Japan Releases Singing Robot. Are T-Pain’s Days Numbered?

Posted by Nathan S. on 10/07/09 | Filed under Features, Videos

Saw this today and I can’t front, it kind of blew my mind. Japanese company Yamaha came out with a robot today that not only sings better than 50 (thanks to some new software) but has a realistic face and singing motions. The robot still has a ways to go before it can compete with the real thing, but if I was T-Pain, I might be a little worried.

Called the HRP-4C, the robot is a life-like girlbot that can sing with Yamaha’s Vocaloid voice synthesis software, meaning that she sounds surprisingly human. Check it out:

The Refined Take

1) I don’t want to get too science fictioned out here, but isn’t it only a matter of time before these robots start replacing real artists. If I’m a record label exec and I can go into the studio, record a perfect track, and then have this robot perform for free, why wouldn’t I? Plus, the robot won’t get caught with a grenade launcher in her Escalade or snatch an award away from Taylor Swift. Though it may short circuit and go on a killing spree. So that’s a potential downside.
2) For the record, we’ve reached a point where a robot who looks human can sing better than the human T-Pain, who sounds like a robot. Follow that?
3) Were the metal robot breasts really necessary? And what scientist was in charge of figuring out how big they should be?
4) Someone needs to do a new version of this where she’s singing R. Kelly’s “Bump n’ Grind.” Let’s make it happen people. If you’re talented enough to do a remix version, send it to me at nathan(@)refinedhype.com

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