About
Howdy!! My name's Mio, and today I'll be your local representative of KYO Hell w.
|| 21↑ || queer || non-binary || he/they/them ||
Sporadically updating VOCALOID cover artist since 2012 and general community member since 2010 with an online presence pretty heavily centered around all things VOCALO w.Beyond VOCALOID, however, my creative interests also lay in illustration, character design, animation, Twine, photography, crafting, and game development. That being said, however, I work slower than water carving a canyon, so be prepared for most everything I do to take several years to surface―VOCALOID work included!If you enjoy my work and want to see more from me, why not check out one or more of my profiles back on the main page?
VOCALOID and General FAQ
Hello! Thank you for checking out my FAQ! If you have any questions and find that they have not been answered here, or feel that you would still like to clarify something, please feel free to contact me at any of the accounts listed here.
ZOLA Project V6 Standing Artwork
In 2024, as part of a collaboration with Yamaha SoundUD and ricedeity, I received the fantastic opportunity to create official standing artwork for the ZOLA Project! You can download that artwork here, along with 30+ alternate expressions for each character w.
When using these illustrations, please be sure to abide by SoundUD's usage guidelines. You can find that document here.
In summary, you may use my standing ZOLA artwork non-commercially to create derivative works. This means you can use the artwork in original PVs, covers, talkloids, etc... As long as it is for personal use, please feel free to use them in whatever you like! (This includes things like using them as icons on social media!)
In addition, regarding the additional expressions, please feel free to edit together multiple expressions in order to create new ones! They were created to allow users to make basic lip-syncing animations or video dramas, so by all means edit them to your heart's content!
As a note, please do not create sexual / R18 edits of these illustrations. In addition, please do not use this artwork in a way that would damage the ZOLA Project name, Yamaha's reputation, or my own image. This includes (but is not limited to) using this artwork in conjunction with hate speech, political statements, slander, excessive violence, or sexual content.
AI and NFT Policy
DO NOT USE MY WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY WORK PRODUCED BY AN AI IMAGE GENERATOR (I.E. "AI ART" OR "AI ARTWORK").
I DO NOT CONSENT TO HAVE MY WORK USED TO TRAIN AN AI, CREATE AN AI MODEL, OR BE USED IN AN AI DATABASE.
I DO NOT CONSENT TO HAVE ANY OF MY WORK USED IN ANY PROJECTS INVOLVING BLOCKCHAIN, CRYPTOCURRENCY, OR NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (NFTs).
VIDEO and ART USAGE
Main points have been bolded for clarity.
"VIDEO" (in reference to my own) refers exclusively to the visual or video component of my uploads (i.e. the MV/PV)
"COVER" (in reference to my own) refers exclusively to the audio or musical component of my uploads (i.e. the cover audio itself)
Q. CAN I USE YOUR COVERS IN MY OWN PROJECTS? (MMD PVs, animations, choruses, remixes, cosplay performances, animatics, etc...)
A. Of course! As long as the project is a non-commercial work and you properly credit back, go right ahead! If you're not sure whether or not a project is allowed, feel free to message me and ask! I'll be happy to work something out—and by all means, please link me to it when you're done! I'd love to see your work!!
That being said, however, please be sure to properly credit all the creators of all the assets used in your project. If you're making an MMD video, for example, please be sure you credit models, stages, effects, and so on. And by extension (this is mainly for choruses), please make sure everyone involved is okay with having their work used! While I allow my covers to be used for a lot of things, not everyone feels the same—!
That being said, please do not use my work in conjunction with sexual / NSWF / R18 content, excessive violence, hate speech, or slander/libel. This is non-negotiable.
Q. CAN I DRAW FANART OF YOUR CONTENT?
A. Yes absolutely! And I'd love to see it when you're done! All I ask is please no NSFW content. Other than that, have fun!!
