Tag: ogienoid

How To Use VIRTUS OG02 Original Multipitch

Introduction to VIRTUS OG02 Multipitch VCV

VIRTUS OG02 “Original” is a 4-pitch Japanese VCV style Voicebank developed by STUDIO OGIEN. Released in 2022, VIRTUS OG02 is the second OGIENOID base voicebank comprised of multipitch VCV recordings.

How To Use VIRTUS OG02 Original

Using Multi-pitch

“Original” consists of 4 unique pitches. These pitches are auto-configured using the Prefix.map function in UTAU. As long as the user does not remove the Prefix.map file, the multi-pitch functions of the voicebank will work without any additional effort. From this point, a user can carry on as if they are using a normal VCV voicebank.

Using VCV in UTAU

For those new to the VCV voicebank format, let’s learn how to use it in UTAU! First, load up the desired Voicebank and UST file (if you have one). There are two scenarios here: the UST is either formatted for VCV or it just isn’t. Not every UST comes in VCV format, but you may really, really want to use the UST. Fear not, there are many options to remedy this situation!

The tedious method that we aren’t going to actually consider a method, but rather a painful last resort: Add the preceding vowel to the lyric: Let’s say you have two notes “か” (ka) and “あ” (a). Simply add an “a” in the same note as あ. Simply, あ now becomes “a あ”.

The easiest method (that, unfortunately, costs money): UTAU Shareware: If you have the shareware version of UTAU, you can simply hit the auto VCV button, and UTAU will turn the vowels into VCV!

Click “A” for auto VCV

Other methods: Plugins: Some plugins may convert the CV vowels into VCV without altering the rest. Others may turn the entire UST into VCV. Experimentation is key! IroIro is our favorite recommendation, as the plugin has many other useful features packed into it as well.

Navigating to your installed UTAU plugins

If you have IroIro Installed, follow Tools > Plug-Ins(N) > IroIro. Select CV -> VCV and click OK.

IroIro’s many options

Once your UST is in VCV format, you are ready to proceed.

Fitting a UST to a VCV Voicebank

Fitting a UST file to a UTAU Voicebank will definitely improve the sound and make your covers appear more professional. By fitting the UST, you are telling the software to conform to that particular UTAU’s configurations and setup (OTO). This is an important step if the UST was not explicitly made for the UTAU you are using, and it helps to improve the fluidity and clarity of the voice. So, let’s do it!

To start:

  1. Open a UST file
  2. Select all (Ctrl+A)
  3. Right-click on a note
  4. On the pop-up, select “Property” or “Region Property” (if you selected all notes). A new window will appear.

  5. You may notice sections on this window labeled “Preutterance” and “Overlap”. To their right, there is a “Clear” button. We want to click that.


  6. Next, at the bottom of the window, there is a box labeled STP. 
    1. If it has a value, delete it. 
    2. If the box is grayed out, double-click the box to clear it.
  7. Press “OK”
  8. In the top right of the main window of UTAU, you will see a group of four buttons (ACPT, P2P3, P1P4, RESET).
    1. Click RESET
    2. Then click P2P3
    3. Next, P1P4
    4. P2P3 again
    5. Click ACPT (You can click this multiple times if you see any red “!”, and it may take care of those. More on that in just a second!)
  9. That’s it! You’ve fit the UST to your VCV Voicebank

Special Characters, Envelope Issues and Other Problem Samples

Special Characters

Example of notes with special characters

While fitting a UST to your UTAU, you may find errors highlighted as red “!” along the way. VCV is a popular method and widely employed, so a user may run across custom notes, properties, and expressions within a UST. Your UTAU may not have these special notes and sounds, so, we need to run through a few options.

  1. Manual removal
    1. Simply edit each note, one by one, and delete the extra symbols.
  2. SuffixBroker (for custom characters at the end of a note such as an up or down arrow, a number, or another special symbol)
    1. Select the notes you want the characters removed from
    2. Found under: Tools > Built-in Tools > SuffixBroker
    3. Leave the box blank, click OK, and now the Suffixes are gone! PLEASE NOTE: this does not always perform 100%. Make sure to double-check your work.
  3. Third-Party Plugins

Much better!

Envelope Issues

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

The error still shows up, and, more confusingly, the sound sample exists and your oto is fine. Grr… Now that’s frustrating! But we have a fix. Let’s check and edit some envelopes!

Very carefully, right-click on the note. A new pop-up will appear. Hover down to “Envelope…” and click on it.

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

And…

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

YIKES! That’s pretty bad! Worry not, there’s a simple fix. Let’s click “Normal”. 9/10 times, that does the job.

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

If the error still persists after hitting “Normal”, simply drag the red boxes around until they look, well, normal. Click OK and it should be good to go!

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

Much better, and now our “!” is gone. We are ready to tune and mix!

Using VCV in OpenUTAU

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

For tracks made from scratch, start by clicking the “+” icon on the left-hand side. A new track like so will be created.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

Click on “Select Singer” and choose a voice. In this instance, we will choose VIRTUS OG02.

The voice is loaded. Now, we must tell OpenUTAU what type of voicebank she has. Click on “More…” to open a new menu of options.

Select “[JP VCV] Japanese VCV Phonemizer”. We are ready to use VCV in OpenUTAU!

For Existing USTs:

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

Go to “File > Import Tracks…” and choose a UST of your liking.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

You may notice the singer data is saved from the UST file. You may or may not have this UTAU in your library. Either way, we are wanting to use VIRTUS OG02 in this example as well. Go ahead and click on the singer’s name to open a new menu.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

Select the preferred singer by clicking their name. In this instance, we will choose VIRTUS OG02.

