The influence of fan-made content and fan culture on Vocaloid
Vocaloid is an instrument; a vocal synthesis software created by Yamaha, that allows musicians to tune a virtual voice to perform their music, functioning similarly to any other digital instrument. These ‘voice banks’ have usually been sold with a human name, and are often accompanied by a character design that aims to be visually appealing and drive sales of the product and merchandise of the character. The most popular of these voice banks have been sold in Japan, using 'anime-style' mascot characters, though the influence of this design practice has since extended to western created voice banks as well as English speaking extensions.
On the internet, in colloquial terms, a Vocaloid is often associated first with these mascot characters, rather than the software itself. The term 'Vocaloid' has strayed so far from the original software that it has been used to refer to other mascot voicebanks created for voice synthesisers made by different companies, such as UTAU and SynthV.
While the mascots are usually sold as nothing more than a design and a name, so that musicians may use them in their music however they like, internet fan-culture has applied widely excepted ideas and personalities to these characters that have influenced both product marketing and usage by musicians.
In my essay I aim to examine the affect that fan-content has had on the perception of 'Vocaloid' and other vocal synthesisers, how it has affected the artists behind Vocaloid music, and how it has contributed to ‘Vocaloid’ maintaining popularity online.
On the internet, in colloquial terms, a Vocaloid is often associated first with these mascot characters, rather than the software itself. The term 'Vocaloid' has strayed so far from the original software that it has been used to refer to other mascot voicebanks created for voice synthesisers made by different companies, such as UTAU and SynthV.
While the mascots are usually sold as nothing more than a design and a name, so that musicians may use them in their music however they like, internet fan-culture has applied widely excepted ideas and personalities to these characters that have influenced both product marketing and usage by musicians.
In my essay I aim to examine the affect that fan-content has had on the perception of 'Vocaloid' and other vocal synthesisers, how it has affected the artists behind Vocaloid music, and how it has contributed to ‘Vocaloid’ maintaining popularity online.
- A continued popularity has lead to the growth of Vocaloid as a franchise, specifically the voice banks created by Crypton Future Media. Video games (Project Diva, Colourful Stage, IA/VT Colourful)
- Fans focus on mascots over creatives, lack of credit to the musicians - older YouTube reuploads stress importance on Vocaloid singers
- Fan creation is encouraged - Fanloid: Aikita Neru, Yowana Haku
- Fan-content becomes more popular, overshadows original versions (Kagerou Daze fan made PV)
- Fans focus on mascots over creatives, lack of credit to the musicians - older YouTube reuploads stress importance on Vocaloid singers
- Fan creation is encouraged - Fanloid: Aikita Neru, Yowana Haku
- Fan-content becomes more popular, overshadows original versions (Kagerou Daze fan made PV)
Vocaloid songs of different genres
Alt-Rock: Unhappy Refrain - Wowaka feat. Hatsune Miku | Electronic: Bring It On - Giga feat. Kagamine Rin / Len | Pop - Decorator - kz feat. Hatsune Miku | Jazz - Miracle Paint - OSTER Project feat. Hatsune Miku | Metal - The Living Ghost is Alive - Utsu-P | Folk: Aura - Ghost and Pals feat. Solaria | Orchestra - Miku Symphony | Narrative based - Evillious Chronicles - Mothy-Akuno - Kagerou Project - Jin
Alt-Rock: Unhappy Refrain - Wowaka feat. Hatsune Miku | Electronic: Bring It On - Giga feat. Kagamine Rin / Len | Pop - Decorator - kz feat. Hatsune Miku | Jazz - Miracle Paint - OSTER Project feat. Hatsune Miku | Metal - The Living Ghost is Alive - Utsu-P | Folk: Aura - Ghost and Pals feat. Solaria | Orchestra - Miku Symphony | Narrative based - Evillious Chronicles - Mothy-Akuno - Kagerou Project - Jin
Vocaloid voicebanks in different languages
Japanese - Hatsune Miku | English - Solaria | Chinese - Yuezheng Ling | Korean: SeeU | Spanish: Maika
Japanese - Hatsune Miku | English - Solaria | Chinese - Yuezheng Ling | Korean: SeeU | Spanish: Maika