Yamaha and nana music Announce VOCALOID Auditions
After 3 years of silence, we’re finally getting a new VOCALOID voicebank, and it could be yours.
Yamaha Corpoation and music platform nana music have joined together in order to give us an opportunity to create a new voicebank out of our own voices. Rules are simple: Cover your favorite songs via nana music app and it’s done!
Continue reading for details of the audition!
※All translations on this page are unofficial
Audition Details
Audition premise:
As VOCALOID becomes more and more popular, we are holding these auditions with the goal of inspiring more people to take interest in it. We will be judging each entry in these auditions, and select one to be the grand prize winner to have their voice turned into a VOCALOID voice bank.
– From Yamaha’s press release
Title: 「歌って応募！ボカロになれるオーディション」/ “Sing and Apply! Auditions to Become a VOCALOID”
Organizers: Yamaha Corporation, nana music Inc.
Entry period: February 15, 2022 through February 28, 2022 at 23:59 JST
How to enter:
Recording yourself singing with musical accompaniment (with no other vocals) from any song that you like from the nana music app, and post it on nana with the tag #ボカロオーディション in the captions.
Download nana from the App Store
Download nana from Google Play
While there is no age restriction, minors must provide parental or guardian consent.
Judging and results announcement:
All entries will be judged to determine a grand prize winner, a runner up, and special prize winners. The grand prize winner will have their voice recorded by Yamaha Corp. and released as a VOCALOID voicebank. The results will be announced around March 15, 2022 on the nana music app.
Prize Details
The contest organizers will be judging each song entry, and determine each of the winners. Results will be announced around March 15, and recording is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2022.
Grand Prize (1 winner)
- Have your voice recorded and released as a VOCALOID voice bank
※You must be in or have the means to travel to Japan for the recording sessions - VOCALOID5 software (Standard)
Runner Up (1 winner)
- VOCALOID5 software (Standard)
nana Special Prize (1 winner)
- VOCALOID5 software (Standard)
Excellence Award (7 winners)
- VOCALOID5 software (Standard)
FAQ
Q: Can a single contestant enter multiple times?
A: Contestants can apply as many times as they want during the entry period. However, only the last upload from each contestant will be judged in the audition.
Q: Is is possible to apply with something other than songs (like musical instruments and so on)?
A: It is not possible.
Q: Is there an age limit?
A: There is no age limit, but minors must obtain permission from parents or guardians to enter.
Q: Can I enter with self-created musical accompaniment?
A: Yes, but it would hold no special advantage in the judging process.
Q: Can I enter something that I collaborated on with others?
A: Because the contestant’s voice cannot be properly discerned in such entries, they will not be judged.
Q: Can I hide or delete my post after applying?
A: Any post that is hidden or deleted after being entered will not be judged.
Q: Would it be okay to share the audio from my song entry on Twitter?
A: There is no problem with that.
Q: Will the audio in my song entry be made into a VOCALOID?
A: No. If you become the grand prize winner, then your voice will be recorded separately and made into a VOCALOID.
Q: Can I enter with a non-VOCALOID song?
A: Yes. Feel free to enter with any song that you like and feel confident singing.
Entry Requirements and Caution Points
You must satisfy the following conditions in order to enter:
- Own a nana music account
- Abide by the nana terms of use
- (For minors) Obtain parental or guardian consent
- Not be bound by contract to any music agency (including talent agencies for actors or voice actors)
Please keep the following caution points in mind as you make your entries. If you fail to follow them, then your entry may be invalidated.
- Please use the collaboration function in the nana music app to post your entry. Entries from any contestant whose icon is not displayed in the collaboration tree will be invalidated.
- The only effect in the nana music app that you may use is the Echo effect.
- Please use only one main vocal track in your entry without adding any harmony or doubling sound effects.
- Please make sure that your own singing voice is discernable in your entry. Entries with multiple singing voices will not be judged.
- Please post your entry within the entry period.
- Please do not record or edit your entry using additional software (such as a DAW)
Please acknowledge the following in regards to the grand prize:
- There will be no charge for recording the voicebank
- Up to ￥20,000 JPY of your participation cost for the recording sessions (including travel and accommodation expenses) will be covered. Recording is planned to take place in 23rd ward of Tokyo.
- Recording sessions for the voicebank are scheduled to take place in Summer 2022. The release date for the recorded voicebank has yet to be determined.
- After the grand prize winner is determined, the conditions for creation of the voicebank will be presented to the winner, and they will enter into a recording contract with Yamaha. If winner declines, then the rights will be transferred into a runner-up (once again, there will be no charge).
By participating in the auditions, you agree to the following:
- Audio from your song entry may be recorded onto a CD or video products for commercial or non-commercial use within the scope of the nana terms of use (primary use), as well as used in music and video distribution (secondary use)
- Winners of each prize type must fill out a special form with their name, email address, and more. The form will be managed by nana music Inc. If direct communication becomes necessary, the information will be passed on to Yamaha Corp. Both companies have signed a non-disclosure agreement.
- This project may be cancelled or have its content changed at any time.
So what do you think? Do you dream of hearing your voice become an official VOCALOID product? If so, then give these auditions a try, and best of luck to all entrants!
