VOICEVOX ENGINE (VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine): HTTP text-to-speech server for Japanese voices
Source: https://github.com/voicevox/voicevox_engine
Sibling repositories: voicevox--voicevox-core (MIT core library) and voicevox--voicevox (editor). The engine README links an API document at https://voicevox.github.io/voicevox_engine/api/ (not read).
Structured fields
{
"archived": false,
"revision": {
"ref": "0.25.2 (latest release, published 2026-04-30)",
"pinned": true,
"source_url": "https://github.com/VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine/releases"
},
"checked_at": "2026-10-17T00:00:00.000Z",
"usefulness": "Local HTTP server (default port 50021) that turns text into speech with the VOICEVOX voices, with API documentation, Docker images (CPU and NVIDIA) and a --use_gpu switch. A way for an agent pipeline to call VOICEVOX over HTTP; code is dual-licensed LGPL v3 or a separate no-source-disclosure license, while generated audio and each voice library carry their own terms.",
"source_type": "repository",
"availability": "available",
"dependencies": [
"Docker images voicevox/voicevox_engine:cpu-latest and nvidia-latest",
"uv-managed Python dependencies (development)"
],
"source_owner": "VOICEVOX project (Hiroshiba Kazuyuki / ヒホ)",
"next_check_at": "2026-10-20T00:00:00.000Z",
"hardware_notes": "README: GPU use is optional (--use_gpu or VV_USE_GPU=1); an NVIDIA Docker image is provided; the GPU image may need --runtime=nvidia in some environments. VRAM figures are not given.",
"known_limitations": [
"Code license is LGPL v3 or a separate paid/negotiated license; GitHub reports NOASSERTION because of the dual-license text.",
"The README says installable dependency libraries have license restrictions; voice libraries (VVM files) and characters have their own terms, see docs--voicevox-hiroshiba-jp--software-terms and docs--zunko-jp--voice-source-guidelines.",
"The README does not describe voice quality or latency numbers."
],
"upstream_updated_at": "2026-10-02T10:59:59.000Z"
}Evidence claims
- [sourced_fact] The README says the engine is in practice an HTTP server, so sending a request yields text-to-speech. · locator: README intro source
- [sourced_fact] Docker images exist for CPU and NVIDIA GPU, and the engine listens on 127.0.0.1:50021 where an API doc is served at /docs while the engine or editor runs. · locator: README, ユーザーガイド source
- [sourced_fact] The run.py option --use_gpu switches speech synthesis to the GPU; without it the VV_USE_GPU environment variable decides. · locator: README, run.py usage source
- [sourced_fact] The code is dual-licensed: LGPL v3, or a separate license without source disclosure obtainable from the maintainer. · locator: README, ライセンス source
- [sourced_fact] GitHub API returns the repository record for VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine: default branch master; pushed_at at check time 2026-10-02T10:59:59Z (raw response saved under evidence/github/voicevox--voicevox-engine.json). · locator: GitHub API repos/VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine, default_branch (pushed_at is volatile) source
- [sourced_fact] GitHub API reports archived = false for VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine. · locator: GitHub API repos/VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine, archived source
- [sourced_fact] GitHub license detection for VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine returns spdx_id NOASSERTION. · locator: GitHub API repos/VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine, license source
- [sourced_fact] GitHub API latest release for VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine: tag 0.25.2 published 2026-04-30T07:27:00Z (selected fields of the response saved under evidence/github/voicevox--voicevox-engine.release.json). · locator: GitHub API repos/VOICEVOX/voicevox_engine/releases/latest, tag_name source
- [upstream_claim] Research review verdict at export: reviewed (as of 2026-10-17). Recorded by the research pipeline, not a hub review outcome; evidence.review stays unreviewed until an independent reviewer records one.
Rights
| component | license | hosting | redistribution | modification | training | Evidence and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| code | LGPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-VOICEVOX-no-source-disclosure | permitted | restricted | restricted | unknown | Dual license: LGPL v3 (copyleft for the library; conditions on redistribution and modification) or a separate license, available on request, that does not require source disclosure. Does not address training. |
| other | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | outputs: generated speech is not licensed by the engine code license; the VOICEVOX software terms require a VOICEVOX credit and each voice library has its own terms (see the terms records). Not stated in the engine README. |
Linked records
- Method (not legal advice). 1. Separate the components: VOICEVOX engine and editor code are dual-licensed LGPL v3 or a separate license, the core library is MIT for 0.16 and later (earlier prebuilt cores are under a different license), and the voice models (VVM) have their own terms in a README insi… cites → this
- No. GitHub reports NOASSERTION for the engine and editor (README: dual license, LGPL v3 or a separate license that does not require source disclosure) and MIT for the core library. The core README adds that prebuilt core libraries in releases below version 0.16 are under another license. The voice … cites → this