In short, UTAU is a free Japanese vocal synthesis program created by Ameya/Ayame (飴屋／菖蒲) that allows users to create lyrical melodies using prerecorded voice samples. Unlike commercial vocal synths, such as VOCALOID, Synth V, or CeVIO, UTAU allows users to create their own voice libraries to be used in the program.

For a much more detailed explanation of how UTAU works, you can read its entry on Wikipedia here.

For more information on using UTAU, please see the "I'm new to using UTAU" section down below.

"Voicebank" is a colloquial term for a user created collection of voice samples that can be loaded into UTAU in order to generate an artificial singing voice. Each voicebank or voice library contains a configuration file, known as an .oto, which tells the UTAU software how to align each .WAV file to a given syllable. Thus, when a lyric is entered into a note in the UTAU editor, UTAU is able to cross-reference that lyric with the voice library and draw the appropriate sound.

When referencing libraries associated with specific characters (such as Kasane Teto), individual voicebanks may also be refered to as UTAUs. In general, however, the terms "voicebank" or "voice library" tend to refer specifically to an UTAU's voice files, while "UTAU" or "UTAUloid" refers to the combined voice and associated character.

You can find information on how to install UTAU here. Be sure to double check that your computer meets the reccomended system requirements as well.

UTAU can be an intimidating piece of software to get into. Thankfully, however, many wonderful members of the community have compiled a variety of guides and tutorials to help make things easier. Here are some databases to get you started with UTAU:

UTAU.us

UTAU Tutorials

Oigen Studio's Vocal Synth Tutorials

Whologist's Complete UTAU Tutorial for Beginners

I've also compiled a non-exhaustive but nevertheless in-depth resources doc for any prospective UTAU users looking to get started. If you'd like to learn how to use UTAU and want to know what it takes to make your own voicebank from start to finish, you can check out my guide here.

This is known as "mojibake," or nonsense text. This happens when your computer is not using the right encoding method to decode Japanese characters. To fix this problem, you'll need to change your computer locale to Japanese. You can find information on how to change your locale on Windows XP through Windows 10 here.

There may be a couple of things that are wrong. Here is a list of common issues users encounter when trying to use UTAU. If none of these seem to be the problem, you may need to try reinstalling or using another platform.

Thankfully, there are a variety of options available for running UTAU on your system.

UTAU-Synth is a Mac-based version of UTAU developed by Ameya/Ayame. You can download it from this page. In addition, the English patch can be found here, along with information on how to install the patch. For information on how to use UTAU-Synth, be sure to check out MystSaphyr's UTAU-Synth Tutorial.

OpenUTAU is an open source successor to UTAU developed by stakira. The program runs on both Windows, Mac, and Linux and is frequently updated. You can find the getting started page here.

Short answer: I like weird words and morbid aesthetics w

Long answer: In real life, a lychgate is a kind of roofed gateway to a churchyard meant to shelter a body or coffin from the elements while awaiting a funeral. In a way, it sort of serves as a transitional point between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

While I used to be very active in the UTAU community circa 2011-2013, I informally retired my voicebank characters in late 2015 (some of them even earlier). I didn't anticipate returning in any real capacity until, in 2021, I finally had access to a new recording space and decided to create a new voicebank for my very first UTAU, Salvador, in celebration of his 10 year anniversary.

As such, I chose the name "Wonderful Lychgate" to both encapsulate my aesthetic, the fact that my return to UTAU involved bringing a character back from beyond the grave, and the fact that there may or may not be... other things that may get dragged back along with it.

Don't worry about it.

Any work produced using this library must follow the terms of use of the UTAU software. For more information on these terms, please see here.

When publishing work featuring this library, the name of the voicebank must be included somewhere in the title or description of the work (i.e. "SALVADOR" or "SALVADOR Auto Recovery").

Stating the voicebank creator's name (miodiodavinci) in the body of your work is entirely optional, but appreciated.

When using this voicebank, we ask that you adhere to a basic sense of decency. Do not use this library or the voicebank character in any works featuring:

Sexual / R18 content

Excessive violence

Political statements

Religious speech

Slander / libel

Matters of abuse

In addition, the following types of content are unconditionally prohibited:

For clarification on what falls under any of the above terms, please contact the creator (@miodiodavinci on twitter).

