【Sharpkey】Global Virtual Singers Support Project - SK Galaxy

[Raindropx]

from boxstar's twitter
https://twitter.com/boxstar_hx/status/918784555821289472

 

[partial]

Well, I decided to go out on a leg and apply. I'm not expecting to be accepted, though.

edit: Can any audio guys here explain the meaning of "individual sound card"?

 

[Tema]

Well, I decided to go out on a leg and apply. I'm not expecting to be accepted, though.

edit: Can any audio guys here explain the meaning of "individual sound card"?

The Japanese version says "audio interface" so maybe that's what they meant? Plus audio interfaces are what come up when I looked for "individual sound card" (other than some sort of weird usb speaker thing)

 

[Nohkara]

TBH Japanese post is written much more understandably than English ("individual sound card" and "should not span no less than three samples pitches"?!?!)

So, I quickly re-translated "qualifications" from Japanese post:

Qualifications:

1. Have an experiment recording/creating CVVC before
2. That CVVC voicebank that has been made should have more than 3 pitches
3. Having audio interface and condenser microphone is required (please record with minimal background noise as possible. Sent sample's sound quality will be checked).*

*in simple English: Their requirements are really HIGH! Dynamic or USB microphones aren't accepted.
[doublepost=1508137566][/doublepost]I was in beginning interesting at the beginning but after seeing how high their standards are, my interests dropped out. I have never successfully made VB with more than 3 pitches (but that VB was better as 2 pitches only, 3rd was always too bad/too similar to middle sound) and my mic is dynamic... But it's OK, I do understand that they want quality.

I'm wondering that what purpose they need a voicer(s)? Is this to just to test their engine how it works with different type of voices or to create a brand new Sharpkey voicebank? Does the voicer need to be able to create Chinese VB/sing in Chinese or is Japanese/English knowledge enough? What if a voicer of UTAU already, do they need to discontinue/retire their UTAU voicebanks?

 

[partial]

*in simple English: Their requirements are really HIGH! Dynamic or USB microphones aren't accepted.
[doublepost=1508137566][/doublepost]I was in beginning interesting at the beginning but after seeing how high their standards are, my interests dropped out. I have never successfully made VB with more than 3 pitches (but that VB was better as 2 pitches only, 3rd was always too bad/too similar to middle sound) and my mic is dynamic... But it's OK, I do understand that they want quality.

I'm wondering that what purpose they need a voicer(s)? Is this to just to test their engine how it works with different type of voices or to create a brand new Sharpkey voicebank? Does the voicer need to be able to create Chinese VB/sing in Chinese or is Japanese/English knowledge enough? What if a voicer of UTAU already, do they need to discontinue/retire their UTAU voicebanks?

Ah, ok! Thank you for clarifying. I suppose I certainly will be rejected as all I have is a Blue Yeti but I'm more than satisfied with UTAU anyway!

 

[Sheanna122]

Ah, ok! Thank you for clarifying. I suppose I certainly will be rejected as all I have is a Blue Yeti but I'm more than satisfied with UTAU anyway!

Not exactly. A simple cardioid is fine. Not to mention, XLR microphones aren't extremely better than USB. It's just what you buy and how you use it. So, say the ATR2500 is good, as well as the blue yeti.

 

[Nohkara]

Not exactly. A simple cardioid is fine. Not to mention, XLR microphones aren't extremely better than USB. It's just what you buy and how you use it. So, say the ATR2500 is good, as well as the blue yeti.

I really wonder why they require condenser microphone from voicer, how that's different - or better - to a dynamic mic (that is XLR)??

 

[partial]

I really wonder why they require condenser microphone from voicer, how that's different - or better - to a dynamic mic (that is XLR)??

I don't even know what the difference is.

 

[Sheanna122]

I really wonder why they require condenser microphone from voicer, how that's different - or better - to a dynamic mic (that is XLR)??

XLR is just the way the mic is connected. For powerful mics like the Focusrite Scarlett (Which isn't super expensive, only 200 from my experience.) It's just a way to connect the mic to an external mixer that usually produces around... 48V. Depends on the mic that needs the power tbh. But, that doesn't mean USB mics aren't good. They're slowly improving as time goes on.
[doublepost=1508143889][/doublepost]

I don't even know what the difference is.

Here are some resources then.

Here's what cardiod means and other kinds of polar patterns for mics: http://www.shure.eu/support_downloa.../microphones-basics/microphone_polar_patterns

What an XLR microphone is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector

and my resource for saying that USBs aren't inferior to XLRs: http://blog.shure.com/top-8-microphone-myths-exposed/

 

[partial]

Here are some resources then.

Here's what cardiod means and other kinds of polar patterns for mics: http://www.shure.eu/support_downloa.../microphones-basics/microphone_polar_patterns

What an XLR microphone is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector

and my resource for saying that USBs aren't inferior to XLRs: http://blog.shure.com/top-8-microphone-myths-exposed/

I see, I'll take a peek at all of these. Thank you for the links!

 

[Nohkara]

XLR is just the way the mic is connected. For powerful mics like the Focusrite Scarlett (Which isn't super expensive, only 200 from my experience.) It's just a way to connect the mic to an external mixer that usually produces around... 48V. Depends on the mic that needs the power tbh. But, that doesn't mean USB mics aren't good. They're slowly improving as time goes on.
[doublepost=1508143889][/doublepost]

Here are some resources then.

