This article is for all those who are never satisfied with the tools and the studio they have, for those who always need space! Let's take a ride in a parallel virtual musical reality, where the only limit is the imagination!
HTC Vive is a 3D wireless viewer that, with the help of a PC, becomes a sort of videogame that allows three-dimensional interaction with games and applications of various kinds. Very high graphic resolution, 2160 × 1200, 110 degree visual aperture, freedom of movement, camera to integrate real objects.
Nothing strange so far, beautiful technological evolution, we have been talking about it for over a year, if you have 900 € and want to enter 3D today you can do it.
But what would you say were given the chance to build your music studio in a three-dimensional world, forputting you to choose effects, mixer desk, musical instruments, at the touch of a hand (of a controller actually)?
We are still at the beginning but the idea is absolutely intriguing and it is the natural evolution of plugins, vst and music software, a complete music studio in a parallel reality that does not take up space!
It's called SOUNDSCAPE VR (virtual reality)!
There are no limits to what you can build. We can decide to be surrounded by synth, theremin, electronic drums, recorders, sequencers, modules of various types. Each instrument has its own jack connection, its own sound library, the possibility of sampling others. The interaction with the virtual world takes place via two sensors / trackpads, a sort of intelligent virtual wands.
The current version has three demo modes: rhythm, synth and sequencer. They are usage templates that immediately project us into complete studies for immediate use.
As in a real space you can decide where to place the objects, which ones to insert, how to connect them. You can even vary its size.
In the selection menu obtained by pressing the Vive key on the controller we have: keyboard, sequencer, maracas, "ControlCube" (3D theremin), audio cassettes (they are audio sounds, a library), splitters, oscillators, speakers, samplers, recorders, mixer (4 channels) and drums. Finally an inevitable metronome. Each instrument can be combined with others to obtain new sounds and instruments.
The speakers are used to amplify the sound of the instrument and to decide its dynamics and volume.
The limits are constituted precisely by the interaction trackpads which obviously are not exactly of the hands. Playing drums and maracas can be an engaging experience. A little less the synths where live is a bit limiting because it is a bit like playing two keys at a time. Obviously you don't buy such a system to go live a virtual keyboard!
We are approaching the era of VR-DAWs with all the components appropriate to the technology.
With such a study we could think of an adequate amplification, how about something to wear?
Well yes, the Subpac m2 it is a tactile amplification, a sub to put on the skin, which gives the sensation of being in the center of the music by transmitting the bass on a physical level.
Needless to say, the market will be enriched with virtual app makers like Tilt Brush (produced by Google, just to understand what investments we are talking about) which adds the possibility of coloring and drawing in virtual reality, making everything aesthetically better.
or also Manus VR which provides two gloves to also add the use of fingers.
There are already dj or vj artists who send the images on the big screen for live performances and that's just the beginning.
https://youtu.be/SffRRMDblkI?t=63
We are at a new one dangerous frontier to cross, where everything seems legitimate. The market is fast moving towards mental solutions, left to the imagination of the performer.
Soundstage vr is still an expensive toy but if we think about the evolution of VST and all the virtual things we have in our PCs, the direction will soon be directed to the professional market.
In addition, investors are the likes of HTC and Google, not really the first to arrive!
I forgot to say that if you have a good pc and have already purchased HTC lives at € 900,00, a Subpac at 300,00 euros, Manus at 250,00 ... Soundstage vr costs only 9,99 euros!
Links