With the voice loaded, we must tell OpenUTAU what type of voicebank it is. Click on “DEFAULT” to open a new menu of options.

Select “[JP VCV] Japanese VCV Phonemizer”. We are ready to use VCV in OpenUTAU!

How To Use HONOS OG04 Original Japanese VCV

Introduction to HONOS OG04 Original VCV

HONOS OG04 “Original” is a Japanese VCV style Voicebank developed by STUDIO OGIEN. Originally released in 2019 for the free-to-use UTAU software, HONOS OG04’s smooth, androgynous voice is the deepest of the OGIENOID series. Her flexibility between masculine and feminine ranges gives her a wide range of usability.

HONOS OG04’s “Original” voicebank is an assortment of three different VCVs, each in a unique timbre (the character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity). “Original” includes Stoic (a normal singing voice), Mellow (a soft voice), and Firm (a firm voice). This voicebank combines three voicebanks into one, allowing the user to plug in “↑” or “↓” into the UST from the SuffixBroker for appends. Making all voices available to use in one UST helps make editing, tuning, and mixing faster and easier.

Using HONOS OG04 Original

Using The Included Appends

STOIC

“Stoic” is Honos OG04’s default voice and will play so long as the user understands how to control VCV UTAU voicebanks. No additional steps are necessary to utilize this tone.

MELLOW

Select or enter “↓” into the UST from the SuffixBroker. By default, it should be included in the base installation of UTAU.

FIRM

Select or enter “↑” into the UST from the SuffixBroker. By default, it should be included in the base installation of UTAU.

Using VCV in UTAU

For those new to the VCV voicebank format, let’s learn how to use it in UTAU! First, load up the desired Voicebank and UST file (if you have one). There are two scenarios here: the UST is either formatted for VCV or it just isn’t. Not every UST comes in VCV format, but you may really, really want to use the UST. Fear not, there are many options to remedy this situation!

The tedious method that we aren’t going to actually consider a method, but rather a painful last resort: Add the preceding vowel to the lyric: Let’s say you have two notes “か” (ka) and “あ” (a). Simply add an “a” in the same note as あ. Simply, あ now becomes “a あ”.

The easiest method (that, unfortunately, costs money): UTAU Shareware: If you have the shareware version of UTAU, you can simply hit the auto VCV button, and UTAU will turn the vowels into VCV!

Click “A” for auto VCV

Other methods: Plugins: Some plugins may convert the CV vowels into VCV without altering the rest. Others may turn the entire UST into VCV. Experimentation is key! IroIro is our favorite recommendation, as the plugin has many other useful features packed into it as well.

Navigating to your installed UTAU plugins

If you have IroIro Installed, follow Tools > Plug-Ins(N) > IroIro. Select CV -> VCV and click OK.

IroIro’s many options

Once your UST is in VCV format, you are ready to proceed.

Fitting a UST to a VCV Voicebank

Fitting a UST file to a UTAU Voicebank will definitely improve the sound and make your covers appear more professional. By fitting the UST, you are telling the software to conform to that particular UTAU’s configurations and setup (OTO). This is an important step if the UST was not explicitly made for the UTAU you are using, and it helps to improve the fluidity and clarity of the voice. So, let’s do it!

To start:

  1. Open a UST file
  2. Select all (Ctrl+A)
  3. Right-click on a note
  4. On the pop-up, select “Property” or “Region Property” (if you selected all notes). A new window will appear.

  5. You may notice sections on this window labeled “Preutterance” and “Overlap”. To their right, there is a “Clear” button. We want to click that.


  6. Next, at the bottom of the window, there is a box labeled STP. 
    1. If it has a value, delete it. 
    2. If the box is grayed out, double-click the box to clear it.
  7. Press “OK”
  8. In the top right of the main window of UTAU, you will see a group of four buttons (ACPT, P2P3, P1P4, RESET).
    1. Click RESET
    2. Then click P2P3
    3. Next, P1P4
    4. P2P3 again
    5. Click ACPT (You can click this multiple times if you see any red “!”, and it may take care of those. More on that in just a second!)
  9. That’s it! You’ve fit the UST to your VCV Voicebank

Special Characters, Envelope Issues and Other Problem Samples

Special Characters

Example of notes with special characters

While fitting a UST to your UTAU, you may find errors highlighted as red “!” along the way. VCV is a popular method and widely employed, so a user may run across custom notes, properties, and expressions within a UST. Your UTAU may not have these special notes and sounds, so, we need to run through a few options.

  1. Manual removal
    1. Simply edit each note, one by one, and delete the extra symbols.
  2. SuffixBroker (for custom characters at the end of a note such as an up or down arrow, a number, or another special symbol)
    1. Select the notes you want the characters removed from
    2. Found under: Tools > Built-in Tools > SuffixBroker
    3. Leave the box blank, click OK, and now the Suffixes are gone! PLEASE NOTE: this does not always perform 100%. Make sure to double-check your work.
  3. Third-Party Plugins

Much better!

Envelope Issues

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

The error still shows up, and, more confusingly, the sound sample exists and your oto is fine. Grr… Now that’s frustrating! But we have a fix. Let’s check and edit some envelopes!

Very carefully, right-click on the note. A new pop-up will appear. Hover down to “Envelope…” and click on it.

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

And…

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

YIKES! That’s pretty bad! Worry not, there’s a simple fix. Let’s click “Normal”. 9/10 times, that does the job.

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

If the error still persists after hitting “Normal”, simply drag the red boxes around until they look, well, normal. Click OK and it should be good to go!

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

Much better, and now our “!” is gone. We are ready to tune and mix!

Using VCV in OpenUTAU

For tracks made from scratch, start by clicking the “+” icon on the left-hand side. A new track like so will be created.

