How to demo your song if you can’t sing!

[@FizzyK-45]

It's always fun to see people outside the vocal synthesizer community discuss vocal synth programs. Synthesizer V technically uses the same technology as other vocal synthesizer programs, like Vocaloid, which has been around for ages. And there are actually tons of musician who have used vocal synth programs, most notably people who use Hatsune Miku voice in their songs (but that's from Vocaloid, not Synthesizer V). 😅 Oh, btw, If you think the voice bank you chose sound "unnatural" or "robotic", you can make certain adjustments to them, it's typically referred to as "tuning" by Vocaloid fans, but it applies to all other vocal synth programs. So, if you know how to tune your singer, you can make them sound very natural. 😁

[@corasundae]

Pretty sure Synthesizer V started using AI before Vocaloid though (but after Cevio).

[@pensivepenguin3000]

I’ve been waiting for something like this for years! Singing is one of my major weaknesses and it keeps me from sharing my songs with other people

[@DavidD-un5oy]

When I started making albums, I believed I could not sing. I took vocal classes, but nothing seemed to help. Then I learned two things. One, you have a vocal range that operates for you. if you write songs that work in that range it’s very helpful. The second thing is Melodyne. There is nothing wrong with tuning vocals in the mix process. Especially if you’re not a performer like I am not. The objective of making music is to make art, and whatever helps you make that art is worth considering.

[@BestgirlJordanfish]

The one I needed to hear the most was the CONSENT and CREDIT for the voices used. That's really good to know and I'm glad you mentioned that

[@jimmydim2212]

Everyone hating doesn't get it, these are tools for the writing or production process, it's not a shortcut to flex that you can sing. That is already veeeery possible. These are just tools, fucking relax

[@Maplefoxx-vl2ew]

ppl think it's ai. he really should explain each library was created by a real human vocalist, the software processes the library banks into what we hear in the final product.. Emma Rowley a youtuber vocalist created Solaria sound bank. that's teh one i use.. the Baritone singer they have is also a youtuber.

[@LeifNelandDk]

​@@Maplefoxx-vl2ew, he did say it was real voices.

[@doomknocker]

I get it. It just seems useless unless you don’t have a microphone

[@glennlittle7955]

@doomknocker Not useless. a) as described it's a compositional tool. I can tweak notes all day. Do I want that a tiny bit longer? Do I want her to sing a m7 note which is in key or make her sing that M7 note which is technically out of key but sounds interesting... A real singer would eventually kill me after what I'd put him/her through, either that or charge me a fortune. My other half would kill me quite honestly. b) for those times you want / need someone who's not you. Last time I did this I was writing a song about domestic abuse from the point of view of a woman. It needed to be sung by a woman. I'm a man. I used Natalie. My wife thinks it's an exceptional song and performance but even if not I could play it to a real singer and they would know what I want as the composer. It's absolutely the opposite of useless.

[@fromchomleystreet]

I’m sorry, but it really is time for the “it’s just a tool. Relax” crowd to pull their heads out of their collective ass and recognise where this is all heading, and why people are worried about it. This spells the doom of the human singer. Why would anyone bother getting a real singer once technology like this becomes completely indistinguishable from the real thing? Which will be in about 15 minutes from now at the current rate of development.

[@SARUBI_OK]

People dont realize this tecnology exist since 2008 with vocaloid and utau, is a gimmick, a plugin, the same as a pedal in a guitar or a synth, its not cheating nor hurtful ai usage, dont be so dumb and learn about this stuff before hating

[@yeetintothevoid]

Actually it's been around since 2004! Vocaloid 2 released on 2007 (the software that Miku first debuted on) and UTAU in 2008, so it's been around longer than most people assume!

[@yeetintothevoid]

And this is just modern singing synthesis and not stuff like VODER (which was made for speech and not singing but still) and the IBM 7094

[@AngelicBlades]

it's so cool to see you talk about synthv!!! i use it myself and i've been in the vocal synthesizer community for a few years :D synthv itself is relatively new, but vocal synthesizers that came before it like vocaloid and utauloid grew a subculture that's been going strong for almost two decades by now! it's intertwined with anime and video game communities due to the japanese roots of a lot of programs and voices (along with the anime-style avatars many of them have), but vocal synthesizers have still been utilized in the west-porter robinson is the perfect example of this, because not only has he used vocaloid voices in some of his works, but he's voiced a voice of his own for vocaloid!