When publishing non-commercial works featuring this library, you may freely use the files included in the CHARACTER ART folder that has been packaged with this library so long as credit is given to miodiodavinci. These files include:

SALVADOR AUTO RECOVERY BOX ART_CLEAN.png

SALVADOR AUTO RECOVERY BOX ART_FAKESCAN.png

SALVADOR AUTO RECOVERY BOX ART_FAKESCAN_HALF.png

SALVADOR AUTO RECOVERY BOX ART_FAKESCAN_QUARTER.png

SALVADOR BUST.png

SALVADOR BUST_ALTERNATE.png

SALVADOR LOGO_NO OUTLINE.png

SALVADOR LOGO_WHITE OUTLINE.png

SALVADOR LOGO_DOUBLE OUTLINE.png

MINI ICON.png

MINI ICON_ALTERNATE.png

MINI BUST.png

Files found in the CHARACTER ART folder, however, can ONLY be used in conjunction with work featuring renders of this library. Do not use these files to create merch or represent other characters, for example.

Please seek permission before using existing, non-CHARACTER ART folder artwork featuring the voicebank character. Existing artwork of the voicebank character cannot be used without prior permission from the individual artists.

While the CHARACTER ART folder files are available for you to use, you are not required to include artwork of the voicebank character alongside published work featuring this library. Including visual depictions of the voicebank character alongside published work is purely optional.

This voicebank can be used in conjunction with artwork of other characters unrelated to the voicebank character. For more information on this term, please see the DERIVATIVES and "VOICING" POLICY section below.

Do not create derivatives of this vocal library (i.e. pitchloids, genderbends, etc...)

Do not edit or use this library to create a new UTAU character.

You are allowed to use this library to "voice" an existing, non-UTAU character, so long as you include the name of this library ("SALVADOR" or "SALVADOR Auto Recovery") and the creator's name (miodiodavinci) somewhere in the body of your work.

You are free to edit any of the configuration files included in this library, such as oto.ini or FRQ files.

You are permitted to clean, enhance, or splice audio files from this library only so long as the edited files remain the same character and are used solely in the context of this library.

You cannot take samples or parts of samples from this library to be used in other libraries.

You cannot use this voicebank in any singing synthesizers other than UTAU, UTAU-Synth, or OpenUTAU.

The samples included in this library cannot be used outside of the context of this library. As such, you cannot use isolated samples for sound effects, music production, or other projects that do not feature UTAU synthesis.

You are free to share renders created with this voicebank with other users, regardless of whether the library is currently publicly available.

You are free to share edited configuration files with other users so long as the voicebank is still publicly available.

So long as this voice bank is publicly available, you may only redistribute this voicebank in its entirety, without any changes, with correct attribution of the voicebank name and author. If you have made edits to the library's sound and configuration files that you would like to share for others to use in conjunction with this library, you may distribute those files separately with a disclaimer noting their intended purpose.

You may not resell this library.

After this voicebank is discontinued, you cannot redistribute it.

Please contact the creator (miodiodavinci) for individual approval to use this voicebank and character in commercial works.

Files found in the CHARACTER ART folder may not be used commercially.

You cannot use this voicebank or any of the included assets in any projects involving blockchain, cryptocurrency, or non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Do not use this library in conjunction with any work produced by an AI image generator (i.e. "AI art" or "AI artwork").

In addition, do not train an AI or create an AI model based on any of the material provided in this library or on this website (wonderful-lychgate.carrd.co), nor any material produced using this library (i.e. voice samples, box art, UTAU renders, omake, etc...).

miodiodavinci holds no responsibility for any incidents, damages, or losses that may result from downloading or using the voicebank or character.

miodiodavinci holds no responsibility for any incidents, damages, or losses that occur to any third party as a result of using this voicebank or voicebank character.

The usage policy listed above may be subject to change without prior notice. The latest version of these terms will take precedence over all older editions.

