All About CeVIO
TLDRCeVIO, a software suite designed to support user-generated content, has been making waves in the vocal synthesis community with its advanced voicebank releases. Developed by a collaboration of companies including Techno-speech and the Nagoya Institute of Technology, CeVIO has evolved from its beginnings around 2009 or 2010. Unlike Vocaloid, which used 1980s technology, CeVIO utilizes a Hidden Markov Model for more efficient and flexible voice synthesis. The process involves converting text to words, words to phonemes, and finally, phonemes to sound. Despite some issues like engine noise and the automatic application of AI tuning, CeVIO has garnered awards and recognition. The introduction of CeVIO AI in 2021, developed with Nagoya University, has further enhanced the technology with AI assistance in tuning and synthesis. While comparisons to other voice synthesizers show varying results, CeVIO AI's professionally created voicebanks and the role of user tuning in the final output are significant. CeVIO's impact on the voice synthesis scene is substantial, having introduced AI to the mainstream and setting a new standard for voice synthesis technology.
Takeaways
- 🎉 CeVIO is a software suite designed to promote and support user-generated content within the Vocal Synth community.
- 🤝 It is a collaborative project involving Techno-speech, Nagoya Institute of Technology, SME, Upfield, Frontier Works, V-Sync, and other companies.
- 📅 The free speech demo featuring Sato Sasara was released on April 26, 2013, followed by the singing demo two months later.
- 🤔 CeVIO's development likely began around 2009 or 2010, considering the development time of Vocaloid.
- 🚀 CeVIO uses advanced technology, notably the Hidden Markov Model (HMM), which is different from Vocaloid's older technology base.
- 📈 The HMM system, pioneered by Keiichi Tokuda, allows for more natural-sounding and customizable voice synthesis.
- 📝 The process of voice synthesis with CeVIO involves three stages: text to words, words to phonemes, and phonemes to sound.
- 🎶 CeVIO has faced criticism for engine noise, which is more pronounced compared to other voice synthesis systems like Vocaloid.
- 🏆 Despite some issues, CeVIO has received recognition, including the Microsoft Innovation Award in 2013.
- 🆕 CeVIO AI, launched in 2021, utilizes AI to enhance the tuning and synthesis of vocals, offering a significant improvement over the non-AI version.
- 💡 The impact of CeVIO AI on the voice synthesis scene is significant, introducing AI to a broader audience and enabling producers to create better songs, although its reception varies among long-time Vocaloid fans.
Q & A
What is CeVIO and what is its primary goal?
-CeVIO is a group of proprietary computer software designed to promote and support user-generated content. It is part of the CeVIO Project, which is maintained by the CeVIO Team and operated by multiple companies.
When was the speech demo using Sato Sasara released and what was its significance?
-The speech demo using Sato Sasara was released for free on April 26, 2013. It was significant as it marked the public introduction of CeVIO's capabilities in voice synthesis.
What is the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and how is it used in CeVIO?
-The Hidden Markov Model is a statistical model that uses context and machine learning to predict the best method for voice synthesis. In CeVIO, it is used in the pre-processing or normalization stage to guide the computer on how to pronounce letters and words.
How does CeVIO's development timeline compare to Vocaloid's?
-While the exact start date of CeVIO's development is unknown, it is estimated to have begun around 2009 or 2010, considering that Vocaloid took about 4 years to develop.
What are the three segments in the process of synthesizing voice with CeVIO?
-The three segments are: Text to words (pre-processing or normalization), words to phonemes, and phonemes to sound. Each segment involves different processes to transform the input text into synthesized voice.
What is engine noise in the context of voice synthesis and how does it relate to CeVIO?
-Engine noise refers to the noise produced by the voice synthesizer during the synthesis process. CeVIO has been reported to have more engine noise than Vocaloid, which can affect the quality of the synthesized voice.
What is the issue with AI tuning in CeVIO AI and how can it be resolved?
-In CeVIO AI, AI tuning is automatically applied, which some users may find undesirable. To remove it, users must manually overwrite every parameter in the software, which can be a tedious process.
What awards has CeVIO won and how has it contributed to its popularity?
-CeVIO won the Microsoft Innovation Award in 2013. Its free demo before the official release helped to spread its popularity and was well-received by users.
When was CeVIO AI announced and released, and what was included in the release?
-CeVIO AI was announced mid-2020 and released on January 29, 2021, along with the voicebank of Yuzuki Yukari Rei.
How does CeVIO AI compare to other voice synthesisers in terms of sound quality?
-CeVIO AI has been compared to other voice synthesisers like Neutrino and Synthesizer V. While it may not always sound more human-like, the quality of synthesized voice can be significantly influenced by user tuning and the quality of the voicebank.
