Gizmodo: vocaloid

Girlbot Sings, Looks Better than Britney Spears

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:12:00 EDT

Yes, that's right: The HRP-4C girlbot with Yamaha's Vocaloid voice synth software is way better than Britney Spears. But then again, that's not saying a lot, except that I will never do the Zoltan with Britney. [Network World]

Vocaloid 3: Japanese Synthesized Singing Sensation Now Knows English

Elaine Chow — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:30:00 EST

Vocaloid, the super-popular singing synthesizer from Japan has now gotten an update—and it (she) is bilingual! Meet Megurine Luka, who's "moody and husky" voice is now yours to command in both Japanese and English.

Vocaloids 1 and 2, featuring much higher-pitched robotic singers became the #1 selling software on Amazon Japan. I think the fact that they had pretty, doe-eyed, teenage anime android girls (complete with "personalities" and "back stories") as mascots probably helped their appeal.

That's Luka-chan trying out her synthesized vocal chords in English—singing Amazing Grace. Previously, Western vocaloid fans had to enter all the text in katakana... like this admittedly adorable version of Miku (Vocaloid 2) singing The Proclaimer's 500 Miles.

[ Gizmodo Japan]

VOCALOID 2: The Japanese Anime Song Generator

Jason Chen — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:15:58 EDT

Think Garageband for otakus. This Japanese software suite lets you plug in lyrics and melody and generates an "authentic-sounding" song via its music and vocal synthesizers. As you can see above, the software features a 16-year- old "Virtual Singer," which croons out whatever disgustingly sweet (or just disgusting) lyrics you enter in (Japanese only, we're assuming). It's so popular in Nippon that it's actually the #1 selling software on their Amazon. And for good reason—the songs they generate actually sound like it could have come from a generic teenaged anime. Hit the jump for two videos.

[Gamersweb]