[@davidcook8065]

Wish I had this twenty years ago when I was uploading my songs to Myspace Music.

[@justaamateur6533]

I don't understand how people are shocked by this when vocaloid has been a thing for almost 2 decades now lol

[@Eivesohn]

SynthV is wonderful, currently working with a vocalist on a song, and living in two different timezones and all, this has sped up the process a ton. Sheena is my fav voice, and I'm planning on getting a male voicebank soon.

[@PowerRedBullTypology]

You should have used Solaria. It's the most realistic for Dreamtonics Synthesizer V. However, it's made by a third party called Eclipsed sounds

[@glennlittle7955]

I've used Solaria but I like Natalie, her voice is amazing.

[@Akuma_Z]

I like ROSE so much...

[@reezlaw]

Solaria is incredible, I think it's just the absolute best singing synthetic voice in general

[@howtodoitdude1662]

Very disappointing for true talented vocalists who work hard to get where they are.

[@رزيئة]

Your voice is nice, don't be shy about it, I'd like to hear some of your songs in your voice!

[@ThomasMann85643]

Hi David. Have you considered writing an online interactive book? I find the Beato book far too complex. It talks about, for example, the circle of fifths on about the 3rd page but does not define key, major, or minor. 7 pages later you are introduced to a composition using Lydian Mode without having been given a definition of mode. I read sheet music and play piano well, but I need a gentler introduction. I find your circle of 5ths video answered all my questions. So why not make an online book too. Yes I know it would take you probably two years but you could release it one page at a time for free then charge for it once you’ve finished it. Love what you do.

[@SongSecretsMomNeverTaughtYou]

This would be a great idea! In the meantime, an alternative to Beato's books that's very helpful is "How Music Really Works" by Wayne Chase. I got the pdf version from his site and much of the information and music theory that aligns with David's videos while even going into the psychology why music concepts affect us the way they do. It came out a few years before David started making videos and I highly recommend it!

[@MrKevbo82]

Another use I could see for these would be doing harmonies on home recordings/demos and switching the gender of your voice. So say a male could sing some ooh’s and aah’s and have them be female voices. Certainly hear the “fakeness” less there too

[@robertbelton8009]

Thanks for the tip ! I've purchased it now and it's incredible

[@hilbertshotel]

If you have a top DAW, you'll very likely have the tools to make it sound like a legit vocal. The software is pretty incredible.

[@enzi_r9810]

It's pretty expensive, but very useful. Gotta start saving!

[@mogmason6920]

I might invest in this software, because I have started writing my own songs. Most non theatrical trained singers are the most self indulgent people on the planet, that want to just riff and warble over everything. My own vocal range makes Tom Waits sound like a diva!

[@asfdirt]

I can see why people thought David meant "to pretend" as if that voice was yours, because the title might lead you to believe that's what he means, but that's not the point. This is just another tool like DAWs, MIDI instruments, etc. No one's gonna believe you're actually playing the piece or singing. You can use this to develop and listen to your own creation before paying to an actual singer. If anything this makes music more accessible. Not everyone has a whole orchestral arrangement in their heads to know how their music will actually sound before paying proffessional musicians to do it Looks like all the singers in the software were paid so, if you think it a certain way, it's like paying those singers to sing for you.

[@mr88cet]

Still not “real,” but better results than I expected! As you say, it’s fine for a demo. _Possibly_ even for supporting vocals in a real production.

[@bikedawg]

The only time I sound really good is in the shower, when no one is listening.

[@Barefoot_Joe]

How do you know it sounds good if no one is listening?

[@someguy999]

Don't worry, I'm listening. Watching too...

[@juancrisjimenez2116]

Salvation for regular baritones

[@electropainted]

wow thank you bennett, these look great. i am in a similar sitch and kind of wasted money on "hearth and hollow" which is not quite what i need. it's more a choir, background vocal simulator and i need a lead vocal melody synth. And I see there is even a limited but free version! oh joy...oh bliss lol

[@rkbrown83]

Great video David!

