Hanakuma Chifuyu Voice Synth Development Project Crowdfunding Campaign
After the resounding success of Natsuki Karin’s crowdfunding campaign last year, TOKYO6 ENTERTAINMENT is about to begin their next one for Hanakuma Chifuyu, aiming to raise enough funds to develop both her Synthesizer V AI and CeVIO AI voice banks! The sixth TOKYO6 livestream last month gave us a glimpse at what her crowdfunding campaign and donation courses will be like, and now the official Ubgoe crowdfunding page is now open, disclosing even more details.
Continue reading to learn how you can help contribute to Chifuyu’s creation once the campaign opens to donations on June 26 at 121:00 JST!
※All translations below are unofficial
Crowdfunding Details
Project name: 『花隈千冬』合成音声ソフト 制作プロジェクト / Hanakuma Chifuyu’s Voice Synth Software Development Project
Time period: June 26 at 21:00 JST ~ July 26 at 23:59 JST (30 days total)
Webpage: https://ubgoe.com/projects/200
Goal: ￥6,800,000 JPY
Crowdfund type: All-in
In order to donate, you must create an account with crowdfund host, Ubgoe. You can register here.
You can consult the picture below for what to enter during the registration step, or register with one of the provided social media services.
If you sign up with one of your social media accounts, then see below for what to enter on the next screen:
Then check your email account for an email from Ubgoe (うぶごえ), and click on the provided link in the email to complete your registration.
About the Project
TOKYO6 ENTERTAINMENT will be holding the crowdfunding campaign aimed at development of our new CeVIO AI Talk Voice / Synthesizer V AI voice bank “Hanakuma Chifuyu” from June 26 at 21:00 JST to July 26 at 23:59 JST.
She will be our third character and voice synth software product following Koharu Rikka’s release on March 18, 2021, and Natsuki Karin’s release on April 13, 2022.
We create them to be three easy-to-use and easy-to-create-for characters and voice banks, designed upon the same concepts while possessing their own individual voices.
Just like Koharu Rikka and Natsuki Karin, we will be active with Hanakuma Chifuyu without being tied down to any specific project type.. Besides holographic concerts, concerts with voice providers, collaboration video game appearances and merchandise, regional promotions and more project types well covered by voice synth characters that came before them, we hope to take on even more new project types with our characters in the future.
We thank you for your continued support.
– Akasako Ryuuichi (Akasakov) of TOKYO6 ENTERTAINMENT
Goals for This Project
The first goal of this crowdfunding campaign is to develop Hanakuma Chifuyu’s “CeVIO AI Talk Voice” text-to-speech software, and her “Synthesizer V AI Library” singing voice synth software.
We also aim to distribute her “Pitagoe” vocie samples and official illustrations with various facial expressions, and develop her 3D model (MMD) and one additional demo song as stretch goals. Furthermore, for every ￥3 million JPY raised beyond the final goal, one new demo song and tachi-e illustration will be created.
Our goal is to have them released in October 2022.
※This is an all-in crowdfunding project in which we will take full responsibility for development costs if the goals are not reached
※The CeVIO AI Talk Editor (sold separately) is required to run her CeVIO AI Talk Voice
1st goal: ¥6 million JPY
- Confirms development of Chifuyu’s CeVIO AI Talk and Synthesizer V AI voices
2nd goal: ¥8 million
- Confirms development of 800 Pitagoe voice samples in Chifuyu’s products
- Confirms distribution of her official illustrations with differing facial expressions
Final goal: ¥10 million JPY
- Confirms creation of two official 3D model by つみだんご / Tsumidango
- Confirms creation of one additional demo song
For every ￥3 million JPY raised beyond the final goal, one new demo song and tachi-e illustration will be created
※Her CeVIO AI Talk voice bank will come with five parameters
※Her CeVIO AI Talk and Synthesizer V AI products will come with the same Pitagoe samples
※Her 3D models will have a school uniform version and a and parka version
Who is Hanakuma Chifuyu?
Profile:
- 1st year high school student
- Height: 151 cm
- Birthday: March 2
Just the above three facts. From there, please discover and create your version of Hanakuma Chifuyu.
We are also preparing additional secondary character settings for her debut in the Otaru City-backed Otaru Shiokaze High School Project, and for official collaboration use.
Official Illustrations
【Official art】
【Design】
What is a CeVIO AI Talk Voice?
