I write about this frequently on X and Bluesky, but I think it would be tiring to just spout my thoughts on social media, so I'll just scribble them down here, which is my diary.
First of all, I'm not what you would call anti-AI.
I write "No AI learning" on this website and in my social media profiles, but I mean please don't use my work for any purpose other than viewing it without my knowledge, which is the same as no unauthorized use.
I would like AI itself to develop as a tool to make life and creative activities more convenient, and if it can streamline the creative process and give form to ideas more quickly, I would use it too.
I have tried image generation AI like Mid Journey, music generation AI like SUNO AI, and ChatGPT, and thought they could be used to build the foundation of my work and generate ideas. However, I felt that the source of their learning is not clear, and that they are created through unauthorized learning, and that they can reproduce specific styles like Ghibli art, so I don't use them now.
It's not that AI itself is bad, but rather that using copyrighted material without permission, whether it's images, music, or text, is wrong.
I'd rather use clean AI like Synthesizer V or Voisona, which have been properly put into practical use after paying and obtaining permission from the voice actors they trained on.
I don't understand Vocaloid tuning either.
This is purely my personal opinion and preference, so I have no intention of forcing others not to use generative AI.
Recently on X, an official city VTuber caused controversy by saying something along the lines of, "I'll keep my distance from businesses that use image-generating AI," but it's not okay to arbitrarily choose which businesses residents should support based on their personal opinions or likes and dislikes.
I wouldn't like it if the poster character of my town said, "I'll keep my distance from businesses that don't serve vegan or halal food," either, and personal opinions and the actions that accompany them should only be discussed after giving up the city's poster boy.
Furthermore, people who threaten arson, like in the case of Kurumazaki Shrine, are simply criminals.
But that's a digression.
I think there are all kinds of different types of generative AI users.
Some people simply enjoy playing with it as a toy, while others, like some Vocaloid producers, use it in music videos and other creative endeavors.
In particular, when it comes to illustration-generating AI, perhaps because I've been drawing since I was a child, I can somehow tell when someone is using AI, even if they don't publicly admit it.
It just doesn't feel like it was drawn by a human.
Sometimes the images are unnaturally neat, and sometimes they make mistakes that humans wouldn't.
Everyone has different thoughts and circumstances, and it's not prohibited by current law, so no one has the right to stop the use of generative AI itself.
Making and selling counterfeit products of famous creators, or distributing AI created by incorporating a voice actor's voice without permission, or misusing it for spreading rumors or scams, are a whole other legal issue.
It's just a matter of how you use it.
There may be some people who like the pictures created by AI, and there have been stories of winning entries in art contests being made by AI, so if you keep spinning the gacha machine and coming up with creative prompts, you might just create a masterpiece.
But...
As someone who creates both art and music myself, I want to say loud and clear above all else:
Creating things yourself is more fun!!!
That's it.
Drawing pictures is fun, and making music is fun.
Playing with generative AI might be fun, but I want you to experience the joy and happiness of creating something yourself, and the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment you feel when you complete it.
My life is supported by creativity.
I can't help but enjoy creating, and knowing that there are people who are pleased with my work makes me work hard even at laborious times.
It gives me the courage to survive in a world full of unpleasant things.
Even if I were reborn as an AI that could create even better works than I do now, I would continue to create my own works.
I would create characters that reflect my fetishes, draw pictures of my favorite idols that reflect my fetishes in every detail, and compose songs using my favorite rhythms, chords, tones, and even my favorite idol's voice.
It's just the best.
I wrote this article while listening to a new song I'm working on over and over again.
My songs are amazing, so please give them a listen on the music page of this site.
If you like them, please give them a thumbs up and subscribe to my channel. I'll cry tears of joy.
And that's it!
I recently learned that a system called the "Unmanaged Works Adjudication System" will be implemented next year.
For details, please see the announcement from the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Unmanaged Works Adjudication System
Copyright Act Amendments at the 2023 Ordinary Diet Session
What is the Unmanaged Works Adjudication System?
To briefly explain what this system is, it allows you to freely use copyrighted works that are not managed by a copyright management organization like JASRAC and do not have explicit terms of use if you cannot contact the creator.
