Board Thread:Off-Topic Discussion/@comment-6433273-20151126190829/@comment-26427856-20151231041118

NoviStarsRule wrote:

Johatsun Kikuro wrote:

So I went to Big Al's page to check him out to see if I really want to get him and I saw the thing that said about how V2 will be retired after March 31st 2016, but I was still a little confused by it. It was worded weirdly to me, so I'm not sure I interpreted it correctly. I interpreted it as V2s can still be purchased and registered up until March 31st 2016, and then after that no new V2 activation codes will be distributed. Is that interpretation correct or not? And what does that mean about acquiring V3/V4 activation codes for V2 voicebanks and importing them into V3/V4? Can that still be done after March 31st 2016? And what about if someone has an activation code for a V2 voicebank from before March 31st 2016 but hasn't used it yet, and then tries to redeem it after March 31st 2016? (Just curious on that last one.)

I still need to know if I have to deactivate my voicebanks before updating to Windows 10. Also, I think I read somewhere that voicebanks need to be installed in general chronological order. Is that true? Would I have to uninstall Avanna, Dex, and Daina before I install Big Al? No you don't need to deactivate your voicebanks before updating to Windows 10, unless you're actually changing computers. THEN you need to deactivate them and reinstall. And you only need to install V2s in order. V3 and V4 voicebanks do not have this issue and like Angel said, V2 is not being retired. YAMAHA is only retiring the V2 Import tool and even then, companies are stepping forward saying that they'll provide their own codes so you don't need to freak out just yet~

Oohhhhh. Okay, thank you very much. That is very helpful information.

So I guess I would be fine to install Big Al without uninstalling any voicebanks, since Sonika came before Big Al. :)

WHEW! It's a relief to know that V2 voicebanks are not going to be discontinued from sale. (At least, not yet anyway.  knocks on wood)  And I'm glad that the companies are being permitted to provide import codes. It seems very odd that Yamaha is going to retire just the V2 import tool. Honestly, it would make more sense to me if they retired all V2 voicebanks but kept the V2 import tool usable rather than the other way around. (Perhaps the statement I read on Big Al's page and wherever else it may be should be reworded to make its meaning more clear to prevent future confusion.)

I think I'll still get Big Al soon. I found YouTube videos featuring him that also provided .VSQ(X)s and I downloaded some of them and had my Vocaloids sing along with Big Al. I have to say Dex and Big Al sound REALLY GOOD together! They remind me of KAITO and Gakupo duets, except in English. I read that Sonika and Big Al are good together, and I've heard them sing duets that have sounded great, but when I tried having Sonika sing with Big Al it was just okay. Big Al with Avanna was better than I expected. Big Al and Daina, well...she tried. ^^'