Click on “Select Singer” and choose a voice. In this instance, we will choose Honos OG04.

The voice is loaded. Now, we must tell OpenUTAU what type of voicebank she has. Click on “DEFAULT” to open a new menu of options.

Select “[JP VCV] Japanese VCV Phonemizer”. We are ready to use VCV in OpenUTAU!

For Existing USTs:

Go to “File > Import Tracks…” and choose a UST of your liking.

You may notice the singer data is saved from the UST file. You may or may not have this UTAU in your library. Either way, we are wanting to use Honos OG04 in this example as well. Go ahead and click on the singer’s name to open a new menu.

Select the preferred singer by clicking their name. In this instance, we will choose Honos OG04.

The voice is loaded. Now, we must tell OpenUTAU what type of voicebank she has. Click on “DEFAULT” to open a new menu of options.

Select “[JP VCV] Japanese VCV Phonemizer”. We are ready to use VCV in OpenUTAU!

HONOS OG04 ELITE – Tutorial

Watch The Release Video:

So, HONOS OG04 Got an Update [UTAU/OpenUTAU Voicebank Release]

Official release notice and tutorial for ELITE!

About The Voicebank:

The official release of the new HONOS OG04 voicebank is finally here! HONOS OG04 ELITE is an all-in-one Japanese VCV Voicebank that possesses both Multi-pitch and Multi-expression voices.

This Voicebank has three timbres that are 4 pitches each (Tenor, E3~A4), making ELITE a total of 12 VCVs. The three timbres can be used all in one track by utilizing the SuffixBroker. ELITE’s three expressions are:

  • “Stoic”: Normal voice
  • “Mellow”: Gentle/whisper voice
  • “Firm”: Solid/power voice

HONOS OG04 ELITE also has some fun add-ons, including several breaths (intake and outtake), western L notes (all timbres, all pitches), two Growl CV banks (Mono-pitch, one higher register and one lower), Vocal Fry (sounds best used with Stoic/Mellow, 4 pitch), and Glottal Stops (all timbres, all pitches).

USING ELITE: APPENDS

Stoic – Normal tone of voice. No extra effort is required to use Stoic.

Mellow – A soft/whisper bank. You can use it by selecting the “↓” symbol in the SuffixBroker in UTAU. For OpenUTAU, please use Voice Colors in the editor (under CLR).

Firm – A solid/power bank. You can use it by selecting the “↑” symbol in the SuffixBroker in UTAU. For OpenUTAU, please use Voice Colors in the editor (under CLR).

Using Voice Colors in OpenUTAU

Glottal Stops with the ELITE Voicebank:

Glottal stops are compatible with all three appends in ELITE.

– Replace the space between letters with the・ symbol (ex: turn a あ into a・あ).

– Ends notes use ・ at the end (ex: a ・)

Vocal Fry & Breaths with the ELITE Voicebank:

Vocal fry: Use ‘ as the suffix (ex: – あ’ or あ’) or prefix (‘あ). Drop-off end notes are formatted with – (ex: a -)

Breaths: ELITE possesses an entire folder dedicated to breaths of different types. Can be used in UTAU or in an external editor.

  • Inhales: 息, br (5 different types ex: 息1, 息2, etc)
  • Soft Exhales: ahh, ehh, ihh, ohh, uhh, nhh
  • Stand-alone Exhales: 息-, 息2-, etc.

Extras with the HONOS OG04 ELITE:

Western L notes: To use western L VCV notes (La, Le, Li, Lo, Lu): Add “2” to the end of Japanese R notes (ex: a ら2)

Growl: Add * for the suffix (ex: あ*). You can use the up or down arrows in the SuffixBroker

Growl is in CV Format.

How to Use KASAI OG01 Original CV-V

PENDING UPDATES, THIS ENTRY IS CURRENTLY OUT OF DATE!

Introduction to KASAI OG01 Original CV-V

KASAI OG01 “Original” is a CV-V style Voicebank developed by STUDIO OGIEN. KASAI OG01 was originally developed back in 2009, though she would not be released until 2014. We created her first Voicebank as a CV to mimic the era, though we did throw in some special samples to improve her clarity and smoothness. KASAI OG01 is, essentially, a Multipitch CV Voicebank with additional VCV formatted vowels (though her CV vowels also work just fine!). This reduces her choppiness, makes her easy to use for newcomers, and acts as a step to introduce beginners to VCV.  

Using CV

CV Voicebanks are perhaps the easiest to use and record, and they are a great starting point for any beginner to UTAU. For the most part, you can import a UST file into UTAU, select a CV Voicebank, and hit play. However, for the sake of a better sound, many with experience in the software may tell you to “fit” the UST.

Fitting a UST file to a UTAU Voicebank will definitely improve the sound and make your covers sound more professional. By fitting the UST, you are telling the software to conform to that particular UTAU’s configurations and setup (OTO). This is an important step if the UST was not explicitly made for the UTAU you are using, and it helps to improve the smoothness and clarity of the voice. So, let’s do it!

Fitting a UST to a CV Voicebank

  • Open a UST file
  • Select all (Ctrl+A)
  • Right-click on a note
  • On the pop-up, select “Property”. A new window will appear.
Properties window
  • You may notice sections on this window labeled “Preutterance” and “Overlap”. To their right, there is a “Clear” button. We want to click that.
  • Next, at the bottom of the window, there is a box labeled STP. 
    1. If it has a value, delete it. 
    2. If the box is grayed out, double-click the box to clear it.
  • Press “OK”
Crossfade buttons
  • In the top right of the main window of UTAU, you will see a group of four buttons (ACPT, P2P3, P1P4, RESET).
    1. Click RESET
    2. Click P2P3
  • That’s it! You’ve fit the UST to your CV Voicebank

Using CV-V

CV-V may sound a tad intimidating, but for KASAI OG01 Original, it is an optional feature. STUDIO OGIEN’s version of CV-V simply refers to a CV Voicebank with pure vowel recordings in VCV format added in. How do we use them? Let’s take a look.

