Unlike the first engine, Vocaloid 2 based its synthesis on vocal samples, rather than analysis of the human voice.

[1] Due to time constraints, unlike the previous engine, it did not have a public beta test and instead bugs were patched as users reported them.

Yamaha also released a version of the Vocaloid 2 software for the iPhone and iPad, which was first exhibited at the Y2 Autumn 2010 Digital Content Expo in Japan.

[10] Furthermore, while VSTi plug-in support for the software was provided, Vocaloid 2 would not work with some digital audio workstations such as Sonar, and had compatibility issues with others such as Fl Studio.

[17] On July 18, 2008, Due to numerous complaints about the quality of their vocals in comparison to Hatsune Miku, a second version of the package called "Act2" was released to replace the original Kagamine Rin/Len voice.

[21][22] The Crypton Future Media end-user agreement was also updated with the Act2 release to make it more easier to understand.

[24][25] Prima was first demonstrated along with Sweet Ann and Big Al at the NAMM show in 2007, and was released on January 14, 2008.

[26][failed verification] Gackpoid is a male vocal developed by Internet Co., Ltd. His voice was sampled from the Japanese singer and actor Gackt.

Her English vocal initially did not have a full library and was capable of only 2,200 words, though she was later updated to fix the problem.

[27] It is notable that her package was originally going to be called "Hatsune Miku", designed when Vocaloid 2 was first announced to be a bilingual English and Japanese vocal, being the first planned member of the Character Voice series.

[32] Big Al was an English vocal developed and distributed by Crypton PowerFX Systems AB.

Al had a deep toned, masculine sounding voice, and was the complementary vocal to Sweet Ann.

Tonio was advertised as a "virtual vocalist modelled on the voice of professional male classical singer".

[34][35] VY1 was developed under the codename of "Mizki" as a professional Japanese female vocal with no mascot, designed to fulfill any role and head any Yamaha Vocaloid product.

It was released on September 1, 2010 by Bplats and designed to act as a "Standard" vocal of noted quality for the Vocaloid software.

The CD featured various songs and producer made content and was designed to display the creative freedom that VY1 brought.

Nekomura Iroha was the 4th product by AH-Software released for the Vocaloid 2 engine, and was created in collaboration with Sanrio.

[48] Only usable in 575 Utami, these two voices are based on Yuka Ōtsubo (Azuki Masaoka) and Ayaka Ohashi (Matcha Kobayashi).

Luka's Append vocal was used on the album Vocaloid Minzoku Chō Kyokushū (VOCALOID民族調曲集) for the song "Hoshizora to Yuki no Butōkai (Zeal mix)".

[49][failed verification] Songs using the beta versions also featured in Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai.

John Walden of Sound on Sound had reviewed Leon, Lola and Miriam and noted that Vocaloid itself had no previous rival technology to contend with, and praised Yamaha for their efforts as Vocaloid was an ambitious project to undertake, considering that the human voice was more complex to synthesize than instruments such as the violin.

[52] In his review of Vocaloid 2, he referred to the original software engine in a passing comment stating, "Undoubtedly a remarkable and innovative product and, with experience and patience, was capable of producing results that could be frighteningly realistic."

While he congratulated the improvements made in Vocaloid 2, he noted the software was still far from being regarded as a top rate singer.

[53] Particularly what makes Vocaloid difficult to sell as a product is the notion that the human ear can pick up faults in vocal speech.

He, along with fellow writer John Walden during a review on Sonika, both stated singers don't have to fear losing their jobs just yet.

[18] The Hatsune Miku product in particular went on to win several awards including; As reported in 2014 by Crypton Future Media's website "Sonicwire", Vocaloid2 was able to compete against the sales of Vocaloid3 vocals even as late as 2014, both Crypton themselves and fellow developer PowerFX vocaloids saw sales from both versions despite the improvements made in Vocaloid3.