Fire your singers folks, Vocaloid 5 is here!

[wagtunes]

Thanks for the replies. There's an additional layer in my case as I run Linux. A lot of Windows plugins work using the wine-staging/linvst bridge. The ones that do not are marginal I'd say, except for the ones using a 'creative' copy protection scheme implemented using 3rd party run-time apps of various kinds. In which case I do not insist and forget about them.

If Yahama is saying there that there should be no problems in running Vocaloid in Windows, then it might mean that the coding and library usage is clean.... which brings up the next question:

What kind of copy protection Vocaloid software is using ?

Vocaloid 4 used iLok. I have no idea what Vocaloid 5 is going to use.

[SirkusPi]

I really want to like Vocaloid 5, and I don't have any personal hesitation about the "artificiality" of the sound. But what is giving me pause is the (lack of) intelligibility. Maybe it's just me, but listening to the handful of English-language Vocaloid 5 demo songs currently on Soundcloud and YouTube, I find Amy (like earlier Vocaloids) to be completely unintelligible. (There don't seem to be any Chris demos right now.)

On the other hand, I can understand the words in the official Vocaloid demo videos, but those are just phrases, not full songs. I'm hoping that as more people post songs in the coming days, someone will post a track that I can actually understand - if it can be done, I'll be very tempted to buy.

[wagtunes]

I really want to like Vocaloid 5, and I don't have any personal hesitation about the "artificiality" of the sound. But what is giving me pause is the (lack of) intelligibility. Maybe it's just me, but listening to the handful of English-language Vocaloid 5 demo songs currently on Soundcloud and YouTube, I find Amy (like earlier Vocaloids) to be completely unintelligible. (There don't seem to be any Chris demos right now.)

On the other hand, I can understand the words in the official Vocaloid demo videos, but those are just phrases, not full songs. I'm hoping that as more people post songs in the coming days, someone will post a track that I can actually understand - if it can be done, I'll be very tempted to buy.

The problem with the people posting these videos is that they have no clue what they're doing so of course they're going to sound like crap.

I've done some Vocaloid 4 tunes where the diction is excellent. So I can't imagine Vocaloid 5 being worse. Not from what I've heard.

[SirkusPi]

I've done some Vocaloid 4 tunes where the diction is excellent. So I can't imagine Vocaloid 5 being worse. Not from what I've heard.

Can you point me to some of your songs with the clearest diction? I've actually listened to a lot of your music over the years (and in the last few days), and think a lot of it is truly excellent. But I still often find myself turning to the lyrics you've posted (which isn't a criticism of your songs or skills, but of Vocaloid's limitations). Which of your tracks do you find not necessarily the best over all, but most vocally comprehensible?

[wagtunes]

I've done some Vocaloid 4 tunes where the diction is excellent. So I can't imagine Vocaloid 5 being worse. Not from what I've heard.

Can you point me to some of your songs with the clearest diction? I've actually listened to a lot of your music over the years (and in the last few days), and think a lot of it is truly excellent. But I still often find myself turning to the lyrics you've posted (which isn't a criticism of your songs or skills, but of Vocaloid's limitations). Which of your tracks do you find not necessarily the best over all, but most vocally comprehensible?

Probably not the best example because Daina sings with marbles in her mouth at times but you shouldn't have a problem understanding most of the words in this track.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -originals

[Scotty]

I disagree with Wag on the intelligibility of Vocaloids. It isn't their strength. I have 6 libraries and I am amazed at the technology but unless your singer that you want to replace always sound like she is singing through a 12 band vocoder it is far from sounding real. That being said if you want a synthetic sound to the tracks this will do it. If you want material for background vocals and harmonies that aren't too exposed Vocaloid will do it.
If you want to create interesting vocal textures this will do it. And if you do vocal mock-ups to work out ideas before you approach a mic this is a god-send.

[wagtunes]

I disagree with Wag on the intelligibility of Vocaloids. It isn't their strength. I have 6 libraries and I am amazed at the technology but unless your singer that you want to replace always sound like she is singing through a 12 band vocoder it is far from sounding real. That being said if you want a synthetic sound to the tracks this will do it. If you want material for background vocals and harmonies that aren't too exposed Vocaloid will do it.
If you want to create interesting vocal textures this will do it. And if you do vocal mock-ups to work out ideas before you approach a mic this is a god-send.

No, it's not their strength, but with proper mixing they're no unintelligible gibberish.

[wagtunes]

Here's one that's a little clearer. I EQ'd these vocals greatly.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -originals

[wagtunes]

Last one. Duet between Dex and Daina. Slow songs are obviously easier to get the words.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... ittle-at-a

[BMoore]

My Lord. That was horrible.

[SirkusPi]

I don't really understand the point of gratuitously attacking Wagtunes' music, when (i) Wags was graciously responding to my request for demos / examples; and (ii) I actually think the songs are quite nice (especially Summer Love).

That being said, while I like the songs, I do still have Vocaloid comprehension problems (which may be my ears, or Vocaloid, or some combination of the two).

But really, even if you don't like the songs (which is 100% your right and absolutely fine), I don't get the uncalled for, out-of-nowhere negativity. Wags, I admire you for keeping coming back and responding to requests and offering up your own music even when, for no apparent reason whatsoever (and when literally all you're doing is trying to help), people insult you. Wow.

[Russell Grand]

I have just discovered there is a Vocaloid voicebank called Arsloid.

I cant help but think they should focus on vocal products first.

I think 3rd party vendors are going to be all over this and we're going to see a slew of Vocaloid voice banks.

sorry; purely crass humour.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictio ... glish/arse

It went riiiiiiiight over his head, that one.

[lingyai]

Like this track.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... wall-remix

Was this done with Vocaloid 5?

[lingyai]

Try this. It sounds better than Vocaloid to me.

Because it's samples, just like Realitone Ladies which I bought for background vocals.

But it's limited. You can't make a whole song with this with any lyrics you want because you only have the combinations of words that they give you.

Untrue -- it was a word builder

[esselfortium]

Like this track.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... wall-remix

Was this done with Vocaloid 5?

Vocaloid 5 was only released yesterday, so I assume not.

On-topic, I've been interested in Vocaloid for a while, and Yamaha's videos of Vocaloid 5 look and sound amazing. Working with it seems much more approachable than what I'd seen in the past.