[@justinmonisit5932]

Piano is the best way to learn music theory. Vocals are the best way to learn ear training. Best combo.

[@heethanthen]

I managed to ear train pretty decently despite not being able to sing a note on pitch

[@dynamicalan]

It's easy to write song without singing because the lyrics and melody integrate in your mind for your inspiration. If I write melodies on piano they almost always come out film and TV.

[@LandenbergFamily]

This program will be useful for me because I have accent so I want to hear it sing my song like a native speakers 😅

[@tehpeasant]

Holy shit. I wondered why something like this doesn't exist. Turns out, it does exist! This is amazing for songwriting.

[@christopherjobin-official7440]

It did exist, but I guess people don't want to be Vocaloid artists-

[@jamesthompson6673]

Will this work on iPads or is it just laptops thanks

[@Maplefoxx-vl2ew]

@@christopherjobin-official7440 vocaloid compared to synth v is like comparing 8 bit nintendo to using a playstation.. huge difference in quality of sound and the software usability.. most ppl who used to do vocaloid mixes switched over to synth V remixes years ago.

[@glennlittle7955]

​@@jamesthompson6673It works on Windows and Macs. Genuinely not sure about iPads.

[@corasundae]

@@Maplefoxx-vl2ew Don't know what you mean. Most vocal synth users are Japanese and they are still using Vocaloid for the most part. Even the generic word for vocal synths is "vocalo" there.

[@graciasMiura]

Is this perhaps absolute confirmation that you WILL be singing on your next album? 🤔

[@andrew6889-p5c]

I have been wondering about these plugins for a while. I don’t mind you doing a sponsored review, but I’d like to hear more about your opinion on these. The pros and the cons? If you have been using them for months you must have some useful view. I don’t see many credible reviews on YT and that makes me hesitant to buy either of them.

[@Em4gdn1m]

Opposite here. I can sing, actually quite well, but words are hard.

[@hdysicjegk]

Was the whole thing a sponsored ad? Or just part?

[@99timewaster]

sponsored clearly. There was no criticism, cons or limitations explored

[@DavidBennettPiano]

The video is sponsored by the two plugins yeah, however the opinions expressed in the video are my own. I genuinely think these plugins can be a really useful tool for a lot of songwriters. But also, as I explain in the video, they aren't perfect and can only really serve as a demo of how a vocal should be sung, not the final product. 😊

[@donkerbot]

@@DavidBennettPiano We use it for the final product, because that's the style we're going for. We also use it for demo purposes, when we want to hire a vocalist for a specific track, but we don't see it exclusively as one or the other.

[@sale544]

@@donkerbot not to mention the vocalsynth community too

[@glennlittle7955]

​@@DavidBennettPianoRight know I'm using it for my final product, Natalie especially.

[@TigerRogers0660]

Interesting David!! I'll have to try Vocoflex!!

[@andreiter]

I've been told that my singing voice is almost exactly like Englebert Humperdink's singing voice. I can hear that. However, my favourite vocalist of all-time is Matt Monro (Terry Parsons). Can I find a program that can help tweak my voice towards his? 🙂

[@flowerpt]

Nice, good to know these exist.

[@conshyp]

Ooh looking forward to this one. Thanks in advance

[@Ale-e1o3b]

I needed that!

[@ShirubaGin]

Bro's basically advertising vocaloid

[@dogmediasolutions]

NO APPLE SILICON VERSION ⚠️ David, I was intrigued by Synthesizer V from your video. My concern is having to run Logic Pro in Rosetta (this software hasn’t been updated for Apple silicon). Thoughts?

[@mwilkins]

I might have missed it, but does this video say that it requires Rosetta? That would be a concern for me as well. I downloaded the demo version, and it did not (as far as I can tell) need Rosetta; I’ve never used Rosetta so I am pretty sure it would not have run otherwise. The Synthesizer V main marketing page claims it runs natively on Apple Silicon. __edit__ I might be adding an edit after the response I added to my own reply ... but I don't see that reply to my reply ... this is what happens when old guys use the interwebs. In any case, I do see on the docs on the SynthV web site that apparently the ARA usage for the plugin does require Rosetta to work in Logic Pro. So that is problematic.

