MEIKO

We all know this lovely vocaloid deserves more love from her fans because she was the one who started the well known VOCALOID family of today! Being one of the first vocaloids in the whole series, Meiko is well recognized for her low/husky onee-chan (big sister) like voice bank. Unlike Luka who also shares the same voice range (only a bit higher), Meiko shows her individuality with her mature yet strong vocals in her songs.

Let's take this chance to get to know this sake-loving vocaloid!


 MEIKO is a Vocaloid DTM (Desktop Music) software created by Crypton Future Media. She is the first Japanese Vocaloid and first Japanese female Vocaloid. She utilizes the Vocaloid engine developed by YAMAHA. Her voice is provided by the Japanese female singer Meiko Haigō (拝郷 メイコ Haigō Meiko). The illustration was done by Shogo Washizu, who is often called わっしー(Wasshi) and was once a member of Crypton.
MEIKO as we all know, is one of the two early vocaloids developed by Crypton alongside KAITO. The duo was released on the same date and was presented to the public in late 2003. She and Kaito had a prerelease album called "History Logic System" wherein they had duet together in the song "Ano Subarashii Ai wo Mou Ichido (That Wonderful Love Once More)" other Japanese vocaloids were included in the album as well. 

 Here are her basic facts!

Voicebank Name: MEIKO
Seiyuu: 拝郷 メイコ Haigō Meiko
Illustrator: Wasshi (Original used in 2004)
Company: Crypton Future Media
Age as a Synthesizer: 10 years old
Age as a Character: Around 20 years old
Character Item: Sake Bottle/ Cup of Sake
Character Color: Red



With Meiko's release in 2003, She sold 3,000+ units in her first year according to DTM magazine, this was abnormal for a software synthesizer at the time. This was also far better than her counterpart Kaito who had sold only 500 units. As of note, for a commercial product to be successful, a software synthesizer had to sell 1,000 units. Because of Meiko's success followed by the success of Hatsune Miku, Crypton focused on female vocals for their Vocaloid 2 era voicebanks. It was also common expectations that females would sell better than males.

 However, after Hatsune Miku's success, Kaito went into rediscovery which put him on par with the sales of Vocaloid 2 era voicebanks. In 2008, while Kaito was 2nd place in the Nico Nico Douga best seller award, Meiko was struggling to keep popularity with the more modern female Vocaloids released. By 2009 up until 2011, while Kaito was almost constantly on the top 10 products page from Crypton Future Media, Meiko was barely selling at all.


Meiko's Update in 2011
In June, Wat confirmed that Meiko was still being worked up. Meiko was worked upon during the month. Wat was unsure what Appends to carry forward in comparison to Kaito's update.
In July, Wat reported that Meiko and Luka's progress was coming along quietly.

After a long interval, Meiko's recording was resumed at the end of November 2011. A few days later, Meiko Haigō announced she had finished recording completely. Wat hinted Meiko was definitely getting a update and that the whole V3 Crypton line up was due for release next summer.

Meiko Append was heard for the very first time when OSTER project used her in Lollipop Factory which was uploaded on December 1, 2011; stating in the video description that she was able to use it through the courtesy of Crypton Future Media. The version she used however, was the unreleased Vocaloid 2 voicebank which was under development during that period.

Following the video, OSTER used the same voicebank in one of the songs in her album "OSTERさんのベスト" (OSTER San's Best). This time, in its more natural tone which replaces the vocals of the original Vocaloid Meiko in the 7th track "ピアノ×フォルテ×スキャンダル" (Piano × Forte × Scandal) which is noticeably smoother and clearer compared with the precedent.

Wat reported in December that Meiko was still coming along steadily.

Wat tweeted on the 1st Dec 2011, noting that all previous demos had originally been rendered with the Vocaloid2 engine, and things were being redone for the Vocaloid3 engine.

Meiko's Update for 2013

Currently, Luka and Meiko are planned for release on Vocaloid3, but no estimated release can be set at this moment. It is also confirmed her English vocal will be included in her pack the same as Kaito's was. Meiko's provider is also practicing English in relation to the inclusion of the English voicebank. Crypton are also trying to find new ways of improving English pronunciation due to the strict English sound recognition of English speakers.They are also taking as long as needed to produce the Voicebank


Here are notable facts about MEIKO:

• First Japanese female vocal ever released
• First Japanese Vocaloid vocal released
• Was used in the oldest known Vocaloid related song ever released
• First Crypton Future Media Vocaloid released
• First Vocaloid to have an official avatar
• First female Vocaloid released from Crypton Future Media


The biggest fact about Meiko is that she is the very first vocaloid to have ever been produced and was the one who started the long line of vocaloid voice banks after her. So to be plain, without Meiko, the whole vocaloid gang wouldn't have been born. 



Now then, there are a lot of songs produced for and sang by Meiko. Although comparing her collection of songs from 2004, she has greatly improved with her most recent compositions. But one of the most recognizable songs that has always been a fan favorite was Meiko's song for her 2009 anniversary! 



CHANGE ME
Composed by shu-tP

"Change Me" has been formally recognized by numerous fans as Meiko's "character song" wherein it was the song that brought impact to Meiko's vocaloid career and brought up her popularity with the public. For the most part, even with her decreasing popularity before; Meiko has rose to the challenge and gave herself a place of adoration with her fans. 



Conchita, The Epicurean Daughter of Evil
Composed by Mothy


With her comeback being successful, you can now see numerous songs composed for Meiko. One of which the famous Mothy did when he composed his deadly sins series. "Conchita, The Epicurean Daughter of Evil" was the song he composed for MEIKO, where she represented the sin Gluttony in his series. In this song, Mothy shows a more darker and more fiercer side of Meiko's voice bank and brings her to new extents with high octaves. 

MEIKO is indeed a wonderful vocaloid, you just have to look a little bit harder. She may not have the same appeal as Miku does, but she keeps pride in her individuality. Even though she's more on the mature side, her low husky octave is what makes Meiko a vocaloid different from the rest and is the reason why she is adored by her many fans around the world!


*Source for Meiko's History: Vocaloid Wiki






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