Unleash Your Voice: Top VOCALOID Alternatives for Every Creator
VOCALOID is a groundbreaking singing synthesizer that revolutionized music production by allowing users to create realistic vocal tracks from scratch. It utilizes advanced synthesizing technology with meticulously recorded vocals from voice actors and singers, enabling users to input melodies via a piano roll interface and lyrics for each note. While incredibly powerful, many creators seek a VOCALOID alternative for various reasons, including cost, platform compatibility, specific features, or simply to explore different sonic possibilities. This article will guide you through the best alternatives to VOCALOID, helping you find the perfect tool to bring your musical visions to life.
Top VOCALOID Alternatives
Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting your journey into vocal synthesis, there's a VOCALOID alternative out there for you. We've compiled a list of excellent options, ranging from free and open-source solutions to powerful commercial applications, each offering unique strengths for different creative needs.
UTAU
UTAU, or Vocal Synthesizer Tool UTAU, is a voice-synthesis software developed by Ameya/Ayame, primarily for Windows. It operates on a freemium model and is a popular VOCALOID alternative due to its affordability and robust features, including MIDI keyboard input, a piano roll interface, and comprehensive voice synthesis capabilities.
Synthesizer V
Synthesizer V is a commercial vocal synthesizer developed by Kanru Hua, known for its focus on the "artistic perfection of artificial voices." It's available across multiple platforms including Mac, Windows, and Linux, making it a versatile VOCALOID alternative. Key features include music import, a piano roll for detailed editing, and advanced voice synthesis.
Emvoice One
Emvoice One is building a Text-to-Voice engine designed to sing and speak expressively, providing music producers with a much-needed virtual instrument. This freemium VOCALOID alternative is available on Mac and Windows, offering excellent text-to-speech, piano roll, and voice synthesis functionalities.
DeepVocal
DeepVocal is a free-to-use singing synthesizer application software developed by Boxstar. It is a robust Windows-based VOCALOID alternative, building on the legacy of Sharpkey Galaxy software, and provides powerful voice synthesis capabilities without the cost.
Sinsy
Sinsy generates audio files from lyrics-annotated MusicXML scores. A free and open-source VOCALOID alternative, it's particularly useful for Linux users and features strong voice synthesis capabilities, with a web service demo available online for easy access.
Alter/Ego
Alter/Ego is based on the award-winning technology found in chipspeech, but it focuses on more 'modern' (1990+) singing synthesis. As a free VOCALOID alternative for Mac and Windows, it offers MIDI input, text-to-speech, and comprehensive voice synthesis features.
Chipspeech
Chipspeech is a commercial vocal synthesizer by Plogue that recreates vintage vocal synths from the 1980s. Available for Mac and Windows, this unique VOCALOID alternative provides MIDI keyboard input and text-to-speech functionalities for a retro sound.
Cadencii
Cadencii is a free and open-source program that allows cross-importation of vocal MIDI, VSQ, UST, and VSQX files, supporting both UTAU and VOCALOID voice banks. Available on Mac and Windows, it's an excellent VOCALOID alternative for those who need flexibility in file formats and a robust user interface with text-to-speech capabilities.
RenoidPlayer
RenoidPlayer is a web-based, free vocal synthesizer that runs on Renoise XRNI and SoundFont SF2. As a convenient online VOCALOID alternative, it offers voice synthesis without requiring any software installation, making it accessible from any web browser.
The world of vocal synthesis is rich with diverse tools, each offering unique advantages for musicians and producers. From free and open-source options like UTAU and DeepVocal to commercial powerhouses like Synthesizer V, there’s a perfect VOCALOID alternative waiting to be discovered. We encourage you to explore these options, experiment with their features, and find the software that best aligns with your creative workflow and musical aspirations.