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Wednesday 27 July 2011

Vocaloid

Vocaloid is one of those technical wonders that spring from the never-ceasing fountain of imagination: Japan. For those who are unfamiliar with Vocaloid, it's a "singing synthesizer application". That is, a computer program that can sing, and that doesn't suffer from the problems old such programs had - that the voices get weird intonations. This program can sing with emotion and do so quite well! It's a very refined technology that can even immitate the inhale/exhale of a real singer.

What's so fascinating with this, though, is what's been built up around it - because of it. Characters have been created who are made to be idols, and have their own Vocaloid-voices. True to Japan's habit, they also have personalities, things they like and not - and they give concerts.
How can a voice give a concert?
Actually, the answer is what fascinates me the most. At first glance, it looks like very, very realistic holograms dancing on stage, but it's not. It's a very high-technological invention - a mostly transparent screen with a so-called "rear projection" (projecting the image from behind). The result is that the characters look like holograms, but they can interact with each other.
The first one, I think, was Hatsune Miku. Miku was so popular, and her "live" concerts drew in so much audience that they quickly developed more characters. As of today, there are quite a few.

My favourite at the moment is called 'Kamui Gakupo' after the singer 'Camui Gackt (Kamui Gakuto)', and is part of the Gackpoid project. I like his songs, they are good. :) I also like this duet that I found, of him singing "Magnet" with Luka. :)


And another one....



And if you are curious about how the screening looks, here's a video of Megurine Luka on stage. :)


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