On June 16, 2015, it was revealed that a member of ARSMAGNA, Akira Kano (神生アキラ), would be made into a VOCALOID along with artwork and a demo.[1] The company stated that they were unsure whether the voicebank would be released commercially.
ARSLOID's voice would be featured in the dance video "食悦パラサイト" to come with the limited edition B of ARSMAGNA's 2nd single DVD "夏にキスしていいですか?". This was to be released on July 24 from Universal Music.[2]
It was later revealed on July 30 that he would be available for a public release. From July 30 to August 13, customers were able to preorder and reserve the physical starter pack for ARSLOID, but the download version would follow a normal release. This download version was set to release on September 23.[3] He was shown to come with three voicebanks and be capable of XSY. The two "Extension Libraries" are "soft" and "bright".[4]
ARSLOID is intended to faithfully reproduce the voice of its provider, Keiichi Oosemachi.
The package also comes with many samples, like "Sing!" or "Ikkuzo!" of his voice provider and a VSQx of the song "Be Ambitious". In total over 900 samples are offered based on his provider and other members of ARSMAGNA with the release.
ARSLOID was the first Vocaloid to be released with "Extended Libraries", which are incomplete Vocaloid voicebank libraries which consist of only basic sounds essential for Japanese. They are designed for use with XSY to enhance the core vocal.
Vocal traits as noted:
The product provides a strong, sharp and high-ranged young male voice.
His voice has an excellent compatibility with fast-paced songs.
As the whole ARSLOID package is designed to work better on fast tempos, is not suitable for slow, softer music genres.
ARSLOID was highlighted as an example of a Vocal which shows superior and unique singing talent due to his ability to have delicate editing done to his voice via his Library extensions. He was among 5 recommended vocals by the Vocaloid staff out of the 50 vocals they sold for this reason.[5]
Software issues as noted:
All voicebanks in the package produce a slight metallic sound that will need to be fixed with additional tuning.
Cross-Synthesis as noted:
XSY is possible between the three vocals Original, Soft and Bright.
In total the package offers the equivalent of 6 additional voicebanks achievable via XSY. The total tone variation offered by the package comes to a theoretical 9 voicebanks in total.
Note; certain XSY pairings are only possible via XSY modding. It is not possible without it to XSY for example "Bright" and "Soft".
The reason for this is understandable as 6 of these are not recommend as main use. These vocal variations are; Bright (no XSY), Soft (no XSY), Soft x ARSLOID, Bright x ARSLOID, Soft x Bright, and Bright x Soft.
Because of this, it offers a shorter variety of expressions and vocal styles compared to other XSY capable products. In fact, only "Arsloid x Soft" and "Arsloid x Bright" are intended for usage at all with XSY. Therefore only 3 strong tones are found within this release; "Arsloid", "Arsloid x Soft" and "Arsloid x Bright".
Bright and Soft being "Extended Libraries" are intended to act similar to the EVEC colour system used by Crypton Future Media, Inc.'s V4x releases. However, they differ in that the EVEC system does not impede Vocaloid's own calculations because they are created within the software itself and have far more predictable outcomes as a result. In addition, Bright and Soft are fully capable of acting as individual voicebanks, though they will both generate LQ results whereas EVEC works in conjunction with Piapro Studio instead. Even then, currently the worst EVEC combinations for XSY are caused by XSY between Megurine Luka V4X vocals "HARD_EVEC" and "SOFT_EVEC", depending on which EVEC colours are used in conjunction.
Yet even the worst choice of XSY EVEC combination are not as LQ as XSY between ARSLOID's two Extended Libraries, as EVEC still uses complete Vocaloid voicebanks as a basis for the core of the vocals.
Outside of EVEC, the closest Vocaloid4 package release to ARSLOID's by design is Megpoid V4. However, while Megpoid V4's 10 vocals are full voicebanks that do not lose their quality during XSY, ARSLOID can struggle to maintain quality even with his best combinations.
Currently VOCALOID5 cannot support XSY, resulting in him no longer being able to make use of the "Bright" or "Soft" vocals in XSY. ARSLOID is the only XSY capable release to suffer because of the removal of XSY in this version since this removes the purpose of the two voicebanks.
Optimum Range: D2 ~ A3 Optimum Tempo: 80 ~ 220 BPM Total Tempo (min-max): 140 BPM No. of Keys: W ~ 12, B ~ 8, Total ~ 20
Package details as noted:
A bright cheerful voice designed to overpower the music itself. This voicebank was designed to be the "Core" voice that blends together the other 2 additional voicebanks.
Vocal traits as noted:
The sharpness of the vocal produces a strong and clear pronunciation that is stable in both low and high registers.
"ARSLOID" is the only full voicebank of the package and is the highest quality of the 3 vocals.
As of the VOCALOID5 release, it is advisable producers only base their purchases of the ARSLOID vocal based on this voicebank for this reason.
This vocal is best suited as the primary vocal during XSY rather of the secondary. Therefore of the 9 possible vocal variations achievable by this package, ARSLOID (no XSY), ARSLOID x Soft, or ARSLOID x Bright produce the best results.
If used as the secondary vocal for XSY, it can slightly improve the results for "BRIGHT" or "SOFT"; though because of their lower quality, it has a limited effect when used as a secondary compared to if it is used for primary roles. Therefore Bright x ARSLOID and Soft x ARSLOID are considered the "mid-quality" results and the lower quality is much more noticeable then ARSLOID x Bright and ARSLOID x Soft.
