Vocaloid
VOCALOID is a singing voice synthesis software platform developed by Yamaha Corporation, enabling creators to generate singing vocals from lyrics and melody. It serves individual music producers, enterprises, and educational institutions across 37 countries via AI-powered desktop, mobile, and DAW plugin products and 50+ voice banks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Vocaloid does
VOCALOID is a singing voice synthesis software platform developed and wholly owned by Yamaha Corporation, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. Originally launched in 2003, it enables users to generate singing voices by inputting melody and lyrics into an editor, rendering synthesized vocal audio without requiring a human vocalist. The core technology is VOCALOID:AI, Yamaha's proprietary AI-powered synthesis engine introduced with VOCALOID6 in 2022, which supports Japanese, English, and Chinese from a single voice bank and powers a dual-track editor architecture (VOCALOID:AI track plus legacy voice bank compatibility).
The product portfolio consists of the VOCALOID6 desktop editor for Windows and macOS, the Mobile VOCALOID Editor iOS subscription app (660 JPY/month), the VOCALO CHANGER PLUGIN (a VST/AU/AAX DAW plugin that converts human vocal recordings into VOCALOID:AI voices), the free VX-β experimental plugin, and over 50 voice banks (libraries containing the vocal character data). Iconic voice banks include Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin/Len, Megurine Luka, and Mirai Komachi V6. The platform integrates natively with major DAWs including Cubase, Logic Pro, Studio One, Ableton Live, FL Studio, and ABILITY, with ARA2 synchronization on supported hosts.
VOCALOID operates a direct-to-consumer business model with revenue from one-time perpetual editor licenses, individual voice bank purchases, the iOS mobile subscription, volume licensing for enterprise and education, and bespoke custom voice bank production services. Primary customers are individual music creators (amateur and professional Vocaloid producers), with secondary segments in enterprise (music production houses, game developers, advertising agencies) and educational institutions. Distribution spans 37 countries and regions through the official VOCALOID SHOP e-commerce storefront and the iOS App Store.
Vocaloid firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vocaloid
- Legal name
- Yamaha Corporation ( Yamaha株式会社 )
- Website
- https://vocaloid.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- VOCALOID is a singing voice synthesis software platform developed by Yamaha Corporation, enabling creators to generate singing vocals from lyrics and melody. It serves individual music producers, enterprises, and educational institutions across 37 countries via AI-powered desktop, mobile, and DAW plugin products and 50+ voice banks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vocaloid industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Singing Voice Synthesis Software
- NAICS
- Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Sound Recording Studios (512240)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AI Music Creation & Assistive Tools (Generation, Separation, Mastering) (MPAIAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Voice Cloning, Dubbing & Audio Generative Media (HDAAAFAK), Sample Libraries, Loops & Sound Content Platforms (MPAIAIAF)
Keywords
Where Vocaloid is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vocaloid business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software License Sales (One-time): VOCALOID6 Editor and VOCALO CHANGER PLUGIN are sold as one-time perpetual licenses via the VOCALOID SHOP. Voice banks are also sold as individual one-time purchases.
- Mobile Subscription: Mobile VOCALOID Editor for iOS is sold as a monthly subscription at 660 JPY (tax included), providing access to the mobile editor and included voice banks.
- Voice Bank Sales: Individual voice banks (both first-party Yamaha voice banks and third-party voice banks) are sold as one-time download purchases. Pricing varies per voice bank.
- Enterprise / Volume Licensing: Corporate and educational institutions can purchase volume licenses for VOCALOID6 and VOCALO CHANGER PLUGIN at discounted rates through a volume discount program, with inquiry-based sales.
- Custom Voice Bank Production Services: Yamaha offers bespoke voice bank production services, recording the voice of a designated singer, editing, processing, and delivering a custom VOCALOID voice bank.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Mobile VOCALOID Editor (iOS) - Monthly Subscription |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | VOCALOID6 Editor (PC) - One-time Purchase |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | VOCALO CHANGER PLUGIN - One-time Purchase |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Voice Banks - Individual Purchase |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise / Education Volume Discount |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Vocaloid product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vocaloid develops and sells AI-powered singing voice synthesis software centered on the VOCALOID6 Editor, a desktop application that converts lyrics and melody input into synthesized singing vocals using the proprietary VOCALOID:AI engine. The product line also includes a mobile iOS subscription editor, a VST/AU/AAX voice conversion plugin (VOCALO CHANGER), a free experimental beta plugin (VX-β), and a catalog of more than 50 character-based voice banks covering Japanese, English, and Chinese. Voice banks and editor software are sold as one-time perpetual licenses, with custom voice bank production services available for enterprise clients.