Q. CAN I USE YOUR ART AS ICONS or PROFILE PICTURES ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
A. Sure thing! As long as you are a SFW account and you provide credit somewhere on your profile, you're more than free to use any of my drawings as a profile image. Though maybe refrain from using whatever is my current icon w.
Q. CAN I USE YOUR ARTWORK OR OTHER DRAWINGS IN MY OWN VIDEOS / COVERS / PERSONAL PROJECTS / ETC...?
A. With the exception of the standing ZOLA artwork and the icon policy mentioned above, that's a hard no, sorry! Please do not use my art without explicit permission. I do not allow my art to be used unless I've specifically created it for someone else or they've received my permission. Please do not edit, reuse, or repost my art. This includes using my art for covers, talkloids, in / as headers, backgrounds, RP images, mood boards, or blog decorations on social media.
Q. CAN I MAKE MERCH (such as shirts, mugs, stickers, prints, pins, charms, lanyards, etc...) USING YOUR ART?
A. Do not!! Absolutely not!! Especially if you're planning on selling it!! You may not make or sell merchandise featuring my art. This is a non-negotiable matter.
If you have a piece of mine that you'd really like to buy as merch, just drop me a line and I'll be more than happy to see if I can add it to my Redbubble.
Q. CAN I DOWNLOAD and SUBTITLE YOUR VIDEOS / USE YOUR VIDEOS FOR MY OWN COVERS?
A. That's going to be another no, sorry! Please do not repost / reuse / reupload / re-subtitle my videos. I put a lot of effort and personalization into my videos, so I'd rather they not be reused elsewhere. If you're making a cover and you need a PV, please use either the original PV or one of your own making.
As for subtitles, if you would like to provide a translation for one of my videos, please contact me and we can work together on implementing something new!
Q. CAN I REUPLOAD YOUR VIDEOS / DRAWINGS / COVERS TO MY OWN ACCOUNT OR TO OTHER WEBSITES?
A. Hard no! Please do not reupload my work. This includes videos, drawings, covers, snippets, or anything else I've posted online. Credit or no credit―I do not want my work posted outside of my own portfolios.
If you would like to show someone or your followers something I've made, please link them to my work on the original page or embed a link on your own account!
Q. CAN I MAKE MY OWN PVs INSPIRED BY YOURS?
A. Go right ahead! All I ask is that you please do not trace either my PVs or the art featured in my PVs. In short, if you'd like to create a PV inspired by mine, go right ahead! But if you're recreating my PV shot by shot (or even using parts of the original video) and just substituting the character art, I feel a little....
Q. I FOUND YOUR SOUNDCLOUD. CAN I USE YOUR ACAPELLAS TO MAKE MY OWN COVERS?
A. Please no! I upload acapellas / acapella snippets for listening and reference uses only. Please do not make full covers from the acapellas or acapella snippets posted to either of my Soundcloud accounts.
Q. CAN I MAKE DAYCORE/NIGHTCORE VERSIONS of ANY OF YOUR COVERS?
A. Only for private listening! While you're more than free to make private, offline versions of my covers for your own listening purposes, please do not upload any speed or pitch edited versions of my covers. If you do end up making a version for yourself, you may not upload it to Youtube, Soundcloud, or any other website.
Q. WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ごめんね ごめんね / I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY COVER?
A. Explaining more from the edit at the top, I've privated all official uploads of my cover and would like to ask that you please refrain from reuploading or otherwise recirculating my I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry / ごめんねごめんね cover online. This includes formats such as speed paints or animation memes.
At the time that I made the cover, I had been desensitized to the contents and consequently failed to step back and examine the song critically, figuring that it was fine because other people had covered it before and "because it was VOCALOID."
That line of thinking was wrong. As long as the video remained on my channel, I was effectively contributing to the same culture of lauding certain songs for their "dark" content.
