What’s the deal with Vocaloids? A Primer to the Pop Idols of the Future.

With the pandemic keeping us all inside (if we’re responsible) many people have been picking up new hobbies. Tabletop RPG’s… Creating Games… We’ve talked about hobbies all throughout this semester, so as the station for the students, why not cap it off with talking about songwriting and creating music? For those who want to make music, the creation software, from Garageband, to FLstudio, to just recording your friends in your garage are methods as old as time. There is one hurdle a lot of people find though; while they can lay a beat, not everyone has the chops to sing.

That is where Vocaloid comes in.

Vocaloid is a software series (now in its 5th version) created by Yamaha that acts as a “Virtual singer” to add vocals to your song. Real vocalists will record themselves making different syllable sounds, that are packaged together into “Voicebanks.” You can then string these syllables together to create words, as well as edit their pitch, length, vibrato, and more! The end result is a vocal track with its own charm and talent!

Vocaloid originated in Japan, with the earliest works being posted (and still being posted) on the Japanese video-sharing site “Niconico” However, they were (and still are) being reposted by the original artists to YouTube with millions – of – views.

Voicebanks aren’t just a voice for you to play around with though. Each Voicebank is packaged and marketed as “the voice” of its own character (these characters are also called “Vocaloids.”) Originating in Japan means that these characters are steeped in anime culture and artistry, with the most famous of which being “Hatsune Miku.” A Character you may have heard of from Anamanaguchi’s song of the same name. But Miku has become more than just a popular voicebank. She and other Vocaloids like her have become a sensation, spawning Video Games, Merchandising, even a Concert Tour!

As Vocaloids began to make their way to English speaking countries thanks to the American-Japanese cultural exchange, more and more independent artists have taken to using the program to give a little life to their music. Often basing most to all of their entire musical library around being a “Vocaloid Producer.” In that musical circle, producers are often signified by a mononym name followed by a “-P” (which stands for producer.) However, in the modern day, this is becoming more uncommon for English producers, more commonly being a naming trend for Japanese producers.

Working independently to create the music (and often times the video to go alongside the song) independent producers are their own corner of the “indie music” scene that are as high in support for one another as they are in creativity; creating not just Pop Singles but even Rock Hits, Electronic Rhythms, Gothic Experiences, and a lot more if you decide to delve into the vast world of vocaloids- both English and Japanese.

Of course, with any professional-grade software, both the software itself and the licensing for the voicebanks can drive up a pretty penny. For those who don’t have the financial means to purchase, and don’t wish to take up the high seas of software piracy, there are alternatives. Both “UTAU” and “SynthV” are software acting as a free alternative to Vocaloid (though not without their drawbacks, as UTAU requires some computer wizardry to work, and SynthV also requires license purchasing if you plan to make money off your music; even if the base software is free.)

A niche subgenre for sure, but the Vocaloid circle is one full of passion, new creative artists, and unique sounding music you won’t find anywhere else if you take a walk through what it has to offer; or at the very least, you won’t be so confused when your friend mentions going to a Hatsune Miku concert.

Comments