Product overview
Vocaloid is a singing voice synthesis platform developed by Yamaha Corporation, consisting of a core editor software (VOCALOID6), a mobile companion app (Mobile VOCALOID Editor), a voice conversion plugin (VOCALO CHANGER), a free beta plugin (VX-β), and approximately 50+ voice banks (ボイスバンク) that provide the actual synthesized voices. The platform operates on a two-component model: the VOCALOID6 Editor software handles note/lyric input and audio rendering, while voice banks supply the vocal character data. VOCALOID6 supports two synthesis modes — the VOCALOID:AI track (AI-powered synthesis) and the VOCALOID track (legacy V3/V4/V5 voice bank compatibility). Voice banks range from flagship characters like Hatsune Miku to genre-specific libraries, and are sold both by Yamaha and third-party developers. A cross-grade licensing system and mobile subscription tier expand accessibility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VOCALOID6: The latest version of the VOCALOID singing synthesis software featuring VOCALOID:AI technology.
- VOCALO CHANGER
- Mobile VOCALOID Editor
- VX-β
Products and services
- VOCALOID6 Editor The primary desktop singing voice synthesis editor for Windows and macOS. Users input melody and lyrics, select a voice bank, and render synthesized singing audio. Features both VOCALOID:AI track (AI synthesis) and VOCALOID track (legacy voice bank) modes, with DAW VST/AU plugin integration. Sold as a one-time perpetual license.
- VOCALOID6 Editor Lite A limited version of VOCALOID6 Editor bundled free with AI voice banks. Supports 1 VOCALOID:AI or VOCALOID track plus 1 audio track (max 2 tracks total). Standalone only — no VST/AU plugin mode. Upgradable to the full VOCALOID6 Editor.
- Mobile VOCALOID Editor iOS subscription app (660 JPY/month, tax included) for singing voice synthesis on iPhone/iPad. Features a 14-day free trial, bundled VY1 Lite and asa voice banks, and VPR format export compatible with the VOCALOID6 Editor PC workflow.
- VOCALO CHANGER PLUGIN DAW plugin (VST/AU/AAX) that converts human vocal recordings to VOCALOID:AI voice bank voices in real time. Operates as an audio effect insert on a track. Ships with 4 built-in voice banks (AKITO, ALLEN, HARUKA, SARAH). Supports pitch shift, expression, dry/wet mixing, and vocal doubling. Sold as a one-time perpetual license with a 31-day free trial.
- VX-β Free experimental beta plugin bundled with VOCALOID6 Editor. Provided as VST3/AU/AAX DAW format. Prototype software with no support provided. Requires VOCALOID6 Editor license and a VOCALOID:AI voice bank.
- VOCALOID Voice Banks (ボイスバンク) Voice libraries containing the vocal character data used by VOCALOID Editor. Available from Yamaha and third-party developers. Include flagship characters (初音ミク V6, 鏡音リン・レン V4X, 巡音ルカ V4X, MEIKO V3, KAITO V3) and genre/language-specific libraries (Chinese, Korean, Spanish). AI voice banks (V6+) use VOCALOID:AI synthesis; legacy banks (V3–V5) use traditional synthesis. Sold individually as one-time purchases.
- 初音ミク V6 (Hatsune Miku V6) Flagship VOCALOID:AI voice bank featuring the iconic Hatsune Miku character. Released as part of the V6 lineup. Supports natural-sounding singing through generation parameters with lyrics and melody input only.
- ミライ小町 V6 (Mirai Komachi V6) Yamaha-produced VOCALOID:AI voice bank released in May 2026. Part of the V6 voice bank lineup.
- Custom Voice Bank Production Services Yamaha offers bespoke voice bank production services, recording the voice of a designated singer, editing, processing, and delivering a custom VOCALOID voice bank for commercial clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supports 3 languages (Japanese, English, Chinese) from the same AI voice bank
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Vocaloid
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vocaloid technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability3 records
Feature8 records
Vocaloid partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Third-party Voice Bank DeveloperscoreYamaha collaborates with numerous third-party developers (including Internet Co., Ltd., AH-Software, and others) who produce and sell voice banks for the VOCALOID platform. These partners extend the VOCALOID ecosystem by creating diverse voice banks across languages, styles, and character types.
