Another new Hatsune Miku popup store has been announced for the Shibuya PARCO 6th floor Tokyo Otaku Mode store in Tokyo from December 27, 2019 through January 19, 2020!
渋谷PARCO 6F Tokyo Otaku Mode TOKYO にて初音ミクポップアップショップが開催決定‼️hakusaiさん描き下ろしの和装ビジュアルも公開です🥳 店舗限定のオリジナルグッズ販売のほか、新千歳空港にある「雪ミクスカイタウン」アイテムも一部販売予定～👏 ストアの詳細は追ってお知らせいたします👀🎉 pic.twitter.com/MbFLfk4lkG
Starting later this month, animate stores and the movic online shop will be carrying Kagamine Rin and Len 12th anniversary goods! This time, they will using pirate- and space pirate-themed illustration of the piapro characters by three different artists!
Kagamine Rin & Len 12th Anniversary Fair ~Pirate Adventure~
Begins December 21, 2019 and ends on January 13, 2020
Miku and the gang will finally get to hold a collaboration pop up store event in the iconic Shibuya109 department store in Tokyo! From the 20th December 2019 to 13th January 2020, VOCALOID fans will be able to check out all of the collaboration goods, right in Japan’s fashion central.
『初音ミク POP UP SHOP in MAGNET by SHIBUYA109』のメインビジュアルを担当させていただきました！ 12/20(金)～1/13(月祝)に期間限定でオープンしますのでよろしくお願いします！！
The main visual by artist LAM is themed around “Shibuya x fashion,” and the Cryptonloids will all be wearing stylish new outfits on various pieces of merchandise. More information about the merchandise should be released in the coming weeks. Coincidentally, if you’ve heard the newest song from HachiojiP (八王子P) and Giga, “GIMMExGIMME,” you might notice some similarities in the art style – the visuals for the song were also done by LAM!
(Tanudama herself admits to listening to said song repeatedly while writing this article, after finding out that the artist is the same…)
If you’d like to check out more of LAM’s amazing artwork, feel free to check out their Pixiv, and you can keep up to date on their future projects on their Twitter!
Entry to this event is free, so make sure to head on down to Shibuya109 and check it out if you get the chance! And keep an eye out for our update when we find out more about the merchandise for the collaboration. I know I definitely want some Rin merch myself…
Anyway, that’s all from me for now, and I hope to see you again soon!
“Singers through whom the creators of the world express their songs and feelings”
About
Miku and her friends exist in the real world as virtual singers. When young people in our world struggle to understand their true feelings, they can meet Miku and her friends – both in familiar and unfamiliar forms – in the mysterious “sekai” worlds where they can confront their feelings.
In the real world
Miku and her friends are virtual singers whom producers in our world can use to sing and express the songs that they create. Because anyone, anywhere can listen to the songs that they sing in any form of media, they have become very much known and loved by all.
In the “sekai”
Miku and her friends exist in many different forms in each of the different “sekai” worlds, each one answering the wishes the of creators who want to turn their feelings into songs. The “sekai” are where the true feelings of the creators take on a physical form, and it’s there that the virtual singers help them realize their these feelings and sing together with them.
A female virtual singer known for her blue-green twintail hair style. She can sing in a wide variety of genres with her cheerful and cute voice. Among virtual singers, her name is known throughout the world, and through many generations.
A young female virtual singer known for the large bow that she wears in her blonde bob hair, and part of a vocalist pair along with Kagamine Len. She sings with a charming voice befitting of her cute and energetic appearance.
A young male virtual singer known for his tied-up blonde hair, and part of a vocalist pair with Kagamine Rin. With his powerful and impassioned singing voice, he’s able to richly express a multitude of emotions through song.
A female virtual singer known for her long pink hair. She possesses a soft and gentle singing voice befitting of her calm demeanor, thought she can certainly also sing with an impassioned voice when the time calls. She is bilingual in English and Japanese.
Height: 167 cm ※This is indeed her official height only in the game
A female virtual singer known for her brown bob hairstyle, and her red top and mini-skirt. She possesses an extraordinary solid singing voice along with the gentleness and warmth of a lady.
