Song entry editing

Song entry-specific name instructions

If the song has no name, use the untitled tag with an empty placeholder name.

For covers and other derived works, copying the aliases from the original entry is not necessary.

Remixer names should remain in the song title. For video title trimming:

• Remove clear non-title parts (e.g., original artist credit).
• Remove the vocalist’s name if it is separate from the rest of the title.
• Remove the song type if it is separate from the rest of the title.

Original song

https://vocadb.net/T/6479/original-song

Original songs (“オリジナル曲” in Japanese) are songs that have completely original content and aren’t based on other songs. The original song is the version of the song that was published first. Later versions are considered derivatives regardless of who made them.

Sometimes the producer might publish multiple different versions of a song, usually with different vocals or different lengths, calling all of them originals. On VocaDB these self-covers and self-remixes are classified as covers and remixes, not “original songs”.

Sometimes the artist might release multiple versions of the song simultaneously. If both are in-scope, it doesn’t generally matter which is picked for the “original version”.

For (original) instrumental album songs, use the original song type with the instrumental-tag. The instrumental song type is for instrumental versions of original songs.

Remaster

https://vocadb.net/T/1519/remaster

A remaster or remake (“修正版” or “リマスター版” in Japanese) is an improved version of a song. If the original is replaced by the remaster, it’s unnecessary to create a separate entry for the original. The remaster can use the “original song” type.

If a remastered version is made for an album and is not playable online, using the original song entry is acceptable.

A remaster should differ from the original only in terms of mastering, though this term is interpreted loosely in the Vocaloid world. If the new version is significantly different, the remaster song type should not be used.

Remix

https://vocadb.net/T/371/remix

A remix is a variant of an original recording, often in a different genre. This type is used even for self-remixes, adding the self-remix tag.

• Remixes may or may not involve recording new music, often using samples from the original.
• Extended or shortened versions should be classified as remixes.
• Live versions should be classified as remixes with the live recording tag. Use the original song entry for setlists.

Cover

A Cover (カバー曲) is a re-recorded version of a song, usually by a different artist. In the Vocaloid/UTAU world, covers often use a different voicebank while keeping the instrumentals intact.

Outside of the Vocaloid world, a cover implies re-recording of the song, but in the context of Vocaloid, the “cover” term is used when adding Vocaloid vocals to an existing instrumental recording.

• Use the cover type if the song is re-released with new lyrics, adding the changed lyrics tag.

• If the original artist re-releases the song with new vocals, use the cover type with the self-cover tag.

• Voice synth songs that include both a voice synth version and a human-sung version (both official) should be tagged with simultaneous upload if the publish dates are less than a week apart.

  • Mark entries with simultaneous upload as “original songs” unless specified otherwise by the artist.

  • Specify the human-sung version in the song description or external links with its publish date.

  • If the human-sung version is published more than a week before the voice synth version, mark the song as “cover” with the self-cover tag.

  • If the human-sung version is published more than a week after the voice synth version, mention it as usual, but do not add tags.

  • These rules do not apply if both songs have entries on VocaDB.

Instrumental

https://vocadb.net/T/208/instrumental

AKA off-vocal or karaoke.

The “Instrumental” song type is used for instrumental versions of songs, where a non-instrumental version with vocals is the original.

Instrumental versions of songs are accepted only as part of album entries. They should be the same as the original version, excluding vocals. If otherwise different, use the remix or cover types with the instrumental tag.

Exclude vocalist credits for off-vocal/karaoke songs that have background/harmony vocals, as these are already credited in the original entry.

Mashup

https://vocadb.net/T/3392/mashup

Mashups are songs made by blending two or more songs together.

Simple mashups where two songs are simply mixed together are discouraged on VocaDB, unless they’re well-known or present on an album.

Songs that mix multiple covers of the same song together (joining multiple vocal tracks) should be labeled as covers.

Currently, it’s not possible to specify multiple songs as originals in the “original song” field. They should be mentioned in the song description instead.

Music PV

https://vocadb.net/T/7378/music-pv

The music PV type is used for PVs of original songs or remixes. Create a separate entry for the PV to credit the animator and others involved. MMD models can be tagged. The PV might be more well-known than the original song, e.g., Sweet Devil PV by wakamura and Love is War by kkkk.

Remember to also credit the vocalists for Music PVs. Silent characters (that have no vocals in the PV) do not need to be mentioned. Model tags (such as CHAN x CO Miku) can be used if applicable regardless whether the character has vocals or not.

Music PVs should always be derived versions. If the song was originally published with the PV, then include the PV in the original song entry rather than making a separate page.

