/san-francisco-to-host-hatsune-miku-1st-u.s-concert | work = Anime News Network| date = September 7, 2010 | access-date= October 6, 2010}} A second screening of the concert was on October 11, 2010, in the San Francisco Viz Cinema. A screening of the concert was also shown in New York City in the city's anime festival.{{cite news | title = Hatsune Miku 'Concert,' Creator Add Dates in SF, NY | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-01/hatsune-miku-concert-creator-add-dates-in-sf-ny | work = Anime News Network | date = October 1, 2010 | access-date= October 6, 2010}} Hiroyuki Ito, and planner/producer, Wataru Sasaki, who were responsible for Miku's creation, attended an event on October 8, 2010, at the festival.{{cite news | title = NY Anime Fest Hosts Hatsune Miku Makers, An Café Bassist | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-09-09/ny-anime-fest-hosts-hatsune-miku-makers-an-cafe-bassist | work = Anime News Network | date = September 9, 2010 | access-date= October 8, 2010}}{{cite web | title = Hatsune Miku! Shamisen! Pop Culture Diplomacy! All at NYAF through Japan Foundation! | url = http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2010/09/hatsune-miku-shamisen-pop-culture.html | publisher = Medium At Large | date = September 8, 2010 | access-date = October 8, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100911231341/http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2010/09/hatsune-miku-shamisen-pop-culture.html | archive-date = September 11, 2010 | url-status = dead }} Videos of her performance are due to be released worldwide.{{cite news | title = Hatsune Miku is pop's biggest draw as Japanese 3D cartoon stage sensation | url = http://www.metro.co.uk/music/844784-hatsune-miku-is-pops-biggest-draw-as-japanese-3d-cartoon-stage-sensation | newspaper = Metro | date = October 21, 2010 | access-date= October 23, 2010}} Megpoid and Gackpoid were also featured in the 2010 King Run Anison Red and White concert. This event also used the same projector method to display Megpoid and Gackpoid on a large screen. Their appearance at the concert was done as a one-time event and both Vocaloids were featured singing a song originally sung by their respective voice provider.{{cite web | title = 「キングラン アニソン紅白2010」に「がくぽ」と「GUMI」が出演を果たした件 | trans-title=At "King Run Anison Red and White 2010" Gakupo and Gumi Appeared | url = http://vocaloid.blog120.fc2.com/blog-entry-7628.html | language=ja | work = Hatsune Miku Miku | date = January 2, 2011 | access-date= January 4, 2011}}
The next live concert was set for Tokyo on March 9, 2011.{{cite web | title = Hatsune Miku 2011 Live Concert in Tokyo Announced! | url = http://www.moetron.com/2010/12/08/hatsune-miku-2011-live-concert-in-tokyo-announced/ | publisher = Moetron | date = December 8, 2010 | access-date= December 8, 2010}} Other events included the Vocarock Festival 2011 on January 11, 2011, and the Vocaloid Festa which was held on February 12, 2011.{{cite web | title = VOCAROCK collection feat. 初音ミク presents VOCAROCK festival 2011 | trans-title=Vocarock Collection feat. Hatsune Miku presents Vocarock Festival 2011 | url = http://www.vocarock.jp/fes/ | language=ja | publisher = Farm Records | access-date= December 22, 2010}}{{cite web | title = VOCALOID FESTA 公式サイト | trans-title=Vocaloid Festa Official Website| url = http://vocafes.com/| language=ja | publisher = Vocaloid Fest | access-date= December 22, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110323173522/http://vocafes.com/ | archive-date=March 23, 2011}}{{cite web | title = Vocaloid Festa | url = http://www.vocaloid.com/vocaloid_festa_press.html | language=ja | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | access-date = December 22, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110103033032/http://www.vocaloid.com/vocaloid_festa_press.html | archive-date = January 3, 2011 | url-status = dead }} The Vocaloid Festa had also hosted a competition officially endorsed by Pixiv, with the winner seeing their creation unveiled at Vocafes2 on May 29, 2011.{{cite web | title = ボカロプロジェクト{{!}}VOCALOID FESTA 公式サイト | trans-title=Vocalo Project {{!}} Vocaloid Festa Official Website | url = http://vocafes.com/vocaloproject | language=ja | publisher = Vocafes | access-date= February 18, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110223050041/http://vocafes.com/vocaloproject | archive-date=February 23, 2011}} The first Vocaloid concert in North America was held in Los Angeles on July 2, 2011, at the Nokia Theater during Anime Expo; the concert was identical to the March 9, 2010 event except for a few improvements and new songs.{{cite news | title = Hatsune Miku Virtual Idol to Perform at Anime Expo | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-12/hatsune-miku-virtual-pop-star-to-perform-at-anime-expo | work = Anime News Network | date = May 12, 2011 | access-date= May 13, 2011}} Another concert was held in Sapporo on August 16 and 17, 2011. Hatsune Miku also had a concert in Singapore on November 11, 2011. Since then, there have been multiple concerts every year featuring Miku in various concert series, such as Magical Mirai, and Miku Expo.
Cultural impact
Image:Miku hatsune cover.jpg is partly responsible for Vocaloid's success.]]
The software became very popular in Japan upon the release of Crypton Future Media's Hatsune Miku Vocaloid 2 software and her success has led to the popularity of the Vocaloid software in general.{{cite news | title = Virtual star to be unleashed on US | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/virtual-star-to-be-unleashed-on-us-2291713.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110611021750/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/virtual-star-to-be-unleashed-on-us-2291713.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 11, 2011 | newspaper = The Independent | date = June 1, 2011 | access-date= June 8, 2011}} Japanese video sharing website Niconico played a fundamental role in the recognition and popularity of the software. A user of Hatsune Miku and an illustrator released a much-viewed video, in which "Hachune Miku", a super deformed Miku, held a Welsh onion (Negi in Japanese), which resembles a leek, and sang the Finnish song "Ievan Polkka" like the flash animation "Loituma Girl", on Nico Nico Douga.{{cite web | last = Takahashi | first = Akiko | date = January 15, 2008 | script-title=ja:なぜ「初音ミクがネギ」で「鏡音リンがロードローラー」なのか? | trans-title=Why "Hatsune Miku Has a Negi" And "Kagamine Rin Rides on a Road Roller"? | url = http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/100/100009/ | language=ja | publisher = ASCII Media Works | access-date= October 23, 2010}} According to Crypton, they knew that users of Nico Nico Douga had started posting videos with songs created by the software before Hatsune Miku, but the video presented multifarious possibilities of applying the software in multimedia content creation—notably the dōjin culture.{{cite web | last = Okada | first = Yuka | date = February 25, 2008 | script-title=ja:クリプトン・フューチャー・メディアに聞く(3):初音ミクが開く"創造の扉" | trans-title=Interview with Crypton Future Media (3): Hatsune Miku Opens the "Creative Mind" | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0802/25/news017.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | page = 1 | access-date= February 29, 2008}}