[@noslowerdna]

Awesome stuff - so far beyond the "Flinger" days

[@KenDavis761]

You can also get a killer performance from Synthesizer V, then train Vocoflex with a sample of your voice so it sounds like you, but better.

[@evanzumek2930]

What DAW are you using?

[@andlowrider]

I relate so much, I love making music but I don't love my voice. Hope I can find a singer one day to help me. But this tool sounds interesting.

[@Jason.Brayshaw]

This would also be useful if you want to sing harmonies with someone whose voice is different to your own eg male and female vocal together - especially octave harmonies.

[@acherrett]

You are too modest about your singing. You have great pitch control and can visualise (audialise?) what sound you want. You are way ahead of most, and a bit of training could make a big difference, if that’s something you would like to do. Other than that, I think these technologies are very impressive, and if they can help people make music who otherwise might not, or allow them to ‘audition’ different vocal styles and help in the composition process, then that’s great. In final production, though, there are still plenty of humans that are way ahead of AI, and my choice would be to let them keep the fun and creative jobs wherever possible.

[@adb012]

Woo-hoo! A video with no adds!

[@reezlaw]

The video is the ad

[@adb012]

@@reezlaw ... No kidding!

[@donkerbot]

We use Synth V a lot, so if you're interested in hearing Eleanor Forte, you can just put our channel on repeat!

[@MrKevbo82]

I had to jump back and listen again more closely to the Natalie voice, it sounds incredibly like Aimee Mann! (The song fits her style too)

[@BeatlesGgbet]

Damn that's a good software

[@BeatlesGgbet]

i like your voice tho david, you should sing for the next project, it will feel more personal

[@johnnydepp4866]

This kinda sounds like bill wurtz, but my man has a great voice

[@DMSProduktions]

IF you can carry a tune, you can learn to sing BETTER! SLS is a good 1 for this! Check it out Dave!

[@atrus3823]

I would love to see what happens if you give it crazy impossible to sing melodies.

[@DaedalusYoung]

Go ahead and try, there's a free version of Synth V with free voicebank available. It probably doesn't really work that well, because there's a transition time from note to note. You can adjust that, but then it sounds like badly done autotune.

[@Pyth110]

Bro really uploaded a 9 minute ad

[@Pandamasque]

Finally a video for me :D

[@paulhaynes8045]

As a consumer of music, rather than a creator, I find this pretty worrying. We can effectively no longer believe anything we hear.

[@mgbchoralmusic6443]

Can you really just type in the lyrics and have it sing back? I've been trying ACE Studio and you spend a lot of time adjusting the beginning and ending consonants of a lot of words and modifying the pitch line. I use it to make choir rehearsal tracks.

[@jayantjrathod]

Nice 😊

[@grahamdowney5550]

The demo kind of reminds me of Glory box by Portishead

[@PowerTree-007]

If you're not a great singer, become a great story-teller. Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and a lot of the early blues singers. Telling the story in a heart-felt, compelling way is a paramount skill. You can always sing a little bit. Don't obsess about it. Hendrix didn't think he could sing. But he was okay.

[@SeattleShelby]

Is there a setting in Vocoflex that can make British folks sound like they’re Brits instead of Americans? 😂

[@paulrobertson3326]

Nice!

[@daisychannel2002]

KASANE TETO BEST GIRLLLL

[@lordtraxroy]

Bro that guy use ableton

[@ShiningHourPop]

David clearly said he gets real vocalists to sing his songs and he is using this tool to DEMO a voice, because his voice is not up to his vision for his song. Just as many people use samples for instrumentation whether it’s drums, bass, pianos, orchestras, choirs etc. One comment even said technology shouldn’t be used in music! Technology has always been used in music since before the invention of the wax cylinder. The vast amount of music nowadays is recorded using computers. Or listened to using computerised gadgets. So give him a break. He’s only showing what’s out there, like it or not.

