Following the success of Crypton's Append series for Hatsune Miku and Kagamine Rin/Len, Internet Co., Ltd confirmed GUMI would receive an "Extend" edition in 2011.[1]
On January 20, confirmation was released that recordings had started for the V2 Megpoid Extend, several vocal recordings having already been recorded.[2]
The first voicebank demo, Megpoid Extend Power β was uploaded on May 21, 2011 to Nico Nico Douga, however its time spent up was only brief.[3] Demos for Power and Whisper α were also put up, but also removed a short time later.[4] A more permanent version was uploaded later.[5] GUMI's whisper Extend was used to sing "Fly me to the moon" and "BeMyself" in her power Extend; their uploads were also temporary and were removed at a later date.
By June, it was mentioned that there was 4 vocals in the extend development and they were being pushed to enter β by 26 of Jun.[6][7]
It was mentioned in September, that they had performed checks on 1,200 connections for V3 Megpoid, this was done 5-6 times for roughly every 1GB of data. Modifications occurred where necessary.[8]
The Extend idea was later dropped and instead they were launched as new voicebanks for VOCALOID3. According to Noboru, "Extend" was dropped from the name because it would cause confusion on whether or not VOCALOID2 Megpoid was needed to use the vocals.[9] The voicebanks are sold individually or as a pack. The new update of information confirmed a October 21 release date.[10] The term "Extend" was dropped from the product name entirely.
Originally intended as a expansion pack for Megpoid, V3 Megpoid was released as a separate Megpoid vocal. They are sold as a "complete" package (excluding the V3 Megpoid - Native vocal) or separately on their own. These vocals are natural sounding and offer a simple change of tone, resulting in V3 Megpoid keeping professional singing results. GUMI's new voicebanks do not require Megpoid or V3 Megpoid - Native software to use.[11]
Vocal traits as noted:
All vocals share the same optimum range and tempo making changing mid-song relatively smooth.
Since they are a simple change of tone, they are known to sound close to the original Megpoid at times.
Jointly, they address the main issue of the Megpoid vocal, in that is was highly resistance to editing change. This limited the number of tones it could produce in comparison to other VOCALOID2 vocals.
These 4 vocals also do so without sounding too unnatural or different in the process, an issue that the VOCALOID2 "Append" releases faced.
Software issues as noted:
Because all V3 Megpoid voices have the same tempo and range, there is no major advantages between the Completed voices or Native when compared to other packages such as Hatsune Miku V3 or Meiko V3.
All Megpoid V3 vocals had issues related to leading in vocals causing a noise.[12]
Cross-Synthesis as noted:
When any vocal from this package is imported into VOCALOID4, it will be registered for the cross-synthesis (XSY) function. You will need at least two Megpoid vocals from VOCALOID3 or VOCLAOID4, however, to allow Gumi access to XSY for use with her Megpoid voice.
In total the complete package offers the equivalent of 12 additional voicebanks achievable via XSY. The total tone variation offered by the package comes to a theoretical 16 voicebanks in total.
Note that anything V3 Megpoid can do for XSY is improved with the Megpoid V4 version of that voicebank.
The V3 Megpoid package is one of the more complicated releases for VOCALOID XSY even without the additional 5 new voicebanks added in the MEGPOID V4 version. In addition V3 Megpoid was not made with XSY in mind thus underpeforms compared to Megpoid V4.
If used correctly, the XSY function will add much more expression to the Megpoid vocal, Gumi some much more realistic results. It is possible to go from "Sweet" to "Adult" and to "Power" where needed for added tone. This allows Megpoid to sound sweet and small on one lyric and then mature on the next followed by emphysis on the higher notes for a dramatic sing result.
This is rather complicate to work out and will require at least 2 XSY results; between "Sweet" and "Adult" as the XSY pairing "Sweet" x "Adult", as well as "Adult" and "Power" as the pairing "Adult" x "Power". So the full pathing is;
To make full use of the XSY function requires the addition V3 Megpoid - Native vocal to act as the mid-transitional voicebank in most actions. The main difference is that "Native" acts as a natural buffer. Due to the similarities between "Adult" and "Power", as well as "Sweet" and "Whisper", "Native" is only needed if going between either pairing and the other. Without native, the jump from either "Adult" or "Power" to "Sweet" or "Whisper" will sound much more sharper in theory.