As the recognition and popularity of the software grew, Nico Nico Douga became a place for collaborative content creation. Popular original songs written by a user would generate illustrations, animation in 2D and 3D, and remixes by other users. Other creators would show their unfinished work and ask for ideas.{{cite web | last = Okada | first = Yuka | date = September 28, 2007 | title = DTMブーム再来!? 「初音ミク」が掘り起こす"名なしの才能" | trans-title=DTM in the Boom Again!? "Hatsune Miku" Discovers "Anonymous Creators" | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0709/28/news066.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | page = 1 | access-date= February 29, 2008}} The software has also been used to tell stories using song and verse and the Story of Evil series has become so popular that a manga, six books, and two theatre works were produced by the series creator.{{cite web | script-title=ja:200万回再生の超人気ボカロ楽曲『悪ノ召使』コミック化! | trans-title=Super Popular Vocaloid Song with 2 Million Views, Aku no Meshitsukai, Gets a Comic | url=http://comicrush.anisen.tv/e249266.html | language=ja | publisher=Jive | date=August 27, 2010 | access-date=October 5, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918115959/http://comicrush.anisen.tv/e249266.html | archive-date=September 18, 2010 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | script-title=ja:悪ノ娘—黄のクロアテュール | trans-title=Aku no Musume: Ki no Cloiture | url = http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/htm/4569791034.html | language=ja | publisher = Books Kinokuniya | access-date= November 20, 2010}} Another theater production based on "Cantarella", a song sung by Kaito and produced by Kurousa-P, was also set to hit the stage and will run Shibuya's Space Zero theater in Tokyo from August 3 to August 7, 2011.{{cite news | title = Vocaloid Kaito's Song Adapted into Stage Musical | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-05-30/vocaloid-kaito-song-adapted-into-stage-musical | work = Anime News Network | date = May 30, 2011 | access-date= May 31, 2011}} The website has become so influential that studios often post demos on Nico Nico Douga, as well as other websites such as YouTube, as part of the promotional effort of their Vocaloid products. The important role Nico Nico Douga has played in promoting the Vocaloids also sparked interest in the software and Kentaro Miura, the artist of Gakupo's mascot design, had offered his services for free because of his love for the website.{{cite web | script-title=ja:「がくっぽいど」7月末発売 "ニコ厨"漫画家・三浦建太郎さんのイラストで | trans-title=Gackpoid to be Sold in July with "Nicochū" Manga Author Kentaro Miura's Illustration | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0806/20/news043.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | date = June 20, 2008 | access-date= July 11, 2010}}
In September 2009, three figurines based on the derivative character "Hachune Miku" were launched in a rocket from the United States state of Nevada's Black Rock Desert, though it did not reach outer space.{{cite news | title = Hachune Miku Figure to Ride Rocket from Nevada This Month | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-09-08/hachune-miku-figure-to-ride-rocket-from-nevada-this-month | work = Anime News Network | date = September 8, 2009 | access-date= July 14, 2010}}{{cite web | last = Okada | first = Yuka | date = October 8, 2009 | title = 「あなたも宇宙開発を」 "初音ミク衛星"打ち上げ目指す「SOMESAT」 | trans-title="You Too Will Explore Space" Aiming to Launch the "Hachune Miku Satellite" "SOMESAT" | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0910/08/news011.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | page = 1 | access-date= July 14, 2010}} In late November 2009, a petition was launched in order to get a custom made Hatsune Miku aluminum plate (8 cm x 12 cm, 3.1" x 4.7") made that would be used as a balancing weight for the Japanese Venus space probe Akatsuki.{{cite web | script-title=ja:金星探査機「あかつき」に初音ミク絵を搭載する署名 | trans-title=Sign to Get Hatsune Miku Image on Board Venus Explorer Akatsuki | url = https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEhaZ1JMUXI3MEl4Qk14VXBCZXVHdlE6MA | language=ja | format = Google Spreadsheets for collecting signatures | access-date= December 18, 2009}} Started by Hatsune Miku fan Sumio Morioka that goes by chodenzi-P, this project received the backing of Dr. Seiichi Sakamoto of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).{{cite web | last = Morioka | first = Sumio | date = February 23, 2010 | script-title=ja:金星へ飛び立つ「あかつき」と初音ミクパネルを見てきた | trans-title=I See "Akatsuki" And the Hatsune Miku Panels that Will Fly to Venus | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1002/23/news024.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | pages = 1–2 | access-date= November 15, 2010}} The website of the petition written in Japanese was translated into other languages such as English, Russian, Chinese and Korean, and, the petition exceeded the needed 10,000 signatures necessary to have the plates made on December 22, 2009.{{cite web | script-title=ja:「初音ミクを金星へ」世界に広がる 署名1万超え、イラスト募集中 | trans-title="Send Hatsune Miku to Venus" Spreading Worldwide. The Number of Petitions Exceeds 10,000 And Illustrations Are Now Wanted | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0912/25/news035.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | date = December 25, 2009 | access-date= November 15, 2010}} On May 21, 2010, at 06:58:22 (JST), Akatsuki was launched on the rocket H-IIA 202 Flight 17 from the Japanese spaceport Tanegashima Space Center, having three plates depicting Hatsune Miku.{{cite web | last = Morioka | first = Sumio | date = May 20, 2010 | script-title=ja:初音ミク搭乗の「あかつき」、打ち上げに再チャレンジ | trans-title="Akatsuki," Ridden by Hatsune Miku, Challenges to Be Launched Again | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1005/20/news083.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | access-date= May 28, 2010}}{{cite web | last = Morioka | first = Sumio | date = May 21, 2010 | script-title=ja:初音ミクついに宇宙へ! 「あかつき」打ち上げ成功 | trans-title=Hatsune Miku Eventually Goes to the Space! "Akatsuki" Was Successfully Launched | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1005/21/news046.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | access-date= May 28, 2010}}
The Vocaloid software has also had a great influence on the character Black Rock Shooter, which looks like Hatsune Miku but is not linked to her by design. The character was made famous by the song "Black Rock Shooter",{{cite web | title = ブラック★ロックシューター :: supercell | trans-title = Black Rock Shooter :: supercell | url = http://supercell.sc/brs/ | language = ja | publisher = Supercell | access-date = July 8, 2010 | archive-date = 2013-12-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131219071748/http://supercell.sc/brs/ | url-status = dead }} and a number of figurines have been made. An original video animation made by Ordet was streamed for free as part of a promotional campaign running from June 25 to August 31, 2010.{{cite news | title = Black Rock Shooter Anime to Be Streamed for Free | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-03-24/black-rock-shooter-anime-to-be-streamed-for-free | work = Anime News Network | date = March 23, 2010 | access-date= July 8, 2010}} The virtual idols "Meaw" have also been released aimed at the Vocaloid culture. The twin Thai virtual idols released two singles, "Meaw Left ver." and "Meaw Right ver.", sung in Japanese.{{cite web | title = 出た!新人ヴァーチャル・アイドルユニット「メーウ(meaw)」発進! | trans-title=It's Out! The New Virtual Idol Unite Meaw Takes Off! | url = http://vocaloid.blog120.fc2.com/blog-entry-6997.html | language=ja| work = Hatsune Miku Miku | date = October 16, 2010 | access-date= December 15, 2010}}{{cite web | script-title=ja:メーウ | trans-title=Meaw | url = http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/meaw/ | language=ja | publisher = StarChild | access-date= December 15, 2010}}
A cafe for one day only was opened in Tokyo based on Hatsune Miku on August 31, 2010.{{cite web | title = 8月31日限定!渋谷シアターTSUTAYAに「ミクカフェ」オープン!!【ミクの日感謝祭】 | trans-title=On Only August 31! "Miku Cafe" Will Open at the Shibuya Theater Tsutaya!! (The Thanksgiving Day of Miku) | url = http://miku.sega.jp/info/0119 | language=ja | publisher = Sega | date = August 24, 2010 | access-date= October 9, 2010}} A second event was arranged for all Japanese Vocaloids.{{cite web | title = Y2×Vocaloid Cafe | url = http://www.vocaloidcafe.com/ | language=ja | publisher = Bplats | access-date = February 21, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110217082543/http://www.vocaloidcafe.com/ | archive-date = 2011-02-17 | url-status = usurped }} "Snow Miku" was also featured on an event as a part of the 62nd Sapporo Snow Festival in February 2011.{{cite web | title = SNOW MIKU for SAPPORO2011で語られる創造の未来 | trans-title=The Future of Creation Spoken on Snow Miku for Sapporo 2011 | url = http://weekly.ascii.jp/elem/000/000/032/32889/ | language=ja | publisher = ASCII Media Works | date = February 4, 2011| access-date= February 25, 2011}} A Vocaloid-themed TV show on the Japanese Vocaloids called Vocalo Revolution began airing on Kyoto Broadcasting System on January 3, 2011.