CeVIO AI uses the latest AI technology to recreate a human’s voice quality and speech patterns with incredibly high precision. Just by entering your desired words and sentences, you can have the software speak it out loud for you.
Just like with Koharu Rikka and Natsuki Karin, Hanakuma Chifuyu’s product will come with 5 emotion parameters – Happy, Normal, Angry, Sad, Calm – and users can adjust her reading speech and voice pitch.
CeVIO AI Talk Voice package design by 手島nari / Teshima nari
【Hanakuma Chifuyu CeVIO AI Talk Voice samples (in development】
What is Synthesizer V AI?
Synthesizer V AI is a new-age voice synthesis software capable of using artificial intelligence to sing lyrics with an incredibly human-like singing voice. Some of its defining traits are its compatibility with Windows, Mac and Linux, and its ease of use.
Hanakuma Chifuyu will come with the Synthesizer V Studio Basic editor with which her software can be used. We are also selling her with the Synthesizer V Studio Pro editor with even higher performing and responsive controls and rendering.
Synthesizer V AI package design by 手島nari / Teshima nari
【Hanakuma Chifuyu】ヒメタルネ / Himetarune by 湊 いつき / Minato Itsuki 【SynthesizerV AI voice sample】
What is Pitagoe?
Pitagoe is a collection of voice clip material usable for commercial and business needs. Owners may use them for their videos and songs.
【Hanakuma Chifuyu Pitagoe Samples (in development)】
Messages of Support
Below, you can hear messages of support from:
- Tomohide Ogata of AHS
- Oura Keiichiro of Techno-Speech, Inc.
- Kawade Yoichi of the CeVIO Project
- Kanru Hua of Dreamtonics
- Moriguchi Yutaro of el-creation
- VOCALOID producer 湊 いつき / Minato Itsuki
【Hanakuma Chifuyu support message ①】
We’ve also received messages of support from everyone in Otaru City.
- Mr. Henmi of the Otaru Tourism Association
- Staff from the Hotel Torifito Otaru Canal
- Professor Kimura Yasutomo of Otaru University of Commerce
- Members of the Otaru Shiokaze High School Project
- Yamamoto Shinji of ITAGAKI
【Hanakuma Chifuyu support messages ②】
Message from the Company
Thank you for visiting the project site. This is Akasako Ryuuichi of TOKYO6 ENTERTAINMENT.
Thank you for all your support for Koharu Rikka and Natsuki Karin. Thanks to your support, I can truly see the amount of people talking about them increase each day. This has only been possible because of all of your warm support and creative works. Thank you once again.
This time, we will be starting the crowdfunding campaign for our third character, Hanakuma Chifuyu.
We wish to create more characters upon the same creation concepts, and even wearing the same school uniforms. We are progressing quickly and with no compromises in the concepts of ease of dialogue creation, and ease of fan creations like illustrations and novels.
We were able to create three unique voices with their own individual traits in Koharu Rikka with her rich baritone voice unbound by genre, in Natsuki Karin with her cute and strong soprano voice, and in Hanakuma Chifuyu with her rich bass voice and exquisite breath sounds. We believe that fans will active creating works with them exchanging dialogue without any problems in their vocal impressions, works with the three of them each singing all sorts of song genres, and even works with them singing together.
Like Rikka and Karin, Hanakuma Chifuyu has only three official character facts: her birthday, height and school year. As one of the people who planned out her creation, I look forward to seeing how each and every one of you imagine her character and voice to be, and all the different versions of Hanakuma Chifuyu that will be created from all of your own interpretations of her three character settings.
We are cooperating with AHS (our development and sales partner), with CeVIO Project (developers of CeVIO AI), and with Dreamtonics (developers of Synthesizer V AI) with this crowdfunding campaign, and have begun her initial development stages so that we can provide samples of Chifuyu’s in-development voices for fans to get the feel for. Our partners have also been earnestly answering even our most minute requests, thanks to which Chifuyu is turning into a splendid voice bank.
Funding for her initial development was covered by each company’s generous cooperation and product sales, but securing the necessary funds for her completion is proving difficult for us. Therefore, we are holding this crowdfunding campaign to receive your generous backing and putting this project into motion.
The funds collected from your donations will be used for development of Hanakuma Chifuyu’s CeVIO AI and Synthesizer V AI voice banks, for development of the promised additional products in the event that we reach our stretch goals, and for future developments.
These three high school girls will soon all be together and starting their lives as a trio. We would be delighted if you all would support their next new step, especially for Hanakuma Chifuyu.
