What is VOCALOID? From explanation of Vocalo culture to how to use VOCALOID. Instructor : KagomeP

KagomeP’s in-depth explanation of VOCALOIDs!

【Profile】He has started working as Vocalo-P in 2009, and belongs to a character produce group for singing voice synthesis software called “VOCALOMAKETS”. So far he participated development of “Yuzuki Yukari” and “Kizuna Akari”.

Hi! My name is KagomeP! It’s been 15 years already since I started working as Vocalo-P, and today I’m honored to have this opportunity. I’m going to explain the history of Vocalo and how to use VOCALOID from my point of view!

What is the meaning of VOCALOID and Vocalo-P?

So for the past few years the word “Vocalo-P” has become very popular. You can hear songs by these Vocalo-P quite frequently in the TV, especially Anime as opening theme or ending theme, and people may think Vocalo-P might be just “guys who makes music only”.

The term “Vocalo-P” is a combination of “Vocalo,” which is a short for VOCALOID, and “P,” the first letter of the word “Producer. They not only compose music using VOCALOIDs, but also write lyrics and arrange music, some even make their own music videos and publish their works on video posting websites. Vocalo-Ps are literally “Producers of the VOCALOID”.

The term “Vocalo-P” was originally created to describe people who use the VOCALOID, a singing voice synthesizing software developed by Yamaha Corporation, to publish their works on video posting websites. VOCALOID is software that runs on PCs, smartphones, tablets, and other devices and it sings every notes exactly as you programmed. The number of these people who have their songs sung by Vocalo increased dramatically after the release of “Hatsune Miku” in 2007, and it has continued to grow and develop till now.

Incidentally, it is said terms like “xxP” itself did not originate from VOCALOID world. If you are interested, why don’t you check it out?

Why VOCALOIDs have become so popular?

“Development of the Internet” and “lowered cost of producing music on computers” played huge role for VOCALOID’s development. In the past (about 20 years ago or so though), there are very limited numbers of people around you who would listen to your music, such as your school friends or colleagues at work. Although it was possible to spread them to some extent via the Internet, it was still mainly a small community at that time.

Even if you wanted your works to be listened by many people, it was extremely hard to achieve that wish. But, with the development of the Internet, now posting works on video positing websites means people all around the world can see them. Creators who were aware of this situation change had started gathering video posting websites to present their works. Also for the listeners the music spun by various Vocalo-Ps on the Internet is unlike anything else they have ever heard before. The variety of songs by VOCALOIDs attracted people from all over the world and attracted them to video posting websites.

On the other hand, “making music on a computer” used to be impossible thing for home computers, and dream-like technology. Even having a computer sing for you was pie in the sky. However, with the evolution of computers and music production software, we have reached the point where “anyone can create complete music, including singing, with just a single computer”. These two factors led to the birth of VOCALOID and eventually Vocalo-Ps.

VOCALOID, which used to be just one of musical instrument, now has become more human-like through the use of AI technology. Songs utilizing VOCALOID are pursuing more new expressions and styles, and continue evolving.

How has Vocalo Culture evolved?

The most surprising thing about VOCALOID culture is that generational changes occur in a very fast cycle!　Every year, many new Vocalo-Ps are born, and the variety of VOCALOID songs increases acordingly. I started my career as a “Vocalo-P” in 2009, and kids at that time who loved VOCALOID have grown up and now became active Vocalo-Ps, and they often tell me, “I used to listen to your songs when I was a kid!”　I think this active metabolism and generational changes are keys of the secret to the continuous development of VOCALOID and its surrounding culture.

As a side note, at the time of Hatsune Miku’s first release, many of the Vocalo-Ps were 5-10 years older than me, like in their 30s or 40s (now mid 40s or 50s). On the other hand, I was surprised at heart to see many of older people around me had become obsessed with VOCALOID, starting with Hatsune Miku (eventually I was influenced by them and start my own VOCALOID journey).

Those older people watched sci-fi movies when they were young, and dreamed of a future where “machines sing songs”. And for them, Hatsune Miku was “the realization of their childhood dreams”. No wonder why they were so enthusiastic about it, right?　I believe that the “enthusiasm” of those who were fascinated by Hatsune Miku in 2007 has continued to the present beyond generations.

5 KagomeP’s recommended Voice Banks

Yuzuki Yukari

She was born from a character production group called “VOCALOMAKETS”, which I belong to. Every single members of VOCALOMAKETS is Vocalo-P, so we had a lot of discussions and created this “true VOCALOID that Vocalo-Ps want to use“. The gentle singing voice and the feeling of breath exhaling are the characteristics of her, and especially the way of “weakening” the breath at the end of each word has a unique texture.

Kizuna Akari

She is also from VOCALOMAKETS. Again we had a lot of discussion, sometimes it got really heated up, a bit too much occasionally, so her character and singing voice are filled with our commitment. In contrast to Yuzuki Yukari she has energetic singing voice, and I love it personally!

Kagamine Rin

She is the next VOCALOID from Crypton Future Media after Hatsune Miku, and she is also my favorite. She has a very powerful, bright, and childlike voice, and is a very fun character to make sing because her voice really cut through the mix!

galaco

This voice bank is based on the voice of a real actress Kou Shibasaki. A latest version for VOCALOID6 was just released!　I like her shiny brilliant character design!　I also think that her calm and full voice is very attractive.

