Vocaloid - A Closet Filled With Voices

Imagine a hit song sung by a computer or a sold out concert without a human performance. Imagine sitting in your room and having the capability to compose and synthesize a song from your laptop. This is all possible with Vocaloid. 

Vocaloid is a Japanese music software sensation that is changing how music is produced. According to Vocaloid’s website: “Vocaloid is a technology for singing voice synthesis developed by Yamaha, and the name of this software application. The software allows users to input melody and lyrics in order to synthesize singing. In other words, with this technology, singing can be produced without a singer.” [1]

Released in 2004, Vocaloid is a singing voice synthesis that holds vocal sounds in a voice banks. Unlike Apple’s Garage Band, the Vocaloid user is not limited to singing with his/her own voice and is not dependent on others to create a full song. Vocaloid singer options are broken down into characters that are associated with unique sounds, styles and have their own fan base. With the different characters, they have different voices.

The software has been able to capitalize on these characters by creating a storyline between them with relationships and drama. Additionally, the characters are trademarked and produced into figurines and used as graphics for many products. 

Vocaloid attracts similar audience as an Anime convention or Comic Con, with a large following who has interest in computing, music and graphic design. 

This software has created the ability to perform hologram concerts and there are animated music videos. Can this technology pick up a following to compete with the music competitions we’re obsessed with like The Voice?

This opens the door to skillful musicians and creative types who lack vocal talents as well as computer programmers who want to let out their inner rock star. The composer has the power to create the song with any pitch, voice, genre and tone they like to fit the song best. They can create their song from scratch using human sounds available through the software and explore the possibilities of making music without actually singing. Then, fans are able to download the songs for a fee.

Some of the Vocaloid songs are a reaction to politics in Japan and used as social commentary. The school system in Japan is known for enforcing harsh discipline and this video below gives you an insight into a new cultures way of reaction to all of this. 

Is this a new genre in the music industry? Does it alter the traditional roles of music production? I think in some ways yes, as it does take away the relationship between the musician and composer. Also, some songs can sound a bit robotic since it looses the authentic human sound that often makes the listener feel an emotional reaction. However, in the music we listen too we can hear that the musicians synthesize sounds and there’s a difference between recorded songs and live performances.

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[1] http://ex.nicovideo.jp/vocaloid/about