The simplest method: Add the preceding vowel to the lyric: Let’s say you have two notes “か” (ka) and “あ” (a). Simply add an “a” in the same note as あ. Simply, あ now becomes “a あ”.

The easiest method (that, unfortunately, costs money): UTAU Shareware: If you have the shareware version of UTAU, you can simply hit the auto VCV button, and UTAU will turn the vowels into VCV!

Other methods: Plugins: Some plugins may convert the CV vowels into VCV without altering the rest. Others may turn the entire UST into VCV. Experimentation is key!

Using Multipitch

We configured it for you, so you don’t need to do anything special. Just don’t delete the Prefix Map file!

Troubleshooting

Some users may experience odd glitches. If you play the track back and notice slurring happening, you may want to change what notes you select. In our experience, selecting only the notes tends to help. Sometimes, hitting Ctrl+A selects rests and other unique settings that cause the fit to mess up. Click the first note of the vocal track, and then scroll to the end. Select the last note by holding down Shift, then left-click the lyric. Fit the UST again, and it should work!

Introducing DIONE OG05, The Newest OGIENOID

This week’s post hones in on our newest OGIENOID, DIONE OG05! Though she has been a work in progress since 2018, several roadblocks have kept her from arriving. However, we are assuming her release, finally, will be in 2022. In anticipation, let’s learn more about her character!

Name Origins

Dione – /daɪˈoʊniː/

Dione Pronounciation

The name Dione refers to four women in ancient Greek mythology, and is translated as “Goddess”. Dione is also a figure among the Titanesses. She is called a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, making her an Oceanid, or more widely understood as a water-nymph. 

DIONE OG05 was always conceptualized as having an aqua color palette and a calm personality. We wanted to choose a name that fits in with the other OGIENOIDs. The name also relates to water, reflecting her personality. 

DIONE, The Quiet OGIENOID

DIONE OG05 was the fifth OGIENOID, originally not a member of their performing group. She was purchased overseas from a liquidation company and used as a secretary robot to try to boost her confidence. Though she was anxious about interacting with people, she took the job without question. She wanted to work on her anxiety and grow more confident.

Friendship

As a member of management rather than a performer, DIONE OG05 found it rather difficult to make friends. Though she interacted with the OGIENOIDs frequently, she never found herself very close to any particular person. Officially, DIONE OG05 was not an OGIENOID either, so the rift felt rather wide to her. The member she found herself closest to was THEIA OG03, the leader of the singers. The two would work together frequently to plan and schedule.

Over time, DIONE OG05 would notice a girl with black hair sneaking into performances and practice. There were nearly 30 performers at the time, but she did not recognize this person. After watching her for a few weeks, and asking the OGIENOIDs about her, she determined that her was named KASAI. After asking around, DIONE learned that she was not supposed to be anywhere near the performing group. Afterward, she followed KASAI into a concert one evening.

She sat next to Kasai at the performance and she took the opportunity to scold Kasai for being out in public. After a hushed argument, KASAI left with her willingly. DIONE, noticing that KASAI seemed crushed, offered an alternative to viewing the performance. From then on, the two began to watch the concerts together from the safety of a security surveillance room. Before they knew it, they became very fast friends.

For many years, DIONE would sneak the two into the building’s concert hall at night, performing songs and dancing for the empty seats to fulfill KASAI’s dreams of becoming an OGIENOID in what little ways she could.

Desperate Times

As new regulations came into effect, coerced into law by big corporations, the small company found itself crumbling under the weight of anti-robot customs. One by one, their friends began to disappear under suspicious circumstances. Desperate to keep the company afloat and potentially find their lost friends, The Triad (THEIA OG03, VIRTUS OG02, and HONOS OG05) pushed on, performing at any opportunity. 

After many years of practicing in secret with KASAI, DIONE OG05 decided to step up to the plate, taking the spot of missing performers alongside The Triad. In a way, she hoped her appearing on stage would give KASAI hope, as she watched the girl practically waste away to the grief of losing her friends. DIONE OG05 hoped that, in some way, this would grant one of KASAI’s many wishes.

Goodbye

Over the next few months, she noticed that KASAI became increasingly distant. As DIONE became busy with her work, she noticed she was losing track of KASAI’s schedule, whereabouts, and habits. When she did manage to bump into her, KASAI declined invitations to hang out, saying she was always busy these days with top security measures for the company. She no longer watched performances, either. Worried, DIONE attempted to approach her several times with no luck. 

With performing on stage, DIONE was also letting her management duties slip. One night while catching up, she noticed that a shocking amount of equipment was missing and orders placed without her knowledge. No one was sure where these items were, but, one night, an employee approached her about a discovery in the company basement. Someone had been creating a lab, and, for some reason, they’d been given clearance to do so without informing anyone but the company’s owners.

Perplexed, DIONE would check out the room from time to time, a bit offended she was not kept in the loop. She noticed KASAI frequently slipping into the room as well. This went on for weeks. Finally, fed up, DIONE OG05 confronted her but was much too late…

The Present

In the story’s timeline, DIONE OG05 has been missing for several years. No one is quite sure where she is or if she’s even alive.

Her current representation to the public is outside of the story’s universe. As her audience knows her, DIONE OG05 has grown in confidence and now performs alongside her friends!