{{cite web | title = VOCALO Revolution: 地上波初、ボーカロイド番組 | trans-title=VOCALO Revolution: First Ever Vocaloid Show (as a broadcasting program on digital terrestrial TV) | url = http://vocarevo.com/onair.html | language=ja| publisher = Vocalo Revolution | access-date= December 26, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101211104421/http://vocarevo.com/onair.html | archive-date=2010-12-11}}{{cite web | title = "VOCALO Revolution" – Original Character CUL Revealed | url = http://www.moetron.com/2010/12/23/vocalo-revolution-original-character-pv/ | work = Moetron | date = December 23, 2010 | access-date = December 26, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160419041959/http://moetron.com/2010/12/23/vocalo-revolution-original-character-pv/ | archive-date = April 19, 2016 | url-status = dead }} The show is part of a bid to make the Vocaloid culture more widely accepted and features a mascot known as "Cul", also mascot of the "Cul Project".{{cite web | title = CUL project : official | url = http://vocarevo.com/culproject/ | language=ja | publisher = Vocalo Revolution | access-date= January 7, 2011}} The show's first success story is a joint collaboration between Vocalo Revolution and the school fashion line "Cecil McBee" Music x Fashion x Dance.{{cite web | script-title=ja:オフィシャルグッズ | trans-title=Official Goods | url = http://vocarevo.com/goods.html | language=ja | publisher = Vocalo Revolution | access-date= January 7, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101210101958/http://vocarevo.com/goods.html | archive-date=2010-12-10}}{{cite web | title = Lineup | url = http://vocarevo.com/culproject/lineup.html | language=ja | publisher = Vocalo Revolution | access-date= January 7, 2011}} Piapro also held a competition with famous fashion brands with the winners seeing their Lolita-based designs reproduced for sale by the company Putumayo.{{cite web | script-title=ja:乙女衣装図鑑×ピアプロ | trans-title=Maiden costume picture book × Piapro | url = http://piapro.jp/static/?view=otome_result | language=ja | publisher = Piapro | access-date= March 9, 2011}} A radio station set up a 1-hour program containing nothing but Vocaloid-based music.{{cite web | title = NHKの本気!ボカロラジオ「エレうた」の高き志 | trans-title=NHK's Determination! High Aspirations with Vocaloid Radio "Ere Uta" | url = http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/586/586184/ | language=ja | publisher = ASCII Media Works | date = February 5, 2011 | access-date= February 25, 2011}}
The Vocaloid software had a great influence on the development of the freeware UTAU.{{harvnb|UTAU|2008}} Several products were produced for the {{Nihongo|Macne series|Mac音シリーズ}} for intended use for the programs Reason 4 and GarageBand. These products were sold by Act2 and by converting their file format, were able to also work with the UTAU program.{{cite web | title = Mac音ナナ シリーズ | trans-title = Macne Nana Series | url = http://www.act2.com/products/macnenana.html |language=ja |publisher=Act2 |access-date=July 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511122158/http://www.act2.com/products/macnenana.html | archive-date = May 11, 2011 | url-status = dead}} The program Maidloid, developed for the character {{Nihongo|Acme Iku|阿久女イク}}, was also developed, which works in a similar way to Vocaloid, except produces erotic sounds rather than an actual singing voice.{{cite web | script-title=ja:阿久女イク | trans-title=Acme Iku | url = http://studios.kir.jp/iku/ | language=ja | publisher = StudioS | access-date= July 9, 2010}} Other than Vocaloid, AH-Software also developed Tsukuyomi Ai and Shouta for the software Voiceroid, and the sale of their Vocaloids gave AH-Software the chance to promote Voiceroid at the same time. The software is aimed for speaking rather than singing. Both AH-Software's Vocaloids and Voiceroids went on sale on December 4, 2009.{{cite web | title = New VOICEROID Software From AH-Software | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2009/11/14/new-voiceroid-software-from-ah-software/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = November 14, 2009 | access-date= July 9, 2010}} Crypton Future Media has been reported to openly welcome these additional software developments as it expands the market for synthesized voices.
During the events of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, a number of Vocaloid related donation drives were produced. Crypton Future Media joined several other companies in a donation drive, with money spent on the sales of music from Crypton Future Media's Karent label being donated to the Japanese Red Cross.{{cite web | script-title=ja:東北地方太平洋沖地震による被災地に対する支援について | trans-title=Regarding Support for the Affected Areas of the Tōhoku Region Pacific Ocean Offshore Earthquake | url = http://www.crypton.co.jp/mp/pages/special/press/20110316.jsp | language=ja | publisher = Crypton Future Media | date = March 16, 2011 | access-date= March 24, 2011}} In addition, a special Nendoroid of Hatsune Miku, Nendoroid Hatsune Miku: Support ver., was announced with a donation of 1,000 yen per sale to the Japanese Red Cross.{{cite web | title = Nendoroid Miku Hatsune: Support ver. is Here to Cheer on the Recovery of Eastern Japan! | url = http://gscmikatan.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/nendoroid-miku-hatsune-support-ver-is-here-to-cheer-on-the-recovery-of-eastern-japan/ | work = Mikatan's Blog (powered by WordPress) | publisher = Good Smile Company | date = March 24, 2011 | access-date= March 24, 2011}} In addition to the donation drives held by Crypton Future Media, AH-Software created the Voiceroid voicebank Tohoku Zunko to promote the recovery of the Tōhoku region and its culture.{{cite web|url=http://www.vocaloidism.com/tohoku-zunko-voiceroid-software-gets-release-date/|title=Tohoku Zunko VOICEROID+ Software Gets Release Date|work=Vocaloidism|date=August 30, 2012 |accessdate=27 April 2016}}
In 2012, Vocaloid was quoted as one of the contributors to a 10% increase in cosplay related services.{{cite web|url=http://marketing.itmedia.co.jp/mm/articles/1210/22/news109.html|script-title=ja:恋愛シミュレーションゲームの市場規模は前年度比30.4%増~調査データランキング|publisher=ITmedia|date=October 22, 2012|access-date=December 15, 2015|language=ja}} In 2013, the Vocaloid 3 software Oliver was used as the voice of Cartoon Hangover character PuppyCat from their web series Bee and PuppyCat.{{cite web | title = What about an Oliver + Vocaloid 3 Editor... | url = http://hangover.cartoonhangover.com/post/36126235780 | publisher = Cartoon Hangover | date = November 20, 2012 | access-date = August 8, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web | title = Webアニメ「Bee and PuppyCat」の音声にOliverが使用されているらしい件 | trans-title=On the Web animation Bee and PuppyCat's voice, Oliver seems to be used. | url = http://vocaloid.blog120.fc2.com/blog-entry-16125.html | language=ja | work = Hatsune Miku Miku | date = July 15, 2013 | access-date= August 8, 2013}}
In 2017 a musical adaptation of the story of the Vocaloid song "The Daughter of Evil" (Part of Mothy's "Evillious Chronicles" collection) was announced. The musical was performed at the Owl Spot in Tokyo from June 4–11.{{Cite web |last=nijimen |date=2017-03-04 |title=ボカロ楽曲『悪ノ娘』ミュージカル化決定!田中れいなさんが悪ノ娘、山本和臣さんは召使を演じる! - 女性向けアニメ情報サイトにじめん |url=https://nijimen.kusuguru.co.jp/topics/10507 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=にじめん |language=ja}}{{Cite web |last=Inc |first=Natasha |title=田中れいな主演で「悪ノ娘」がミュージカルに、演出はトクナガヒデカツ |url=https://natalie.mu/stage/news/232211 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=ステージナタリー |language=ja}} The musical latest re-run was March 13–17, 2024 at Kokumin Kyosai Coop Hall/Space Zero in Tokyo.{{Cite web |last=シアターテイメント編集部 |date=2024-03-14 |title=ミュージカル「悪ノ娘」開幕 コメント到着 {{!}} シアターテイメントNEWS |url=https://theatertainment.jp/japanese-play/126060/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=theatertainment.jp |language=ja}}{{Cite web |last=Inc |first=Natasha |title=藍染カレンと三品瑠香でミュージカル「悪ノ娘」再び、共演に浜浦彩乃・山口真帆ら(コメントあり) |url=https://natalie.mu/stage/news/555786 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=ステージナタリー |language=ja}}
In 2023, a Pokémon collaboration was announced and released. Named Project Voltage, it consists of art of Hatsune Miku as different Pokémon type trainers. The art was drawn by six different artists, some of which are prominent artists for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. After the release of all 18 Pokémon type artworks, songs by 18 different producers were released.{{Cite web |title=Pokémon feat. Hatsune Miku Project Voltage - Pokémon Music - Serebii.net |url=https://www.serebii.net/music/projectvoltage/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=www.serebii.net}}