Donation Courses & Rewards
Voice of Gratitude Course (￥500 JPY)
- Voiced message of thanks from Hanakuma Chifuyu (recorded by her voice provider, Okuno Kaya)
※To be sent via online storage in October 2022
Audio Drama Course (￥2,500 JPY)【※1】
- Everything in the “Voice of Gratitude course”
- 3 short official audio dramas set in Otaru Shiokaze High School
※These audio dramas will be uploaded online to YouTube and Niconico in September 2023
※These audio dramas will be sent to backers in January 2023
Pitagoe Course (￥5,000 JPY)
- Everything in the “Audio Drama Course”
- 200 donor-exclusive Pitagoe voice lines (100 normal lines, 100 binaural lines)
※To be sent via online storage in October 2022
Goods Course (￥9,800 JPY)【※2】
- Everything in the “Pitagoe Course”
- T-shirt
- Acrylic standee
- Acrylic keychain
- Postcards (2 types)
- Can badges (2 types)
※To be sent in October 2022
CeVIO Course (￥15,800 JPY)
- Everything in the “Pitagoe Course”
- CeVIO AI Talk Voice (package version)
※To be sent in October 2022
Synthesizer V Course (￥15,800 JPY)
- Everything in the “Pitagoe Course”
- Synthesizer V AI voice bank (package version)
※To be sent in October 2022
CeVIO Download Course (￥15,000 JPY)
- Everything in the “Pitagoe Course”
- CeVIO AI Talk Voice (download version)
※To be sent in October 2022
Synthesizer V Download Course (￥15,000 JPY)
- Everything in the “Pitagoe Course”
- Synthesizer V AI voice bank (download version)
※To be sent in October 2022
CeVIO AI + Goods Course (￥22,600 JPY)
- Everything in the “Goods Course”
- CeVIO AI Talk Voice (package version)
※To be sent in October 2022
Synthesizer V + Goods Course (￥22,600 JPY)
- Everything in the “Goods Course”
- Synthesizer V AI voice bank (package version)
※To be sent in October 2022
CeVIO AI + Synthesizer V Download Course (￥25,000 JPY)
- Everything in the “Pitagoe Course”
- CeVIO AI Talk Voice (download version)
- Synthesizer V AI voice bank (download version)
※To be sent in October 2022
CeVIO AI + Synthesizer V + Goods Course (￥30,000 JPY)
- Everything in the “Goods Course”
- CeVIO AI Talk Voice (package version)
- Synthesizer V AI voice bank (package version)
※To be sent in October 2022
Autograph and Special Voice Message of Gratitude Course (￥42,000 JPY) 【Limited to 75 backers】
- Everything in the “CeVIO AI + Synthesizer V + Goods Course”
- A postcard autographed by Okuno Kaya
- A postcard autographed by 手島nari / Teshima nari
- Voiced message of thanks from Hanakuma Chifuyu in which she speaks your name (recorded by her voice provider, Okuno Kaya)
※Input the name that you want read (within 12 characters long)
※Also input your desired name in kana (you can use a name converter if you cannot type in Japanese)
※No emojis
※Names that TOKYO6 deems as inappropriate will be rejected
Special Live Concert Course (￥94,800 JPY)【Limited to 55 backers】
- Everything in the “Autograph and Special Voice Message of Gratitude Course”
- Invitation to a special live concert (to be held on April 2, 2023)
- Invitation letter to be sent to you in Februrary 2023
- 1 limited live concert T-shirt (to be mailed in February 2023)
- Your name printed on the concert’s setlist card (bookmark size) to be distributed on the day of the concert
- Setlist card autographed by Chifuyu, Rikka and Karin
- Live band performances of 12 songs (6 by Okuno Kaya, 3 by Takagi Karin, 3 by Aoyama Yoshino)
- Limited to 55 backers (other related personnel will be invited)
※No DVD or Blu-ray of the concert will be released afterwards
※Input the name that you wanted printed on the concert’s setlist card, within 12 full-width characters, or 24 half-width characters (Roman alphabet characters are considered half-width)
※In the event that you cannot come to the concert, no refund will be given. Furthermore, the concert may be delayed if the COVID situation worsens. Travel and lodging expenses are not covered.