I don't want to contribute to others becoming desensitized in the way I was or see my name as a stamp of approval on using literal CSA for squick and shock value. The fact that the original comment section of my upload was almost entirely teens trying to squick each other out by explaining the narrative of the song in explicit detail illustrates the problem.
To everyone who enjoyed the cover and wishes they could listen to it again, I apologize. I understand that there are plenty of people who are more than capable of being critical of the content while enjoying the technical execution, but I refuse to have that work accessible and endorsed with my name. I hope you will understand.
MODULES and COSTUME DESIGNS
Q. CAN I DRAW FANART of your MODULE DESIGNS?
A. Absolutely! And I'd love to see it when you're done! All I ask is please do not create any sexual / NSFW content featuring any of the modules / designs featured in my PVs. Outside of that, you're good to go! Have fun with it!
Q. CAN I COSPLAY YOUR MODULE DESIGNS?
A. Absolutely! I might not always have full body references on hand, but if you ever need a general description of anything not directly featured in either the art or in the original PV, feel free to message me for details! And I'd absolutely love to see it when you're done! Good luck!
Q. CAN I DRAW OTHER CHARACTERS WEARING OUTFITS YOU'VE DESIGNED?
A. Yes! As long as you keep everything SFW and don't draw anything that would damage the image or reputation of the original outfits (i.e. spread hate, draw kink, depict criminal acts, etc...), you're good to go! Just please be sure to include credit for the original design or link back to the original upload you were inspired by. Other than that, go wild and have fun!
Q. CAN I MAKE AN ASK BLOG or CHARACTER TWITTER FEATURING YOUR MODULE DESIGNS?
A. Please do not! My designs are very personal to me and I don't like the thought of them or their interpretation being out of my control. While there's nothing I can do to stop you from making designs inspired by my own, please do not create ask blogs using my personal designs.
You're free, however, to include references, cameos, and mentions of my designs! For example, if someone wanted to use a magic anon to change your muse's costume to one from one of my PVs, you're free to do so!
Q. CAN I MAKE MERCH (such as shirts, mugs, stickers, prints, pins, charms, lanyards, plushies, etc...) FEATURING YOUR MODULE DESIGNS?
A. If you would like to make a personal, one-of-a-kind item featuring one of my modules or other character designs, you may do so! Just be sure to use art either drawn by you or another artist who has given you their permission to use their art in merch. If you're unsure whether what you have planned falls under this category, please feel free to contact me and we can talk more at length.
If your planned item has a minimum order quantity and you don't plan on selling your item, that's fine, too.
In general, as long as you aren't selling it and you have the permission or rights to the artwork, you're good to go.
Q. CAN I COMMISSION SOMEONE TO MAKE ART or MERCH FEATURING YOUR MODULE DESIGNS?
A. For artwork, absolutely! Feel free to commission any artwork you like—I have no say in the matter w.
For merch, such as plushies or keychains, you may so long as the item being made is one-of-a-kind and will not be bulk-made or sold to other people. Essentially, if you want to commission a plushie of one of my modules, feel free to, but only so long as you will be the only person receiving that plush (i.e. do not use a program like Makeship or a manufacturer who offers previously commissioned designs publicly).
Q. FOR MODULE DESIGNS ORIGINALLY FEATURING ONLY ONE OF THE ZOLA PROJECT CHARACTERS, CAN I MAKE EDITED / MATCHING DESIGNS FOR THE OTHER CHARACTERS? (i.e. making an Ai Kotoba II design for WIL and YUU, making a Candy Addicts design for KYO and YUU, etc...)
A. Yes, you may! As long as you either credit or link back to the video featuring the original module design, you may create matching costumes for the other two ZOLA members.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q. WHAT SOFTWARE DO YOU USE?
A. In terms of audio, I start most of my mixes in Garageband '11 before moving over to Logic Pro X for the in-depth mixing work and then do some fine tuning / post work in Audacity.
