VirVox Project Start! Q&A Compilation
The announcement of new (and potential new) vocal synths is always exciting, and after the news of CUL’s sister ROSA becoming a synth courtesy of HirotoP, we were excited to find out about even more new characters in the works! The recent appearance of “VirVox Project” is especially intriguing, since they seem to be focusing on bringing us actual male banks, a definite breath of fresh air, and surely something to look forward to!
Since there’s a lot of information to unpack, here we have compiled all of the Q&A’s from VirVox Project’s Marshmallow, so you can find out all about the group, what they plan to do as a circle AND some useful information about their characters!
※The following translations are all unofficial
History – beginning up til now
If you’re interested in the progress and announcements related to VirVox Project’s characters and activities, you’ll want to check out our other companion article here.
Questions submitted so far
First off, we’d like to point out that Twitter user xuu (ｼｭ−) has also made an effort to do their own translations of the Q&A, all of which have been compiled and added by VirVox themselves here!
The following is a chronological series of the questions and and our own translations, also including our own comments and notes.
It’s been good to see that people have been keen to send in messages and questions:
“I’d like to support you by creating an original song [using your product(s)].”
VirVox Project’s response:
Thank you for contacting us via Marshmallow, and for your support!
We will make an announcement if such an opportunity arises at a later date!
We at VirVox Project want to help and support the creative activities of all.
“I want to hear the characters’ voices ASAP! This is so exciting!“
VirVox Project’s response
Thank you for your message!
We’ll be doing our absolute best to allow you to hear their voice(s) soon!
“This all looks really promising, seeing you specialize in male characters.
It’d be nice to have a variety of character voices that we haven’t seen before with speech synthesis software. I’m rooting for you guys!“
VirVox Project’s response:
Thank you for your message!
We would like to release a wide variety of male voices that can be used in many ways in the future!
“I understand that you’ll be focusing on male speech and singing synth characters, but will these male characters and their voices be using existing commercial voice synth software and their characters, or do you intend to create original voicebanks and characters from scratch?“
VirVox Project’s response:
Thank you for your message!
Our project will be working on creating original characters and therefore brand new voicebanks.
“Is “VirVox” pronounced like “veer-vocks”? Or kinda like “vee-ah vocks“?
VirVox Project’s response
Thank you for your message!
It’s actually meant to be pronounced as “Veer Vocks” (Viru Vokkusu), but if that’s difficult to pronounce, “Beer Box” (Biru Bokkusu)* is also fine!
*Note: There is technically no “V” sound in Japanese, so it was said that we are welcome to use either a pronounciation using “V” (Veer Vocks) OR “B” (Beer Bocks /Biru Bokkusu), the latter of which is more aimed at Japanese native speakers, since “B” is commonly used to replace the “V” sound from English in Japanese.
“Will it be okay to distribute any songs made using your voicebanks, either for free or for a price?
And will we be allowed to broach sensitive topics/content in songs using them (such as erotic/grotesque/BL* concepts etc.)?”
VirVox Project’s response
In essence, any of the above would be fine, but we’d like to release proper character usage guidelines at some point.
We would appreciate it if users could distribute such “sensitive” material in a way so that it is separate from any non R-18 related media!**
* BL = Boys love / any content relating to boys in love/such relationships.
A very important question, seeing as this project intends to bring us various male character voicebanks!
** Specific information as to how to distribute the media can be found below, in the “character usage guidelines” part of our companion article here!
“How many voicebanks do you intend to announce this year?”
VirVox Project’s response
Thank you for your message!
We can’t reveal any specific details as of yet, but we hope to bring the voices of four characters to you all in some fashion at some point this year.
“Which software do you intend to create voicebanks for?
And do you have any plans to develop Talk libraries for the characters?”
VirVox Project’s response
We’re currently in the middle of deciding which engine we’d like to develop voicebanks for. We haven’t yet reached the deciding stagewhen it comes to the idea of talk voicebanks, but if we can, we’d definitely like to work on them.
“Do you intend to work with professional voice actors?”
VirVox Project’s response
Thank you for your message!
Seeing as the overall concept of this project is to “release a whole variety of male voicebanks into the world”, whether we use professional or amateur voice actors doesn’t matter so much to us.Although, in the case that there’s a particular person whom we want to see voice a character, then we might consider trying to appoint them as a voice provider.
“Since you’re going to be releasing vocal synthesis software, I really hope it’ll be of the AI type…!“
VirVox Project’s response
Thank you for your message!
It’s hard to give a defininite answer in regards to this right now, but we’d certainly consider the potential for creating an AI voice/singing synthesis software.
“Do you intend to hold voice provider auditions for the new characters?“
VirVox Project’s response
Again, it’s difficult to give a definite answer, but since we want to discover “new, attractive male vocals”, we’d certainly consider opening up auditions for the characters.
“Would you be able start an international crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter? It’d also be good if you can accept V-preca* so that even students can donate.“
VirVox Project’s response:
Thank you for your message, and for the advice!
If we end up going down the crowdfunding route, we’ll certainly take your advice on board!
*Note: V-preka (Ｖプリカ) is a type of prepaid VISA card which can be used for online transactions, similar to how a credit card works.
“Apologies if you can’t answer this one, but is VirVox Project under management of VOLOR (Animen)? If not, then who’s serving as the backbone of the project?“
VirVox Project’s response
VirVox Project is a circle operating with official permission from VOLOR (Animen).
Our main members are people who wish for there to be more male vocal synths to the world.
