Vocaloid Sonika released to the West

Sonika box art.  Source: Zero-G
Sonika box art. Source: Zero-G

The Vocaloid community likes to prank us every now and then, so when the latest Weekly Vocaloid Ranking mentioned the arrival of Sonika, I was skeptical.  I mean, look at that box art.  It honestly, looks like an avatar for IMVU or something and uploaded to a deviantArt account, and I’m not just saying that because I’m old and bitter and American (though those all do apply).

Well, it turns out that Ms. Naho is not a trickster.  Running on Vocaloid2, and specializing in pop, Zero-G’s latest addition to their Vocaloid family shipped today.  Here’s an excerpt from the article:

SONIKA is a new cyberspace starlet who will hit those high notes every time with perfect accuracy.

Whether it’s sweet and pure leads, harmonies or backing vocals, Sonika can sing any word from the English language (and other languages too with a little work).

Sonika is also very well suited if you want to be adventurous and experimental, since her voice can be easily modified and shaped in many ways.

In addition to singing any words or combination of syllables or phonemes you can imagine, SONIKA will spread any sustained vowel (or voiced consonant) across as many notes as you like, with perfect legato. You can select from several different natural vibrato types and drag and drop your chosen type to any note or notes, and control the time-position and amount of the vibrato.

So let’s see, a Vocaloid2 version of a “young girl pop singer” with green hair, a tatoo on her arm, and a katakana name.  Where have I seen that before?

But don’t let the cynical ramblings of some random American on someone else’s blog discourage you from buying Sonika.  She goes for US$199.95 or £114.95 or €169 and is available wherever Zero-G products are sold.  Just be warned that if their next Vocaloid comes with 1 track for a guy’s voice and another for a girl’s, I told you so.

About: Joe Mello


14 thoughts on “Vocaloid Sonika released to the West”

  1. She does have a strong resemblance to Miku, but at the same time, It's nice to see a Vocaloid2 hitting the US. I wouldn't be surprised if she does well across the world following Miku's popularity like every other Vocaloid these days. She does have a nice voice which doesn't make me think of Miku in the slightest (She sounds a little more like Meiko or Luka to me), and like I said, it's nice to see a Vocaloid2 hit state-side. If I wasn't out of money, I'd seriously consider getting Sonika.

    1. Vocaloid2 has been in the US before Miku even came out. O.O Sweet Ann came out like a month or two before Miku's release. n.n

  2. I was actually thinking of Gumi but yeah whatever works. <<

    It's understandable that Zero-G's gonna make a product to follow the mass appeal of Miku and friends, though as an American company imitating a Japanese one it just feels a bit tacky. On the other hand, this is coming from the half of the anime fandom that doesn't want to be japanese so it's likely Sonika will actually have pretty good sales =v= I can imagine her translating pretty well to 2D too.

  3. I too am not very interested. but as a blog poster you shouldn't be so skeptical about these things, you will scare away people.
    Either way, I'm just gonna stick to Miku.

  4. Notto Disu Shitto Egein
    Another VOCALOID character? Aren't there plenty of them already?
    Imho, this will have very little success in USA. The reason's obvious – different culture and taste.
    Btw, who is the voice behind sonika?

  5. I would have preffered an English male voice, but she sounds sooo cute when she goes "Ring my Beeeeell, ring my bell!" >w<, she has already won me.

    And come on, her design is nothing fanarts can't improve.

    1. "And come on, her design is nothing fanarts can't improve. "

      This is true but.. still… she's just.. so………….PLAIN. like in a 1990's fashion kinda way o_O they're basically pleading to the fan community to design her outfit lol. regardless of her design and of her being a Japanese or English Vocaloid, people are stimulated by VISUALS… we live in a visual culture era. this design reminds me of like a game or something :T eh whatever.

      /goes to find her music

  6. I like her( but then again I like all English Vocaloids) but I especially like her version of the Lion sleeps tonight!^^

  7. I'm excited simply because (in my opinion) she's the first English Vocaloid that actually sounds decent. I've never been able to understand any of the other English Vocaloids without seeing the lyrics beforehand. : / I do agree with you that her design is plain, and she doesn't have half of the appeal of most Japanese Vocaloids, but considering I don't speak Japanese I'm not complaining. ^_^;

  8. Does anyone else think that this is actually Luka's english sampling? She can even sing japanese easily without it sounding weird.

  9. 0_o I'm American and I already love Sonika. I am also a fan of Sweet Ann (this grew after hearing her sing Salamander).

    What bums me out, is that America still doesn't have a Vocaloid to call its own. So far it's UK, Sweden, and Japan. There is FLchan, but she isn't a vocaloid or even an actual singing program, she is a synthesizer that can "sound" like she is singing.

    Vocaloids are more for hobbyist. And they need to be promoted for them to be known. It's like you expecting your favorite video game to hit mainstream, and you wonder why it didn't sell that well. You can feel the fandom of Vocaloid, more online than offline.

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