- DAW Software DeveloperscoreVOCALOID integrates with major DAW software including Cubase (Steinberg), Logic Pro (Apple), Studio One (PreSonus), FL Studio (Image-Line), Ableton Live, and ABILITY through VST/AU/AAX plugin formats and ARA2 synchronization technology.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vocaloid competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Suno: Suno is an AI music generation platform that creates full songs (including vocals) from text prompts. While broader in scope than VOCALOID, it competes for the same creator audience and represents an alternative paradigm (text-to-song) that may erode VOCALOID's traditional melody/lyrics workflow.
- Descript: Descript offers AI-powered voice synthesis and audio editing tools including voice cloning and overdub features. While primarily aimed at podcast/video creators, its voice conversion and synthesis capabilities overlap with VOCALO CHANGER's value proposition.
- Udio: Udio is an AI music generation platform that produces complete songs with synthesized vocals from text prompts. It targets hobbyist and professional music creators with a streamlined alternative to traditional singing synthesis workflows like VOCALOID.
Broad incumbents
- Murf.ai: Murf.ai is an enterprise AI voice generation platform producing natural-sounding AI voices primarily for narration, e-learning, and corporate use cases. While broader (speech-focused rather than singing-focused), it represents incumbent AI voice technology with overlapping audio generative AI capabilities.
Direct peers
- Dreamtonics (Synthesizer V): Dreamtonics develops Synthesizer V, a direct competitor singing voice synthesis editor with AI-powered voice banks (including cross-lingual synthesis). It targets the same creator use case (melody + lyrics to synthesized singing) with similar DAW plugin integration, making it the closest substitute to VOCALOID.
- NEUTRINO: NEUTRINO is a free AI-based singing voice synthesis tool developed by researchers in Japan, offering high-quality neural singing synthesis. It targets a similar creator community to VOCALOID with an alternative AI-driven approach.
- ACE Studio: ACE Studio is an AI singing voice synthesis platform offering high-quality AI vocal generation with multiple voice models and DAW plugin support. It competes directly with VOCALOID:AI in the creator/singer-songwriter segment with a focus on modern AI voice quality.
- UTAU: UTAU is a free, open-source singing voice synthesis software created by Ameya/Ayame. It shares VOCALOID's core workflow (lyrics + melody to synthesized vocal) and supports a community-developed voice bank ecosystem, serving as a free alternative to VOCALOID's paid editor.
- CeVIO Project: CeVIO is a Japanese AI singing and speech synthesis platform with voice banks and a desktop editor. It directly competes with VOCALOID in the Japanese creator market, offering similar melody-driven singing synthesis workflows.
Others
- Crypton Future Media: Crypton Future Media created and manages the Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin/Len, and Megurine Luka character brands licensed as VOCALOID voice banks. It is a key strategic partner and ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, supplying flagship content for VOCALOID's library.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vocaloid social profiles
Digital presenceVocaloid financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vocaloid leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Vocaloid funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vocaloid M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vocaloid
What does Vocaloid do?
Vocaloid develops and sells AI-powered singing voice synthesis software centered on the VOCALOID6 Editor, a desktop application that converts lyrics and melody input into synthesized singing vocals using the proprietary VOCALOID:AI engine. The product line also includes a mobile iOS subscription editor, a VST/AU/AAX voice conversion plugin (VOCALO CHANGER), a free experimental beta plugin (VX-β), and a catalog of more than 50 character-based voice banks covering Japanese, English, and Chinese. Voice banks and editor software are sold as one-time perpetual licenses, with custom voice bank production services available for enterprise clients.
Is Vocaloid a public or private company?
Vocaloid is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Vocaloid founded?
Vocaloid was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vocaloid based?
Vocaloid is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Vocaloid make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Software License Sales (One-time) is the primary driver. The others are mobile Subscription, voice Bank Sales, enterprise / Volume Licensing and custom Voice Bank Production Services.
Who are Vocaloid's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Suno, Descript and Udio. Murf.ai is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Dreamtonics (Synthesizer V), NEUTRINO, ACE Studio, UTAU and CeVIO Project. Crypton Future Media is listed as an others.
Does Vocaloid have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vocaloid.
What industry is Vocaloid in?
Vocaloid's product category is Singing Voice Synthesis Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAIAG, AI Music Creation & Assistive Tools (Generation, Separation, Mastering), with a secondary code of HDAAAFAK, Voice Cloning, Dubbing & Audio Generative Media. Its NAICS code is 512290 and its SIC code is 7372.