In December 2011, Noboru mentioned he would like to go back and fix some issues with VOCALOID2 GUMI.[1]
Early 2012 it was announced Internet Co., Ltd. was working on a VOCALOID3 revamp of GUMI's VOCALOID2 voicebank.[2] They noted they had added triphones to GUMI's VOCALOID3 vocal, noting the voice was using the old VOCALOID2 recordings.[3] The new version would have all WAV files adjusted and replaced with newer versions.[4]
A clip was uploaded of her singing "Be MYSELF" using an in-development beta version. Another clip was uploaded of her singing "Blue Butterfly". The release date is set to be 16/03/12. Those who pre-order before the 15th will receive a technique guide. An official demo of her new Voicebank was uploaded featuring her singing Fragments Of Star with some info saying that "Readjustment of the speech database technology and the adoption of triphone VOCALOID3, due to modification of the portions of consonants, singing voice synthesis to achieve a sense of transparency and high-quality sound relaxed further.'
A update of the original Megpoid software, it is part of the V3 Megpoid range, though is not included with the other V3 Megpoid vocals and is instead sold apart from them. It acts as the "basic" or "Default" voice of the V3 Megpoid series.
Comes with illustrations, a demo song, and various example VSQx files.
A talk software version of this voice was also released in 2014 called Megpoid Talk for the software OPUS Express for Windows.[5]
Vocal traits as noted:
The vocals are also much smoother than the original.
Vocals were based on the VOCALOID2 recordings, with the voicebanks wav files adjusted to work the new triphones.
Less background annoyances.
In theory, the improvements make the updated voicebank easier to use and it requires less cleaning to remove oddities from the sample results.
There is a slight change of tone overall, with this version being clearer but lacking some of the original voicebanks raspiness which can be seen as a bad thing for those who liked that quality of her original voicebank, although good for those who found it problematic.
Phonetic notes as noted:
Triphones added.
Software issues as noted:
Is just a vocal update of the original Megpoid vocal, this vocal therefore may prove to not be a immediate purchase compared to the other V3 Megpoid vocals.
All Megpoid V3 vocals had issues related to leading in vocals causing a noise.[6]
Voicebank sample
V3 Megpoid Native
Cross-Synthesis as noted:
Once imported into VOCALOID4, this voicebank becomes available for XSY. However, it has no XSY capable voicebanks it can use as it is a single voicebank release. Users must buy any of the additional Megpoid VOCALOID3 or VOCALOID4 packages to use XSY for Gumi, or alternatively any other voicebank for another Vocaloid from her XSY group "Internet"
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.[7]
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.
Due to the release of Megpoid V4, not only is it easier to buy the package as its more complete then Gumi's V3 releases, but they are superior and all come with an additional voicebank. If users are interested therefore in using Gumi for XSY, it is better to go after the V4 version rather then the older V3 versions.
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