What is a Virtual Reality Music Platform and how it Works?

Featured article by Dmytro Ternovyi, IT-enthusiast and a tech writer

VR is basically a simulation of a specific environment replicated using computer technologies to give the user a near real experience of that environment. More details about VR, it’s kinds and VR software development can be found on this website.

VR has many applications, the most obvious being gaming. Besides gaming, it has been utilized in theme park rides to provide a more exhilarating experience along with movies as well. Virtual Reality Music Platform will completely redefine on how we perceive music. Digital Audio has been around for a long time. But even with better upgrades, interfaces, better performance and faster processing listening to music on some screen has become dull. Virtual Reality Music Platform will add a new perspective to the music industry that has somewhat become monotonous in recent years.

VR Musical Platforms

Since Virtual Reality in the Musical Platform and Virtual Reality in general are in the inception of its evolution many of its applications are still in the testing or developing stage. Following are some of the existing and upcoming VR platforms for the music enthusiasts:

Intone – Sing

Intone is an audio visual VR experience designed to run on the Oculus Rift device. Intone is basically a music visualizer, the ones usually playing with songs on music players, but instead of watching it you are actually experiencing the visualizer which consists of different colored inter woven blocks. The unique thing about this platform is that you can select different blocks with your gaze and they change color with the sound of your voice. Yes, instead of using existing music and sounds this experience responds to your own sound (With the ability to manipulate the visualizer it also provides an outlet to distract the people with substandard voices!).

Harmonix Music Visualizer

Harmonix is a game out in the recently released PlayStation VR device. This game is must buy for music enthusiasts. Like the Intone Harmonix provides music visualizer but with more mesmerizing colors and designs.

The game consists of different modes. One of the mode just allows you to chill on the beach listening to songs. Personal music can also be uploaded to give a more engaging experience. While at the beach gazing at different object like the sun or the tiki torches each unlocks a different but none the less alluring visualizer. One of the other modes is the easel which allows one to create their own visualization to match the rhythm of their favorite songs to provide a more captivating experience.

There is also a mode for the enthusiasts who like to dance with their songs. In The Dance mode you can manipulate wacky avatars to dance with you. You have the ability to control and create your own choreography as well. And yes on top of that you can eat cake as well… only in the game though.

Playthings: Musical VR Playground

Playthings is another game but this particular is designed to run on the HTC Vive. Rewind back to the time when you were 5 to 6 years old. All of us had at least one musical toy. It could have been a small piano, a small guitar or even a small drum set. I remember I had a harmonica. Even though I was no musical expert or genius and all my music annoyed my family it still was eccentric experience creating your very own sounds.

Playthings takes that experience and intensifies it to a whole new dimension. Your musical instruments are now colorful and lovely objects like gummy bears, hot dogs and jelly beans. It takes you back to that very exact moment in your childhood but with a more colorful and friendly environments.

The Vive controllers can also be used as drumsticks and you can also fly through this colorful world. Combing the music with this friendly environment provides an enthralling and somewhat hungry experience.

Amplify VR

Amplify is one of the most unique upcoming VR Platforms for music lovers. This platform consists of two perspectives. One perspective is from the viewer and one of the artist himself.

From the perspective of the fan, the experience is a mash up of attending a live show and stepping inside a music video. From this perspective there are different worlds you can explore which react and change in different ways depending upon the music being played. It provide a unique physical experience of music and also allows you to go on stage with your favorite artist and participate with them (something which security does not allow ever!)

The other perspective is from the artist himself. The artist now has the ability to create his own environments for his music in a unique, quick and most importantly in a cost effective way. He can use this platform to create immersive environments where only his imagination is the limit to reach out to new audiences.

VRTIFY

VRTIFY is an android app which is determined to establish itself as the main music platform in VR. Imagine you have the front row seats to the concert of your favorite artist. Now imagine you are sitting in the comfort of your home without being pushed around by rabid fans.

VRTIFY is the platform which allows you to do that. It lets you experience your favorite music in the VR world. It also has the collection of 360 degrees music videos released. It also allows you to access your Spotify while going through popular 360 degree experiences which are not just limited to music videos. Even though VRTIFY does not offer anything particularly new it does contain all the necessary and best features of VR into one app.

VRTIFY has released its first public beta to allow its users to experience and test it.

Harmonix Rock Band VR

Rock Band VR is yet another upcoming game to be released on the Oculus Rift and to be used with the Rift Touch Controllers. The controller is to be placed at the end of your guitar which is to be used as a motion controller. From there you are transported in front of thousands of screaming fans and you get to fulfill your lifelong dream of performing in front of a crowd.

The experience is so engaging that you also have to be careful where you move your guitar. Violent motions can lead to knocking over the mike stand and also whacking your band mates. Rock Band VR is yet to be released but it has all the potential to be a hit for the Oculus and be a major quality product for the VR music platform

Writing and reading about all these products has made me realize that this is an interesting time to be in where the VR world is starting to bloom. Not just for music lovers or game enthusiasts but for the general audience as well. VR has the potential to be beneficial in almost any area of our life.

About the Author

Dmytro Ternovyi is an IT-enthusiast and a tech writer from Ukraine. I have a strong belief – AR and VR are the next generation technologies that will change IT market. So if you want to stay updated with the hottest news from artificial reality world – follow me on Twitter @dimulik. I’m not only a believer, but a doer as well. Currently I’m working for AppReal-VR development company: https://appreal-vr.com/services/virtual-reality/