[@jamesxtwo]

I agree, but to be honest, I was still a bit jumpy at the first. But I actually watched the video and understood what he was demo'ing. I think people just see something relating to altering your voice with technology or the option to change it outright to another preset voice, and they immediately think "AII!! AI VOICE AI BAD".

[@doomknocker]

I can see that it’s powerful. But if it’s just for demo tracks, I would just rather use my own voice. There’s no way I would use that for anything beyond a demo track. And these types of plugins are so frustrating to work with. I’d rather just use my own microphone

[@brionkellymusic5029]

The problem with AI in music is that it’s becoming a tool to replace people who hone their craft on a discipline that they are passionate about. Throughout history, the evolution and increasing use of technology like social media and streaming services have worked to force artists to comply with a system that doesn’t favour them. It’s a joke how little money musicians make nowadays because of it, even when they exhaust every possible revenue stream they can thanks to companies like Spotify. AI is the next development that’s going to further disable artists. So don’t legitimise it.

[@Itsme-77-h3m]

It's cool

[@buzzsmith8146]

Wow.

[@mh60648]

It's not out of your range. Your voice is just untrained. Although I am much much worse playing the piano than you singing 😂😂😂

[@Whitelight77]

Is there a copy write on a singers voice ? For example using A.I you could have George Michael vocals singing on your song, so without permission you could not use George Michael but using effects you could probably make it sound different enough not to be an outright copy, maybe you could combine the vocals of 2 or 3 famous singers

[@davidsands9278]

anyone can sing; it's the delivery that counts. Compare Badfinger WIthout You with Harry Nlsson - a huge difference. Or Simon and Garfunkle Sound of Silence. They could sing of course but compare with Disturbed vsersion. And I recall Phil Spector was a master of music but hated to perform himself after To Know Him Is To Love Him. Personally I think the synthesized voice lacks the expression that a real singer has. sorry. And you need that error in a real voice.

[@dewitt.powers]

I'm just here for the knee jerk reactions.

[@fromchomleystreet]

Singers are doomed. Of course, you can replace “singers” with any other creative pursuit and it’s equally true. People are asleep to the destruction of career paths in so many industries that this technological revolution, and the unprecedented rate at which it’s happening, is going to cause over the next decade.

[@Armadillo312]

I can't wait til people here hear about Udio and Suno 🤣

[@Senchi3]

I mean we're over here talking about composition and songwriting, trying to make actually cool things... If you wanna automate the whole deal and don't care how stiff and bad the end product sounds that's cool for you just don't go around calling yourself a musician

[@Armadillo312]

@Senchi3 I've been composing longer than David has been alive,, so you're preaching to the Choir here. But I do find it funny that people complain about what is essentially an improvement on Vocaloid which has been around 20 years.

[@apl2606]

As long as you use these plugins only for demos and not in the final song, ok with me. So I do not need to hear these powerless, expressionless voices again. They make me physically uncomfortable.

[@thomasdequincey5811]

How can you support these "plug-ins"? If you can't sing go learn from a singing Teacher. Don't add to the ongoing syntheticfication and devaluation of pop music and music in general.

[@Senchi3]

Virtual Singers have been around for 20+ years and paved the way for genius composers with low budgets or self-esteem/mental health issues to put their music out, specially in the underground Japanese pop scene. It's nothing new really.

[@corasundae]

Lol do you say this about every other virtual instrument? Hope you don't use piano vsts, or orchestral vsts.

[@Wild_D]

Dont. Im going to turn you off. I hate fake processed vocals. I had to learn to talk and sing all over again because of an injury. Put the work in or dont open your mouth.

[@heethanthen]

Someone had to say it!

[@okaymate-]

You people are too precious about what singing is.. if someone cant sing particularly well then why should it matter to you? If you dont like it then you dont have to listen to that music but looking the other way for technology that can aid creativity for the sake of ‘thats not the traditional way’ is pathetic.

[@primerocuarte3987]

Ikr, it's so unfair, he shouldn't use those lazy shortcuts to get ahead of us honest, hardworking people. I bet he doesn't care that I'm broke. We should cancel

[@primerocuarte3987]

​@okaymate-Art is a competition, you didn't get the memo. How come everyone screws me over.