Character Description:

Quiet, introverted, and loving. DIONE OG05 is a very calm, older sister figure to the group. However, she can be a bit naive, and it is easy to trick her or take advantage of her trust. Though she is incredibly anxious as a person, she takes on tasks she knows are difficult for her, hoping to grow more confident and relaxed. Because of all her hard work, she has finally gotten to a place where she is comfortable interacting with people, though the idea of performing for a crowd still scares her a bit.

Re-Introducing More OGIENOIDs

Are you curious about the other OGIENOIDs? Visit our news page to read our past posts! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our blog releases. Similarly, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram for more news on our social media.

How To Use KASAI OG01 Amore JP VCV Multipitch

Introduction to KASAI AMORE Multipitch VCV

KASAI OG01 “Amore” is a 7-pitch Japanese VCV style Voicebank developed by STUDIO OGIEN. Released in 2016, “Amore” is the third addition to The Goddess Series, a mini-series of voicebank releases based on the OGIENOIDs’ alter-egos in another world.

How To Use KASAI OG01 Amore

Using Multi-pitch

“Amore” consists of 7 unique pitches that are auto-configured using the Prefix.map function in UTAU. As long as the user does not remove the Prefix.map file, the multi-pitch functions of Amore will work without any additional effort. From this point, a user can carry on as if they are using a normal VCV voicebank.

Using VCV in UTAU

For those new to the VCV voicebank format, let’s learn how to use it in UTAU! First, load up the desired Voicebank and UST file (if you have one). There are two scenarios here: the UST is either formatted for VCV or it just isn’t. Not every UST comes in VCV format, but you may really, really want to use the UST. Fear not, there are many options to remedy this situation!

The tedious method that we aren’t going to actually consider a method, but rather a painful last resort: Add the preceding vowel to the lyric: Let’s say you have two notes “か” (ka) and “あ” (a). Simply add an “a” in the same note as あ. Simply, あ now becomes “a あ”.

The easiest method (that, unfortunately, costs money): UTAU Shareware: If you have the shareware version of UTAU, you can simply hit the auto VCV button, and UTAU will turn the vowels into VCV!

Click “A” for auto VCV

Other methods: Plugins: Some plugins may convert the CV vowels into VCV without altering the rest. Others may turn the entire UST into VCV. Experimentation is key! IroIro is our favorite recommendation, as the plugin has many other useful features packed into it as well.

Navigating to your installed UTAU plugins

If you have IroIro Installed, follow Tools > Plug-Ins(N) > IroIro. Select CV -> VCV and click OK.

IroIro’s many options

Once your UST is in VCV format, you are ready to proceed.

Fitting a UST to a VCV Voicebank

Fitting a UST file to a UTAU Voicebank will definitely improve the sound and make your covers appear more professional. By fitting the UST, you are telling the software to conform to that particular UTAU’s configurations and setup (OTO). This is an important step if the UST was not explicitly made for the UTAU you are using, and it helps to improve the fluidity and clarity of the voice. So, let’s do it!

To start:

  1. Open a UST file
  2. Select all (Ctrl+A)
  3. Right-click on a note
  4. On the pop-up, select “Property” or “Region Property” (if you selected all notes). A new window will appear.

  5. You may notice sections on this window labeled “Preutterance” and “Overlap”. To their right, there is a “Clear” button. We want to click that.


  6. Next, at the bottom of the window, there is a box labeled STP. 
    1. If it has a value, delete it. 
    2. If the box is grayed out, double-click the box to clear it.
  7. Press “OK”
  8. In the top right of the main window of UTAU, you will see a group of four buttons (ACPT, P2P3, P1P4, RESET).
    1. Click RESET
    2. Then click P2P3
    3. Next, P1P4
    4. P2P3 again
    5. Click ACPT (You can click this multiple times if you see any red “!”, and it may take care of those. More on that in just a second!)
  9. That’s it! You’ve fit the UST to your VCV Voicebank

Special Characters, Envelope Issues and Other Problem Samples

Special Characters

Example of notes with special characters

While fitting a UST to your UTAU, you may find errors highlighted as red “!” along the way. VCV is a popular method and widely employed, so a user may run across custom notes, properties, and expressions within a UST. Your UTAU may not have these special notes and sounds, so, we need to run through a few options.

  1. Manual removal
    1. Simply edit each note, one by one, and delete the extra symbols.
  2. SuffixBroker (for custom characters at the end of a note such as an up or down arrow, a number, or another special symbol)
    1. Select the notes you want the characters removed from
    2. Found under: Tools > Built-in Tools > SuffixBroker
    3. Leave the box blank, click OK, and now the Suffixes are gone! PLEASE NOTE: this does not always perform 100%. Make sure to double-check your work.
  3. Third-Party Plugins

Much better!

Envelope Issues

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

The error still shows up, and, more confusingly, the sound sample exists and your oto is fine. Grr… Now that’s frustrating! But we have a fix. Let’s check and edit some envelopes!

Very carefully, right-click on the note. A new pop-up will appear. Hover down to “Envelope…” and click on it.

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

And…

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

YIKES! That’s pretty bad! Worry not, there’s a simple fix. Let’s click “Normal”. 9/10 times, that does the job.

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

If the error still persists after hitting “Normal”, simply drag the red boxes around until they look, well, normal. Click OK and it should be good to go!

How to use UTAU VCV Voicebanks: editing envelopes

Much better, and now our “!” is gone. We are ready to tune and mix!

Using VCV in OpenUTAU

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

For tracks made from scratch, start by clicking the “+” icon on the left-hand side. A new track like so will be created.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

Click on “Select Singer” and choose a voice. In this instance, we will choose Kasai AMORE.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

The voice is loaded. Now, we must tell OpenUTAU what type of voicebank she has. Click on “DEFAULT” to open a new menu of options.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

Select “[JP VCV] Japanese VCV Phonemizer”. We are ready to use VCV in OpenUTAU!