Height: 175 cm ※This is indeed his official height only in the game
A male virtual singer known for his short, slightly curled dark blue hair and long blue scarf. His cool-natured and gentle singing voice can range from thick, masculine low tones to sustained high tones.
The Hatsune Miku Winter Live Figures from TAITO Corporation – based on an illustration of Rin, Miku, and Len by 餡こたく / ancotaku – will be available soon! They will start with the release of Rin this month, followed by Miku in November, and finally with Len in December.
【緊急告知その2！】3ヶ月連続企画！餡こたく先生描き下ろしの冬をイメージした 「初音ミク Winter Live フィギュア」シリーズが発売決定！ 初音ミク、鏡音リン・レンのフィギュアが毎月登場です😆 11月はミクが登場！クリアの広がる髪の毛が素敵です！😍#初音ミク#鏡音リン#鏡音レン 🎶次へ▶️ pic.twitter.com/RVMcUqTinH
On the website, you can see two different versions of the figure: her standard version, and her TAITO online crane game prize version where she is winking!
You can check out the product site for her standard version for stores where she is available (in Japan), or browse some of the below sites where she can be pre-ordered!
The websites for the previously reported Hatsune Miku Halloween Mad Tea Party and MEIKO 15h Anniversary Birthday Party by ETERNO RECIT are now up! See details on the first event below!
￥1,800 JPY Has 60 card pockets ※Limit 3 per purchase
Instax-style Card Set (hou ver.)
￥600 JPY 6 cards per set ※Limit 3 per purchase
Instax-style Card Set (まご / Mago ver.)
￥600 JPY 6 cards per set ※Limit 3 per purchase
Instax-style Card Set (羊野 / Youno ver.)
￥600 JPY 6 cards per set ※Limit 3 per purchase
Mouse Pads (hou ver., 6 types)
￥1,200 JPY each 150mm (L) x 170mm x 4mm (T) ※Limit 3 per purchase
Mouse Pad (まご / Mago ver.)
￥1,200 JPY 150mm (L) x 170mm x 4mm (T) ※Limit 3 per purchase
Mouse Pad (羊野 / Youno ver.)
￥1,200 JPY 150mm (L) x 170mm x 4mm (T) ※Limit 3 per purchase
Letter Set
￥1,500 Contains 10 stationary (2 types), 6 envelopes, and 1 envelope seal set ※Limit 3 per purchase
Lollipop (6 types)
￥630 JPY each Cider flavor; comes with 6 stickers ※Limit 3 per purchase
Original Tea Blend
￥1,200 JPY Includes 1 out of 6 possible random coasters ※Limit 3 per purchase
Tea Cup & Saucer Set
￥4,500 JPY ※Limit 3 per purchase
Pouch
￥2,500 JPY ※Limit 3 per purchase
Tote Bag
￥2,000 JPY Comes with a 57mm can badge ※Limit 3 per purchase
2-way Tote Bag (6 types)
￥2,500 JPY each ※Limit 3 per purchase
Long Sleeve T-Shirt, Hatsune Miku
￥4,500 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Long Sleeve T-Shirt, Kagamine Rin
￥4,500 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Long Sleeve T-Shirt, Kagamine Len
￥4,500 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Long Sleeve T-Shirt, Megurine Luka
￥4,500 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Long Sleeve T-Shirt, MEIKO
￥4,500 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Long Sleeve T-Shirt, KAITO
￥4,500 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Parka, Hatsune Miku
￥7,000 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Parka, Kagamine Rin
￥7,000 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Parka, Kagamine Len
￥7,000 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Parka, Megurine Luka
￥7,000 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Parka, MEIKO
￥7,000 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Parka, KAITO
￥7,000 JPY Available in S / M / L / XL sizes ※Limit 3 per purchase
Pendant (6 types)
￥10,000 JPY each Chain is 45-50 cm long
Bonus Shopping Bag
Customers will receive a free shopping bag (1 random out of 3) for every ￥3,000 JPY per receipt that they spend on the above merchandise. ※Available while supplies last
Halloween Message Board
A message board will be set up at the event location from October 25 through October 31, 2019 for customers to freely write their Halloween message to any of the piapro characters on.
