{{Short description|Audio production company in Stockholm, Sweden}} {{distinguish|Microsoft Power Fx}} {{Infobox company | name = PowerFX Systems AB. | logo = File:PowerFX Logo.png | logo_size = 70px | caption = | image_size = | type = [[Private company|Private]] | genre = Music and video | fate = Renamed to Soundation AB. However, the PowerFX [[VOCALOID]] product lineup has been retired;<ref>{{Cite web |title=PowerFX {{!}} What happened? |url=https://soundation.com/support/powerfx |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=soundation.com |language=en}}</ref> only Soundation Studio remained. | successor = Soundation AB (Soundation Studio) | foundation = {{start date and age|1998|12|02}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Company – Find company information |url=https://foretagsinfo.bolagsverket.se/sok-foretagsinformation-web/foretag/5565616629 |website=Bolagsverket |access-date=15 March 2026}}</ref> | founder = | defunct = February 2025 | location = [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]] | area_served = Europe | key_people = Bil Bryant (Production and CEO, until 2017) | industry = [[Software]], [[Internet]] | products = [[#Products_and_services|List]] | services = <div> * [[Online shopping]] * [[Music education]] * [[Consumer generated media]] </div> | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = https://powerfx.com (now redirects to soundation.com) | footnotes = }}
'''PowerFX Systems AB''', commonly referred to simply as '''PowerFX''', was a small recording company, based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company has been producing music samples, loops and sound effects since 1995. They also developed singing synthesizers using the [[Vocaloid|VOCALOID]] engine developed by [[Yamaha Corporation]].
== Products and services ==
=== VOCALOID === PowerFX was first introduced to the [[Vocaloid|VOCALOID]] software after the introduction of the first VOCALOIDs (LEON and LOLA) from the British studio [[Zero-G Ltd|Zero-G]] at the [[NAMM Show]] on January 15, 2004, and were later recommended to Yamaha Corporation by [[Crypton Future Media]].<ref name="Bryant">{{cite web|url=https://engloids.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/interview-bil-bryant-production-and-ceo-of-powerfx/|title=Interview: Bil Bryant (Production and CEO of PowerFX)|work=Engloids|publisher=[[WordPress]]|date=January 4, 2010|access-date=July 4, 2010}}</ref> Their first product for the software was "[[Sweet ANN]]" a [[Vocaloid 2|VOCALOID2]] voicebank and was first introduced at the [[Musikmesse]] fair and later released on June 29, 2007. The boxart of Sweet ANN is based on an edited picture of actress [[Lena Horne]] from the theatrical poster of the 1943 film [[Stormy Weather (1943 film)|Stormy Weather]].<ref name="Bryant" /> Their second VOCALOID2 "[[Big Al (software)|Big Al]]" was released with the voice provided by former employee Frank S. after the intended provider, [[Elvis Presley]] [[Elvis impersonator|impersonator]] Michael King, was unable to return for further recordings after their initial samples were considered not at a high enough quality to be released. PowerFX began their distribution of voicebanks for the [[Vocaloid 3|VOCALOID3]] engine, with "[[Oliver (software)|OLIVER]]" as their first VOCALOID3, and the first male VOCALOID3. OLIVER was developed under Anders Sodergren, the leader of VocaTone, a team of fan-based VOCALOID producers. VocaTone then had PowerFX release their second VOCALOID3, "[[Yohioloid|YOHIOloid]]", a bilingual male vocal that is capable of singing in English and Japanese, sampled from Swedish singer [[Yohio]].<ref name="Bryant" /> PowerFX released their own VOCALOIDs into Taiwan boasting new box art for the releases.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/04/11/new-anime-illustrations-for-sweet-ann-and-big-al/|title=New Anime Redesigns For Sweet Ann and Big Al!|publisher=Vocaloidism|date=April 11, 2011|access-date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> PowerFX released an American-accented [[Vocaloid 4|VOCALOID4]] voicebank "RUBY" in 2015. RUBY was developed as a collaboration between PrinceSyo and Mishakeet, her voice actress, with a strong and bright voice in mind. After Bil Bryant left in 2017, PowerFX announced that they would no longer make VOCALOID products, despite Bil having said more were planned after RUBY. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; width:100%" ! width="5%" |Product ! width="5%" |Language ! width="5%" |Sex ! width="5%" |Voice Provider ! width="5%" |Release date |- | Sweet ANN<ref>{{cite web|url=http://powerfx.com/products/sweet-ann|title=PowerFX - Sweet Ann|publisher=PowerFX|access-date=July 8, 2010}}</ref> | English | Female | '''Jody''' (unrevealed) | June 29, 2007 |- | BIG AL<ref>{{cite web|url=https://powerfx.com/products/big-al|title=PowerFX - Big Al|publisher=Jasmine Music Technology|date=May 28, 2007|access-date=June 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://powerfx.com/ProductInfo.aspx?prod_id=1695|title=Vocaloid - Big Al|publisher=PowerFX|access-date=July 8, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717115833/http://www.powerfx.com/ProductInfo.aspx?prod_id=1695|archive-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref> | English | Male | Frank S. | December 22, 2009 |- | OLIVER<ref>{{cite web|url=https://powerfx.com/products/oliver|title=PowerFX - Oliver (Download)|publisher=PowerFX|access-date=March 11, 2012}}</ref> | English | Male | Unrevealed | December 21, 2011 |- | YOHIOloid<ref>{{cite web|url=http://powerfx.com/products/yohioloid|title=PowerFX - YOHIOloid (Download)|publisher=PowerFX|access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref> | English and Japanese | Male | [[Yohio]] | September 10, 2013 |- |RUBY<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://powerfx.com/products/989261422|title=PowerFX — Ruby (Download)|publisher=PowerFX|access-date=March 29, 2019}}</ref> | English | Female | Mishakeet | October 7, 2015 |} PowerFX's other music composers include:
*''SoundShuttle'' *''Swiss Army Synth'' *''Miracle Drumlooper'' *''Dyad'' *''Humbox VM1''
===Soundation Studio=== PowerFX also offers Soundation Studio, an on-line free music making station complete with a number of samples and loops. Users can open their own account and buy additional samples for their account or upload their own samples into the software to work with. Those who sign up can have their own profile and save their work using ''AudioLocker''.<ref>[https://www.soundation.com/ link]</ref>
Extracts of PowerFX's Sweet ANN and BIG AL were included in Soundation Studio in their Christmas loops and sound release with a competition included.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vocaloidism.com/2010/12/15/soundation-studio-includes-vocaloid-christmas-song-excepts/|title=Soundation Studio Includes Vocaloid Christmas Song Excerpts|publisher=Vocaloidism|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official|https://powerfx.com}} {{Vocaloid}}
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[[Category:Vocaloid production companies]] [[Category:Privately held companies of Sweden]]
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