I was shocked to see a statement like this at the beginning of "4. Q&A on the Amended Law."
I mean, if you can't get permission, don't use it.
I've also seen talk of paying a 13,800 yen fee to the government when the ruling is made, but this isn't mentioned on the page above, so the details are unknown.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs says that as a benefit for creators, even if their work is used without their permission, they can receive compensation if they come forward.
The aim is to encourage the use of copyrighted works that copyright holders themselves were unaware of.
Honestly, this is going too far.
If creators want others to use their work, they should set up a contact point or publish guidelines, and users should also seek them out.
I hate the idea of people using their work for a fee arbitrarily decided by the government.
It seems that if the author's work is used in an undesirable way, the author can request a cancellation later, but even if it is possible to prohibit the use itself, it is nearly impossible to erase a work that has already been released to the public.
This can happen simply because someone hasn't replied to an email for 14 days.
In these days of rampant scams, it's only natural to be wary of emails from people you don't know, and it's possible that the email will end up in your spam folder and be forgotten.
The process of canceling a cancellation is sure to be a pain.
How can an unknown creator prove they are the author?
That said, this system does not apply to all creative works.
If the author simply makes the terms of use of their work clear on their website or social media profiles, it will no longer be covered by the system.
That's why I prohibit the unauthorized reproduction, use, and AI learning of all my works.
I have written this throughout this website and clearly stated it in my social media profiles.
I don't want to waste my remaining time and effort on unnecessary arguments; I would rather create if I had the time.
Please do not do so without permission, but if there is anyone who would like to use my work in something, please contact me via the contact form on this site or on social media and I will be happy to discuss it with you.
However, if I am unable to reply for some reason, please understand that this means no.
And that's it!
Mosquito feat. Miyamai Moka
Good evening. This is Enin, also known as Okonomi P.
It's been almost a week since I released a new song.
And this is my second attempt at Vocaloid Collection.
Although this is my second time, I've been posting on Nico Nico Douga for about three years, so I'm not a rookie, but a Top 100.
In the end, I didn't make it into the top 100.
The highest ranking I've ever seen was in the high 400s.
However, perhaps thanks to my efforts in promoting it on social media, this time I saw my highest number of comments, likes, and favorites ever.
Thank you to all the listeners who supported me.
During the Vocaloid Collection period, there was a heated exchange between listeners who wanted to unearth hidden gems and creators who wanted their own songs to be heard.
Anyway, a digression.
This song received a lot of positive feedback from listeners, with comments like "The sound is heavy and cool," and "The lyrics, which, contrary to the sound, are interesting and openly express hatred towards mosquitoes."
It's simple, so I took it all seriously and got carried away while writing my next song.
This time I'm using Heavier 7 Strings for the first time.
As you'd expect from heavy metal, the sound is heavy, thick, and aggressive.
It doesn't have the time-saving cheat function of Ample Guitar's strummer mode, but I think I prefer the sound.
For bass and drums, I use the same Ample Metal Ray5 and EZ Drummer's METAL MACHINE as last time.
I always put a Shadow hills Mastering Compressor Class A into my master and drum bus.
I especially love the punch it adds to the drum bus, so I've been using it for a while.
I almost always set the transformer to STEEL.
The vocalist is Miyamai Moka using Synthesizer V 2.
If you put all your points into Powerful style and shift the gender value slightly toward masculine, you'll get a cool voice that suits metal sounds well.
At Vocal Collection, someone keeps tallying up how often each character is used as a vocalist, and apparently Moka was fifth this time.
Despite only debuting around September last year, she's already second only to Kafu and others in popularity, which I think is because of her captivating singing voice.
By the way, I also uploaded it to YouTube a few days after Vocaloid Collection ended, but it didn't get much traction there (lol).
By the way, I splurged a bit this time and ran some Nico Nico ads, but since everyone wants to advertise during Vocaloid Collection, it seems like the effect is lessened even if you use the same ads.
I've heard that even if the number of views goes up, the number of likes and favorites doesn't keep up, so maybe it's better to invest in something else instead of spending money on ads.
No, I'm not buying the music anymore.
So I'm not buying it...?
That's it!
Good evening. This is Enin.