[@PretzelLogic74]

​@okaymate- technology has no place in human creativity though. Give anything to a computer and it will completely strip it of its beauty, emotion, drama, and other things that make art what it is to us. It seriously devalues creativity if creativity can be mass produced

[@mongrelhead1]

Sounds phony

[@sirwilliamwaffles1333]

Autotune or ai

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

A little disappointing, but not shocking. Everyone on KZbin is trying to make it so humans aren’t important in music anymore.

[@donaldbutcher1260]

And so now someone who has a minimal amount of talent can manufacture music 😢

[@DaedalusYoung]

I have enough talent to write songs, but I don't sing, or the vocals are in a different register. Am I supposed to become a female for a few songs? How do you write your music? Do you play every part yourself, or you secretly have midi instruments playing?

[@corasundae]

You still have to, you know, write the entire song yourself, including the melody and lyrics. And if you can do that, you clearly don't have a "minimal amount of talent".

[@darrengreen6351]

Shame on you!

[@localbod]

Learn to control your diaphragm and breathing. Put the work in.

[@corasundae]

If you make comments like this, I hope you never use a single instrument vst ever.

[@Beatlesandqueen4ever]

If you can't sing, leave it to those who can. Faking it makes you a liar to others and to yourself.

[@davehall8584]

eH? what!!! NO NO NO!! ........AI shit..;.autotune..SHAME ON YOU.

[@davehall8584]

UNSUBSCRIBED.

[@Maplefoxx-vl2ew]

synth V is not ai dude. each sound bank was made by a human being in fact , 2 of them are even here on youtube as singers. it simply using algorithms to process the vocal banks into a final result.. so a human being had to sit in a studio for months to make each sound bank.. similar to how a kontakt library is made.. Emma Rowley is the voice of Solaria. .she's here on youtube. a real girl singer dude. it's not actually ai. , it uses algorithms to process. very smart programmer

[@corasundae]

@@Maplefoxx-vl2ew it is using AI technology, but it was with consent, and unlike with traditional vocal synthesis like Vocaloid, they don't have to sit in a studio to record every sound necessary for the voicebank. Song samples are used instead. I don't know why people act like AI is automatically bad.

[@PretzelLogic74]

You have made me that much closer to unsubscribing. These programs mock the art of music. Humans are what makes art "art" by giving it meaning, but having a computer make it for you strips all meaning away and leaves you with the equivalent of a canvas painted entirely black. Not unpainted, but so boring and pointless that it will never live up to any other work

[@SARUBI_OK]

???? Is a human work with a plugin in the voice, the same as a pedal on a guitar or autotune/pitch correction on a vocal, its not hurtful ai, is a gimmick, a tool Just like photoshop or video editing

[@sale544]

… tell that to all the vocaloid producers have been making tons of cool music for the past decade

[@ceciliagently]

this is a pretty bad metaphor for what youre trying to get across because the world of painting & art has done what you describe countless times & each time the consensus is that not only is what you describe "art" but the meaning of a piece like this is inherent to the artist & anybody can find a meaning of their own through it. you may find a black canvas boring , but to the artist its something else. that, is art. not some meaningless competition to see who is the best at painting. im not even a fan of these vocal synths myself but you seriously need to let go of these notions of what you consider to be "real" art & understand that that concept changes daily as human beings do.

[@PretzelLogic74]

@@sale544 I would, but I don't have their number. I'd also petition you to express your opinion to artists who don't use this crap.

[@PretzelLogic74]

@SARUBI_OK sure, it's (or "is") good for a laugh, but it isn't serious art if the artist isn't willing to do it manually

[@FohHoleOut]

I m using Synth V for 1 year 😊 Only hate that you really need time to make good vocal for song.. And if u use time to make good vocal and sed to friends who only listener , dont have knowledge for EQ, chords produ staff they think I finde vocalist 😅😅😅

[@gasparucciox9706]

the best david is to take singing' lessons ...in the end you don't sing so badly

[@gasparucciox9706]

oh shit this is kind of weird...........