Only the official PV should be added to the original song entry. Major derivative PVs by unrelated artists should have their own entries. Additional official PVs with major differences should also have separate entries.

If the song was published without a PV and an official PV is released later, add the PV to the original song entry. Minor differences like model changes can be included in the original entry with the “other” type.

Rules for Music PVs:

• PVs with voice synth characters are generally allowed.
• PVs with out-of-scope characters/fandoms are only allowed if they hit at least 100k views on a platform.

Drama PV

https://vocadb.net/T/104/drama-pv

Drama PVs focus on story instead of music, often made with MMD software. They should feature a Vocaloid character or be strongly related to Vocaloid/UTAU to be accepted on VocaDB.

• Drama PVs should be self-made/self-directed stories.
• Copying memes, TV shows or movie scenes are usually not considered drama PVs.

Other

https://vocadb.net/T/10159/other-song-type

For entries that do not belong to any categories above. For example, Commentary.

Finished Song Entry Requirements

Finished song entries should meet the following criteria:

• The song has at least one name, and the original language can’t be unspecified. (SV2)
• The song has at least one artist in the “producer” role category. (SV3 & SV6)
• Derived song types need the original version specified in the original version field or the song description. (SV4)
• Songs with no vocalists need the “instrumental” tag, unless the song type is “Instrumental” or “Drama PV”. (SV5)
• Song type isn’t “Unspecified”. (SV7)

Criteria for Approving Songs

Animator

Japanese: 動画

• Responsible for creating or animating the PV (Promotional Video).
• Required for Music PV and Drama PV song types.
• Corresponding artist type: Animation producer.

Arranger

Japanese: 編曲

• Handles instrumentation and music production.
• Often credited for remixes, but can also be involved in original songs.
• Corresponding artist type: Music Producer.

Composer

Japanese: 作曲

• Creates the song.
• Typically, the composer and arranger are the same person for original songs, but not always.
• Corresponding artist type: Music Producer.

Distributor

• Typically used for albums. Distributes the album or song, either physically or digitally.
• Corresponding artist types: Circle or label.

Illustrator

Japanese: イラスト or 絵

• Responsible for the image for PVs or album covers, including booklet illustrations and photography.
• Corresponding artist type: Illustrator.

Instrumentalist

• Plays an instrument in the song/album, usually physical instruments like pianos or guitars.
• Corresponding artist type: Instrumentalist.

Lyricist

Japanese: 作詞

• Writes the lyrics.
• Corresponding artist type: Lyricist.

Mastering

• Responsible for mastering.
• Corresponding artist type: Other individual.

Mixer

• Responsible for mixing.
• Corresponding artist type: Other individual.

Other

• For roles that don’t fit with any other options.
• Corresponding artist type: Other individual.

Publisher

• Publishes the album, usually a label or a circle.
• Corresponding artist types: Circle or Label.

Vocal data provider

• Created the original vocal data (VSQ/VSQX/UST/CSV) but didn’t directly participate in the song creation.
• Voice manipulator role also covers vocal data creation, so specifying both roles for the same person is generally redundant.
• Corresponding artist types: Cover artist & Music producer.

Vocalist

• Produces vocals, either a person or a synthesizer.
• Corresponding artist types: Any vocal synthesizer or Other vocalist.

Voice manipulator

Japanese: 調声

• Operates the voice synthesizer.
• If person A operated the synthesizer and person B did most of the vocal tuning, A should be marked as support and B as the main voice manipulator.
• Use the vocal data provider role if existing vocal data from another song was used.
• Corresponding artist types: Cover artist & Music producer.

Original

• Authorized content uploaded by a party with rights to both audio and video.

Authorized content means it is uploaded by a party with rights to both the audio and video (if any). Usually this is the artist themselves uploading, or someone uploading on their behalf (if this is the case, and it’s not obvious how the upload was authorized, please clarify this in the notes).

• Usually, one original PV per service.
• Mark as “Unavailable” if deleted or hidden by the author, but not for region-blocked content. Original PV links can be marked as “Unavailable” if the PV is deleted or hidden by the author and thus unplayable. Watch out for region-blocked content, which should not be marked as “Unavailable”.

Reprint

• A PV copied from another service and uploaded by a party unrelated to the original artist.

• Should be identical to the original (music, vocals, length, and video). If any of these are changed, use the “Other” type, or create another (music PV) entry if appropriate.

• If the main artist or song is tagged with do not reupload, do not add reprints.

Other

• Subtitled PVs or PVs modified from the original but don’t justify a new entry.
• Audio should still be the same as the original. For some songs, only “Other”-type PVs may exist, without an original, if there is no authorized PV available. This is common for album-only songs.