=Music=
{{anchor|Music}}
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| image1 = Vocaloid Miriam Stockley.jpg
| caption1 = Vocaloid Miriam Stockley
| image2 = Thingymajigtus Vocaloid Miriam.ogg
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Vocaloid music was originally considered as an internet underground culture, but with a decade of social change, it has become a popular musical genre.{{cite web|url=https://realsound.jp/2024/04/post-1637804.html|title=「好きな惣菜発表ドラゴン」なぜブームに? 二次創作の輪を広げる独特なボカロ文化|date=2024-04-20|work=Real Sound|language=ja}} Musicians who create songs using the Vocaloid software are called Vocaloid producers.{{cite magazine |title=Ine On His Career as a Vocaloid Producer, Providing Songs to Ado & What Makes Vocaloid Culture So Fascinating |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ine-interview-vocaloid-producer-billboard-japan-1235186944/ |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=2022-12-14}}
The earliest use of Vocaloid-related software used prototypes of Kaito and Meiko and were featured on the album History of Logic System by Hideki Matsutake released on July 24, 2003, and sang the song "Ano Subarashii Ai o Mō Ichido". The first album to be released using a full commercial Vocaloid was A Place in the Sun, which used Leon's voice for the vocals singing in both Russian and English.{{cite web | title = "A Place In The Sun" - A CD Album By Fully Virtual Vocalist | url = http://virartech.com/lelikcd.php | publisher = Virartech | date = 2006 | access-date= July 8, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080513121439/http://www.virartech.com/lelikcd.php | archive-date=2008-05-13}} Miriam has also been featured in two albums, Light + Shade{{cite AV media | people = Mike Oldfield | date = 2005 | title = Light & Shade | url = https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B7HY9M | medium = 2 Audio CD, full album | publisher = Mercury Records | access-date=2014-12-04}} (See also: [{{Discogs master|master=108541|pure_url=yes}} release list] at Discogs) and Continua.{{cite AV media | people = Kellplanet | title = Continua | url = http://www.last.fm/music/Kellplanet/Continua | access-date= July 8, 2010}} (Last.fm) Japanese progressive-electronic artist Susumu Hirasawa used the Lola Vocaloid in the original soundtrack of Paprika by Satoshi Kon.{{cite web |last=Hirasawa |first=Susumu |author-link=Susumu Hirasawa |date=23 August 2008 |url= http://noroom.susumuhirasawa.com/modules/H3/archives/115 |script-title=ja:お姉さんを磨け |trans-title=Refining the Young Lady |website=NO ROOM |series=HIRASAWA三行log [Hirasawa Three-Line log] |language=ja |publisher=Chaos Union |access-date=15 July 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100329114404/http://noroom.susumuhirasawa.com/modules/H3/archives/115 |archive-date=29 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine | last = Tomita | first = Akihiro | script-title=ja:バーチャルな「女性」への欲望とは何か | trans-title=What is the Desire for a Virtual "Woman" | magazine = Eureka Comprehensive Special Issue ♪ Hatsune Miku — an angel that landed on the net | language=ja | volume = 40 | issue = 15 | page = 60 | date = 12 December 2008 | publisher = Seidosha | isbn = 978-4-7917-0187-2}} The software's biggest asset is its ability to see continued usage even long after its initial release date. Leon was featured in the album 32bit Love by Muzehack and Lola in Operator's Manual by anaROBIK; both were featured in these albums six years after they were released.{{cite web | title = anaROBIK - the official anaROBIK | url = http://www.anarobik.com/ | publisher = anaROBIK | access-date= May 17, 2011}} Even early on in the software's history, the music making progress proved to be a valuable asset to the Vocaloid development as it not only opened up the possibilities of how the software may be applied in practice, but led to the creation of further Vocaloids to fill in the missing roles the software had yet to cover. The album A Place in the Sun was noted to have songs that were designed for a male voice with a rougher timbre than the Vocaloid Leon could provide; this later led to the development of Big Al to fulfill this particular role.{{cite web | title = New musical project with Big-Al and Miriam | url = http://www.virartech.com/bigal_miriam.php | publisher = Viratech | date = 2007 | access-date= January 2, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080804055941/http://www.virartech.com/bigal_miriam.php | archive-date=2008-08-04}}
Some of the most popular albums are on the Exit Tunes label, featuring the works of Vocaloid producers in Japan. One of the Vocaloid compilations, Exit Tunes Presents Vocalogenesis feat. Hatsune Miku, debuted at No. 1 on the Japanese weekly Oricon albums chart in May 2010, becoming the first Vocaloid album ever to top the charts.{{cite web | script-title=ja:初音ミク"ボーカロイドアルバム"が徳永を押さえ、初首位 | trans-title=Hatsune Miku "Vocaloid Album" Reaches #1 for the First Time Overtaking Tokunaga | url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/76554/full/ | work = Oricon Style | language=ja | publisher = Oricon | date = May 25, 2010 | access-date= July 1, 2010}} The album sold 23,000 copies in its first week and eventually sold 86,000 copies. The following released album, Exit Tunes Presents Vocalonexus feat. Hatsune Miku, became the second Vocaloid album to top the weekly charts in January 2011.{{cite news | title = Vocalonexus is 2nd Vocaloid Album to Top Weekly Chart | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-01-24/vocalonexus-is-2nd-vocaloid-album-to-top-weekly-chart | work = Anime News Network | date = January 24, 2011 | access-date= January 27, 2011}} Another album, Supercell, by the group Supercell{{cite web | title = supercell feat.初音ミク 1st Album "supercell" Special WEB | trans-title=Supercell feat. Hatsune Miku 1st Album Supercell Special WEB | url = http://www.supercell.jp/1stab/ | language=ja | publisher = Supercell | date = March 2009 | access-date= March 24, 2010}} also features a number of songs using Vocaloids. Upon its release in North America, it became ranked as the second highest album on Amazon's bestselling MP3 album in the international category in the United States and topped the store's bestselling chart for world music on iTunes.{{cite news | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-06-22/supercell-album-with-miku-tops-u.s-itunes-world-music-chart | title = Supercell Album with Miku Tops U.S. iTunes' World Music Chart | work = Anime News Network | date = June 22, 2011 | access-date= June 22, 2011}}
Other albums, such as 19's Sound Factory's First Sound Story{{cite AV media | people = 19's Sound Factory | date=2008-08-20 | title = First Sound Story | url = https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B001CRGV4E/ | medium = Audio CD | language=ja | publisher = MOER | id = {{EAN|4571192980761}}, {{ASIN|B001CRGV4E}} | access-date= July 8, 2010}} and Livetune's Re:Repackage, and Re:Mikus{{cite web | title = livetune feat.初音ミク specialsite | trans-title=livetune feat. Hatsune Miku specialsite | url = http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/livetune_feat_hatsunemiku/repackage/ | language=ja | publisher = Victor Entertainment | date = August 2008 | access-date= July 8, 2010}}
(album data: {{cite AV media | people = Livetune | date=2008-08-27 | title = Re: Package | medium = Audio CD | publisher = Victor Entertainment | id = limited deluxe edition: {{EAN|4988002552764}}, {{ASIN|B001BOBYO0}}}}{{cite web | title = Re: Mikus | url = http://livetune.jp/discography/210 | language=ja | publisher = Livetune | date = March 2009 | access-date=2014-12-04}}
