J-Pop Star (and 3-D Hologram) Hatsune Miku Sells Out Stadiums

[Mikan]

Hastune Miku is just one of many Vocaloid characters (aka voice packages).

They aren't pre-recorded, that's the amazing part about this and why it gets people. You see, Vocaloid is actually a software package that can have these characters sing anything - it's actually used for creating music from any arbirtrary notes and lyrics that you write. So this character, despite being fake, actually sings what she is told to sing in real-time without any assistance.

I'd like to see this 'singing voice synthesizer' technology make it into other areas of the world within the next 5-10 years, as it is currently the most advanced technology available. However most cannot afford it, and the current alternatives are weak at best. AT&T synthesizers can barely even sound legible, despite claiming to be "natural voices" and having taken half a decade to develop.

Recently an English-speaking/singing version has been given the green light for production.

[Znurre]

Originally Posted by Lekarz

Awesome, better than lots of shitty "stars".

Agreed. Though I am personally not a big fan of Miku.

[Pnarpa]

Nicely done, I guess. But I would hate to see this used globally. I prefer real people singing. This just reminds me of autotune...

[Pizdzius]

Originally Posted by Blaa

Nicely done, I guess. But I would hate to see this used globally. I prefer real people singing. This just reminds me of autotune...

This. call me old-fashioned, but I stick to people. They are, in fact, the most incredible machines.

[Znurre]

Originally Posted by Pizdzius

This. call me old-fashioned, but I stick to people. They are, in fact, the most incredible machines.

I'll have to partly agree with this too.
I don't really like Miku's voice either, but I'd really prefer listening to this over anything that's played on commercial radio stations in Sweden nowadays.

To me, the problem with the music industry today is that it's so much more than the actual music.
I don't give a shit about the singer as long as I like his/her voice, the band members if I think they are competent and I don't want any fancy music videos.
The music is what is important, and say what you want, but instrumental music or computer generated music usually puts melody and composition into focus since those are the only tools they have available to make their music stand out.

It's the same as with anime (yeah, I know you hate it Piz, but I still think it's because of a flawed picture you got from the stereotypical big names like Naruto, Bleach or Dragonball).
Animation, story, soundtrack and voice actors are in focus here, while in most movies produced today I feel that a lot of the actual feeling and the "soul" of the movie is lost while trying to create the best special effects and cram in the famous actor names.

Actually, it's the same happening to Regnum too while trying to make it more commercial.
Sorry for being a tad bit offtopic, but my point is that if you try to focus on the very core of what you want to achieve (in this case, the actual music) you get a better result.

[m4cgregor]

Originally Posted by Pizdzius

This. call me old-fashioned, but I stick to people. They are, in fact, the most incredible machines.

I think that those are differents things, and experiences. I don't believe they are tryng to replace human singers.

Hatsune Miku means in japanese "first sound of the future"...

¿When you see an animation movie, would you think: Ok, I wont believe this story, or get emotionally envolved, beacuse those characters are not real people. They are just drawings.

A drawing (or 3dmodel) can be a vehicle to artistic expression, an can generate empathy, and transmite feelings...

I see a lot of artistic work, behind a performance of a virtual Miku. Musicians, modellers, animators, programers, technicians.

¿ Whats the difference to watch a Madonna's show ?

¿ Will you ever be able to touch her ? It's just like Miku...


( excuse my dirty english... )



PS: my 7 years old dougther, just love her

[Arafails]

TBH I think I'd rather touch Miku than Madonna.

[Seher]

Originally Posted by Znurre

...

You are right, most of us nowadays focus too much on secondary or completely negligible things like music videos.
But something that's missing completely at computer generated music is the "live effect". No, not just the feeling to be one of thousands of idiots jumping around like mad, there's more than that... Mistakes, etc.
I'd prefer listening to piano pieces played by 10 year old children any time over cd recordings by top pianists. :P
But maybe... one day... we can see Miku making authentic mistakes.

Originally Posted by Arafails

TBH I think I'd rather touch Miku than Madonna.