[Eave Maple Handling] Is "Compared to Pop Singers" really the future of virtual singers?

//September 12

foreword

Although, my original intention was to make an Amway work about Shulikou (then why can't the title be normal).

It would be great if you could use this article to gain a new understanding of the existence of virtual singers while enjoying the songs.

01

(something less useful) background

Background

On December 24, 2018, the singing voice synthesis software Synthesizer V (SV for short), which was developed by the Dreamtonics team for seven years, was officially released on Bilibili Danmu. Although the number of plays was only tens of thousands, it was followed by a Huge change.

Based on the deep learning network and the hybrid algorithm of sound source splicing and synthesis, SV realizes the high fidelity and flexible modification ability of the virtual singer's sound. In human terms, SV-based virtual singers are good enough to rival pop singers -- you can't even tell right away which is the vocal and which is the virtual synth.

As Akabane, Hay, Shigishi and many other virtual singers developed based on the SV engine entered everyone's field of vision, the SV engine became bigger and bigger like a snowball. Its parent company, Beijing Futuo Technology, not only launched many projects such as "Five-Dimensional Media", but also published several albums in just two years; Achievements (i.e. millions of views), gained a large number of fans.

The legendary song "Loneliness of Spring" contributed by the famous P master Inaba Tan to YouTube

The rapidly growing SV team chased after the victory and continued to release a series of new songs under the name of " You must not believe this is a virtual singer! " or " The most advanced singing synthesis software, beyond your cognition! " Breaking through the million mark, there is quite a momentum to compete with VOCALOID .

VOCALOID (referred to as V home) is an electronic singing synthesis software launched by Japan Yamaha Co., Ltd. (yes, the brand of your piano). Most of the virtual singers you can think of - Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Twins, Luo Tianyi , Yanhe... are all developed based on this engine. As a veteran virtual singer engine, Japan's virtual singer ecosystem is almost developed around Vocaloid.

After the launch of SV, what kind of future will the virtual singer ecosystem face? I think those P masters (that is, musicians who use virtual singers, short for Producer) may have already given their answers.

02

The audience and the creator are the "soul" of the virtual singer

OUR SOUL

in the empty sand

staggered thunder

in a meaningless voice

dry life

for thousands of years

barren

desert planet

At the Magic Future Concert in 2017, the eighth master, who is now Yonezu Xuanshi , released the theme song of the year, "The Confused Star of Sand" . The track's edgy drum beats and deep bass seem to have announced that the song will be a radical departure from the previous "Bombed Toilet" theme.

In the animated PV, what you see is not the splendor of the stage, but the desolation of the desert; Hatsune Miku is no longer the sweet and cordial singer, but as an indifferent "social boss", leading the sporadic "society" The believers" headed towards the depths of the endless desert.

It is not difficult to imagine the purpose of Ba Ye who wrote this song: Vocaloid is no longer available today! We don't have a clear development goal, we can't attract newcomers to the pit, and even the original creators who were willing to compose for miku are constantly losing (perhaps to imply themselves) and there is no "back wave" to supplement, and all we can do is "surround the Leftover Sweet Cake Sings". Everyone, "If your heart is not dead, please respond" and save this sluggish status quo!

As soon as this song came out, it immediately detonated everyone's dissatisfaction: a "pop singer" who left the circle early and turned to J-POP, who has the right to question the development of the abandoned V family circle?

A famous P ownerくらげP (domestic called Jellyfish P) commented: "In order to make the image of the 'desert' convincing, and turning a blind eye to these 4 years, what will those who have been working hard think?"

Coincidentally, this big guy happened to be the author of the theme song for the 19-year Magic Future. Thus, a divine comedy that is no less than "The Star of the Sand" in any way - "Bless your breath" was born.

Compared with the magical style that Jellyfish P is good at, "Bless your breath" uncharacteristically adopts a softer style for creation, which really surprised many fans.

And the connotation of this song naturally conveys trust and hope for Hatsune Miku and even the Vocaloid ecosystem: "The world has finally opened its eyes/Hello, Hello, Hello", "Our dreams, wishes and spells/formation I don't need you anymore", "You don't need me anymore, and I don't need you either."

In fact, if you just look at the last sentence, it will make people scratch their heads. "After all, no singer will sing the 'you don't need me, I don't need you' lyrics in concert." But on second thought, it's not the star singers who have been packaged by the record companies on the stage. There were no "people" on the stage, only a shimmering screen and a small dancing figure.

In this case, why can the characters on the screen mobilize all the nerve cells of the audience, making us happy and worried? I think the answer is hidden in these two songs: whether it's Ba Ye's worries about the future of V's family, or Jellyfish P's expectations for a bright future, it's all based on "we" - the judgment of the creator and the audience.

The existence of "we" gives meaning to the existence of Hatsune and provides the driving force for continuous progress; when "we" disappears, Hatsune loses the supply of "nutrition", and it will gradually fade out of people's memory. In other words, "we" are the "soul" of the virtual singer.

Coincidentally, the well-known P main monster Rikuma released the song "Unhappy Birthday" (Unhappy. The loneliness and sadness revealed in the song, as well as the sense of despair of "this voice that has been unable to convey", also testifies to the importance of "we" to Miku.