(album data: {{cite AV media | people = Livetune | date=2009-03-25 | title = Re: Mikus | medium = Audio CD | publisher = Victor Entertainment | id = {{EAN|4988002567492}}, {{ASIN|B001Q6IHLG}}}}) also feature Miku's voice. Other uses of Miku include the albums {{Nihongo|Sakura no Ame|桜ノ雨}} by Absorb and {{Nihongo|Miku no Kanzume|みくのかんづめ}} by OSTER-project. Kagamine Len and Rin's songs were covered by Asami Shimoda in the album Prism credited to "Kagamine Rin/Len feat. Asami Shimoda".{{cite web | title = 下田麻美「Prism/鏡音リン・レン feat. 下田麻美」の収録曲が明らかに | trans-title = The Songs on Asami Shimoda's "Prism/Kagamine Rin/Len feat. Asami Shimoda" Are Revealed | url = http://journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2009/05/22/002/index.html | work = Mycom Journal | language=ja | publisher = Mainichi Communications | date = May 22, 2009 | access-date = July 23, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100718005419/http://journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2009/05/22/002/index.html | archive-date = July 18, 2010 | url-status = dead}} The compilation album Vocarock Collection 2 feat. Hatsune Miku was released by Farm Records on December 15, 2010,{{cite web | title = ミクたちボカロのロック曲を集めたアルバム『VOCAROCK collection 2』が発売!! | trans-title=Vocarock Collection 2, an Album Collecting Rock Songs by Vocalo such as Miku, Is Released!! | url = http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/317/317366/ | work = Dengeki Online | language=ja | publisher = ASCII Media Works | date = November 6, 2010 | access-date= February 18, 2011}} and was later featured on the Cool Japan Music iPhone app in February 2011.{{cite web | title = Vocarock II on Cool Japan Music App | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/02/17/vocarock-ii-on-cool-japan-music-app/#more-9853 | work = Vocaloidism | date = February 17, 2011 | access-date= February 17, 2011}} The record label Balloom became the first label to focus solely on Vocaloid-related works and their first release was Unhappy Refrain by the Vocaloid producer Wowaka.{{cite web | title = News | url = http://balloom.net/top.html | language=ja | publisher = Balloom | access-date = March 5, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130527135126/http://balloom.net/top.html | archive-date = May 27, 2013 | url-status = dead }}{{cite AV media | people = Wowaka | date=2011-05-18 | script-title=ja:アンハッピーリフレイン | trans-title=Unhappy Refrain| url = https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B004Q3PZSE/ | medium = 2 Audio CD, best album + remix by v.a. | language=ja | id = {{EAN|4571192982475}} | publisher = Balloom | access-date= March 5, 2011}} Hatsune Miku's North American debut song "World is Mine" ranked at No. 7 in the iTunes world singles ranking in the week of its release.{{cite news | title = Supercell/Miku Song in U.S. iTunes' World Top 10 | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-05-15/supercell/miku-song-in-u.s-itunes-world-top-10 | work = Anime News Network | date = May 15, 2011 | access-date= May 17, 2011}} Singer Gackt also challenged Gackpoid users to create a song, with the prize being 10 million yen, stating if the song was to his liking he would sing and include it in his next album.{{cite web | script-title=ja:がくっぽいどコンテスト | trans-title=Gackpoid Contest | url=http://info.nicovideo.jp/gackpoid/ | language=ja | publisher=Niwango | access-date=May 1, 2011 | archive-date=2017-03-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316144620/http://info.nicovideo.jp/gackpoid/ | url-status=dead }} The winning song "Episode 0" and runner up song "Paranoid Doll" were later released by Gackt on July 13, 2011.{{cite news | title = Gackt Sings 2 Vocaloid Songs for July CD Single | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-05-22/gackt-sings-2-vocaloid-songs-for-july-cd-single | work = Anime News Network | date = May 22, 2011 | access-date= May 23, 2011}} In relation to the Good Smiling racing promotions that Crypton Future Media Vocaloids had played part in, the album Hatsune Miku GT Project Theme Song Collection was released in August 2011 as part of a collaboration.{{cite web | title = Hatsune Miku GT Project Theme Song Collection | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/08/04/hatsune-miku-gt-project-theme-song-collection/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = August 4, 2011 | access-date= August 14, 2011}}
In the month prior to her release, SF-A2 Miki was featured in the album Vocaloids X'mas: Shiroi Yoru wa Seijaku o Mamotteru as part of her promotion. The album featured the Vocaloid singing Christmas songs.{{cite web | script-title = ja:コザキユースケ画、フルカワミキのボーカロイド誕生 | trans-title = The Birth of the Vocaloid Sampled from Miki Furukawa and Illustrated by Yūsuke Kozaki | url = http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/4449185/ | language=ja | work = Comic Natalie | publisher = Livedoor | date = November 13, 2009 | access-date = August 20, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121006043804/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/4449185/ | archive-date = October 6, 2012 | url-status = dead }} Miki was also featured singing the introduction of the game Hello Kitty to Issho! Block Crash 123!!. A young female prototype used for the "project if..." series was used in Sound Horizon's musical work "Ido e Itaru Mori e Itaru Ido", labeled as the "prologue maxi". The prototype sang alongside Miku for their music and is known only by the name "Junger März_Prototype β".{{cite web | title = 「イドへ至る森へ至るイド」 Vocals & Voices の発表!! | trans-title = "Ido e Itaru Mori e Itaru Ido" Vocals & Voices Announcement!! | url = http://soundhorizon.com/information/index.html#100607b | language=ja | publisher = Sound Horizon | date = June 7, 2010 | access-date = July 28, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061202030415/http://www.soundhorizon.com/information/index.html#100607b | archive-date = December 2, 2006 | url-status = dead}}{{cite web | author = Project if...Crypton (@project_if_cfm) | date = June 7, 2010 | title = 確認取れましたので発表を/Sound Horizonさんの「イドへ至る森へ至るイド」に、project if...で制作中のプロトタイプが客演させて頂く事になりました。... | trans-title=Confirmed, so announce: On the Sound Horizon's "The ido reaching to the woods leading to the ido", a prototype under production by the "project if ...", have been allowed to guest appearance. | url = https://twitter.com/project_if_cfm/status/15684228554 | work = Twitter | publisher = Crypton Future Media | language=ja | access-date= July 28, 2010}} For Yamaha's VY1 Vocaloid, an album featuring VY1 was created. The album was released with the deluxe version of the program. It includes various well-known producers from Nico Nico Douga and YouTube and includes covers of various popular and well-known Vocaloid songs using the VY1 product.{{cite web | title = 特典コンピCD【feat.VY1】 | trans-title=Special Combination CD (feat. VY1) | url = http://vocaloidsp-cd.com/ | language=ja | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | access-date= August 14, 2010}} The first press edition of Nekomura Iroha was released with a CD containing her two sample songs "Tsubasa" and "Abbey Fly", and the install disc also contained VSQ files of the two songs for use with her program.{{cite web | title = VOCALOID2 猫村いろは | trans-title=Vocaloid 2 Nekomura Iroha | url = http://www.ah-soft.com/vocaloid/iroha/index.html | publisher = AH -Software | language=ja | access-date= September 16, 2010}} A number of Vocaloid related music, including songs starring Hatsune Miku, were featured in the arcade game Music Gun Gun! 2.{{cite news | title = Daily Video: Music Gun Gun! 2 Game with Touhou Music | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-02-25/daily-video/music-gun-gun-2-game-with-touhou-music | work = Anime News Network | date = February 25, 2011 | access-date= February 27, 2011}} One of the rare singles with the English speaking Sonika, "Suburban Taxi", was released by Alexander Stein and the German label Volume0dB on March 11, 2010.{{cite AV media | people = Alexander Stein | date = March 11, 2010 | title = Suburban Taxi | url = {{Discogs release|2189629|pure_url=yes}} | medium = MP3 File | publisher = Volume0dB| id = UPC3661585326557 | access-date= September 11, 2011}}
To celebrate the release of the Vocaloid 3 software, a compilation album titled The Vocaloids was released. The CD contains 18 songs sung by Vocaloids released in Japan and contains a booklet with information about the Vocaloid characters.{{cite news | title = Eri Kitamura, Lia Turned Into Vocaloid Idol Characters | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-06-08/eri-kitamura-lia-turned-into-vocaloid-idol-characters | work = Anime News Network | date = June 8, 2011 | access-date= June 10, 2011}} Porter Robinson used the Vocaloid Avanna for his studio album Worlds.
