Voiceroid is a speech synthesizer application developed by AH-Software and is designed for speech. It is only available in the Japanese language. Its name comes from the singing software Vocaloid, for which AH-Software also develops voicebanks. Both AH-Software's first Vocaloids and Voiceroids went on sale on December 4, 2009. It differs from regular text-to-speech programs in that it gives users more control over settings like tempo, pitch, and intonation.
Overview
Voiceroid uses an engine called AITalk developed by AI Inc. The user is able to adjust the tempo, pitch, and intonation to make the program sound more natural. The original two products, Tsukuyomi Shouta and Tsukuyomi Ai, were packaged with the animating software, Crazy Talk SE. On October 22, 2010, a new version of the engine was introduced, known as Voiceroid+. The first voicebank released for this new engine featured a character from the children's anime Eagle Talon, known as Yoshida-kun. Much like Shouta and Ai, he is aimed at young audiences. The first three Voiceroids were subject to censorship, and inappropriate words were filtered out. However, Tsurumaki Maki was designed specifically for a more mature audience and is the first of the series to have no form of censorship. Yuzuki Yukari is also the first Vocaloid Vocaloid to have a Voiceroid voicebank. For Tohoku Zunko's release the software was vastly improved compared to previous Voiceroid+ voices. The first two Voiceroids to come in one package are Kotonoha Akane and Aoi. In 2015, the software was upgraded to Voiceroid+ EX. In 2017, the newest version of the software, "Voiceroid 2", was announced. This version has a number of new features and differences, though users can still import the past Voiceroid and its variants into it. However, older engine versions will not be able to use any new features. A number of releases for the software have been produced after successful crowdfunding campaigns; since 2016, this has become the main source of funding for new voicebanks.
Products
Voiceroid
Voiceroid
Tsukuyomi Shouta: Designed to be based on a seven-year-old male. Release date: December 4, 2009.
Tsukuyomi Ai: Shouta's "sister" product, designed to be based on a five-year-old female. Release date: December 4, 2009.
Voiceroid+
Yoshida-kun: Based on the character of the same name from the anime Eagle Talon. Release date: October 22, 2010.
Tsurumaki Maki: A teenage female. She is the first Voiceroid to not contain censorship of curse words. Release date: November 12, 2010.
Yuzuki Yukari: An 18-year-old female with a mature-sounding voice. She is the first Vocaloid to also have a Voiceroid library. She has several new expressions. Release date: December 22, 2011.
Tohoku Zunko: A 17-year-old female, originally a character created to help promote the recovery of the Tohoku region. Her character design is based on zunda mochi, a Tohoku specialty. Release date: September 28, 2012. She also received a Vocaloid 3 voicebank in June 2014.
Kotonoha Akane and Aoi: A pair of twin sisters with soft, cute-sounding voices. Akane's voicebank has Kansai-ben intonation whereas Aoi's has standard intonation. They are voiced by Sakakibara Yui. Release date: April 25, 2014.
Voiceroid + EX
All 6 past Voiceroids except Kotonoha Akane and Aoi were upgraded.
Minase Kou: is the first new male vocal released for this version of the software. He was released on October 29, 2015.
Tohoku Kiritan: The younger sister of Tohoku Zunko; an UTAU vocal has also been released for her. The goal for her to become a Voiceroid was pitched at ¥4,500,000 to be raised by 18 May 2016. At time of closing she raised ¥6,983,080, fifty-five percent more than was required for her to become a Voiceroid. She was released on October 27, 2016.
Voiceroid 2
Yuzuki Yukari and the Kotonoha sisters were announced for Voiceroid 2.
Tohoku Itako: The eldest sister of Tohoku Zunko and Tohoku Kiritan, voiced by Ibuki Kido. Confirmation of her production began after yet another successful crowd fund which raised ¥10,300,000 upon closing. Release date: November 8, 2018.
Kizuna Akari: A 15-year-old female voiced by Madoka Yonezawa, who received a Vocaloid 4 vocal at the same time. Release date: December 22, 2017.
Haruno Sora: A 17-year-old female voiced by Kikuko Inoue, who received a Vocaloid 5 vocal at the same time. Release date: July 26, 2018.
Tsuina-chan: A 14-year-old girl and a demon hunter. She was confirmed to become a Voiceroid after yet another successful crowdfunding campaign, her goal was ¥4,800,000 and she reached ¥14,052,884 a total of almost 300% more than needed. Similarly to the Kotonoha package, she has a standard Japanese voicebank and a Kansai-ben voicebank, all voiced by Mai Kadowaki.Release date: November 1, 2019.
Iori Yuzuru: Male voicebank planned by AI Inc. Release date: February 27, 2020.
Koharu Rikka: Female voicebank announced by TOKYO6 ENTERTAINMENT and voiced by Yoshino Aoyama. She was confirmed to become a Voiceroid after a crowdfunding campaing with an initial goal of ¥7,000,000 exceeded ¥19,000,000 in a matter of 24 hours since the campaign went live; the final stretch goal of ¥25,000,000 was exceeded on June 6, 2020. Finally, she reached ¥32,286,200 a total of almost 461% more than needed.