Alongside announcements like their ongoing collaboration with K!!te and Songle Sync, and a free update to Hatune Miku V4 Chinese sometime this year, the two companies also announce the new engine and software that they are developing for Miku and the rest of their character voice banks. The below information is gleaned from tweets posted by NAT and Cyross on Twitter, who were present at and shared photos and information from the presentation.
In one of the first slides of the presentation, Sasaki describes Crypton’s aim, which is to create new voice databases. What they want is for each of their virtual singers to be able to sound great no matter which pitch they sing in, and no matter what syllable they are pronouncing. This means being able to maintain sound balance during syllable transition, keeping the consonant part of each note clear and concise, and resonating each vowel sound.
To meet this aim, Crypton has begun the process of adjusting Miku’s entire voice database. Once Miku’s new database is complete, it will serve as a reference for creating the new and improved databases for the rest of their virtual singers.
Sasaki then moved on to the new voice effectors that Crypton has been developing for about two years. They plan to implement them in piapro studio for use with each of their virtual singers’ voice. These new effectors include VocalDrive and CherryPie, which were introduced earlier this year as a project by Crypton’s technology research lab, Labopton.
In fact, we have recently heard one application of VocalDrive with Mitchie M‘s Seraphim On The Ring, which uses the effector for KAITO’s spoken parts. Through this, we can get an idea of how VocalDrive and the other effectors in development can make a character voice bank sound.
In the next slide, Crypton reveals that it’s not just new voice effectors, but an entire new sound system that they will be using for their virtual singers. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that it is not with VOCALOID5, but with an entire new software series that they are developing with AIST. Both Itoh and Goto join the panel at this point.
The flow of the new sound system would be to take the base phonemes from the CVVC databases, run them through piapro studio editor where they can be read, then have them further processed and tuned in the voice effectors before being put out.
The development goal of the new sound system is to preserve what makes each character voice sound unique while giving the users more control over their individual nuances. Their aim is to develop a next generation E.V.E.C. and new voice expression technology with various voice manipulation capabilities.
Continuing talks on their technology in development, the panelists went on to describe the next generation piapro studio. The slide mentions that it will come with many improved functions and features such as:
Crypton and AIST plan for a release of the currently nameless voice software series sometime during the first half of 2020. Even after the final product is complete and released, they plan to continue developing and updating it as time goes on.
According to NAT and Cyross, Itoh explained that the decision to develop the new sound system, engine, and software series for the future of their character voice banks is one that was made after talks with YAMAHA, creators of the VOCALOID engine. Their top priority is to support the existing users of their products, and will market the new software in a way that will make the transition easy for customers. Itoh adds that they will be working with individuals like Akira Nakamura of AIST to meet their company goals, but also wishes to continue working with YAMAHA in some way.
This means that the piapro characters will not be VOCALOID products going forward. Itoh explains that Crypton Future Media is a sound company whose singular goal is to use the power of technology to bring new sound experiences to the future of virtual music and its fans. Using VOCALOID up to now for their character voices was an extension of that goal, and development of Hatsune Miku no doubt played a big part in the growth of the VOCALOID community and culture, a culture that Itoh respects and loves greatly.
In the end, though, they are still a sound company that is ever changing and looking for more ways to support creators and producers; their collaboration with K!!te and development of their own engine are examples of this.
Sasaki then takes the mic to sum up the main points of the presentation, and assures listeners that Miku will still sound like Miku even on a different engine. He also explains that the main reason for not going with VOCALOID5 for Miku was because of problems they discovered when running Saki Fujita‘s voice in the engine; it was not because of some kind of dispute with YAMAHA. Crypton will in fact proceed in the most appropriate fashion possible so that their departure from using the VOCALOID engine does not jeopardize their relationship with YAMAHA, and will continue to work with them.
Based on Cyross’s observation, Sasaki may have even shed a tear at one point during the presentation.
In conclusion, Itoh remarks that he very much likes the vibe of the new deal that they have with AIST and the technology that they are developing, and looks forward to a long working relationship with them.
As for how Crypton Future Media’s departure from VOCALOID will influence other companies who still use VOCALOID for their voice banks, we will have to wait and see how things play out. There has been one interesting tweet from Tohoku Zunko’s official Twitter account that suggests Crypton may not be alone in researching and developing new engines for future releases of their character voice banks.