For Existing USTs:

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

Go to “File > Import Tracks…” and choose a UST of your liking.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

You may notice the singer data is saved from the UST file. You may or may not have this UTAU in your library. Either way, we are wanting to use Kasai AMORE in this example as well. Go ahead and click on the singer’s name to open a new menu.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

Select the preferred singer by clicking their name. In this instance, we will choose Kasai AMORE.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

The voice is loaded. Now, we must tell OpenUTAU what type of voicebank she has. Click on “DEFAULT” to open a new menu of options.

Using Kasai OG01 AMORE in OpenUTAU

Select “[JP VCV] Japanese VCV Phonemizer”. We are ready to use VCV in OpenUTAU!

Re-Introducing APOLLO OG0X, The Solitary OGIENOID

This week’s re-introduction post focuses on APOLLO OG0X, the black sheep of the OGIENOID family. Once upon a time, we introduced APOLLO OG0X as “APOLLO OG73”, a “clone/child” of ATLAS OG07 (referred to as ATLAS OG37 at the time). After many years of deliberating, we have decided to dismiss that backstory. APOLLO has, perhaps, changed most of any OGIENOID in terms of narrative. Disregard everything you knew about APOLLO OG0X’s history, for her story has changed drastically!

NAME ORIGINS:

APOLLO – /əˈpɒləʊ/

Pronounciation

Apollo comes from Greek origins, associated with the Greek verb ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi), meaning “to destroy”.

In mythology, Apollo is one of the Olympian deities that appears in classical Greek and Roman religion. However, he is perhaps most well known as the god of the sun and light.

APOLLO, the Solitary OGIENOID

Many years after the death of the last known android, APOLLO OG0X “awoke” outside a run-down city on a snowy December evening. She had been laying on the ground, staring into the sky, before that moment. It was as if her entire being and memories had been hard-reset.

She had been doing something, going somewhere, but she could not remember. Her first memory after that was peering at her reflection in a frozen pond. Her image, staring back at her, was bloody and bruised, and her snow-white hair was matted and severed messily into a short bob. 

Unable to remember anything about herself, she gathered herself and began wandering the path into the city.

After some time, APOLLO OG0X recognized she was different from those within the city. Though she felt cold, pain, and even bled, something was different between her and the people she met. At some point during her travels, she discerned that she could read, and so, she began to seek out information about the world she was living in.

On one visit to a library, she realized just what she was; an android. As she continued her studies, she realized there was a great probability that she was the only one left. When she realized why that was, she fled from all human contact, careful to guard herself and her identity.

APOLLO OG0X traveled alone for some time, avoiding humans at all costs. She didn’t know where she was headed, but her mind kept pulling her in a certain direction. For months, she continued on.

Strange dreams began to plague her mind, and the loneliness she felt gripped her to the core. She awoke several nights in a row sweating or crying, startled awake by a flood of adrenaline. However, when APOLLO laid back down the sleep, she always felt a warmth spread through her, and a weight gently laid atop her hand. It was as if someone invisible was there, comforting her…

Suffering

After many long months of travel on foot, APOLLO OG0X found herself standing in what appeared to be an abandoned courtyard, deep within the woods. It was an overgrown mess that lead straight to an abandoned building. Somehow, she recognized the place and found herself wandering inside.

She maneuvered through the halls until reaching a tall stairwell. Her body urged her to travel down the stairs, and she complied. When she reached the basement, she noticed what appeared to be a laboratory at the end of the hall. She approached hesitantly.

As she stepped inside, she noticed the room was scorched, as if it had experienced a fire or even an explosion. She tread carefully, noticing the remains of sophisticated equipment and high-tech computers, now melted from the extreme heat they’d faced. Somehow, it felt strangely familiar. 

While preoccupied with the finer details of the abandoned lab, her foot caught on debris that littered the floor. APOLLO OG0X grabbed at something while trying to stabilize herself, and she felt a jolt go through her body.

Her hand had slammed against the remnants of a keyboard, and, somehow, it had sent a shock through her body. Light flickered in the corner of her eye, and she looked up to see a computer monitor faintly glowing. Another shock went up through her arm, right to her brain, and her whole body burned as information flooded her mind.

In an instant, she remembered all of the horrible things she’d done…

Now

APOLLO OG0X UTAU as a child
Apollo as a child.

The current representation of APOLLO OG0X is a different version than in the story’s universe, and she is an entirely different person. Today, APOLLO OG0X acts as a fellow OGIENOID, though she puts up a bit of a fuss about it.

Character Description:

(From her character page): Moody, solitary. Easily described as a “brat.” APOLLO OG0X prefers not to be bothered, going so far as to shut herself in her room every day unless dragged out. Moody and often irritable, she’s quick to snap back and start an argument. Though she tries hard to hide it, she does have a soft side. She just prefers not to show it. Talk about growing pains! Her fellow OGIENOIDs are concerned she is addicted to video games.

Re-Introducing ATLAS OG07

This week’s re-introduction centers on ATLAS OG07, the pink OGIENOID! For those who have followed us since the beginning, you may remember her as our first officially released OGIENOID. As she’s been around so long, ATLAS OG07 has been referred to as a Hopeloid, OGLoid, and an OGIENOID! As a fun fact, ATLAS OG07’s color scheme was directly influenced by the VY2 Roro design.

Name Origins

Atlas – /ˈætləs/

ATLAS OG07‘s name comes from two different origins.

The first is the Titan from Greek mythology, punished by Zeus to hold up the heavens until the end of time. The name itself means “to carry,” and it bears connotations of great strength.

