Anime Newest Invention: Hatsune Miku
Vocaloid is a singing software developed by Yamaha in which the users typing in the lyrics and melody and make a tune out of it. In this Vocaloid series, the Hatsune Miku is just an added installment, the first one actually and the meaning of the name is “First Sound (of the) Future.” Japanese Voice actress Saki Fujita was the actress who initially sampled her voice on the newest invention. This software is basically to create the J-Pop songs which are very common in anime however it has been said that the software can also be used to create songs of other genres.
Later on Hatsune Miku was created as a virtual manga character by Kei and its issues came in the Japanese manga magazine. The characters first appearance was made in order that the voice of Meru Otonashi could be tested. Later on many online multi player games were tested in the same manner for voice quality and synchronization with the character in the game. Later on, she also made many appearances in sequels like Lucky Star and also as a vocal appearance in the ending theme of the manga Akikan. In 2008, she received an award in the free category.
In January 2007, Yamaha announced a new version of the software engine, Vocaloid 2, with various major improvements in usability and synthesis quality. Zero-G and others announced products powered by the new software engine in early 2007. PowerFX released the first Vocaloid 2 package in June 2007, an English product named Sweet Ann. This was shortly followed in August 2007, when Crypton released Hatsune Miku, the first in a series of Japanese Vocaloid 2 character voices. The second package Kagamine Rin/Len was released on December 27, 2007 and the updated edition “act2″ was released in July 2008. The first Vocaloid 2 product from Zero-G, Vocaloid Prima, an English classical voice, was finally released on January 14, 2008 in the UK