As for my visuals, all my artwork is done in Krita, and my videos are composed primarily in AviUtl (with some outside work done beforehand in various other programs). Sometimes I get a little fancy and use LipSync for facial animation, MMD for 3D elements, and AnimeEffects for puppet animation, but other than that, that's about it w.
Q. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING COVERS FOR?
A. I started my cover journey using UTAU in 2011, though a lot of my early stuff could hardly be counted as real tuning/mixing w. I got my first VOCALOID in 2012 (VY2v3!!), but didn't get around to posting my first cover until 2014. Right around then was when I first stared working on covers in earnest!
Q. WHERE DO YOU GO FOR MOST OF THE YEAR?
A. Like I said, I work slower than water carving a canyon, and that means only a few uploads per year. Honestly, at any given time, if you aren't hearing from me, chances are I'm either preoccupied with uni, working on a minimum of 10 tuning WIPs, powering through non-VOCALOID projects, or just plain burnt out w. That's just how it is with a job and ADHD!
Don't worry if you don't hear from me in a while! I'll always be back sooner or later! And I'll do my best to bring back something good with me next time I come home!! w
Q. DID YOU MAKE KYO? IS KYO A REAL VOCALOID? IS KYO YOUR VOICE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S?
KYO is in fact a real VOCALOID, yes! I did not make him, nor did I voice him w. He's a part of the ZOLA Project, a commemorative packaged released by Yamaha to celebrate VOCALOID's 10 year anniversary. He comes with two other libraries, WIL and YUU, and together they make quite the vocal set!
Q. WHAT EXACTLY IS "KYO HELL?"
A. Long story short, back in 2015 I decided to turn my blog into a completely unapologetic display of my love for KYO, complete with a massive page doll sidebar, a huge blog icon, a matching profile pic, and even themed buttons on the actual blog w. It was basically the height of my ZOLA Project indulgence and I aspire to become that unhinged again someday w.
Since then, though, KYO Hell has basically just become synonymous with the state of loving KYO. A lot of people who have gotten into KYO through my covers have joked that I've made them a resident of KYO Hell, or that they're moving in because at least the food is good.
I may not be as active of a KYO Hell representative as I used to be, but you bet I still love my boy ! ! !
Q. WHO IS THE CHARACTER IN YOUR ICON? ARE THEY RELATED TO KYO IN ANY WAY?
A. That would be Hachi! They're a former KYO AU turned original character and now something of a mascot for my account. Though their appearances may be similar, Hachi is not a KYO nor a KYO module, and at this point is their own character.
If you'd like to learn more about them and their lore, feel free to drop me a line or search through any of the above social media accounts! Be warned that it's something of a mess w.
Q. WHAT SONG ARE YOU GOING TO COVER NEXT?
A. That's a secret until it goes up~ (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
Q. 日本人ですか？/ 日本語を話しますか？
A. いいえ、アメリカ人です。日本語は話せませんが、少しは分かります。間違いがあれば、すみません！私の日本語は上手じゃないです。まだ勉強しています！
Download Links
LipSync is the freeware animation program I use to make the facial animation you see in my PVs like Donut Hole, Ai Kotoba ii, and Wavefile. You can download LipSync for free here!If you're unsure on how to use it, be sure to check out Aerendyll's basics tutorials on Youtube!In addition, if you're interested, I made a demo file a while back demonstrating how I use LipSync specifically! You can download it here....AviUtl is the freeware video editing program developed by KEN that I've been using to make my videos since 2017. You can download AviUtl along with the English patch and a bonus pack of helpful plugins here for free.That being said, there aren't many English tutorials available for learning how to use the program at the moment. If you're determined, I can recommend HTAsoft's website for the basics.For more information on the program, you can also check out aviutl.info for more, though be aware that the site is in Japanese....Anime Effects (AniE) is a free puppetry animation tool developed by hidefuku. You can use it to make animations similar to the one I used in my Confusion PV! You can download it at the link above, and there are plenty of tutorials available on Youtube w.