Yamaha utilized Vocaloid technology to mimic the voice of deceased rock musician hide, who died in 1998, to complete and release his song "Co Gal" in 2014. The musician's actual voice, breathing sounds and other cues were extracted from previously released songs and a demo and combined with the synthesized voice.{{cite web|title=X Japan's hide Releases 'Last Song' With Vocaloid, 16 Years After Passing Away|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-10-22/x-japan-hide-releases-last-song-with-vocaloid-16-years-after-passing-away/.80236|work=Anime News Network|access-date=April 14, 2018}} Kenji Arakawa, a spokesman for Yamaha, said he believes this to be the first time a work by a deceased artist is commercially available and includes the dead person singing lyrics completed after their death.{{cite news|title=Yamaha Creates New Song with Voice of Deceased Musician |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/10/23/yamaha-creates-new-song-with-voice-of-deceased-musician/|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=October 23, 2014|access-date=April 14, 2018|last1=Hongo|first1=Jun}}
Legal implications
For illustrations of the characters, Crypton Future Media licensed "original illustrations of Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, Meiko and Kaito" under Creative Commons-Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported ("CC BY-NC"), allowing for artists to use the characters in noncommercial adaptations and derivations with attribution.{{cite web | title = For Creators | url = http://piapro.net/en_for_creators.html | publisher = Crypton Future Media | access-date= December 18, 2012}}{{cite web | author = Chiaki Hayashi | date = December 14, 2012 | title = Hatsune Miku Joins the CC Community | url = https://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/35879 | publisher = Creative Commons | access-date= December 18, 2012}}
According to Crypton, because professional female singers refused to provide voice samples, in fear that the software might create clones of their singing voices, Crypton changed their focus from imitating certain singers to creating characteristic vocals. This change of focus led to sampling vocals of voice actors and the Japanese voice actor agency Arts Vision supported the development.{{cite web | last = Okada | first = Yuka | date = February 22, 2008 | script-title=ja:クリプトン・フューチャー・メディアに聞く(2):「初音ミク」ができるまで | trans-title=Interview with Crypton Future Media (2): How Hatsune Miku Was Born | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0802/22/news013.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | page = 1 | access-date= February 28, 2008}} Similar concerns are expressed throughout the other studios using Vocaloid, with Zero-G refusing to release the names of several of their providers.{{cite web | title = Zero-G Interview: Dom Keefe (Vocaloid Production) | url = http://engloids.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/zero-g-interview-dom-keefe-vocaloid-production/#more-383 | work = Engloids (powered by WordPress) | date = January 28, 2010 | access-date= July 8, 2010}} PowerFX only hinted at Sweet Ann's voice provider, and Oliver's voice provider is still unknown. AH-Software named the voice providers for Miki, Kiyoteru, Yukari, Zunko and Iroha, but for legal reasons cannot name Kaai Yuki's voice provider as a minor was the subject of the recordings.
Any rights or obligations arising from the vocals created by the software belong to the software user. Just like any music synthesizer, the software is treated as a musical instrument and the vocals as sound. Under the term of license, the mascots for the software can be used to create vocals for commercial or non-commercial use as long as the vocals do not offend public policy. In other words, the user is bound under the term of license of the software not to synthesize derogatory or disturbing lyrics. On the other hand, copyrights to the mascot image and name belong to their respective studios. Under the term of license, a user cannot commercially distribute a vocal as a song sung by the character, nor use the mascot image on commercial products, without the consent of the studio who owns them.{{cite web | title = Vocaloid FAQ | url = http://www.vocaloid.com/en/general_faq.html | publisher = Yamaha Corporation | access-date= July 13, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110826082508/http://www.vocaloid.com/en/general_faq.html | archive-date=2011-08-26}}
Employees working within the studios are bound by legal implications not to repeat any details given to them from Yamaha on Vocaloid development without Yamaha's permission. They are also not allowed to disclose details of upcoming Vocaloids without permission of the Vocaloid studio nor reveal the identity of the singer if the studio does not make it public.
On November 29, 2010, Crypton started an independent music publication for seeking copyright royalties if songs are used for commercial purposes such as karaoke, because Vocaloid users hardly used the copyright collective Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC).{{cite web | title = クリプトン、VOCALOIDクリエイター向け音楽出版事業を開始 自由な利用と対価の両立目指す | trans-title=Crypton Starts a Music Publication for Vocaloid Creators. They Aim To Achieve A Balance Between Free Uses and Royalties | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1011/29/news095.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | date = November 29, 2010 | access-date= December 2, 2010}} Due to the fact songs using the software are made by independent users, the act of plagiarism has remained a highly controversial issue among Vocaloid users and their published works. This has been a heated issue on both illustrative and musical levels with songs and their publishers being targeted by allegations of stealing the works of others.{{cite web |title=Artist Yunomi accused of Plagiarism |url=http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com/index.php/vocaloid-news/3-artist-yunomi-accused-of-plagiarism/ |work=Vocaloid Creativity Community |date=August 6, 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618161945/http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com:80/index.php/vocaloid-news/3-artist-yunomi-accused-of-plagiarism |archive-date=June 18, 2011}} In January 2011, Japanese boyband KAT-TUN were forced to admit plagiarism against their song "Never×Over~「-」Is Your Part~", after the producer of the song admitted it was influenced by the Vocaloid song "DYE" produced by AVTechNO!, fans having expressed their outrage over the similarities of the two songs.{{cite web | title = KAT-TUNの新曲がボカロ人気曲にそっくり? 作者「ショックすぎる」 | trans-title=KAT-TUN's New Song is Just Like a Popular Vocaloid Song? Author is "Very Shocked" | url = http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1011/30/news052.html | language=ja | publisher = ITmedia Inc | date = November 30, 2010 | access-date= December 1, 2010}} However, AVTechNO! also released a statement explaining that the members of the band were not to blame for this incident.{{cite web | author = Sheren | date = January 20, 2011 | title = 杰尼斯承认KAT-TUN新曲抄袭 原作者安抚歌迷 | trans-title=Johnny's Admits KAT-TUN's New Song Is Plagiarized. Original Creator Calms Fans' Angry | url = http://yule.sohu.com/20110120/n278989846.shtml | language=zh | publisher = Sohu | access-date= January 25, 2011}}
=Political use=
One of the most controversial uses of the legal agreements of any Vocaloid producing studio was from the Democratic Party of Japan, whose running candidate, Kenzo Fujisue, attempted to secure the use of Miku's image in the Japanese House of Councillors election of July 11, 2010. The hope was that the party could use her image to appeal to younger voters. Although Crypton Future Media rejected the party's use of her image or name for political purposes, Fujisue released the song "We Are the One" using her voice but not credited to her on YouTube, by replacing her image with the party's character in the music video.{{cite web | script-title=ja:「初音ミク」で選挙活動計画 「政治利用ダメ」で民主議員頓挫 | trans-title="Hatsune Miku" Election Activity Plan Standstill of a Democratic Diet member with "Don't Use Politics" | url = http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/4858322/ | work = J-Cast | language=ja | publisher = Livedoor | date = June 30, 2010 | access-date= July 3, 2010}}
Reception
Despite the success of the software in Japan, overseas customers have been largely reluctant to embrace it. When interviewed by the Vocaloid producing company Zero-G, music producer Robert Hedin described how the software offered creative freedom. He compared it to auto-tuning software, stating the Vocaloid software itself has enough imperfections to present itself as a singer who does not sound human. However, he states that Vocaloid also does not "snap into tune" like auto-tuning software, which the music industry seems to favor these days.{{cite web | title = When Lola became Ana ? how Zero-G's Vocaloid created a lead singer... | url = http://blog.timespace.com/2011/07/when-lola-became-ana-how-zero-gs-vocaloid-became-a-lead-singer/ | work = Time+Space blog | date = July 15, 2011 | access-date= July 16, 2011}} Giuseppe, who had produced demo songs for both Zero-G and PowerFX Vocaloids, and is aided in the production of Spanish-based Vocaloids, had noted that each Vocaloid package worked the same way. However, each vocal has its own unique personality to it, so choosing one vocal over another is not easy. He hoped that the Vocaloid software will continue to progress forward so long as its userbase continues to push it forward. He also noted that the software's slow start and its early bad reputation was the hardest part for the software to overcome regarding its success, and like any commercial product, a decrease in sales would result in a decrease in development. However, focus had switched from focusing on the vocals to focusing on the boxart character mascot itself at this point.{{cite web | title = Interview: MasterVocaloid/Giuseppe | url = http://engloids.info/feature/interview-mastervocaloid-giuseppe/ | work = Engloids |date=August 2, 2011| access-date= August 7, 2011}}
