The 3D Pillars of Immersive Music Experience in Virtual Reality

This ByteFM Show is presented by Sophia Fischer. Interviewees:

• Christoph Spinger, VR-Nerds
• Martin Rieger, VRTonung
• Michaela Pňačeková, Symphony of Noice

Immersive music experiences, VR or what is already real?

I would like to deal with how virtual reality will play a role in the music industry. What possibilities does immersive 3D music offer, allowing users to engage in new and interactive ways? Do musicians make a pact with the devil and slide into a dystopian future? Or does the connection with digital possibilities even hold chances of undreamt-of dimensions?

It is a fact that VR is on the rise or already here, only maybe not yet so omnipresent for everyone. These innovations are creating an immersive experience that engages users in ways traditional music formats cannot. If you’re a technophobe with an affinity for old music and would like to keep everything as it is and leave the clunky glasses to the computer games of crazy nerds. If so, I’d like to say this:

“The internet is just a short trend, it will never catch on.”

Evolution of Immersive Music Experiences

The evolution of immersive music experiences has been a fascinating journey, marked by continuous innovation and technological advancements. From the nostalgic crackle of vinyl records to the seamless streaming on platforms like Apple Music, music lovers have always sought new ways to experience their favorite tunes. However, the advent of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is taking this quest to unprecedented heights.

Imagine attending a live performance where the artist is not just on stage but enveloped by a 360-degree LED screen, with visuals that pulse and change in perfect harmony with the music. This is not a distant dream but a reality that VR and AR technologies are making possible. These immersive experiences allow us to step into the music, creating a sensory-rich environment that transforms how we experience music. Whether it’s a virtual concert hall or an interactive music video, the future of music experiences is here, and it’s more immersive than ever.

The appeal of immersive music productions for VR

I’m far from being able to get enthusiastic about every technical gimmick myself, but the advancements in music production through VR are undeniable. If you’re completely closed to it, you’re bound to miss out on a lot. This technology enhances the listening experience, making it more personal and immersive. In the future, for example, you might be able to beam yourself live into a concert scene via virtual reality.

But one thing at a time. One person who is very well versed in this respect is Christoph Spinger, member of the VR-Nerds, and he will start by explaining what is actually so great and attractive about virtual reality:

“Especially VR has the possibility of complete isolation. I often feel like using it when I am stressed somehow: Then I put on the VR glasses and can really escape from the world with them, and that is, of course, supportive for the musicians because I can switch off my thoughts even better.”

Creative Technologies in Immersive Music

Creative technologies are at the forefront of revolutionizing immersive music experiences, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in music creation and production. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one such technology, enabling artists to explore new sounds and styles that were once unimaginable. AI-powered music generation tools are opening up new avenues for creativity, allowing musicians to experiment and innovate like never before.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are also playing pivotal roles in crafting immersive music experiences. Imagine stepping into a virtual concert hall, where you can experience a live performance with unparalleled intimacy and detail. The sound surrounds you, the visuals captivate you, and the entire experience transports you to another world. This is the power of immersive music experiences, driven by cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping the music industry.

The three pillars of music in VR

By the way, switching off, that has somehow become a talent that not many people possess. Something always comes up. In any case, I myself used to wear glasses like that and can only say: I was completely gone. So gone that in the first ten minutes after the experience, I had really small problems to get back. In my case, however, this was not at home, but in a specially designed room, in which you played a kind of escape game and had to walk through a medieval town and solve puzzles. In reality, only a labyrinth with cardboard walls. But if I touched for a stone wall in the game, there was a stone wall, too. You could feel it haptically, that was already wicked.

In the musical cosmos, for me still somewhat difficult to imagine, especially since the costs of production are naturally quite high and the market is still relatively small, but the potential for a transformative music experience is immense. Everyone has a smartphone but few have virtual reality devices or similar accessories – yet. Christoph listed which three pillars he sees as the future of virtual reality in the music industry:

“Well, in my opinion, there are currently three main ways how you can put music experiences in VR. The first is completely digital. That means with digital visitors and digital artists, where nothing is filmed live, but everything is animated and rendered in real-time.
Then I can do the next thing, which is a mix, like NoiseVR does. They film real artists in front of a green screen and a 3D camera. Then they lift them up in VR onto a virtual stage and I can join the session. Then I stand in front of the stage with my friends and I can interact.
There are also the 360° videos, which is what ConcertVR does. That means that in the end, I have a 360° camera or more set up, have the whole thing recorded and then I can use the VR glasses as a viewer”.

Accessibility and Global Reach

One of the most remarkable aspects of immersive music experiences is their accessibility and global reach. Thanks to digital technologies, music lovers from every corner of the globe can now access these experiences from the comfort of their own homes. This democratization of music has opened up new opportunities for artists to connect with a global audience and for fans to experience music in innovative ways.

As the cost of VR and AR technologies continues to decrease, these immersive music experiences are becoming more accessible to a broader audience. No longer confined by geographical boundaries, music lovers can now experience live performances, interactive music videos, and virtual concert halls regardless of where they are. The future of music experiences is truly global, driven by immersive technologies that bring the world of music closer to everyone.

But even with 360 music videos, even more, is possible

Martin Rieger, who specializes in the sound for VR experiences as VRTonung, has emphasized the sound aspect:

“In VR you can even go a step further and say that the guitar signal really can to be heard where the guitarist is performing. You can’t do that in real life, you only have a wall of sound coming from the stage. But in VR you have even more possibilities in this case and use immersive music.”

So if you are standing virtually next to Pearl Jam or even in front of the stage with drummer Matt Cameron on the left and Mike McCready on the right, the sound will ideally come from exactly this direction. And when Eddy Vedder jumps across the stage, then you can also hear that like never before. Immersive music sounds very nice.