VY1

VY1 (stands for "Vocaloid Yamaha 1", also it was codenamed "MIZKI" during its development ) is the first of the VY series being developed by Yamaha and produced by Bplats,Inc. It was released in deluxe and standard editions on September 1, 2010.

History
On August 6, 2010, with no advance notice, Yamaha announced the release of the new vocaloid named VY1 "MIZKI" and started to accept orders for it on bplats, inc's online store from August 13, 2010. Also three sample songs, "Polyrhythm", "Stardust Utopia" and "Saihate", have been given out on Youtube. Matsuo-P borrowed the Vocaloids prototype version from Yamaha and made another two demo songs, "Flower and Water" and "684のうた/Song of 684", and uploaded them on Nicovideo. He also used Miku Append, Megpoid and Lily's trial version to compare VY1 with them.
 * Comparing VY1 with other Vocaloids
 * Comparing VY1's pronunciation with Miku Hatsune

iPad and iPhone
In December 2010, VY1 was released in a adapted version of the Vocaloid software "iVocaloid for the iPad and iPhone as "VY1t".


 * iPad
 * iPhone

While this version has limited capabilities, but at the price of ¥1,800 for the iPad and ¥350 for the iPhone has made this the cheapest version of the Vocaloid software currently on sale.

VY1v3
When the Yamaha Japanese website updated, it was revealed that VY1 was going to be bundled with the Vocaloid 3 software as a starter voice bank along with Mew, which is also being packaged with the Vocaloid 3 software in a separate bundle. The VY1 voicebank will also be sold by itself without the engine. This version has improvements over the original.

VY1v3 "Second Edition"
VY1v3 was one of several products which was re-released in 2013 under "SE" edition. The updated version will host 3 new job plug-ins for the Vocaloid3 engine as well as the latest version of "Vocaloid3' and Vocaloid 3 Lite. For users who already own the original vocal, there is no need for a second purchase as aside from a software package update, all the new added bonus content in the SE addition is downloadable from the Vocaloid website.

The original version of VY1v3 was discontinued from sale on March 20th 2013.

Concept
Unlike past Japanese Vocaloids VY1, along with the voicebanks partner VY2, have never had an official avatar established for them allowing a creative freedom that other Vocaloids did not offer.

Usage of the refined version of the character "Kiku Kobushi" from the VesFes contest has been used for the concept around VY1, but has not been established as her offical avatar.

Etymology
The original VY1 codename of "Mizki" is a reference to hanamizuki

Marketing
The standard version of the software has just the Vocaloid software included. The Deluxe edition comes with a free CD featuring a number of tracks by different producers, along with the configuration they used for the song and their own interpretation of the Vocaloid. This also provides users examples of how the voicebank can be used and offers ideas and suggestions for their own songs. The producers used were already known users gathered from Nico Nico Douga and Youtube to help demonstrate the new standard Yamaha hoped to set with VY1.

Due to the professional design of VY1, the vocal often appears in use for aps and equipment that involves derivative products produced by Yamaha, either by its own or with VY2.

VOCALO Revolution
VY1 was used as the voice for VOCALO Revolution's "CUL" mascot character. The voicebank featured in the shows introduction, the PV "白の季節" and the closing credits of the show.

VocaFes Winners
At VocaFes 2011, two winners were announced whose images will be used for VY1 and VY2. VY1's redefined version however was not presented alongside the original artwork like VY2's was because of an error. Previously, it was announced they would host a competition for everyone to design mascots for the characters as a method of percieving how the fandom thought of VY1 and VY2.

Rimiko won for VY1's design which can be found in her pixiv account while Manbou no Ane won for VY2's design.

Taiwan Release
VY1 is one of the Vocaloids set to be released by e-capsule.

VOCAFARRE 2011
On the 15th-16 of December Gumi, VY1V3 , Akikoroid-chan, Tone Rion and Aoki Lapis appeared in a 3D concert at VOCAFARRE 2011


 * YouTube Broadcast VY1V3 - Opening VOCAFARRE
 * NicoVideo Broadcast All Involved (Including Tone Rion who's full part is difficult or impossible to find) - VocaLawson Vocafarre Concert Summary

Vocaloid Keyboard
VY1 is the vocal heard in the demonstrations of the Vocaloid Keyboard.

VY1v3

 * Comparison between VY1 (V2), VY1 (V2 voicebank imported into V3) and VY1v3

The VY1v3 software contains improved vocals for Vocaloid 3 and was one of 4 packages to be released with the Vocaloid 3 engine launch. Aside from the improvements to the voicebank, there is overall little difference between VY1v3 and VY1, so users with VY1 already might not find the need to purchase the voicebank at all.


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Demo
A trial version of this software was featured in VOCALOIDをたのしもう Vol.7 along side trials of VY2 and Vocaloid 2 vocal Hatsune Miku.

Examples of Usage
To our readers and editors, for section notes please read; Notes; Examples sections.
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 * -|VY1v3=

Popularity
VY1 was first announced during the time when the focus was on Lily, and comparisons between the reaction in Japan towards Lily and VY1 have been noted and often brought up. Whereas Lily had many songs upon her release, VY1 was apparently slow to gain popularity at first. However over time, VY1's biggest hits in Nico Nico Douga mostly comes from 'new' producers who have never uploaded a work using 'Vocaloid' before.

A independent Vocaloid search on Nico Nico Douga revealed that most Vocaloids had less then 1,000 videos uploaded on Nico Nico Douga in between July 1 and December 15 2011 with VY1 falling into that category as well.

Trivia

 * VY1 voiced VOCALO Revolution's introduction and credits, with CUL being the mascot character. However, many fans have confused VY1 as CUL being the same Vocaloid; because later on CUL was announced to be a Vocaloid3. VY1 and CUL (Vocaloid) have no relations whatsoever for VY1 only voices VOCALO Revolution's videos.

Notable for...

 * Highest quality Japanese feminine vocal for Vocaloid 2
 * First feminine vocal type of the VY series
 * First Vocaloid to promise high quality
 * First Vocaloid produced by Bplats
 * First vocal of the VY series
 * First Vocaloid to be released on iPad and iPhone
 * First Avatarless Japanese vocaloid
 * First of the VY series to be updated

Gallery
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