The CEO of Crypton Future Media noted the lack of interest in Vocaloids overall was put down to the lack of response in the initial Vocaloid software. With regard to the development of the English version of the software specifically, many studios when approached by Crypton Future Media for recommendations towards developing the English Vocaloids had no interest in the software initially, with one particular company representative calling it a "toy". A level of failure was put on Leon and Lola for lack of sales in the United States, putting the blame on their British accents. Crypton praised the value of the English Vocaloids and what they offered to the Japanese users for their capability of offering the English language to them, when it would otherwise be off limits. As Hatsune Miku was responsible for making the software famous, her voice has become the most commonly associated with the Vocaloid software and divides opinions of critics both overseas and within Japan on their opinions towards her and the software.{{cite web |title=French TV show insults Miku |url=http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com/index.php/vocaloid-news/50-french-tv-show-insults-miku |work=Vocaloid Creativity Community |date=October 28, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106075401/http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com:80/index.php/vocaloid-news/50-french-tv-show-insults-miku |archive-date=November 6, 2010}}{{cite web | title = The GazettE's Aoi stirs up debate about Vocaloid artists through controversial tweets | url = http://www.tokyohive.com/2010/11/the-gazettes-aoi-stirs-up-debate-about-vocaloid-artists-through-controversial-tweets/ | work = Tokyo Hive | date = November 29, 2010 | access-date= December 1, 2010}} Crypton blamed a fear of robots on part of the lack of response on the sale of the software overseas and expressed that there was also a general "anti-Vocaloid" point of view amongst some cultures and communities, although he also noted that he hoped in the future this would change as the software continued to be developed.{{cite web |author=Utaenai |date=August 13, 2010 |title=It's a toy! |url=http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com/index.php/vocaloid-news/15-qits-a-toyq |work=Vocaloid Creativity Community |access-date=September 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515030526/http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com:80/index.php/vocaloid-news/15-qits-a-toyq |archive-date=May 15, 2011}} Prior to the release of the Hatsune Miku product, Crypton Future Media had also noted there was some criticism at choosing to release the original Vocaloid engine as a commercial licensing product, although felt that the choice was for the better of the engine. Furthermore, it was noted that the original Vocaloid engine felt more like a prototype for future engine versions.{{cite web | title = (Vocaloid2情報)今日が最後の夜・・・ | trans-title = (Vocaloid 2 News) This is the Last Night... | url = http://blog.crypton.co.jp/mp/2007/07/vocaloid2-6.html | language=ja | publisher = Crypton Future Media | date = July 12, 2007 | access-date = May 13, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140107222015/http://blog.crypton.co.jp/mp/2007/07/vocaloid2-6.html | archive-date = January 7, 2014 | url-status = dead }}
Even with the lack of success for the English version of the software in the United States, Crypton Future Media reported that about half of music downloads at the iTunes Store for songs of Crypton's label Karent, published by Japanese producers, have been from overseas purchases, with sales from American consumers making up the majority of percentages of overseas sales.{{cite web | title = 海外でのVOCALOID楽曲の人気について | trans-title=Concerning the Popularity of Vocaloid Music Overseas | url = http://blog.piapro.jp/2010/07/vocaloid-1.html | language=ja | publisher = Crypton Future Media | date = July 23, 2010 | access-date= September 5, 2010}} Despite experiencing good sales in Europe, it was reported the software is failing to attract a satisfactory level of attention, and software developers are now setting their sights on trying to overturn the lack of interest in the software in Europe.{{cite web |title=Europe doesn't like Vocaloid? |url=http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com/index.php/vocaloid-news/44-europe-doesnt-like-vocaloid |work=Vocaloid Creativity Community |date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=October 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515030531/http://vocaloid-creativity.totalh.com:80/index.php/vocaloid-news/44-europe-doesnt-like-vocaloid |archive-date=May 15, 2011}}
Hatsune Miku picked up second place in a 2010 Japanese Yahoo! poll on Japanese gamers' favorite characters, owed to her starring role in Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA 2nd.{{cite web | script-title=ja:あなたが好きなゲームキャラクターは? | trans-title=What Are the Game Characters You Like? | url = http://event.yahoo.co.jp/banduke2010/game02/index.html | language=ja | publisher = Yahoo! Japan | access-date= January 4, 2011}} CNN's website CNNGo declared Hatsune Miku as one of Japan's best in their "Tokyo best and worst of 2010", listing her as the "Best new virtual singer for the otaku generation".{{cite web | last = Robson | first = Daniel | date = December 27, 2010 | title = Tokyo's best and worst of 2010 | url = http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/life/year-preview/2010-tokyos-best-worst-and-weirdest-691717 | publisher = CNN | access-date= January 20, 2011}} Clash magazine labeled Hatsune Miku and the Vocaloid software as the future of music.{{cite magazine | title = Clash Fashion Issue Out Now: With our virtual cover star, Hatsune Miku | url = http://www.clashmusic.com/news/clash-fashion-issue-out-now | magazine = Clash | date = February 2, 2011 | access-date= February 25, 2011}}; an issuance notification of {{cite magazine | title = The Fashion Issue: The Future of Music ? Hatsune Miku and the synthetic pop phenomenon |magazine=Clash | issue = 59 | date = March 2011}}
See also excerpt of cover story by Karley Sciortino: [http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/pixel-perfect-meet-hatsune-miku Pixel Perfect - Meet Hatsune Miku: Japan's Pop megastar] Based on a December 16, 2023 survey conducted by Nikkei Entertainment, the fanbase of Vocaloid within Japan has an average age of 21 years, and a male-to-female ratio of approximately 50:50.{{cite web|url=https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/00960/00001/|title=今、本当に推されている「人」「作品」が分かる 最旬"推し"新潮流|date=February 2, 2024|author1=Ayase Hirashima|author2=Eri Hatano|website=Nikkei Cross Trend|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222142208/https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/00960/00001/|archive-date=February 22, 2024}}
Vocaloid was sold as a product for professional musicians, and although there were many producers using the software within Japan by 2011, a report was released detailing the true reflections of the Vocaloid craze. It was conducted independently by fans of the Vocaloid software and detailed the popularity of certain Vocaloids over others. Most Vocaloid related videos struggled to get over 5,000 views and the most popular producers gaining the most interest over lesser popular producers. In order of the most video uploads were Hatsune Miku (first), Kagamine Rin (second), Gumi (third), Megurine Luka (fourth), Kagamine Len (fifth) and Kaito (sixth) had the most videos uploaded related to them, while all other Vocaloids had less than 1,000 uploads related to them. This was not true for all the calculations they ran to determine the popularity, including average and mean views and mylists. In the end, only Gumi and the Kagamine software packages managed to stay on the top six lists of all their calculations, with popular Vocaloid Hatsune Miku failing to make it on the mean average top six list calculations for the study period.{{cite web | title = The Harsh Realities of VOCALOID on Nico | url = http://www.vocaloidism.com/2012/01/04/the-harsh-realities-of-vocaloid-on-nico/ | work = Vocaloidism | date = January 4, 2012 | access-date = January 10, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120111100530/http://www.vocaloidism.com/2012/01/04/the-harsh-realities-of-vocaloid-on-nico/ | archive-date = January 11, 2012 | url-status = dead}} In 2013, it was estimated that about 30% of all videos updated each month on Niconico were Vocaloid related.{{cite web | script-title=ja:ボカロ2013年投稿数と投稿者数 | trans-title=2013 Vocaloid post count and contributor count | url=http://ch.nicovideo.jp/kadotanimitsuru/blomaga/ar428894 | language=ja | publisher=Niconico | access-date=January 13, 2014 | archive-date=2014-01-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114224706/http://ch.nicovideo.jp/kadotanimitsuru/blomaga/ar428894 | url-status=dead }}
