Want to Use Dreamtonics's Vocoflex? Cough Up Your ID and Prepare to be Tracked.

 

Hello again! 👋️ 

 

Today I'm going to talk just a teensy bit about Dreamtonics's recently released software Vocoflex.

 

I'd like to start by saying that I'm all for using AI ethically and responsibly. And I definitely agree that some uses of AI can be extremely harmful. But I think Dreamtonics might be going a little overboard with how they're tracking their users for the sake of safeguarding.

For those of you who don't know, Dreamtonics developed Synthesizer V, arguably the most cutting-edge vocal synthesizer on the market today. On 07/30/2024, Dreamtonics released their "real-time voice creation and transformation plugin", Vocoflex.

 

It seems to be their answer to VOCALOID's Vocalo Changer plugin. But Dreamtonic's plugin is packed with tons of advanced features and lots of available means to clone and create voices to sing how you want. I could tell you all about them myself, but Dreamtonics already has a good video showcasing the software's capabilities. In case you want to see, I've embedded it below.

 

Neat, right? But I don't really want to use it. 😬️

For one thing, Vocoflex incorperates advanced digital watermarking into the altered voices you create that can be used to identify you. I think this makes sense to do as a protective measure, and I don't fault Dreamtonics for doing it. But I think it sends a pretty clear message: if I want to make a shitpost of Squidward Tentacles singing "Gangnam Style" by PSY using the vocals from the original track, I don't want to do it with Vocoflex! 😳️

But okay, maybe you wouldn't want to do that anyway. 🤣️

But here's where I really have a problem. The Vocoflex product page states that "the initial offering of Vocoflex requires ID verification through [Dreamtonics's] KYC-service partner."

Yup. At least for now, you'll have to give Dreamtonics your government-issued ID to use their music plugin.

Is that really necessary? Is it worth it to give them your ID just so you can use a voice changing plugin? 🤨️

Well, I guess it's up to you. Different places have different cultures, and different people have different comfort levels. Me personally? I would be uncomfortable giving out all that information just to use a music plugin. I just don't feel comfortable giving out certain information unless it feels tangibly necessary.

And I honestly think that Dreamtonics's employment of digital watermarking is enough to discourage unauthorized usage of their plugin. I don't personally believe that keeping records of users's IDs is worth the trade-off of alienating those who are a bit more privacy-consious.

Based on the wording on the aforementioned product page, however, it seems like collecting ID records may just be a temporary measure, only for "the initial offering". But what does that mean exactly? Is it actually temporary or is it just indefinite? I'm curious to find out. 🤔️

In the meantime though, I'm perfectly content to just skip out on Vocoflex.


And that wraps up my thoughts! I know this post was pretty short. 😅️

But what do you think about all this? Do you think Dreamtonics is going a little too far? Do you think the measures they're taking are necessary? Would you be deterred from using Vocoflex right now? Let me know in the comments!! ✨️

Until next time. 👋️