“Aside from Japanese-language ones, do you have any plans to release any English-capable synths?”
VirVox Project’s response
This is another tricky one to answer, but we’d potentially like to consider working on creating English or other foreign language-capable synths one day!
“Is ‘Kurono Takehiro’ Genbu’s real name?
Will this name be used as his official name, or is it a specific to works put out by the VirVox Project?“
VirVox Project’s response
Thank you for your message!
The name ‘Kurono Takehiro’ is being used as the real name for the character “Genbu” in works put out by us, the VirVox Project.
“Are you planning to release vocal synth software for characters aside from Genbu too?“
VirVox Project’s response:
As of now, we’re planning on working on completely new characters [aside from Genbu].
“Do you have any plans for doing VTuber work (or anything similar)?”
VirVox Project’s response:
Yes. Although not specifically for “VTubers”, we do have something along those lines in mind.
We actually plan to make an announcement about this soon!
(as early as tomorrow, if all goes to plan!)
“About how you tend to put either a green box or nothing at the beginning of your tweets, is this to differentiate official announcements and when a character is talking, or when you’re sharing your activities with us, etc. using just a single account?
…Ah, and also, was it Genbu who made those pancakes for Tsuina-chan? Or was it someone else?”
VirVox Project’s response:
Thanks for your message!
At the moment, we will be using only this account to manage our work, but if the project expands, then we’d like to split off into multiple accounts.And yes, it was indeed Genbu. Ahh, he’s actually quite the caring type (now he won’t be able to read this after we said that).
“Are the four boys half-human, half-animal?“
VirVox Project’s response:
Good question…… Aside from how they physically look human, it could be that they’re more of a half-human, half-animal hybrid with the “divine beast” theme influencing their animal side…
“Is it okay for us to show our love* for you [as a character/characters]…?“
Genbu:
L-love?! Y-you mean for me……? (Apologies if I’m mistaken). I mean, in my case, I-I’m deeply……flattered that you feel that way about me, and I think the other three would feel the same way. So long as you don’t cause any trouble for anyone with regards to your feelings, I think it’s fine.
*Note: Specifically, the person asking the question said “ガチ恋” / Gachi-koi”, which refers to a fan’s love of their idol.
“Will Genbu be getting an MMD model, similar to what AiKO has?”
VirVox Project’s response:
We’d definitely like to create an MMD model for him in the future.
As for right now, we’re primarily focused on sharing voice materials that would prove useful to people’s creative works.
“Would you want to create a singing database which supports MIDI-type material?“
VirVox Project’s response:
For the moment, VirVox Project doesn’t have any plans to distribute a singing database. However, we fully support the production of singing databases for AI learning by individuals.
[In addition]
“Singing database” here refers to the raw voice data that was recorded in order to create an AI voice bank.
“Hello. When will we get to meet the other characters? I’m very excited to find out more about them!🐧💕“
VirVox Project’s response:
We plan to announce them all sequentially once everything has been properly organised.
We hope you look forward to future announcements!
“For the sake of overseas fans, can you tell us how to read each of the characters’ names?“
VirVox Project’s response:
Thank you for sending us a Marshmallow!
(The names are:)
– Kurono Takehiro
– Shirakami Kotarou
– Aoyama Ryuusei
– Wakamatsu Akashi
“Do you plan to release a physical box version of Genbu?”
VirVox Project’s response:
We’d definitely like to create a physical version of his product. But because we would need to get separate permission for anything concerning software, we would like to first do research into how much demand there is for him as a character, and then create merchandise such as acrylic keychains, can badges etc. based on that research.
“You said that you will release a new song cover each week*, but how many song covers have you decided on as of right now?“
VirVox Project’s response:
As of right now, we’ve got song covers to last us throughout April. We don’t have anything for after that right now, but so long as people are showing interest in the covers, we’d like to continue to release them!
※Update: When we said “throughout April”, we meant “throughout May“
* This particular announcement was covered in more detail in our companion article here!
“Are the VirVox Project management team members or company information all kept private?
If you hold a crowdfunder or sell merchandise later on, it’d help set our minds at ease if you could publicize any information, as long as it is not a hindrance in any way.”
VirVox Project’s response:
VirVox is an independent circle, managed by a very small number of people if you exclude our illustrators, voice actors and other collaborators.
We will do our best to publicize any information about crowdfunding etc. if/when the time comes!
“Is VirVox recruiting new circle members at the moment?“
VirVox Project’s response:
We aren’t currently recruiting anyone, but we are considering recruiting new members later on if the sense of scale for our circle grows in the future.
“Looking at his profile, it says that Genbu is 177cm tall, but the shoes he wears look pretty tall. If he is 177cm tall without the shoes, then would wearing the outfit and its shoes actually make him 180cm tall? Or is 177cm his height including his shoes?”
VirVox Project’s response:
He’s 177cm tall and weighs 66kg without the shoes.
These are all the questions that have been answered and shared to Twitter as of this writing, but we’ll update this article if more are added!
So what are you most hyped for in realtion to VirVox Project? The character designs? Their voices? Merch? I know we’re ready for anything and everything, so we at VocaSphere will make sure to keep you all updated when we hear more news and updates.
For now, we wish all the best to VirVox Project and everyone involved with it!
~Tanudama
Links
VirVox Project
VOLOR (Animen)
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[…] necessarily wrong – Genbu as a character isn’t necessarily new, but as we mentioned in our Q&A article, the people behind VirVox Project (under permission from VOLOR (Animen), are bringing him to the […]
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