【※1】About the Audio Drama Course:
- Consists of 3 audio drama episodes
- One episode called 憧れ / Akogare (Admiration) about when Chifuyu was a second-year middle school student, and sees Karin perform at a huge festival held at Ishikari Bay New Port
【※2】Goods details
① T-shirt (crowdfunding exclusive)
- Uses an illustration by 手島nari / Teshima nari made specifically for this crowdfund
- It’s an illustration of LARKPATCH (not of Hanakuma Chifuyu)
- Sizes go as so (in cm):
② Acrylic keychain (crowdfunding exclusive)
- Uses an SD illustration of Hanakuma Chifuyu created by 手島nari / Teshima nari
③ Acrylic standee (crowdfunding exclusive)
- Uses the image illustration of Hanakuma Chifuyu (without background)
※A similar product using the same illustration may be released in 2024
④ Postcards (crowdfunding exclusive)
- One postcard uses Hanakuma Chifuyu’s image illustration
- The other postcard uses the same illustration as the T-shirt
⑤ Can badges (crowdfunding exclusive)
- 76 mm, 2 types
- Using LARKPATCH’s icon mark
※Planned to be released for general sale later on
FAQ
Q: How can I pay?
A: Credit card payments (Visa/Mastercard/JCB/Diners Club/American Express), bank transfers (ATM, online banking), convenience store payments (Lawson, Family Mart, Mini Stop, Seicomart,7-Eleven) and Paypal are all accepted.
Q: Where can I ask questions about the project or the rewards?
A: You may ask your questions directly to the project managers using the messaging function on this website.
Q: Is it possible to cancel a donation?
A: Donation changes, cancellations or refunds are not possible. Please ask the project manager directly,
Q: When are credit card settlements made?
A: This project is All-in, so credit card payments are settled at the time an order is made.
Q: What will happen if the initial goal is not met?
A: As an All-in project, so the project will still be carried out even if the goal is not met.
Schedule of Delivery for Rewards
- Voiced message of thanks ⇒ October 2022
- Pitagoe ⇒ October 2022
- Goods ⇒ October 2022
- CeVIO AI Talk Voice ⇒ October 2022
- SynthesizerV AI voice bank ⇒ October 2022
- Autographed postcards ⇒ October 2022
- Audio dramas ⇒ January 2023
- Voiced message of thanks with your name read ⇒ January 2023
- Special live concert invitation letter ⇒ February 2023
- Special live concert T-shirt ⇒ February 2023
- Special live concert can badge ⇒ February 2023
- Day of special live concert ⇒ April 2, 2023 (Sunday)
Simultaneous Upload Invitation and Time Period
To backers of courses with the CeVIO AI and/or Synthesizer V AI voice banks as rewards:
We plan to ship the package version of each product to you 9 days before their official releases (with the possibility of a few days more or less).
How about if everyone uploads their videos using the products at exactly 20:00 JST on the day before their release? When doing so, please announce them on Twitter with the hashtag #花隈千冬. We also eagerly await any uploads of illustrations, novels and more.
This is of courses just a request, but we would be delighted if everyone could upload their videos by 20:00 JST on the day before release day. Please help make Hanakuma Chifuyu’s debut one to remember.
Caution Points / FAQ
■This is an All-in project. Even if the initial goal is not met, the project will still be carried out and backers will still receive their rewards.
■All course donation amounts include consumption tax and shipping expenses.
■Course selections are put in your cart, so it is possible to select and make multiple donations at once.
※If you wish to select different shirt sizes for multiple courses that include the T-shirt as a reward, then select 数量 (amount): 1 for each time along with the desired shirt sizes.
■Once a donation is made, it cannot be cancelled, and the selected course cannot be changed.
【Warning】
There are “package versions” and “download versions” for the CeVIO AI Talk Voice and Synthesizer V AI voice bank. These cannot be changed or cancelled after a donation is made, so please confirm the details of each course before making your donation.
■In the event that you cannot attend the live concert for any reason, no refunds or return of the invitation can be made. Furthermore, transfers of the goods or privilege to attend to another person are not possible.
■Updates and news about this project or its rewards will be emailed by the project manager or announced on this website. Please check your email or notifications regularly.
■Please refrain from using, selling or uploading the sound files developed as rewards in this project for purposes beyond your personal scope.
Q：Is membership signup required in order to participate in this project?
A：Ubgoe membership signup (free) is required. You can sign up with your email address, or with your Google, Twitter, Facebook or LINE accounts. After signing up, please proceed to add your desired rewards to your cart, and proceed to checkout after completing your selections.
Q：Is there any handling charge on top of the donation amount?
A：5% of the donation amount + ￥330 JPY will be charged as system usage fee.
