VOCALOID

http://www.vocaloid.com/en/about/

Vocaloid, though started out in Japan, has become widely popular around the world. Even now there are many companies that are using the more famous of the Vocaloid “characters” in their commercials ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaA2liN9LKM). Toyota is only one of the may companies that has used Hatsune Miku, who is widely considered one of the most easily recognizable, even among people that are not fans of Vocaloid or the ones that do not know what Vocaloid even is.

Before i go any further though i’m sure there are alot of you wondering, “What is Vocaloid?” “Is this just some other anime or what??”

Vocaloid is a singing voice synthesis and the name of the software application created by Yamaha. It allows the user to inert melodies and lyrics in order to create their own songs without needing to sing their own lyrics or find someone to do so for them. The singing synthesis is produced by a library of voices that can be changed for each song in order to get the pitch that you want for that particular song that you are creating. Vocaloids such as Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, and Megurine Luka are all “pre-made” Vocaloids that can be used for your songs, as well as making your own pitches. The voices of Vocaloid come from clips of many singers. So this software is pretty nifty for someone who loves to compose music, but does not want to hire someone to sing their songs that they compose. The software is a bit pricey, but once you have it is yours.

Now that we know a little bit about what Vocaloid is let’s talk a little bit about the fandom. Vocaloid has an ever growing fanbase and is becoming quite popular here in America. Some of the more well-known Vocaloids are Hatsune Mike, Megurine Luka, Kaito, Meiko, Megpoid Gumi, and of course the Kagamine twins Rin and Len. Though these are not all of the Vocaloids these are just some of the few that seem to be the most heard of. Though, out of the ones listed Hatsune Mike is by far the most recognizable to fans and non-fans alike.

Vocaloid, though started out as a software program, has so much more merchandising in the world than just the software itself. Plushies, keychains, shirts, cups, costumes, etc; anything that you can think of, you can find it somewhere with a Vocaloid on it. They have even expanded to having live concerts with holographic projections of the singers on the stage backed up by a real live band (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwozsLeKqwM). Thousands of people attend these concerts, so it is safe to assume that they are widely popular. Some people think it is odd to go see Holograms perform, but i mean come on that kind of technology isn’t something you see everyday. They look like they are right on the stage and not just on a projector screen. I know i would pay to go and see it if i had the chance.

The future of Vocaloid is looking pretty bright. The technology just gets better and better with the ever growing expansion of computers and the advances in computer software technology. Yamaha is hoping to make the Vocaloid software as “easy as playing a piano” someday. That way all composers can easily use the software to create their own works of art. Also, Yamaha is always making new “pre-made” Vocaloids to be used in order to adapt to a wider variety of audiences. Like i stated above, the future looks bright for this software and fandom.

I think that just about covers what i have to say. if i say too much more i will be just simply gushing about how much love i have for the Vocaloids. So this his been your short history of Vocaloid, hope you enjoyed. Sara out.