"Future Sound": Analysis of Digital Tools from the Vocaloid and Hatsune Miku Fan Communities

Abstract

The singing synthesis software, Vocaloid, along with one of its most popular voice libraries, Hatsune Miku, has gained an Internet fan base thanks to an infrastructure of already-existing websites and the concept of "remix culture," which permits working off of others' ideas and assets to make new creations. In this paper, I examine some of the critical aspects and ideas of the Vocaloid fandom through key readings and articles. These readings reveal that the popularity ofVocaloid is due to both this remix culture and Hatsune Miku's depiction by her creators and fans. I also discuss some key points concerning the fan base's relationship to technology. Finally. I propose ideas on what future research in this area might choose to focus.