Despite its growing popularity as a franchise, by December 2015, Vocaloid was still struggling to make an impact in the west; Hatsune Miku also did not make as much of an impact. Concerns were mostly focused on Vocaloid itself at this point. It was also reported that more Japanese companies were growing protective of their properties, with Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X, which was released at the time, being the center of one such conflict of copyright interest. The market for such games was described as a "niche audience in the west".{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/youtube-copyright-nonsense-hitting-yet-another-communit-1745318795|title=YouTube Copyright Nonsense Hitting Yet Another Community: Hatsune Miku Fans|publisher=Kotaku|date=November 30, 2015|access-date=December 2, 2015}}
See also
{{Portal|Music}}
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
- Auto-Tune
- Cantor
- CeVIO
- Computer music
- Dōjin music
- Hatsune Miku
- List of Vocaloid products
- Macne series
- Kagerou Project
- Nyan Cat
- Reol
- Software synthesizer
- Speech synthesis
- UTAU
- Virtual idol
- Voiceroid
{{div col end}}
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
{{col div}}
;Technologies
- {{cite journal |ref={{sfnref|Bonada et al.|2001}} |last1=Bonada |first1=Jordi |display-authors=etal |year=2001 |title=Singing voice synthesis combining Excitation plus Resonance and Sinusoidal plus Residual Models |url=http://mtg.upf.edu/files/publications/icmc2001-celma.pdf |journal=Proc. Of ICMC |citeseerx=10.1.1.18.6258 }}
- {{cite journal |last1=Bonada |first1=Jordi |last2=Loscos |first2=Alex |year=2003 |title=Sample-based singing voice synthesizer by spectral concatenation |url=http://mtg.upf.edu/node/322 |journal=Proc. of the Stockholm Music Acoustics Conference (SMAC) 03 |pages=439–442}}
- {{cite journal |ref={{sfnref|Kenmochi|Ohshima|, Interspeech 2007}} |author1=Kenmochi, Hideki |author2=Ohshima, Hayato |title=VOCALOID - Commercial singing synthesizer based on sample concatenation |url=http://www.interspeech2007.org/Technical/ssc_files/Yamaha/VOCALOID_Interspeech.pdf |periodical=Interspeech 2007 |access-date=January 9, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315073026/http://www.interspeech2007.org/Technical/ssc_files/Yamaha/VOCALOID_Interspeech.pdf |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}}
- {{Cite magazine |ref={{sfnref|DTM magazine|, January 2008 Special ed.}} |title=Interview of Hideki Kenmochi |language=ja |magazine=DTM magazine (January 2008 Special ed. The Vocaloid CV01 Hatsune Miku) |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=36–39 |date=January 2008 |publisher=Terajima Joho Kikaku |asin=B000YKXQTI}}
- {{cite journal |ref={{sfnref|Kenmochi|Ohshima|, SIGMUS 2008}} |author1=Kenmochi, Hideki |author2=Ohshima, Hayato |title=Singing synthesis system "Vocaloid" Current situation and todo lists |url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/lognavi?name=nels&lang=en&type=pdf&id=ART0008690915 |format=PDF |language=ja |journal=IPSJ SIG Notes |volume=2008 |issue=12 |pages=51–56 |date=February 8, 2008 |issn=0919-6072 |publisher=SIG Music and Computer (SIGMUS), Information Processing Society of Japan (IPSJ) |id=2008-MUS-74-(9) }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- {{cite book |ref={{sfnref|Kenmochi|, DCAJ 2008}} |author=Kenmochi, Hideki |chapter=第III章 歌唱合成システムVOCALOIDと初音ミク [Part 3. Singing Synthesis System VOCALOID and Hatsune MIKU] |title=デジタルコンテンツの知的財産権に関する調査研究:進化するコンテンツビジネスモデルとその収益性・合法性—VOCALOID2、初音ミク、ユーザ、UGMサイト、権利者—報告書 |trans-title=The Research and Study about the Intellectual Property Rights of the Digital Contents: Developing Content Business Models and these Profitabilities and Legalities—Vocaloid 2, Hatsune Miku, Users, UGM Sites and Rightful Claimants—The Report |chapter-url=http://www.dcaj.or.jp/project/report/pdf/2007/dc08_03.pdf |language=ja |publisher=Digital Content Association of Japan (DCAJ) |date=March 2008 |pages=33–50 |access-date=January 16, 2011}}
- {{cite journal |ref={{sfnref|Kenmochi|, HIS 2008}} |last=Kenmochi |first=Hideki |date=May 25, 2008 |title=Singing Synthesis: VOCALOID and its Technologies |url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/10021104869 |language=ja |journal=Journal of the Human Interface Society |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=161–164 |issn=1344-7254}}
- {{cite book |last1=Kenmochi |first1=Hideki |last2=Fujimoto |first2=Ken |title=ボーカロイド技術論: 歌声合成の基礎とその仕組み |trans-title=Vocaloid Technological Theory - Foundation and mechanism of singing voice synthesis |publisher= Yamaha Music Media| location=Tokyo |date=2014 |isbn=978-4-636-89996-2}}
- {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|Red Bull Music Academy|2014}} |last=Michel |first=Patrick St. |title=The Making of Vocaloid |url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2014/11/vocaloid-feature |publisher=Red Bull Music Academy |date=November 11, 2014 |access-date=November 27, 2022}}
;Derivative products
- {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|UTAU|2008}} |author=Ameya/Ayame |date=2008 |title=歌声合成ツールUTAU |trans-title=Vocal Synthesis Tool UTAU |url=http://utau2008.web.fc2.com/ |language=ja |publisher=Vocal Synthesis Tool UTAU |access-date= July 9, 2010}}
- {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|MikuMikuDance|2008}} |author=Higuchi, Masaru (Yu) |title=MikuMikuDance |url=http://www.geocities.jp/higuchuu4/index_e.htm |work=Vocaloid Promotion Video Project (powered by GeoCities) |date=2008-02-24 |access-date=July 9, 2010}}
- {{cite web |ref={{sfnref|VocaListener|2009}} |author1=Nakano, Tomoyasu |author2=Goto, Masataka |date=July 6, 2009 |title=VocaListener: A Singing-to-Singing Synthesis System Based on Iterative Parameter Estimation |url=http://staff.aist.go.jp/t.nakano/VocaListener/ |access-date=July 27, 2011}}
- {{cite web |ref=none |author1=Nakano, Tomoyasu |author2=Goto, Masataka |date=2008 |title=VocaListener(ぼかりす): ユーザ歌唱の歌い方を真似る歌声合成パラメータを自動推定するシステム |trans-title=VocaListener (Bokarisu): A system for automatic parameter estimation of the singing voice synthesis, for imitating the user's singing style |url=http://staff.aist.go.jp/m.goto/VocaListener/index-j.html |language=ja |access-date=July 9, 2010}}
{{col div end}}
Further reading
{{col div}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=Kenmochi |first=Hideki |title=Singing Synthesis and its Application (
Frontiers of Music Information Processing Technologies) |url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110007339773 |language=ja |magazine=IPSJ Magazine |volume=50 |issue=8 |pages=723–728 |date=August 2009 |location=Japan |publisher=Information Processing Society of Japan (IPSJ) |issn=0447-8053}} - {{cite web |title=DTM MAGAZINE 音楽情報処理最前線! |trans-title=Frontiers of Music Information Processing! on DTM magazine |url=http://www.sigmus.jp/?page_id=103 |format=archive |language=ja |publisher=Terajima Joho Kikaku / IPSJ SIG Music and Computer (SIGMUS) |access-date=2014-12-04 |archive-date=2022-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331085021/http://www.sigmus.jp/?page_id=103 |url-status=dead }}
- {{Cite magazine |last1=Nakano |first1=Tomoyasu |last2=Goto |first2=Masataka |title=音楽情報処理最前線!VOCALOIDに歌を真似させるVocaListener |trans-title=Frontiers of Music Information Processing! VocaListener to make the Vocaloid imitate a given song |url=http://www.sigmus.jp/PAPERS/DTMM200808nakano.pdf |language=ja |magazine=DTM magazine |volume=15 |issue=9 |pages=72–73 |date=August 2008 |publisher=Terajima Joho Kikaku |asin=B001B7MJR8 |access-date=2011-01-19 |archive-date=2022-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510220826/http://www.sigmus.jp/PAPERS/DTMM200808nakano.pdf |url-status=dead }}
;Feature article
- {{cite news |last=Santos |first=Carlo |date=July 15, 2011 |title=The World Is Hers: How Hatsune Miku Is Changing Everything |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2011-07-15 |department=feature article |work=Anime News Network}}
- {{cite book |editor-first1=Sheila |editor-last1=Whiteley |editor-first2=Shara |editor-last2=Rambarran |title=The Oxford Handbook of Music and Virtuality |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2016-02-11 |isbn=978-0-19-932128-5 |chapter=Vocaloids, Holograms, and Virtual Pop Stars |pages=97–166}}
;Review
- {{cite news |last=Santos |first=Carlo |date=May 14, 2013 |title=Mikunopolis in Los Angeles Blu-Ray |format=review |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/mikunopolis-in-los-angeles/blu-ray |work=Anime News Network}}
{{col div end}}
External links
{{Commons category|Vocaloids}}
- {{Official website|https://www.vocaloid.com/en/}}
- [http://vocaloid.wikia.com Vocaloid Wiki]
- [http://www.y2lab.com/ Y2 Project] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Vocaloid|state=expanded}}
{{Speech synthesis}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2000 establishments in Spain
Category:2004 establishments in Japan