In the tweet, she brings up how the Tohoku Sisters have software that are compatible with not only VOCALOID, but also UTAU, VOICEROID, and even voidol, and they may not be stopping there. They are currently preparing the reveal of heir own new singing voice synth engine data for Tohoku Kiritan with the help of Masanori Morise, an engineering doctorate at Meiji University.
It is probably safe to say that the tweet was prompted by the news from Crypton Future Media. An important distinction to note is how they, too, seem to be developing their own patented singing voice synth engine as opposed to changing over to an existing engine (such at 1st Place to CeVIO Creative Studio, or Quadimension to Synthesizer V).
What the future holds for the VOCALOID community – or even if it will continue to be called that – we will keep a close eye on and will always continue to report.
We thank NAT and Cyross for their tweets and information sharing!
Super Groupies has announced their 5th line of Hatsune Miku collaboration apparel and accessories! Promotional illustrations in which Miku, Rin, Len, and Luka are actually all wearing or carrying the new merchandise were provided by さいね / Saine.
Merchandise
Now taking orders until September 17 at 12:00 PM (JST)
POPPRO is now accepting illustration submissions for their 2020 calendar! No matter what your art style or specialty, anyone can enter the contest for the chance to see their illustration featured in an official calendar with the Crypton Future Media VOCALOID characters!
Contest Period
August 15, 2019 at 12:00 PM ~ September 17, 2019 at 12:00 AM (CST)
Click on the arrow that you see on the left side of the page.
Click hover over “我要参加” and click on “插画征集” to start submitting your works.
0: Thumbnail (optional)
1: Batch upload ◯ Yes ◯ No
2: Entry Title
3: Entry Upload ◯ Upload image ◯ Upload 3D
4: Entry Classification -First option: CRYPTON official character -Second option: Author’s original illustration -Third option: Author’s original virtual character -Fourth option: Another company’s virtual character -Fifth option: Other
5: Entry description
6: Entry tags -The character tags are shown from left to right: KAITO, MEIKO, Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Len, Kagamine Rin, Megurine Luka -You can also add your own tags
7: Non-profit use only ◯ Agree
8: Signature needed? ◯ Needed ◯ No needed
9: Any other requirements? ◯ Yes ◯ No
10: ▢ No licencing conditions
11: Submit
Entry Rules
・Your entry must be your own original work
・You can enter multiple entries
・Entries do not have to be made from scratch; you may enter existing illustrations as long as they are not already being used for commercial purposes, and which you still retain the rights to
・Make sure to title your entry, and designate which month of the calendar it is for. Please be aware that if your entry is selected, it may be used for a different month than intended.
・Multiple characters may be used in a single entry
・Please be aware that if selected, your entry may be trimmed while going through the printing process
・While entries must be made using RGB color mode, selected entries will be using CMYK when printing. Please be aware that this may result in some color difference.
Caution Points
・Entries with text in them will not be accepted, but logos bearing the numbers on each characters’ arm are acceptable
・Derivative characters (ex: Sakura Miku, Snow Miku) will not be accepted
・Concerning the outfits that the characters wear, Acceptable: official outfits, official outfits with modifications, and original outftis NOT acceptable: outfits that have been used before in video games, anime, or manga products
Conditions
・Entrants under the age of 18 must submit parental or guardian approval
・For entries with multiple people involved, please assign one representative to submit the entry
・Entries must be made during the contest period – August 15, 2019 at 12:00 PM ~ September 17, 2019 at 12:00 AM (CST) – in order to be accepted
・If a third party files a copyright infringement claim on one of your entries, you must bear all responsibility. No responsibility will be borne by the contest organizers.
・Please confirm that your registered email address can receive emails. In the event that your entry is selected to win, the POPPRO staff will send you an email with relevant information which you must respond to as quickly as possible. If you do not respond within 10 working days of the results announcement, your selection will be cancelled.
・When making merchandise out of the winning entries, you may be asked to provide the source files for your illustration
・Please be aware that winning entries may be used on the contest organizer’s official website or social media
※Any entries that are found to contain false information will be disqualified
——-
Best of luck to all who will be entering. You can visit the contest page and find entries made so far at the bottom of the page!
x 4mm (T)
VocaSphere 