Crypton Future Media, Inc.

Crypton Future Media is an importer of sound devices based in Sapporo, Japan. This company is also known as the developer of the Vocaloids Meiko, Kaito, Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin/Len, and Megurine Luka.

About
Crypton Future Media, Inc. was established in 1995 as an importer and seller of music software in Sapporo, Japan. This company is a pioneer of using Yamaha's voice synthesis program VOCALOID. Crypton's first two Vocaloids were Meiko, released in 2004 and Kaito, released in 2006. According to Crypton themselves, they were charged with recommending English studios for the English version of the software and so far have managed to gain the recommendations for both Zero-G and later Power FX.

It was not, however, until Hatsune Miku was released in Aug. 2007 that Crypton as well as Vocaloid became popular. When they began to use the VOCALOID 2 engine, they created the "Character Vocal Series", which would later influence the use of 'avatars' or 'mascots' by other companies working on the Vocaloid program. This success in commercial strategy made Crypton the leading Vocaloid developer.

According to Crypton, because professional singers refused to provide singing data, in fear that the software might create their singing voice's clones, Crypton changed their focus from imitating certain singers to creating characteristic vocals. This change of focus led to sampling vocals of voice actors.

Any rights or obligations arising from the vocals created by the software belong to the software user. Just like any music synthesizer, the software is treated as a musical instrument and the vocals as sound. Under the term of license, the Character Vocal Series software can be used to create vocals for commercial or non commercial use, as long as the vocals do not offend public policy. In other words, the user is bound under the term of license with Crypton not to synthesize derogatory or disturbing lyrics. On the other hand, copyrights to the mascot image and name belong to Crypton. Under the term of license, a user cannot commercially distribute a vocal as a song sung by the character, nor use the mascot image on commercial products, without Crypton's consent.

Crypton has also produced several voicebanks that are still in a developmental stage, to date only CV-4Cβ and Junger März_PROTOTYPE β are known. These voicebanks are intended for denominational and/or corporate purposes only so it is unknown how many such voicebanks Crypton has recorded or if these voicebanks will later become commercial Vocaloids.

At the 2010 New York Comic-Con, a US store was considered.

Vocaloid2
Character Vocal Series (CV)

Unreleased
Crypton Future Media's line up currently consists of updating their Vocaloid 2 Character Vocal series and their Vocaloid series voicebanks. In both cases, the developments of one series do not 100% match the goals of the other.

In summer 2012, Crypton Future Media was supposed to begin announcing their Vocaloid 3 line up. This has now passed.

Games

 * Project DIVA Series


 * Project mirai Series

Apps

 * Miku Flick


 * Miscellaneous

Piapro
Crypton set up Piapro to clear up some of the problems related to copyright issues. Under the Japanese law code, which strictly preserves the original creator's right, secondary fan arts may be interpreted as copyright violation. However, Vocaloid movement owed many to these fan creations so Crypton approved these productions by the license similar to Creative Commons (Note: Crypton is NOT a member of the association). Users are encouraged to post illustrations, music and lyrics onto Piapro. Piapro authorizes the use of these fan-made creations for the NON-COMMERCIAL purpose automatically when posted. This arrangement is for the products distributed by and the derivatives adopted by Crypton only. No other Vocaloid distributor has a plan like this currently.

@Games/Tinier Me
The Japanese avatar community @Games has done a collaboration with Crypton Vocaloids, involving a special (virtual) dispenser machine called "Tinier Gacha" which where also transferred to the English dubbed site Tinierme. This machine dispenses random items for members to equip, they are limited edition and not available in the regular shops. The campaign started on Tinierme July 20, 2010 and ended on November 30, 2010 with a full line up of all Crypton Vocaloids. The Vocaloids preformed songs on an outdoor stage and handed out album covers. Members were encouraged to listen to Vocaloid songs on KarenT, an online entertainment site, which gives musicians a place to feature their music.

With the success of the first release, additional gacha were released called Music Festa*(@Games)/Persona Gacha Vol*(Tinierme), these gacha were based upon popular outfits seen in animated PVs and artwork. The promotion for them ended in December 2010 on Tinierme but still on-going at @Games.

As of now the Tinierme site is closed. Items obtained through Tinierme and account details were not transferred to @Games so old Tinierme members are required to make a new account if they wish to play on @Games.

Robot Miku
At CEATEC Japan 2009, Boffin, in joint with Yamaha had the robot model HRP-4C react to the Vocaloid software for demonstration purposes. She was dressed up to look like Miku Hatsune for the demo.

Toyota Corolla
In May 2011 Toyota used Miku for two online adverts to promote their car the Corolla. She is also displayed on the official Toyota page. On the May 7th, USAmazon placed a preview of Supercell's hit song "World is Mine" as a single. The entry was presented as "The World is Mine Feat. Hatsune Miku"

Involvement in Super GT Series
The Vocaloid series, particularly Miku Hatsune, has been actively involved in the GT300 class of the Super GT since 2008 Super GT season with the support of Good Smile Racing (a branch of Good Smile company, mainly in charge of car-related products, especially itasha (cars featuring illustrations of anime-styled characters) stickers). Although Good Smile Company was not the first to bring the anime and manga culture to Super GT, it departs from others by featuring itasha directly rather than colorings onto vehicles.

Trivia

 * Crypton Future Media has stated they will not be making an anime based on their Vocaloids.