What impact has CeVIO AI had on the voice synthesis community?
-CeVIO AI has introduced AI to the voice synthesis community, allowing producers to create better songs with its technology. However, its impact is debated, with some feeling it's a step down due to potential over-reliance on AI tuning.
How has CeVIO's prominence grown since the beginning of 2021?
-CeVIO gained prominence in 2021 with major producers creating popular songs using early access to KAFU. The simultaneous release of AI demos by SynthV and CeVIO also contributed to a surge in content using AI voicebanks.
Outlines
🎤 Introduction to CeVIO and Its Development
CeVIO, pronounced Che-vi-o, is a collection of proprietary software aimed at fostering user-generated content. It is part of the CeVIO Project, overseen by the CeVIO Team and operated by a consortium of companies including Techno-speech and the Nagoya Institute of Technology. The project was initiated around 2009 or 2010, with its first speech demo featuring Sato Sasara released for free in 2013. CeVIO differentiates itself from Vocaloid, using a more advanced Hidden Markov Model (HMM) for voice synthesis developed by Keiichi Tokuda. The HMM system allows for more efficient and flexible voice synthesis, with the process involving text to words, words to phonemes, and phonemes to sound. Despite some issues like engine noise and automatic AI tuning, CeVIO has received recognition and awards, including a 30-day trial version and a free demo that helped increase its popularity.
📈 CeVIO AI: Advancements and Reception
CeVIO AI, developed since 2018 in partnership with Nagoya University, is a voice synthesizer that utilizes AI for tuning and vocal synthesis. It was announced in mid-2020 and released in January 2021, alongside the voicebank Yuzuki Yukari Rei. The AI component of CeVIO AI significantly improves the quality of synthesized vocals, as demonstrated by comparison examples. When compared to other voice synthesizers like Neutrino and Synthesizer V, CeVIO AI holds its own, though the preference can be subjective and dependent on user tuning. The impact of CeVIO AI on the voice synthesis scene is mixed; it has introduced AI to the mainstream, enabling producers to create better songs, but some long-time Vocaloid fans are indifferent, fearing over-reliance on AI tuning could lead to a lack of diversity in music. Regardless, CeVIO and CeVIO AI have made substantial contributions to the field of voice synthesis, and their ongoing development is anticipated.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡CeVIO
💡Voice Synthesis
💡Hidden Markov Model (HMM)
💡Voicebank
💡Engine Noise
💡AI Tuning
💡CeVIO AI
💡User-Generated Content
💡Prosody
💡Phonemes
💡CeVIO Creative Studio
Highlights
CeVIO is a group of proprietary computer software aimed at promoting and supporting user-generated content.
CeVIO is part of the CeVIO Project, maintained by the CeVIO Team and operated by five different companies.
The speech demo using Sato Sasara was released for free on April 26, 2013.
CeVIO's full version was publicly available on September 26, 2013.
CeVIO likely started development around 2009 or 2010, considering Vocaloid's development timeline.
CeVIO and Vocaloid do not use the same technology; CeVIO is more polished and efficient.
Keiichi Tokuda's work on the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) laid the foundation for CeVIO's voice synthesis technology.
CeVIO's process involves converting text to words, words to phonemes, and phonemes to sound.
CeVIO uses a voicebank to produce phonemes into speech, similar to Vocaloid.
Users have reported issues with CeVIO's engine noise, which is more pronounced than in Vocaloid.
CeVIO AI automatically applies AI tuning, which can be manually overridden if desired.
CeVIO has won awards, including the Microsoft Innovation Award in 2013.
CeVIO AI, developed since 2018, uses AI to assist in tuning and synthesizing vocals.
CeVIO AI was announced mid-2020 and released on January 29, 2021.
CeVIO AI's AI tuning significantly improves the natural sound of synthesized vocals.
CeVIO AI has been compared to other voice synthesizers, with varying opinions on sound quality.
User tuning plays a crucial role in the final sound of synthesized vocals, emphasizing the importance of the producer's skill.
CeVIO AI's professionally created voicebanks contribute to the quality and diversity of synthesized voices.
CeVIO gained prominence in 2021 with major producers creating popular songs using the software.
The simultaneous release of AI demos by SynthV and CeVIO contributed to increased popularity for both platforms.
CeVIO Creative Studio gained recognition with major voicebank releases, such as ONE in 2015.
The impact of CeVIO AI on the voice synthesis scene is significant, though opinions vary among long-time Vocaloid fans.
CeVIO AI's introduction of AI to voice synthesis represents a major advancement in the technology.
CeVIO and CeVIO AI are expected to continue developing and improving, contributing to the future of voice synthesis.