The typical steps to switch between voicebanks using "Native" as a step essentially going to "Power" as in the previous example will look like this with "Native" added;
"Sweet" ⇄ XSY ("Sweet" x "Native") ⇄ "Native" ⇄ XSY ("Native" x "Adult") ⇄ "Adult" ⇄ XSY ("Adult" x "Power") ⇄ "Power"
From Ver.4.3.0 of the Vocaloid engine, a XSY group "Internet" was added to Vocaloid. All vocals within the "Internet" group can XSY with each other. This vocal release is part of this group. If a User owns one or more vocals within the "Internet" group, XSY between them will open up as a result of owning this release.
The "Internet" group is currently the largest XSY group at 29 voicebanks. If old versions that have since been re-released are removed, there are currently 21 unique voicebanks. These are; "Gackpoid Native", "Gackpoid Whisper", "Gackpoid Power", "Lily Native", "Lily", "Cul", "Kokone", "Gachapoid", "Chika", "Otomachi Una Sugar", "Otomachi Una Spicy", "Megpoid Native", "Megpoid Sweet", "Megpoid Adult", "Megpoid Power", "Megpoid Whisper", "Megpoid Nativefat", "Megpoid Mellowadult", "Megpoid Powerfat", "Megpoid Naturalsweet" and "Megpoid Softwhisper".
In total if user was to own every VOCALOID3 and VOCALOID4 XSY capable INTERNET co., LTD vocal, this offers the equivalent of 812 additional voicebanks achievable via XSY. The total tone variation offered by the combined packages comes to a theoretical 841 voicebanks in total.[13]
Note that Users of the updated XSY list have to understand that as confirmed by Internet co., Ltd themselves, depending on the combination of the two vocals a level of extra unwanted noise may be generated.
Another note worthy detail on V4 and later vocals compared to V3 vocals within this group is that Internet Co., Ltd. increased the number of triphones from Chika onwards. Thus, many newer vocals do not match sound-for-sound with the older pre-Chika released vocals.
Post VOCALOID4 releases were also developed with XSY in mind, so are better for XSY then the older VOCALOID3 releases.
In addition to not being built with XSY in mind, VOCALOID3 packages with only 1 vocal in their contents that were released may be even more problematic for XSY. Internet co often made multi-pack releases have a quality that made switching mid-song less noticeable between voicebanks, making them slightly better for XSY then single vocal releases.
Note that also "GWL" does not become viable for use with any V3 vocals used as the primarily vocal. This should be considered when using any vocal for XSY within the "Internet" group from V3.
The software is also capable of being used as a "control" for XSY in a secondary role. It is possible to switch out the vocals to get a slightly different result on a primary vocal giving the vocals the ability to act as a "utility" purpose in XSY. This is due to the vocals having the same range and tempo between them, so if one vocal does not produce a desired result aother with a slightly different result can be easily switched in. However, due to having double the vocals, the later Megpoid V4 is a better option for this purpose.
Optimum Range: F2 ~ A4 Optimum Tempo: 60 ~ 175BPM Total Tempo (min-max): 115 BPM No. of Keys: W ~ 17, B ~ 12, Total ~ 29
Package details as noted:
"WHISPER" is a gentle "whisper" vocal.
Vocal traits as noted:
Is the opposite in tone to "Power".
Is ""friendlier" sounding in tone.
Because of her light voice, she is useful as backup vocals or on long-noted songs. It favours a slower build-up for this reason.
Due to the nature of whisper voices, her range is not very good and long notes may become raspy or unpleasant.
Software issues as noted:
Has difficult maintaining strength of vocal on going up the octaves.
Voicebank sample
V3 Megpoid Whisper
Cross-Synthesis as noted:
"Whisper"s main role in XSY is to add expression to another vocal, it allows the voice to be sound sorrowful or gentler depending on the mix of tones and calms other voicebanks sounds.