@miodiodavinci on twitter

@miodiodavinci on tumblr

Any work produced using a legacy library must follow the terms of use of the UTAU software. For more information on these terms, please see here.

When publishing work featuring a legacy library, the name of the voicebank must be included somewhere in the title or description of the work (i.e. "Salvador ACT 1," "Crevan ACT 2: Concert Edition," etc...).

Stating the voicebank creator's name (miodiodavinci) in the body of your work is entirely optional, but appreciated.

When using a legacy voicebank, we ask that you adhere to a basic sense of decency. Do not use any of these libraries or their respective voicebank characters in any works featuring:

Sexual / R18 content

Excessive violence

Political statements

Religious speech

Slander / libel

Matters of abuse

In addition, the following types of content are unconditionally prohibited:

For clarification on what falls under any of the above terms, please contact the creator (@miodiodavinci on twitter).

When publishing non-commercial works featuring a legacy library, you may freely use the files included in the CHARACTER ART folder, if present, so long as credit is given to miodiodavinci.

Files found in the CHARACTER ART folder, however, can ONLY be used in conjunction with work featuring renders of its respective legacy library. Do not use these files to create merch or represent other characters, for example.

Please seek permission before using existing, non-CHARACTER ART folder artwork featuring any legacy voicebank character. Existing artwork of voicebank characters cannot be used without prior permission from the individual artists.

While the CHARACTER ART folder files are available for you to use, you are not required to include artwork of any legacy voicebank character alongside published work featuring these libraries. Including visual depictions of the voicebank character alongside published work is purely optional.

These voicebanks can be used in conjunction with artwork of other characters unrelated to the voicebank character. For more information on this term, please see the DERIVATIVES and "VOICING" POLICY section below.

Do not create derivatives of these vocal library (i.e. pitchloids, genderbends, etc...)

Do not edit or use these libraries to create new UTAU characters.

You are allowed to use these libraries to "voice" an existing, non-UTAU character, so long as you include the name of the library and the creator's name (miodiodavinci) somewhere in the body of your work.

You are free to edit any of the configuration files included in these legacy libraries, such as oto.ini or FRQ files.

You are permitted to clean, enhance, or splice audio files within these libraries only so long as the edited files remain the same character and are used solely in the context of their respective library.

You cannot take samples or parts of samples from any legacy library to be used in other libraries.

You cannot use these voicebanks in any singing synthesizers other than UTAU, UTAU-Synth, or OpenUTAU.

The samples included in these libraries cannot be used outside of the context of these library. As such, you cannot use isolated samples for sound effects, music production, or other projects that do not feature UTAU synthesis.

You are free to share renders created with any legacy voicebank with other users, so long as the library in question is currently publicly available.

You are free to share edited configuration files with other users so long as the voicebank in question is still publicly available.

You may not redistribute any legacy library. Please redirect others to the original download page instead.

If you have made edits to any legacy library's sound and configuration files that you would like to share for others to use in conjunction with said library, you may distribute those files separately with a disclaimer noting their intended purpose.

You may not resell any legacy library.

After any legacy voicebank is discontinued, you cannot redistribute it.

Please contact the creator (miodiodavinci) for individual approval to use any legacy voicebank or character in commercial works.

Files found in the CHARACTER ART folder may not be used commercially.

You cannot use any legacy voicebank or any of the included assets in any projects involving blockchain, cryptocurrency, or non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Do not use these libraries in conjunction with any work produced by an AI image generator (i.e. "AI art" or "AI artwork").

In addition, do not train an AI or create an AI model based on any of the material provided in these libraries or on this website (wonderful-lychgate.carrd.co), nor any material produced using these libraries (i.e. voice samples, box art, UTAU renders, omake, etc...).

miodiodavinci holds no responsibility for any incidents, damages, or losses that may result from downloading or using any legacy voicebanks or characters.

miodiodavinci holds no responsibility for any incidents, damages, or losses that occur to any third party as a result of using these voicebanks or voicebank characters.

The usage policy listed above may be subject to change without prior notice. The latest version of these terms will take precedence over all older editions.

@miodiodavinci on twitter

@miodiodavinci on tumblr