XSY between Soft or Bright and this vocal can add defects to the ARSLOID vocal.
Since they do not share the full voicebanks with ARSLOID, their results only noticeably impact the sounds they do share with it.
Another issue is due to their abrupt ending sounds on occasion, they can impact the smoothness of the ARSLOID vocal. Sounds still play out as normal, but an added ridged result may occur on occasion, particularly when the vocals attempt to sound out diaphonetic and particularly triphonetic data.
Genre: J-Pop, Rock Optimum Range: D2 ~ A3 Optimum Tempo: 80 ~ 220 BPM Total Tempo (min-max): 140 BPM No. of Keys: W ~ 12, B ~ 8, Total ~ 20
Package details as noted:
The "BRIGHT" voicebank is an energetic and more nasal voice that allows ARSLOID to manage more fast-paced songs. According to Yamaha, both extends were created to specifically work better with XSY. As a result, BRIGHT is not recommended as a main singer library as its intentions are to be analytical data adaptions.
Vocal traits as noted:
A young and vivid library with a very expressive emotion.
Has a wider range and includes the ability to change notes very smoothly.
As a result of the power in the voice, the expression and the tone is very nasal, especially in high notes.
Phonetic notes as noted:
The vocal is missing a number of diaphonetic and triphonetic sounds and only has the basic sounds needed to create Japanese. This results in the VOCALOID engine filling in much of the blanks with its own noise.
Software issues as noted:
In terms of quality, the voicebank is among the lowest of the VOCALOID 4 vocals, as well as the lowest ever sold commercially overall due to its limited content library.
Because of its lack of samples, many of the phonemes end abruptly, producing ridged sounding results. Because of being the more vivid sounding vocal when compared to Soft, these results are much more noticeable.
Once imported into VOCALOID5, this vocals purpose is lost and therefore due to the number of missing sounds, becomes one of the lowest quality Vocaloid voicebanks within V5. Therefore users wanting to purchase this package for use with VOCALOID5 need to bare this in mind.
Voicebank sample
ARSLOID_Ext_Bright
Cross-Synthesis as noted:
Works best as a secondary vocal for XSY, rather then the primary vocal.
This vocal works best with "ARSLOID"
Compared to "SOFT" its XSY with "ARSLOID" does not produce a noticeable effect.
Both BRIGHT and SOFT were not created to XSY between themselves. As a result, they can produce unexpected results when doing so. Bright x Soft and Soft x Bright give the two lowest possible quality results of the package. This is also one of the lowest quality XSY results currently allowed by Vocaloid 4.
Note; this XSY pairing is only possible via XSY modding it is not possible without it.
Genre: Ballad, J-Pop Optimum Range: D2 ~ A3 Optimum Tempo: 80 ~ 220 BPM Total Tempo (min-max): 140 BPM No. of Keys: W ~ 12, B ~ 8, Total ~ 20
Package details as noted:
"SOFT" is a more calm voice that allows ARSLOID to manage slower musical genres. According to Yamaha, both extends were created to specifically work better with XSY. As a result, SOFT is not recommended as a main singer library as its intentions are to be analytical data adaptions.
Vocal traits as noted:
A mellow, more relaxing tone compared to the original voicebank.
Unlike previous "soft" Vocaloid products, ARSLOID's "SOFT" isn't precisely designed to be a more whispery or delicate-sounding voice.
Compared to BRIGHT, this voicebank sounds more like the original ARSLOID library.
Phonetic notes as noted:
The vocal is missing a number of diaphonetic and triphonetic sounds and only has the basic sounds needed to create Japanese. This results in the VOCALOID engine filling in much of the blanks with its own noise.
Software issues as noted:
Both slow tempo capabilities and smoothness are considered essential for ballads and other slower musical genres. However, due to Soft having overall lack of smoothness and its high recommended tempo of 80 bpm, there are much better vocals even in VOCALOID2, VOCALOID3 and VOCALOID4. Soft is notably one of the worst vocals within Vocaloid at covering this genre.
In terms of quality the voicebank is among the lowest of the VOCALOID 4 vocals, as well as the lowest ever sold commercially overall due to its limited content library.
Because of its lack of samples, many of the phonemes end abruptly, producing ridged sounding results. As a more whisper-like vocal, however, the effect is slightly less jarring than with Bright.
Once imported into VOCALOID5, this vocals purpose is lost and therefore due to the number of missing sounds, becomes one of the two lowest quality Vocaloid voicebanks within V5, the other being the "Soft" vocal.
Voicebank sample
ARSLOID_Ext_Soft
Cross-Synthesis as noted:
Works best as a secondary vocal for XSY, rather then the primary vocal.
For XSY, his vocal works best with "ARSLOID".
"SOFT" is a smoother-sounding vocal that can blend the transitions of the core library.
Compared to other examples of XSY from other VOCALOID3 or VOCALOID4 releases, since the data is only in fragments, the result is not always as smooth.
Both BRIGHT and SOFT were not created to XSY between themselves. As a result, they can produce unexpected results when doing so. Bright x Soft and Soft x Bright give the two lowest possible quality results of the package. This is also one of the two lowest quality XSY results currently allowed by Vocaloid 4, the other being the "bright" vocal.
Note; this XSY pairing is only possible via XSY modding it is not possible without it.