Have you guys seen this new software released in Japan by Yamaha last week called VOCALOID2?
It's a synthesized singing software, where if you are skilled enough, you can make this cutey voiced girl named Miku sing... well,
any song.
Synthesized voice technology have been around for years, but never did I realize just how advanced it became!
Unfortunately, there aren't very may examples available on Youtube, but here's one of them. This one is making Miku sing a polka song.
The cute animation is made by the user himself, of course. Not included with the program.
Others on youtube:
If you guys have nikoniko video accounts, check these following ones out too.
The Haruhi one sounds pretty mechanical, but the others are very skilled.
It all depends on how well the user programms and adjusts the singing. You apprantly have some flexibility to adjust the tones and pitches, as well reverbs.
Sure, at this point she still sound mechanical... but no longer painful to the ears.
And in the hands of skilled users, surprisingly good singing.
One day, perhaps we will start to see REAL virtual voice actors and singers.