Here's what cardiod means and other kinds of polar patterns for mics: http://www.shure.eu/support_downloa.../microphones-basics/microphone_polar_patterns

What an XLR microphone is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XLR_connector

and my resource for saying that USBs aren't inferior to XLRs: http://blog.shure.com/top-8-microphone-myths-exposed/

Oooohh I see! Cardioid means that that taking sounds front only...! So it means that dynamic XRL mic is fine, probably USB is fine too if recording evoirment is good and mic itself as USB mic is decent. I remembered wrong the terms, sorry! ><;;; (I thought that cardiomated means "non-dynamic" but I was wrong OTL)

 

[Raindropx]

TBH Japanese post is written much more understandably than English ("individual sound card" and "should not span no less than three samples pitches"?!?!)

So, I quickly re-translated "qualifications" from Japanese post:

Qualifications:

1. Have an experiment recording/creating CVVC before
2. That CVVC voicebank that has been made should have more than 3 pitches
3. Having audio interface and condenser microphone is required (please record with minimal background noise as possible. Sent sample's sound quality will be checked).*

*in simple English: Their requirements are really HIGH! Dynamic or USB microphones aren't accepted.
[doublepost=1508137566][/doublepost]I was in beginning interesting at the beginning but after seeing how high their standards are, my interests dropped out. I have never successfully made VB with more than 3 pitches (but that VB was better as 2 pitches only, 3rd was always too bad/too similar to middle sound) and my mic is dynamic... But it's OK, I do understand that they want quality.

I'm wondering that what purpose they need a voicer(s)? Is this to just to test their engine how it works with different type of voices or to create a brand new Sharpkey voicebank? Does the voicer need to be able to create Chinese VB/sing in Chinese or is Japanese/English knowledge enough? What if a voicer of UTAU already, do they need to discontinue/retire their UTAU voicebanks?

thanks for translate

 

[HixaiU]

Hi! I'm hear to clear up the whole USB thing since theres some misinformation that seems to go around. I'm going to try and answer this the best I can without going into extreme detail but enough that helps. For those of you who don't know me I own AIHI Software. My studio is located here in Australia and I do hold a masters in Audio engineering as well as I'm almost finished with my PhD in Musicology (6 year thesis sucks...).

So XLR is superior to USB thats all there is to it really. The reason is because of the way the cable is made. XLR allows for less frequency to get trapped inside as well. Analog has less chance of picking up unwanted frequencies due to the cable being "grounded" (not literally its a term where the cable is earthed). USBs do not have such a thing built into the cable as it is a straight cable with no grounding pin. The grounding pin makes all the difference. You may say "doesnt that mean having an audio interface mean it has the same effect when it goes via USB? The answer is no. What that audio interface does is accept the frequencies and codes them into AIFF/WAV then sends it to your DAW of choice. What is travelling to your PC from the interface is a "completed" file that can be read properly via the PC.

But not every XLR is the same. XLR is the type of cable/pins not the microphone itself. The reason my studio uses double insulated gold cables is because its insulation is much better for the grounding which is why when you listen to my UTAU samples its like I'm in a dead room and it holds more clarity.

The reason why developers want this sort of quality is because they are easily marketable. They are also much easier to work with when there is no hissing which is what you can hear dependent of the recording type. I can tell a Blue yeti UTAU from the noise it holds and its one of the reasons why I don't support the buying of them due to you as a consumer paying top dollar for a brand name. There are many XLR microphone setups that cost the same price as one.

 

[partial]

@HixaiU Very informative, I've learned a bit from your post! Thank you for posting here to inform the audio ignorant (me)!

 

[Damien]

SK Galaxy sounds like a new Samsung phone

 

[HixaiU]

@HixaiU Very informative, I've learned a bit from your post! Thank you for posting here to inform the audio ignorant (me)!

Its okay most people wouldn't know about the XLR differences as it can get pretty technically difficult. Im glad it helped a little. Don't be too worried. If you are doing this as a hobby then a USB is okay the only issue is for commercialisation. If theres anything else you would like to know please feel free to ask

 

[partial]

Its okay most people wouldn't know about the XLR differences as it can get pretty technically difficult. Im glad it helped a little. Don't be too worried. If you are doing this as a hobby then a USB is okay the only issue is for commercialisation. If theres anything else you would like to know please feel free to ask

I have a Blue Yeti because that's what Czloid was recorded with and I personally am happy with it, but I also am no expert in audio quality or things like that, so I'm glad to get the insight of someone who is. I know next to nothing about XLR or most USB microphones, hoh.

 

[MillyAqualine]

Welp, seems I won't be able to enter .... (my audio recording devices scare this kind of people and the only CVVC I've done were Heidi's for Cronic and she's monopitch, like most of my voicebanks and all of her other banks are monopitch too so m'welll .......... )

But anywya I'll keep an eye on it because it's really amazing and nice of them to try a closer bound with the users ! And I'm curious about how the voicebanks will turn out ~

 

[notsoul_elli]

Does it have to be a specific language? Can I use an English list?

 

[Raindropx]

SK Galaxy sounds like a new Samsung phone

tru