Using Instrument UTAU voicebanks

Thought most still remain unknown, there are a few UTAU voicebanks that are not really exactly voicebanks: they are sound sources of musical instruments.

They are easy to work with and can be used as a kind of a free VST for music originals, covers, remixes, etc. Even if they are not made for it, they can be used for the vocal lines of a song.

This resource will describe a way to use these instrument banks in UTAU to make them sound as much realistic as possible.

To start with, it is best to be stated that "The best UTAU VBs are multipitch" phrase is kind of false. Some banks needs to be multipitch, some doesn't. The same works for instruments. For example, guitars and pianos VBs work 100% better when they are multipitch. On other hand, however, bells and flutes doesn't really need to be multipitched.

I will also note that I will use resampler here. Resampler can handle the instrument banks very good. So does TIPS and fresamp. Moresampler, however, distorts the sounds for some reason. I havent' tested other resamplers.

I also didn't use flags. I recommend not using them unless they are for clearness.

Finally done with the introduction let's start! I used on this example the UTAU instrument bank "Ameka Fueko", a bamboo flute sound source made by Noya Reen.

Keep this in mind: the normal range of this VB is A4~C6. The normal bamboo flute is also intended for this range. So using it below C5 will make the sound slightly distorted;

This VB is made of two samples: a normal sound of flute and another that of a more strong blow.
I will be using only the "a" sound, that is the normal flute sound.

Now what have to be done in order to the sound play accurately.

1-Set the mode from "Mode 2" to "Mode 1".

2-Click these buttons in order (1-2-3):

3-Just play it :D

Well, this is my result, in case you are reading to make it yourself later:


Some instrument UTAU Sound Sources that are 1 pitch: Ameka Fueko (Flute) and Ameka Suzuko (Timpani), Aniu (Acorddion), Choir (Chorus back vocals)

These VBs can be very realistic too! The multipitch instrument UTAU sound sources require ome extra steps to get working well, but the results are pretty good! I suggest that the instrument banks you use have a good, and preferably a full, range. I mean, it should be recorded on the max number of pitches the instrument can handle.

I will on this part of the tutorial use Soho, a bass sound source made by Amata (Sakurai Koucha).

The optimum range for his instrument bank is A2~C4, a Bass is intended to be played on the lowest ocataves (C1, C2, C3).

Anyway, he is recorded with a six strings Bass, resulting in more than 30 pitches (36 I think). It means there is a pitch for every single note from A2 till G3. There are also extra samples for plucks and slaps.

Now, what to do:

1-Convert from "Mode 2" to "Mode 1". (You can see a picture above)
2-Press the "P2P3, P1P4 and ACPT" buttons ins this order (You can see a picture above)
3-Select everynote (Ctrl+A) and press "Region property"

4-Set modulation to 100% and check the "No Formant Filter Box"***

5-And..Done! I will leave a link of Soho Playing this part so you can listen too!

***Note: This no formant filter box make everything sound a ot better for a lot of VBs, specially instruments. As long as you keep on playing the sounds inside the optimum instrument range it will sound good. If you use formant filter outside the optimum range, it might sound bad.

Here is Soho playing this part:



Some instrument UTAU Sound Sources that are multipitch: Soho (bass), Mougeki Mero (acoustic Guitar).