The second meaning comes from the sciences. In anatomy, the atlas or “C1” is the first cervical vertebra of the spine. It is named the atlas because it supports the skull. Along with the axis (C2), this vertebra specializes in allowing greater ranges of motion than normal vertebrae, and it will enable the head to nod and rotate.

The Second to Awaken

ATLAS OG07 was the second of a set of androids created by KASAI OG01. She took a few hours longer than AXIS OG06 to awaken, and thus had never even seen KASAI OG01.

Atlas as a child. Art by Ceren.

Atlas, The Confectionary Mastermind

As a child, ATLAS OG07 was isolated from the world, and she was never allowed to step foot out of her home. Over time, as she grew, it became more and more apparent to her caregivers that her existence needed to be hidden. Compared to other androids, it was not as easy to figure out she was not a human (due to her abilities to feel sensations like hot and cold, as well as her deep and heartfelt emotions). Still, her caretakers disguised her within the walls of STUDIO OGIEN’s HQ. When asked about her identity, many would say she was the daughter of the company’s founder.

Allowed to interact with the most trusted members of the company, ATLAS OG07 flourished alongside humans. During her teenage years, she discovered her love of cooking and baking sweets. To stave off her boredom, her caretakers allowed her to start studying with the company’s cooks. Hidden behind the walls of the kitchen, it was perhaps the safest job she could undergo. Her first big job, which she would never forget, was cooking 800 cookies for the annual company Christmas Party!

Still, even with so much joy and satisfaction in her work, ATLAS OG07 still felt a yearning. To her, it felt like part of her was always missing, and she never could quite forget the mint-green-haired girl she’d spotted once or twice in her youth. 

Information

As she developed into an adult, a new phenomenon began to trouble ATLAS OG07. She became more aware over time that she knew far too much about the company she worked for. Typically, she often knew the names, birthdays, and personal information of several employees, even before meeting them. Sometimes, at night, her dreams were also filled with images of people she had never met…

Today

In the story’s timeline, ATLAS OG07 works as a cook and pastry chef for STUDIO OGIEN’s HQ. When the story begins, she has never stepped foot outside her home.

Her current representation to the public is outside of the story’s universe. Normally a shy girl, ATLAS OG07 blossoms into her true self under the spotlight. Her favorite thing is singing with her friends and family!

Character Description:

(From her character page): ATLAS OG07 is what one might call a “Christmas Freak,” prepping for the OGIENOID Christmas Party as soon as July hits. Though she doesn’t understand the religious aspect (since she’s not a human), she loves the magical aspects of the holiday itself (ex: Santa, reindeer, etc.) and the time of year. Her primary hobby is baking sweets, and she always loves trying out new recipes.

She is a rather shy and reserved individual, very obviously influenced by her social anxiety. Growing up, ATLAS OG07 was not allowed to speak with strangers or other artificial humans in fear that she would reveal she was not a legal entity. The lack of contact over time caused her to be ill-equipped with communication.

Re-Introducing HONOS OG04

This week’s post is all about HONOS OG04, the OGIENOID that entrances with a gentle, deep, and androgynous voice. She is the second member of “The Triad,” a subset of OGIENOID characters developed to be used together. VIRTUS OG02 and THEIA OG03 are her counterparts.

HONOS OG04’s original concept was male. However, the idea was scrapped due to the difficulty of sourcing male voices. Additionally, our team wanted to start representing WLW relationships among our OGIENOIDs, so the decision to make HONOS OG04 female was an easy one.

Name Origins

Honos – /ˈhɔnoːs̠/

Honos is the Roman god and personification of honor. Closely associated with Virtus (the Roman Goddess of bravery and virtue), the two were frequently honored together, such as in Rome’s Temple of Virtus and Honos.

We always planned Honos and Virtus to be a pair and couple. Therefore, we wanted to pick a pair of names that were deeply intertwined.

HONOS OG04 Original Concept Art
HONOS OG04’s Original Concept by Ceren. Base by rika-dono.

To Protect

HONOS OG04’s name was originally “Honos Unit, #258”. She was a member of law enforcement, specially created for the job. HONOS’s primary function was as a social worker and de-escalation specialist. Therefore, she worked on-call for a local police department, taking care of situations that required a more emotional approach. Above all, her specialty was dealing with those who were not mentally sound, keeping them out of harm’s way.

Occasionally, she partook in high-risk situations. Her physical build made her a strong fighter, and her high-speed reflexes made her quick to retaliate against danger.

One particular evening, she was involved in a dangerous call that left her severely wounded and malfunctioning. As a result, she was the only survivor, her unit of fellow androids decimated. Unable to fight back, she began to lose consciousness as a group of criminals began to bag up her friends.

Without A Trace

Honos found herself sold on the dark web, with numerous buyers bidding on her. As an android member of law enforcement, she had several unique features and kept many sensitive secrets.
Her highest bidder ended up being an underground robot fighting ring. They were highly interested in her physical strength, and their audience practically drooled over the idea of a female, human-like robot fighting to the death. However, she refused to let them have the satisfaction of watching her go down. As a result, Honos triumphed every battle she was partaking in.

After two or so years, Honos finally found a way to escape her captors. Upon realizing that she was finally free to live her life however she pleased, she decided to blend in with society and find out who she truly was.

Welcome Home

After living for herself after a year or so, Honos bumped into a stray android on the streets. The android, huddled against a dumpster in the pouring rain, was battered and dirty. She noticed that the android was a commercial-grade unit, highly expensive with sophisticated technologies. She extended her umbrella to the android, and the two began to talk.

Honos offered to help the android find their way home, but they refused. Finally, empathizing with the stranger’s wish for freedom and to live for itself, Honos offered to take them in. They agreed though HONOS OG04 did not have a place to call home herself.