Example １）Donation amount ￥15,000 (with ￥0 gratuity)＋system usage fee (￥750＋￥330)＝￥16,080
Example ２）Donation amount ￥15,000 (with ￥5,000 gratuity)＋system usage fee (￥750＋￥330)＝￥21,080
※Gratuity is optional
Q：What is gratuity?
A：It is a “tip” to the project and project manager, sent to them on top of the donation amount. Note that if you give ￥2,500 in gratuity amount for a ￥2,500 donation course, you cannot receive the rewards for a ￥5,000 donation course; only those for a ￥2,500 donation course.
Q：How can I pay？
A：Credt card payments, bank transfers, convenience store payments and Paypal are all possible. Each payment method comes with their own caution points, so please check the below help page.
（※Help cannot be provided if trouble arises from payments made with debit cards or prepaid credit cards)
➡︎Payment methods (help page)
【Warning】
Bank transfers, convenience store payments and Paypal each come with their own usage and payment limitations.
＊Bank transfers
・Personal account: possible until July 21 at 23:50 JST (payment deadline is July 24 at 23:59 JST)
・Pay-easy: possible until July 24 at 23:59 JST payment deadline is July 24 at 23:59 JST)
＊Convenience store payments
・7-Eleven payments: possible until July 23 at 23:50 JST (payment deadline is July 24 at 23:59 JST)
・Other convenience store payments: possible until July 24 at 23:59 JST payment deadline is July 24 at 23:59 JST)
＊PayPal
・Possible until July 23 at 23:59 JST
Q：Can I get receipts for my donations?
A：Receipts cannot be made.
Q：Where can I confirm successful payment settlements?
A：You can confirm them on your member page after logging in to Ubgoe.
On your order history page, if they appear under 支払い済み (“payment settled”), then the payment was completed without problem. So please make sure to check your order history page.
➡︎Checking your order/purchase history (help page)
Q：Can I donate from overseas?
A：As a general rule, we do not accept donations from overseas. Even if donations are made from overseas, we will not be able to ship rewards to the backers.
➡︎About overseas donations (help page)
Q：I want to learn more about the CeVIO AI / Synthesizer V AI operating environments.
A：Please refer to the below websites for each software developer for information on operating environment.
＜CeVIO AI＞
https://cevio.jp/guide/cevio_ai/firstguide/system_requirements/
＜SynthesizerV＞
https://dreamtonics.com/synthesizerv/
【Warning】
In order to use a CeVIO AI Talk Voice, you will need a separately sold CeVIO AI Talk Editor.
Q：Can a sold out course be replenished?
A：There are times when a course is automatically replenished due to the backer failing to pay or not meeting a payment deadline. (※We cannot send any notifications about replenishments in such cases)
Q：I’ve donated to the “Autograph and Special Voice Message of Gratitude Course”, but can I changed the name that I would like to have read?
A：You can change it from your order history page, but only until July 26 (Tuesday), 2022. (Production of all the rewards will begin on July 26, 2022 using information entered by then)
➡︎About post-donation options and amending entered information (help page)
Q：When will rewards be sent out?
A：That will depend on the reward type. The schedule of delivery of rewards is printed on this page, so please check the expected shipment dates, or check for information from the publisher. You may also check details on your order history list注文一覧 after making a donation.
Q：Can I assign a desired delivery date?
A：We are very sorry, but delivery dates cannot be assigned.
Q：Can I change the delivery address before the rewards are delivered?お返しが届く前に届け先の変更は可能ですか？
A：They can be changed from your order history list, but reward shipment preparations may be made after the project concludes, so changes in delivery address information must be directly reported to the project publisher after they are made.
➡︎Changing delivery address after a purchase is made (help page)
Q：When can I ask the project publisher anyquestions that I have about this project or its rewards?プロジェクトやお返しについて掲載者に質問をしたい場合はどうすればいいですか？
➡︎How to ask questions to the project publisher (help desk)
You may also ask questions about how to use Ubgoe and more here.
Check this help page for any other issues.
TOKYO6 has a history of extremely successful crowdfunding campaigns, and their latest one is shaping up to be the most exciting one yet. Look forward to the crowdfunding’s commencement on June 26 at 21:00 JST, and make sure to tune in to the seventh TOKYO6 livestream at 19:30 JST beforehand for up-to-date information on all things Hanakuma Chifuyu!
Links
Hanakuma Chifuyu’s Voice Synth Software Development Project crowdfunding page on Ubgoe
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