03

The beauty lies in its hazy "virtual sense"

VIRTUAL BEAUTY

unchanging love

The ethereal love is also good

for you

It's just a simple sign

Whether it's good or evil

No matter the days you can't go back

in front of you

it doesn't matter

forever and ever

You're not too good to be alive

On August 28, 2017, the penultimate day of Miku's 10th anniversary, Pinocchio P submitted his birthday song "It's So Good That You Are Not Alive" , which was first released on Niconico and received a lot of play in just one week. In the "fight of gods" environment, he won the first place in the weekly list.

Pinocchio P , commonly known as Lao Pi and Boss Pi, is a recognized "philosophical master" among V's composers. Quoting a column by a senior from Tsinghua Animation Club, Lao Pi's lyrics often "contrast with the cheerful tune and contain strong irony." This song is no exception. What the more absurd song name actually implies is Lao Pei's reflection on the Vocaloid ecosystem.

If you compare "Bless your Breath" to a hymn written by Miku, then "It's So Good You Didn't Live" is like a love letter written by a boy who sympathizes with Dou Chukai for Miku's "clumsy pen". But the difference is that Miku here is not regarded as a girl, but a "three-nothing" robot.

As the lyrics describe, "Even the unchanging love / the ethereal love / for you / is just a simple sign". Some people will feel sorry for this, but Pinocchio P looks at this issue with a new attitude: "She cannot experience the joys and sorrows of the world, but she will not be disturbed by the media or public opinion; she does not belong to all things in the world. Her own values, but she uses her singing voice to spread thousands of dreams; she is not a real singer, but has a virtual charm that real singers do not have.

"The question of whether Hatsune Miku has a soul is still under debate, but Pinocchio P can discover and cherish the beauty of the virtual singer, and give her such a song." Tsinghua senior commented.

Pinocchio P's cherishing of "virtual sense" provides a new perspective for observing the Vocaloid ecosystem: not to discuss development from the perspective of audiences and creators, but from the IP itself of "Hatsune Miku". We are gathered together because of our "love" for the virtual singer, so why can't this love radiate light and heat?

But it is clear that "generating electricity with love" itself is an unrealistic assumption. Even though Erchuang is as strong as the East, now it can only turn to the "Commercial Erchuang" mobile game market in the name of "Unknown X" to maintain the continuation of its IP. Even if we love the virtual singer deeply, how can we turn it into a sharp sword and pierce this dimensional wall?

What's more, today's V family does not provide a good environment for "power generation with love", especially in China. Today's development of China V is very immature, and it still needs a lot of funds to support it, which cannot leave the "just meal" link. "Chafan" is essentially a process of fitting into the mainstream culture, which is contrary to the V family's culture of "creating as you please and reflecting on the mainstream culture".

04

"Spring Night is too short, go ahead girl"

JUST KEEP STRAIGHT

Pulling up those who mourn and despair from the abyss

Snuggle up with people in grief

Acura life with happy people

Sing for those who long to know what love is

So far, we can't get a perfect answer to the topic of "virtual singer development direction" whether it is based on the creators and audiences, or the V family IP itself.

Will it get closer to the SV engine, continuously improve its performance, and finally be no different from a real idol; or will it be satisfied with the status quo and become the next UTAU (an engine that has not been upgraded for eight years)?

It is a pity that the author's humble knowledge alone cannot claim to be able to foresee the future of virtual singers. I think that the development of the V family is indeed, as the eighth master said, "an endless desert", which makes people unable to find the direction.

Fortunately, we do not have nothing when we step into the future, we have the most crucial key - ourselves . We may not be able to give the V family Amway to all our partners, but we can maintain a sincere heart for the V family; we may not have the funds to purchase the V family's peripherals, but we can completely release the new song when the master P releases a new song. Three consecutive offerings to give it motivation.

I think that the P masters who don't think of the springboard also have the same idea. Omoi and Pinocchio P were responsible for the arrangement of the theme songs of Magic Future in 2018 and 2020, and the two (actually three, Omoi is a duo) P have given their own opinions on the virtual singer. opinion. In Omoi's "Green Light Serenade" , Miku silently supports us and accompanies our existence; while Pinocchio P's "Even if there is no love as long as you are good" is just the opposite. As mentioned above, our company It is also the driving force for Miku to keep moving forward.

This actually outlines the best idea in the fandom field: fans obtain spiritual pleasure through cultural subjects, and cultural subjects continue through the spread of fans, forming a kind of spiritual "symbiotic" existence.

Due to its high threshold, the V family has never been able to construct a complete "symbiosis" model. All we can do is to go further and further on the path we love and insist on.

05

(you can ignore it) postscript

POSTSCRIPT

After thinking about it, I felt that the end was too hasty, so I made a postscript.

Some people may have noticed that most of the theme songs I chose are Magic Future. First, I think the quality of the theme songs is quite high but relatively unpopular, so I advertised it in the hope that some of them can be pulled into the pit; second, 2021 Magic Future will be released in October It will be held at the end of the month, and 80% of the B station will also have a live broadcast. I hope that when the time comes, we can hold a broadcast and let everyone watch it together ()

In the process of Amway, the most common thing I heard is that the voice of the virtual singer sounds strange. It is recommended to try the works of the new generation of singers based on the SV engine. If there is still resistance, there is no need to force it. Or follow your own feelings and find your hobbies.

Finally, I would like to "have you in the future and move forward hand in hand".

Here are some references for reference:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/vkVzsyc6JYkRQyWzt_YmLQ

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Rt411N7Ys?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0 | Click the original link to view

Great きだよ, みんな!