PowerFX has released Oliver, a sound library for Vocaloid 3, the updated singing synthesis software from Yamaha.
“Oliver” is modeled after a real vocalist, a 12 year old choir boy with a pure and clear voice. “Oliver has the best pronunciation of any Vocaloid to date”, says Bil Bryant of PowerFX. “Improvements in the synthesis software and the addition of being able to record tri-phones have improved the quality and naturalness of the vocal.”
The release of Vocaloid 3 is a departure from the previous two versions of Vocaloid where each title included the editor and the voice bank (the Artist). As of Vocaloid 3, an artist title includes the voice bank and a lite version of the editor. The lite version is only 17 bars long and allows one imported stereo track.
The full version of the Vocaloid 3 editor is sold separately and can be used with many different Vocaloid 3 artists as well as Vocaloid 2 artists. Another difference with Vocaloid 3 is that it is a standalone version only with no VST implementation. “I think the Vocaloid 3 editor is easier to use than previous versions”, states Bryant, “we are really excited to hear what users are going to create with Vocaloid 3″.
Vocaloid3 Editor Lite features
Piano-roll style note editor, importing functionality from a standard MIDI file (limited for 1 track and 17 bars).
Inputting lyrics and automatic conversion to phonemes.
Assigning musical expression templates from an Icon Palette.
Sending notes, lyrics and musical expression to the Synthesis Engine as set forth below and activating synthesis.
Saving vocal data as a wave file.
Changing synthesis parameters.
Effects (Reverb only).
Playback .wav files.
Oliver is available to purchase as a download for $129 USD/99 EUR, or on DVD for $149 USD/129 EUR. A bundle with Vocaloid 3 editor is also available.
TC-Helicon has introduces the Demo. Share. Win. Competition for Singers at 134 Guitar Centers across the US.
Starting today and running until October 31st, singers who take a picture or video of themselves singing into the TC-Helicon Vocal Demo Station at a Guitar Center could win up to three TC-Helicon products of their choice.
TC-Helicon and Guitar Center have partnered together to put 134 demo stations across the US for singers to try out hit products like VoiceLive Touch, VoiceTone Singles and MP-75 microphone. Walk up, sing, and hear the fully produced sound that TC-Helicon singers are famous for. At the Vocal Demo Station, singers have a chance to sing through VoiceLive Touch, demo a loop, try Mic Control using the Singles pedals and more.
Point Blank has announced Summer School 2011 Courses, summer music courses for young people taught by experts from the music industry.
Following the popularity of last year’s summer school, award-winning music college Point Blank has announced this year’s collection of activities aimed at music-mad school/college students who want to develop their skills over the summer break.
Each course is taught in a small group at Point Blank’s state-of-the-art recording studios in Hoxton, London. Tutors at the college include Grammy nominated songwriters and producers who have worked with a host of acclaimed artists including Michael Jackson, Massive Attack, Alicia Keys, P Diddy, La Roux, Amy Winehouse, Estelle and Sugababes.
Summer School 2011 Courses
Music Production Summer School – Duration: 1 Week, price: £395.00
Singing Summer School – Duration: 1 Week, price: £395.00
Songwriting Summer School – Duration: 1 Week, price: £395.00
DJ Summer School – Duration: Weekend, price: £245.00
Radio Summer School – Duration: Weekend, price: £245.00
The courses run throughout the summer holidays from July 25th to August 29th.
IK Multimedia has announced the iRig Mic, the first quality condenser handheld microphone for the iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad®.
iRig Mic is ideal for the singer, vocalist and songwriter on the move, but also perfect for recording speeches, instruments, performances or any other sound sources in the studio, on stage or in the field. Musicians will be able to record and accurately reproduce acoustic instruments, amplified instruments or even band performances and concerts. Non-musicians will have an indispensable tool for recording high quality podcasts, speeches, lessons, interviews, video soundtracks or any other source that can be recorded on the go with their mobile device.
iRig Mic features
Ideal for all vocal applications from singing to speech.
Great for all types of sound recording or processing in music or any other audio application.
Dual mini-jack connector allows real-time monitoring on headphones, speakers, mixers and PAs.
Rugged, durable metal housing.
Easy to set-up for any sound source.
Can be handheld or placed on a standard mic stand.
Compatible with any iPhone, iPod touch (with mic input) and iPad.
iRig Mic includes apps for singers, songwriters, and speakers, and can also be used with any other app that uses the microphone input of the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad for audio input.
iRig Mic will be shipping in the first quarter of 2011 for $59.99 USD /€49.99 EUR (excluding taxes). Pre-orders are available from the IK Multimedia online store.
Tonehammer has released Forgotten Voices: Barbary, a vocal library is constructed from over 1450 different vocal phrases covering over 12 hours of recording material.
Barbary Grant is a highly renowned vocalist and harper within Celtic communities. She sings- and articulates fluently- in all three Goidelic languages: Scots Gaelic, Irish, and Manx. This homage won her first place in the sean nós competition at the 1998 Great American Irish Fair. (Sean nós – “old style” in Irish – is a highly ornamented style of a cappella singing.)
Forgotten Voices: Barbary features
Traditional folklore categories for all phrase types, including:
Microsoft has released Songsmith, a software which lets you create your own songs using just your voice.
Songsmith helps you create songs using just your voice, by choosing musical accompaniments to match whatever you sing. Whether you’re a musical novice looking to send a jingle to a friend or an aspiring songwriter looking to give it a first try, Songsmith lets you start making music.
I know some people who read this blog think that using loops (or computers for that matter) to create music is epic fail. While I disagree on that particular matter, when does making music stop being, well, making music? Songsmith looks like a proper toy to me, but perhaps it’s perfect for all those candidates that didn’t make it through the auditions of the Idols TV shows ^_^
Scobleizer has posted an interview and demo with two researchers from Microsoft here.
Send an Email or use social networks Twitter, or Facebook. Listen to some tunes at SoundCloud, or subscribe to the RSS feed to get all the lastest news in your news reader.