HARUKA

She is my favorite default VOCALOID6 voice bank. She has straight voice and reply easy to work with.

Why VOCALOID6 is awesome

Equipped with latest AI generated Voice

Starting with VOCALOID6, you can now use voices that utilize the latest AI technology. Singing voice that has become more lively and vivid by learning the “habits” of human singing, and in addition that all AI voice banks are multi-lingual!　If you want to add English phrases to your song, you do not need to switch voice banks as you have done. Moreover, since multiple voice banks are included in the box, you can enjoy high level singing voice synthesis from the day one.

Easy transition from current music production software (DAW)

　VOCALOID6 is one of the few software that can be used to create singing voices in the same way as other music production software (DAW), such as STEINBERG Cubase, PRESONUS Studio One, and ABLETON Live. It feels like an extension of the DAW you normally use. It can be launched as a VST/AU plug-in on music DAW software as well, and you can create singing voices seamlessly without stopping music production.

　AI synthesized voice synthesis software in particular often employs a unique operation system that makes you confused at first, but I am glad that VOCALOID6 has really smooth transition.

Equipped with many effects, and really easy for those who unfamiliar with mixing!

It is equipped with high quality effects, and you can complete mixing tasks related to vocals within VOCALOID6. There are also many presets included, all of which are specialized for VOCALOID mixing, so even those unfamiliar with mixing will not be lost and feel confident.

Explaining VOCALOID6’s parameters.

VOCALOID6 has a variety of functions for singing voice synthesis. Many of the functions are unfamiliar compared to previous VOCALOID editors, but you will get used to them quickly.

Basic operation of VOCALOID6

To make VOCALOID sing, first change to the pencil tool and write notes by drag & drop.

Then you can put lyrics by double clicking a note. Just type “Plug Plus Dayo” onto the first note the the software automatically allocates each syllables to rest of notes, so this is basically you need to do! Easy enough, right?

By the way, you can use English and Chinese as well as Japanese for the lyrics. So with VOCALOID6-compatible AI voice banks, you can make songs with English mixed in seamlessly, like this.

Editing Function

AI Voice Banks sing lively as it is, but you can further personalize it by using the editing functions.

First, pitch editing. By dragging and dropping the ● that appears around the note, you can adjust the strength of the singing nuance. Expressions such as bend up can be added here.

Then edit the volume of the voice (expression). By dragging and dropping the ● that appears above the note, you can adjust the volume at the beginning and end of the pronunciation. You can change “ah” to “ahh! or “ahhh—-” pretty easily.

Use the timing tools to change the timing of voice pronunciation. With VOCALOID6 you can change not only the position of the note itself, but also timing of the pronunciation without moving the note. When you hear the word “pronounce timing,” you may think of it as a tool to adjust only the “beginning” of a note, but actually changing the “end” of a note is probably used more often. For example, if you type “Kito” and want the lyrics to be sung as “Kitto,” you can shorten the end of the “Ki” then it will sing “Kito” as “Kitto”.

And the vibrato tool finally. By using this tool mainly on extended notes, the pitch of the pronunciation can be shaken to achieve a more human-like “good singing voice”.

TAKE Function

VOCALOID6 adds a “Take” feature that generates “different vocal parts with slightly different pitch and timing” from the same voice bank. This seems minor but really handy function from the perspective of someone who knows the professional scene! You can employ the technique called “doubling” (recording the same vocal twice and layering them on top of each other to create the depth) with a synthetic voice.

For example, by creating two identical vocal harmonies with different takes and layer them with panned left and right, now you are able to have the main vocal in the middle and theharmonies naturally spread out to the left and right surrounding the main vocal. You wanna try it now, don’t you?

ROBOT VOICE Function

The “T-Pain effect” is heard everywhere in today’s music. This voice effect is created by intentionally make the pitch curve of the singing voice linear, and VOCALOID6’s ROBOT VOICE function can reproduce such effect voice. There are three levels of effect depth, and the pitch can be edited again after applying ROBOT function.

BREATH Function

VOCALOID6 can automatically add “breaths” to the singing. By switching the frequency of the BREATH function you can match it to the song.

VOCALO CHANGER Function

Another unique feature of VOCALOID6 is the VOCALO CHANGER, which loads real singing voices and imitates them with VOCALOID6 voice bank. So you can make whatever Vocalo you like sing like real singing voice you loaded. This is a very accurate and interesting feature. It would be interesting to use VOCALO CHANGER to create something not singing, like “storytelling” or “rap”, which are a bit difficult to do with VOCALOID.

After reading this far, what do you think?　Don’t you think “Make Vocalo sing” is more like “I might be able to do!” thing?　If you feel like this, why don’t you consider becoming a Vocalo-P?　We look forward to seeing more Vocalo-Ps and more variety of music being created in the future!

VOCALOID6 for Windows / macOS

■Bundled voice banks：16（VOCALOID6：AKITO、ALLEN、ASAHI、HARUKA、LUCAS、MICHELLE、SAKURA、SHION、ASAHI、TAKU、YUINA、NAOKI）（VOCALOID5：Amy、Chris、 Kaori、Ken）
※You can use VOCALOID3, VOCALOID4, VOCALOID5’s voice banks and project file（VSQX、VPR）
■Operating environment：Windows10, 11 （64bit）,macOS 13（Ventura）,14（Sonoma）,15（Sequoia）
■Specifications：https://www.vocaloid.com/en/vocaloid6/specs/