Afterward, one evening looking for shelter, the two bumped into a sparkling new, lilac-haired android on her way to deliver itself to her new company. The android assisted them, and, together, they made their way to STUDIO OGIEN.

After deliberating what to do, Honos decided to stay with the company, and their friend off the street decided to as well. Honos decided to keep her name but altered it to fit better with her new family. Honos Unit, #258 was now HONOS OG04, and her Roman name inspired the pattern of Roman/Greek names among OGIENOIDs. The android off the street decided to pick something that paired well, choosing VIRTUS as her given name.

The Present

Her current representation to the public is outside of the story’s universe. But, always taking care of her fellow OGIENOIDs, HONOS OG04 is alive and well outside the story’s timeline.

Character Description:

(From her character page): HONOS OG04 is a relatively calm and collected woman. Her presence itself is very calming. However, she has a knack for stabilizing others’ emotions, and this trait earned her admiration from her fellow OGIENOID team members. She has always been a shoulder to cry on and a bit of a therapy bot. Her mental health is robust, but on occasion, she breaks down, she turns to VIRTUS OG02 for comfort.

Re-Introducing More OGIENOIDs

Are you curious about the other OGIENOIDs? Stay tuned for a re-introduction of our next girl! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our blog releases. Similarly, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram for more news on our social media.

Re-Introducing THEIA OG03

Re-Introducing THEIA OG03

This week’s re-introduction post is all about our lilac lady, THEIA OG03! Though she was in development for far longer, THEIA initially joined our lineup in 2018. As a result, THEIA has undergone the most drastic of redesigns from concept to public release. For example, our girl was initially designed with brown hair and purple eyes!

Name Origins:

Theia – /ˈθiːə/

The name THEIA means “goddess” or “divine.” Theia is a Titaness in Greek mythology, also referred to as Euryphaessa, meaning “wide-shining.” In the sciences, Theia is the name of a mythological planet said to have collided with Earth, resulting in the creation of its moon.

The OGIENOIDs tend to follow a naming pattern, using Greek/Roman Gods, Goddesses, and Titans’ names. Chosen for its lovely, feminine sound and its relation to the character’s personality is why we chose it. As she is a sweet, happy girl that acts as a ray of sunshine in her friends’ lives, the name suited her to a “T.”

Purchase Agreement

Her original in-story appearance. Concept by Ceren.

THEIA OG03 was the first specialized android STUDIO OGIEN was able to purchase. Though the company was struggling, it took a gamble with its finances, hoping to bring in a larger audience. Her program and special features gave her a flexible, unique singing voice with a broad appeal. As for her body, her technologically advanced bones and flexible, human-like skin made her perfect for dancing. 

She was awakened and activated without a pre-set personality. However, she did have free will. In short, the studio wanted to see her grow and evolve like a human being, which was nearly unheard of for most artificial life at the time. 

Theia Joins the Family

As THEIA OG03’s original company was relatively close by, she could deliver herself to the studio by simply walking. On her way to STUDIO OGIEN, she bumped into two runaway female biodroids. As the three began to talk, the lilac-haired girl realized she was starting to experience emotions. Seeing the other two girls looking disheveled and desperate to hide from the public, she felt herself gaining an understanding of empathy. 

THEIA OG03 offered for the two to follow her in hopes they might receive help. The studio offered to take the two in alongside THEIA OG03, and the three would become fast friends. Those two biodroids would later be known as HONOS OG04 and VIRTUS OG02, and they would later join THEIA OG03 as OGIENOIDs. The three would receive the formation name “The Triad” and, soon, became so successful that they pulled the studio out of its financial troubles. 

THEIA OG03 would soon after become the first leader of the OGIENOIDs, upon their idol debut. Her responsibilities would grow as the number of OGIENOIDs increased. Soon, she found herself the leader of nearly 30 other members. THEIA OG03 worked hard to make sure she connected with each of her fellow teammates, considering them all her family.

Not Going Down Without A Fight

As her fellow OGIENOIDs disappeared and revenue from their performances dried up, THEIA OG03 felt it was her responsibility to continue traveling and performing to keep the studio afloat. If it collapsed, her remaining friends would be split up and sold, and her missing and deceased friends would fade from memory. Despite the risk to her safety, she pressed on, no matter the cost. 

However, her attitude changed one evening when one of her fellow performers began to act strangely on stage. Mid-routine, the performer began to convulse and move erratically. When THEIA OG03 noticed this happening, she rushed to her friend’s side, only to be pushed away. Confused, she looked back up at her colleague, only to see a sad yet terrified expression on her friend’s face as they malfunctioned and blew up. 

That was the last time THEIA OG03 ever performed.

The Present

In the story’s timeline, THEIA OG03 has been missing for several years. So no one is quite sure where she is or if she’s even alive.

On the other hand, her current representation to the public is outside of the story’s universe. But, as her audience knows her, she continues to lead her fellow OGIENOIDs.

Character Description:

(From her character page): THEIA OG03 is a natural-born leader with a passion for helping others achieve their goals and dreams. She is the typical happy-go-lucky girl, ever optimistic and encouraging of others. She has what seems like never-ending energy levels, constantly hyper and energetic.

THEIA OG03 can also be quite a flirt, unable to resist chatting up a cute girl. However, she refuses to get involved with colleagues to keep things from getting complicated.

RE-INTRODUCING MORE OGIENOIDS

Are you curious about the other OGIENOIDs? Then, please tune in next week for a re-introduction of our next girl! Meanwhile, sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our blog releases. Likewise, you can follow us on TwitterFacebook, or Instagram for more news on our social media.

Voicebank Progress


Honos VALOR
12%
Apollo PRIME
0%
Theia MONARCH
0%
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