Vocaloid

Now, let us explain the exact method.

Fig. 1-01

Fig. 1-01 shows inputted notes and lyrics from the first line of "Amazing Grace" as per the original musical score. However, accomplished singers won't always stick so closely to the exact timing of the score. They will sometimes purposely drag slightly behind or ahead of the beat in order to create a distinctive feel to the track. So...

fig. 1-02

In fig. 1-02, GRID and LENGTH are switched off, and the timing of Note-on and note LENGTH have been altered slightly. You will see that the notes are not quantized exactly to the grid guidelines. These changes enable you to express unique rhythms and grooves. It may be a good idea to insert some tempo changes to express the feeling of rhythmic swing.

Now, please keep on editing the notes this way until you are happy with the timing of your song.

* If you open the dialogue from the "Play" sub-menu in the "Track" menu and select "Play with Synthesis" mode, you will be able to listen to the edit results while you create your song without having to wait for the synthesis to be completed.

Once you are happy with the timing of your song you can then add Vibrato and Attack Icons to the notes to achieve even more realism. You can do this by dragging the appropriate icon onto the note in question.

Now, to improve the vocal quality further, we will tell you how to add more character and variation to the vocal line by using various control parameters.

Fig. 2-01

As you can see in Fig. 2-01, we have selected a control parameter that we would like to edit from the control parameter menu in the bottom left hand corner of the Vocaloid Editor.

In this case it is the Harmonics parameter. This parameter enables you to change the balance of the harmonic overtone component that is contained in a voice. A lower value produces a whispery voice. In Fig. 2-02 we have drawn the Harmonics parameter to follow the Note-on and Note-off positions. By doing so, the voice will become softer at the start of the vocal line and at the beginning and end of phrases. Also you will be able to let the voice fade away naturally at the end of the song.

Fig. 2-02

Now, let's use the Brightness parameter. Brightness is a parameter that is used to produce a contrast of light and shade as its name suggests. The influence of tonal variations is another key element in vocal construction and is as equally important as dynamics in creating a realistic speaking voice. A vocal without much tonal variation will give the impression of an artificial robot-like voice with no expression or feeling. This is generally not desirable unless you want to purposely create such a mechanically synthesized vocal. It may surprise you just how much the tone of the human voice changes as we speak or sing.

Fig. 2-03

There are many other control parameters that you can use to color your vocal track, for example Resonance and Gender Factor. Resonances 1 – 4 enable you to change the vocal tone and dynamics of the voice while Gender Factor enables you to change the "thickness" of the vocal by altering the formants of the voice which in turn changes the gender quality to either a more feminine or masculine sound.

The Vocaloid Singer Editor dialogue (Fig. 2-04) accessed from the Singer List in the Setting menu enables you to control all the standard values for each Singer's control parameters.

Any changes to the control parameters you make here will affect the voice as a whole. This enables you to set default parameters for the vocal quality and timbre of the voice.

Fig. 2-04

The VOCALOID EDITOR has 20 parameters available with which to control a voice's expression, intonation, quality, and timbre. There must be an infinite number of combinations. So, please take your time finding your favorite parameter settings in order to obtain your ultimate vocal track.

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