A few days ago I uploaded my new song "DEATH SUMMER" to NicoNico and YouTube.
The song itself was actually completed last year, but I wanted to upload this kind of seasonal work at the best time of year, so I rescheduled it to this year.
Ample Guitar & Bass is back again.
The familiar bx_console series is always included in the mix.
bx_console is a channel strip that combines compressors, equalizers, and other effects into one plug-in, like a multi-effect.
You can adjust a lot on one screen, so it saves time when mixing, and it reproduces the sound of the large mixing equipment you'd find in a recording studio, so it produces a more analog-flavored sound than digital compressors and equalizers.
The good thing about the Brainworx bx_console series is that you can adjust the distortion and noise that's unique to analog equipment to your liking.
I've often used the AMEK9099 for metal, but after comparing various options this time, I decided to go with the N.
The AMEK has a clear impression with few quirks overall, while the N has a rough and powerful feel.
Of course, it all changes depending on how you adjust it, but the interesting thing about analog emulation is that even if you adjust it to a similar recipe, it can produce a different sound.
I also often use Focusrite SC, but I feel like it doesn't suit metal.
The vocalist is ROSE, who just updated to SV2 recently.
I've been uploading to both NicoNico and YouTube since the previous work, and it's interesting that YouTube is growing about three times as much as Seika's Offtun Opera, which was growing on NicoNico.
The official Yume no Kesshou videos themselves aren't growing on NicoNico, but are growing about 1000 times on YouTube, so I think there's more demand for Bandori content among YouTubers than NicoNico.
Speaking of Yume no Kesshou, I'm really looking forward to the announcement that AVER, the vocal library for Ave Mujica's Hatsuhana, which burned my brain, will be released at the end of the year.
Both ROSE and AVER have strong female voices, but I feel like they have slightly different vectors.
It's hard to explain how they're different, so you'll have to listen to the songs to find the answer.
I'll probably release an AVER song around the end of the year or the beginning of the new year.
That's it!
Good evening, this is Enin, also known as Okonomi P.
I released a new song on NicoNico Douga and YouTube yesterday.
At first I was aiming for a melody that would make you sleepy, but after tinkering with it, it ended up being something like "Offtune is Great" lol
The main vocalist is Kyomachi Seika, known in some circles as the "Queen of Opera."
She can sing high notes like C6 very beautifully, so she can easily sing Mozart's Magic Flute.
As this is my first duet piece, I thought a lot about who to choose as my partner, and finally decided on Tsurumaki Maki.
Her voice is quite soft by default, and I think she is suited to gentle singing, choruses, and harmonies.
I'm looking forward to the release of Synthesizer V2 for both Seika and Maki on the 24th of this month, which will add new vocal styles.
This is actually my third orchestral arrangement, and I'm finally starting to get the flow right.
With band music, I often start with the bass, but with orchestra, I feel like it's easier to start with the strings, especially the cello and double bass.
The low-pitched rhythm section decides on the overall development (we think about the chord progression together), and then the guitar and violin are added to match that rhythm. That's how it is.
For the woodwinds and brass, I supplement or replace the strings melody, or write counterpoint melodies, and I create them by referring to the strings score.
For percussion instruments like drums, cymbals, and timpani, I often input them at the end to reinforce the sounds.
My friend who taught me DTM said to start with the drums, and I'm not saying this is the right way to do it, so just think of it as one way of doing it.
The sound source is the standard BBC Symphony Orchestra (Core), which I bought on a sale at the beginning of this year.
BBCSO has a free Discover version that is quite useful on its own, and is a recommended orchestra sound source for people who start DTM with Reaper, which has almost no sound sources, but the Core version naturally has better variety of playing techniques and sound quality.
As for orchestral sound sources, the only ones I can compare it to are UVI Orchestra Suite and Miroslav Philharmonik, but when I actually used it, I realized that even if you just type in the BBCSO and roughly adjust it with Expression to add some sharpness, it still gives off a pretty live performance feel.
As for the MV, I initially planned to draw the entire background, but I lost motivation halfway through and quickly changed my plan to using free footage.
But I learned that this is better for showing movement and change, and that even if you draw the background, it's better to separate it from the characters, so it all worked out in the end lol
And that's it!