14

I don't really understand what a vocaloid is so, what is a vocaloid? Is it an anime? If not, how is it related to anime? Is it a singer? If so, is it a real person (because someone told me that some are but mostly are just machine-created voices)?

JNat
  • 17,772
  • 30
  • 101
  • 180
xjshiya
  • 11,276
  • 19
  • 54
  • 114
  • 1
    The article [Vocaloid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocaloid) should help. I suggest to change your question to be more focused on anime starting from the explanation on Wikipedia. – chirale May 22 '13 at 16:33
  • mmm, dem question marks.. :) – iKlsR May 22 '13 at 18:28

3 Answers3

20

Vocaloid is a piece of software used to model a human singing voice. Users can create music with the software by putting in a backing track and giving the Vocaloid program a set of lyrics to sing.

While many Vocaloid (And similar software) mascots are anime-styled, there are no actual animes that include them as a main role.

There have been some fan-based mangas however - Chibi Miku-san (A 4-Panel manga) and the previously mentioned Hatsune Mix

Hatsune Mix

Vocaloid Merchandise also overlaps a bit with typical anime merchandise, including figurines, plushies, bags, etc.

Vocaloid songs are all created by the software, although sometimes they may star some actual singers too, but the term Vocaloid is referring to the software.

More Info

Vocaloid was a significant breakthrough in music technology, the software now offers a cheaper alternative to professional singers and the versatility of getting harmonics and etc exactly perfect to the way the composer envisaged it (rather than adapting it to suit a singer's voice).

It also was a significant breakthrough for hobbyist musicians, making a lot more songs feasible without leaving the home. This was especially important for the ones who can't sing :p

Toshinou Kyouko
  • 34,175
  • 26
  • 160
  • 297
  • What is it's main significance? – xjshiya May 22 '13 at 09:03
  • 1
    Edited the answer to include some info on it's signficance. Does that help? – Toshinou Kyouko May 22 '13 at 09:42
  • 1
    I'm pretty sure Hatsune Miku was cameo'd in a few anime. Baka and Test, Chrome shelled Regios, Maria Holic... – acolyte May 22 '13 at 13:04
  • @acolyte ah! you are correct, changed the wording of that sentence so that it's non-principle characters. – Toshinou Kyouko May 22 '13 at 13:19
  • 1
    @MrPineapple i do WISH, however, that Hatsune would get an anime. Hagane Miku could play her alter-ego. – acolyte May 22 '13 at 13:45
  • 2
    This is a pretty good and comprehensive answer, but I think it's important to note that Vocaloids are based off of voice samples from real people. There are even a few of real Japanese singers. – atlantiza May 23 '13 at 01:21
  • @ToshinouKyouko What about Miss Monochrome anime? – Wally Apr 29 '17 at 01:05
  • @Wally the line gets blured when deciding if Miss Monochrome is considered as Vocaloid anime because they're not using any Vocaloid software, and not a character considered as Vocaloid series. It's actually the real voice of Yui Horie, modulated until it looks (heard?) like a robot/android voice. – Aki Tanaka Jul 19 '17 at 03:55
  • "...cheaper alternative to professional singers [for] getting harmonics exactly perfect", what do you mean, do they use the software as a vocoder for their own voice recordings? – rraallvv Oct 02 '17 at 18:22
9

Vocaloid is a singing voice synthesizer. In other words, a piece of software that enables users to synthesize singing by typing in lyrics and melody.

One of the better known vocaloids is Hatsune Miku.

At the moment there is no anime with vocaloids. There is only a manga called: Hatsune Mix. The only relation I can futher find for vocaliods with anime is:

Hatsune Miku performed her first "live" concert like a virtual idol on a projection screen during Animelo Summer Live at the Saitama Super Arena on August 22, 2009. At the "MikuFes '09 (Summer)" event on August 31, 2009, her image was screened by rear projection on a mostly-transparent screen. Miku also performed her first overseas live concert on November 21, 2009, during Anime Festival Asia (AFA) in Singapore.

Gao
  • 9,603
  • 8
  • 57
  • 96
Robin
  • 2,262
  • 1
  • 17
  • 25
  • As for vocaloid's significance? – xjshiya May 22 '13 at 08:23
  • 1
    @xjshiya What do you mean with significance? how they influenced anime or? – Robin May 22 '13 at 08:27
  • What is it's importance? The answer in this question: http://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/3760/what-anime-soundtracks-feature-vocaloid-singers/3794#3794 says that it is pretty rare for vocaloid to be featured in anime soundtracks. So what is it's significance? – xjshiya May 22 '13 at 08:28
  • **Hatsune**, not Hatsuna – nhahtdh May 22 '13 at 12:31
8

Vocaloid is a program that produces singing voice, it is not an anime. As to how it is related to anime, there are a few anime which have vocaloid singers. You can also see this question for a bit more explanation on that aspect, which I think are well detailed.

The significance of Vocaloids in the anime industry is probably similar to how significant robotics is used in assembly lines, in the sense that depending on how you use them, you can be making more savings. But you first need to know how to effectively use them, and this often comes with an initial significant investment. Once this is overcome however, things should be easier onwards, as long as you can continue innovating the outputs.

Community
  • 1
Jerry
  • 465
  • 7
  • 17
  • 2
    The link says, it is pretty rare for vocaloid to be featured in anime soundtracks, so what is it's significance? – xjshiya May 22 '13 at 08:22
  • @xjshiya I added that to my answer. I'm a bit confused why I didn't get notified of your comment earlier... – Jerry May 22 '13 at 11:53