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Yamaha Corp, creator of audio equipment, instruments, and synthesizers including the immensely popular voice synthesizer series known as Vocaloid, is developing an automated song generator called VOCALODUCER, which will automatically compose a song, given lyrics and a few basic parameters. It sounds like pretty soon anyone can be a Vocaloid song producer in no time.
Creating a Vocaloid song requires a voice, a melody, and accompaniment. People composing songs with VOCALODUCER will have the library of Vocaloid characters at their disposal when choosing a synthesized singer. This includes male and female voices, both ranging from forceful to sweet and childish in tone quality.
The melody line is created by a computer program based on user input in three categories: rhythm, pitch variation, and chord progression. There are approximately 18,000 different melodies that the program can produce based on different combinations of these items.
Then, all that’s left are the lyrics and the accompaniment, which can be chosen from a database of about 30 styles, including pop, rock, and dance music. The sound engine that supplies the accompaniment is the same one that’s used in Yamaha’s electronic keyboards. Then, users simply enter their lyrics (up to 50 Japanese characters in length, including numbers and kanji) to receive a song that is between two and eight bars in length. Before submitting their specs, users can choose to specify how the song is sung and then add effects, such as reverb, upon its completion.
Understandably, the algorithm that creates these songs will not be available for installation on individual computers. Instead, the software will be offered as a service, meaning that the program which produces the music will be stored on Yamaha’s own servers. VOCALODUCER users will be required to submit their song specifications over an Internet connection and download the results.
A release date for VOCALODUCER has not yet been announced, but there are already plans to expand the library of accompaniment styles and vocal templates, as well as to develop software which will support English and Chinese lyrics.
Something tells me we’ll be seeing a lot more Vocaliod music on the free market in the near future, but I wonder how it will compare to the quality of practiced song producers’ previous works. Will this automatic composer be able to make maestros out of all of us, or will the Vocaloid music market become bogged down with musical muck?
Source: PC Watch via Jin115
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- New Vocaloid Mayu Gets Release Date -- Isao Tomita and Hatsune Miku pay musical tribute to author Kenji Miyazawa -- Rocking out with the Wagakki Band: Giving vocaloids a human voice
© RocketNews24
13 Comments
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papigiulio
A new low for the music industry.
Fox Cloud Lelean
I've actually written a song, but it's a bit on the Nickelback side. Alright for people like me who like Nickelback, but apparently there aren't many. Still, it'd be interesting to see how my song sounds when performed by a Vocaloid, even if it is absolutely dreadful.
gogogo
Agreed, you watch people these days amazed now at these "talent" shows overseas at people that can sing well live.
sanneh
The uninformed nature of this comment makes me believe you're actually a program made to automatically generate slanderous comments. Microsoft Songsmith is a similar program that launched in 2009. Automatic music generation has been available to the public for quite some time now. Additionally you're ignoring what exactly this service is offering. Eight bars is not a song. What you'll end up with is nothing more than a short jingle, and they are not advertising magic here. Making a generated composition into a full-length song will still require time and creativity, as it always has no matter what instruments are available to the composer.
MissingCylonModel
LOL. Reminds me of that Southpark episode with the Funnybot winning comedy awards.
ohayo206
Convenience over Creativity doesn't do it for me
Mark_McCracken
Eight bars of music is more of a stanza than a song.
C Harald Hansen
To me that vocaloid stuff just always sounded weird...
Cliffy
Never heard any of those from Vocaloid, but since it will come with English support so I suppose I will eventually hear that. I doubt it can be worst that some of those I have heard today. 0 for melody/pleasant to my ears. Lyrics carries no meaning or just like someone rambling after a case of beer. Oh, and don't get me started on the "singers".
Jason Stiles
when we getting a English version?!
megosaa
who needs them when one can easily compose and produce their own music?!
"sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet bubblegum, bubblegum sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet bubblegum, bubblegum blue ones, red ones, yellow ones, purple ones, even green cyan, turquoise, magenta and even pink sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet bubblegum, bubblegum sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet bubblegum, bubblegum blue ones, red ones, yellow ones, purple ones, even green cyan, turquoise, magenta and even pink"
see... ;-)
smithinjapan
Given the audience it appeals to, I'd say simplifying is a must. This will soon make Justin Bieber look good.
Bartholomew Harte
Given the state of talent,or lack of such in the plasticine world of Pop music , I don't know if i should laugh or cry! There will never be a replacement for Honest Talent at days end!