This article is about the VOCALOID3 software known as a voicebank. If you are looking for the VOCALOID character then click here.
History[]
In 2013, VOCALOID NEO (a version of VOCALOID3 for the Mac) was released. However, though the news was interesting, as a Magazine editor, Haruna Ikezawa had no budget for VOCALOID production. Later, after things were sorted to produce a VOCALOID version, teasers were released hinting that Macne Nana was being produced for VOCALOID3. This was later confirmed on Nana's Twitter account.[1][2]
According to Mac Fan magazine, there was a conversation with YAMAHA. There was no money involved and approval was given for the voice of Haruna to become a VOCALOID. The vocal would be reviewed at 70% completion. If the vocal did not meet expectations, it would be scrapped. It would only move forward to a commercial release if the vocal was satisfactory.[3]
Due to the lack of a budget, a sponsor had to be found to power the project's funds and a distributor was needed. In the end, the issue was resolved with Bplats, Inc.. The decision was made to make this vocal to be sold exclusively at the Vocaloid Store. Originally, the project was to be released in January, but Haruna wanted to challenge herself by creating an English vocal and she found the original recording of her vocal to be boring. However, permission was needed due to the time that had been set aside to produce the vocal. Approval was given and an English voicebank went into production. Adding the English vocal set the project back and caused it to delay for a year and a half.
During the summer, Nana's Japanese and English voicebanks were rerecorded to improve the vocals. The Japanese vocal took a day to record while the English vocal took 5 days. A Mandarin Chinese vocal was also produced as Haruna knew Mandarin, but production stopped at a prototype stage. This vocal was left to be considered as a future release rather than an immediate one.
Editing began in August where which much trial and error occurred. Due to the January deadline, only 3 months were left to edit the vocals. The vocals needed to be delivered to YAMAHA by November. A total of over 1,000 hours were put into producing the vocals which amounted to a workload of 15 hours a day. The Japanese vocal had to be redone 6 times while the English vocal was redone about 11 times. The English vocal in particular was difficult for Haruna to work with.
In October, it was confirmed she was progressing and that she would have both a PC version and a Mac version. It was also confirmed to the public that she would be bilingual in Japanese and English. She was slated for a January 2014 release.[4]
In November, it was revealed that Bplats, Inc. would be the company that recorded her voicebanks. It was also stated that her English and Japanese voicebanks could be bought separately or as part of a bundle. The bundle went on pre-order in mid-December. Those who pre-ordered would receive several bonuses, including the Macne Nana 2S vocal and wallpapers. They were also entered into a competition to win one of 10 signed hand-drawn pictures by Haruna Ikezawa and Gomoku Akatsuki.[5]
Future development[]
It was mentioned in an interview that Nana's Mandarin Chinese vocal was not completely out of question yet, as they made an incomplete test voicebank. However, they don't guarantee release for it.[6] Haruna Ikezawa was also interested in the French Vocaloid by VoxWave which was being produced with the help of VocaTone. Since Haruna can also speak French, she put forth the idea of a French-capable Nana for future development.[7]
Currently the French project has been brought to a halt, decreasing Macne Nana's chances of getting a French vocal.[8]
AHS Sales[]
In May 2015, due to the closure of the Vocaloid store, there was talk of selling Macne Nana in the AH-Software Co. Ltd. store. Although the VOCALOID SHOP was replacing the store, at the time, the clause was considered "messy" as there were too many uncertain factors regarding what would happen after the switch.[9] As of June 2015, Nana officially became available from the AHS shop.[10]
Retirement[]
On March 28, 2016, Macne Nana Plus was announced and was revealed to be the VOCALOID4 update for Nana. The package was to include an improved version of Nana's VOCALOID3 voicebanks and also added Macne Petit. However, it was also confirmed that Nana's VOCALOID3 voicebanks would cease distribution on March 31.[11]
Product Information[]
Demonstrations[]
Demonstrations |
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ひいらぎ飾ろう (Hiiragi kazarou)/(Deck the Halls) (Japanese and English) | NicoNico YouTube SoundCloud |
さくらさくら (Sakura Sakura) (Japanese) | NicoNico YouTube SoundCloud |
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star | SoundCloud |
Na☆な! マクネナナ (Na☆na! Macne Nana) (English and Japanese) |
NicoNico YouTube SoundCloud |
Na☆na! Macne Nana (Original Garage voicebank) for comparison purposes | YouTube |
System Requirements[]
Work in Progress
Voicebanks[]
GENERAL USAGE[]
Product Information | |
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Optimum | |
Optimum Range: C#3 ~ C#4 No. of Keys: W ~ 7, B ~ 6, Total ~ 13 | |
Versions | |
Trial/Demo Vers?: No Starter Available?: No | |
Package details as noted: | |
This is the VOCALOID version of Macne Nana, which contains both Japanese and English vocals. Both a PC and Mac (VOCALOID NEO) version are available for sale. Her VOCALOID vocal maintains the same intentions as the vocals built for the original Reason and Garageband vocals; she is meant to sound light, cheerful, youthful and cute. The Japanese and English Macne Nana banks can be bought either separately or as a bundle. The Macne Nana 2S vocal and wallpapers were included in pre-orders of the package. | |
Vocal traits as noted: | |
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Software issues as noted: | |
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Cross-Synthesis as noted: | |
Macne Nana Japanese remains unable to XSY and once imported into the VOCALOID4 will not register for XSY at all. Once imported into VOCALOID4, her English voicebank becomes available for XSY. However, it has no additional Nana English voicebanks it can collaborate within the release itself. Users will have to purchase further voicebanks from other released within the XSY group "AHS English".
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Individual Voices[]
Product Information | |
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Optimum | |
Optimum Range: C3 ~ C4 Optimum Tempo: 77 ~ 177 BPM Total Tempo (min-max): 100 BPM No. of Keys: W ~ 8, B ~ 5, Total ~ 13 | |
Package details as noted: | |
This is the Japanese Macne Nana vocal. | |
Vocal traits as noted: | |
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Voicebank sample | |
Macne Nana Japanese VOCALOID3
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Product Information | |
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Optimum | |
Optimum Range: C3 ~ C4 Optimum Tempo: 77 ~ 177 BPM Total Tempo (min-max): 100 BPM No. of Keys: W ~ 8, B ~ 5, Total ~ 13 | |
Package details as noted: | |
This is the English version vocal. She has a strong Japanese accent due to the choice being made during development to let the vocal sound natural over sounding accurate. | |
Vocal traits as noted: | |
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Phonetic notes as noted: | |
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Software issues as noted: | |
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Voicebank sample | |
Macne Nana English VOCALOID3
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References[]
- ↑ http://youtu.be/RZRDexw_6N8
- ↑ https://twitter.com/macnenana/status/373041180746854400
- ↑ http://vocaloid.blog120.fc2.com/blog-entry-16755.html
- ↑ http://macne.net/macnenana
- ↑ bplats taking about Macne Nana
- ↑ https://twitter.com/thin_kuma/status/445398165370322946
- ↑ http://www.dtmstation.com/archives/51890346.html
- ↑ http://www.voxwave.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/New-beginning-for-ALYS-EN.pdf
- ↑ http://vocaloid.link/archives/2212
- ↑ http://www.ah-soft.com/vocaloid/macne.html
- ↑ Nana Plus replacement
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