Vocaloid 2 Fun

So I started playing around with the Vocaloid program a couple of days ago.  I've always wanted to try it out and now I finally have the chance.

Overall, the program's not to difficult to use, though there are a lot of little details that must be worked out in order to produce a decent song.  I'm nowhere near pro, but I think I'm on the way to at least be competent.  The user must have a hefty amount of prior music knowledge, such as understanding of notations, tones, dynamics, techniques, and so forth.  It takes a while to get used to the functions of each aspect, which all play important roles in making the digital singer sound as smooth as possible.

What Vocaloid program would be complete without the digital singer Hatsune Miku (see previous post)?  Of course, I had to choose Miku as my pop idol of choice.  Here's a song that I uploaded to YouTube earlier.  It's a Hatsune Miku version of "Euterpe," the oft-played insert song from Guilty Crown.

Remember, Miku's a digital entity.  She's not going to sound as real or accurate as a human vocalist... but regardless, I like the possibilities that are spawning from Vocaloid 2.  Maybe I can do a butchered version of an English song in the future?

Sims 3 Power

Well, it's been a while since I've posted here.  My excuse is this:

Yes.  EA Games' The Sims 3 has pretty much occupied 75 percent of my waking hours (I work the other 24 percent and eat one percent of the time).

The thing about The Sims 3, and all the other Sims games for that matter, is that once you start a particular project, you can't stop.  And for someone with self-declared OCD like me, stopping is seriously out of the question.  It's 6 a.m. here and I'm still tweaking things in the game.

For example, take a look at this:

Why, it's Hatsune Miku!  The virtual pop star!

The first image is from The Sims 3, which I made after scouring the net for hair, clothing and accessory parts.  Eventually I was able to combine everything and—if you look at the second image, the official art—conjure something up that looks awfully like the real deal.

How about this?

Who's that?

That is correct.  It's Haruhi from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.  And yes, that's correct, I've gone that far.  But that's not all I did...

...I gave her a bunny suit, too.  Sure, it's not the best work, but it was certainly fun as hell to put it all together.  I'll have to find time to finish building her house, though.  And throw in a Sims version of Kyon, as well.

Right now, my current project involves building up Hilda from Beelzebub, and anime that is still currently airing in Japan.

A rather typical blonde bombshell in a gothic lolita dress.  Happens all the time and I was too tempted to resist making her.

I'm missing the little braided ponytail.  I've dug through countless websites online and I'm starting to believe "massive-left-side-bangs-plus-braided-ponytail" types of hair currently do not exist.  I could take up 3D modeling and design, but... not now.  Not yet, anyway.

Wolf whistle...