Virtual Reality Puts Music Lovers in Center of the Action

 

Many musicians are turning to new forms of technology to reach more people through their smartphone and electronic devices.

Performers are using virtual reality (VR), 360-degree cameras and other tools in hopes of providing the best musical experience possible. A 360-degree camera can take a video or still photograph of everything in its line of sight.

Some music experts believe VR could greatly change our musical experiences in the future. One form of the technology can let users attend virtual concerts, where they become part of the action. These performances seem to come to life through video and VR glasses.

Members of the rock band Queen created one such concert last year in cooperation with Google’s online store, Google Play. The project recreated the famous Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody” in a music video.

The group first released the song more than 40 years ago.

A computer program or app can let people experience different parts of the music video by moving around and touching¹ things in virtual reality. The interactive² experience results from a combination of computer animation³, 3D images, and 360-degree video technology.

Some musicians and groups are now using VR as part of their live performances.

American country music singer Eric Church has launched a full VR concert experience that was recorded during an actual performance last year. People can buy the experience and view it on their personal devices with the help of VR headsets.

Church said it was his first time using VR technology to provide a 360-degree view of a live show.

"There was a camera between me and my drummer, and you can kind of turn around and see the drummer and turn back around and see me," he said. "It's like you're in the middle of everything."

The rock group Young the Giant recently shot a live performance in Los Angeles with 360-degree cameras above, below and throughout the crowd. The performance was made into a music video for the song “Silvertongue.” The video shows the band’s members and other people painted in bright colors as they dance to the music.

Band member Payam Doostzadeh said it is not easy recreating a real concert for somebody watching the experience on a smartphone.

"You're viewing it on a smaller screen, and maybe you don't have headphones on, so you're not hearing the full sound," he said.

YouTube is currently one of the biggest providers of music videos on the internet. The website says about 60 percent of YouTube viewing now happens on devices – not computers or televisions.

To make these experiences better and more exciting, music artists are turning to mobile-friendly tools.

Pop singer Ingrid Michaelson made a music video using only Snapchat filters. The video, called “Hell No,” is filmed in phone-style view as a way to connect with Snapchat users.

The electronic band Gorillaz released a six-minute VR music video that became the most successful VR video debut⁴ on YouTube. It was seen more than three-million times in 48 hours.

Another band, Saint Motel, is creating music videos with what it calls a "virtualizer.” This method combines lyric⁵ and live performance videos and images in a 360-degree video environment.

Band member AJ Jackson said Saint Motel does not plan to stop creating traditional music videos. But he added that smartphones have provided many exciting ways to experiment, create and find new fans.

“It's a lot of people's first VR experience," Jackson said. "You've got to take it slow and you've got to make sure everyone's first experience is great.”

Words in This Story

virtual reality – n. photographic images, sound or video created by a computer to seem like reality

interactive - adj. enabling people to talk with each other or do things together

animation – n. way of making a movie by using a series of drawings, photographs or pictures

drummer – n. person who plays the drums in a music group

filter – n. something placed over something to change its appearance

lyric – n. the words of a song

graphics⁶ – n. relating the artistic⁷ use of pictures, shapes or words

debut – n. the first appearance or performance of something

1 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

2 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

3 animation   

n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作

参考例句：

• They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
• The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。

4 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

5 lyric   

n.抒情诗，歌词；adj.抒情的

参考例句：

• This is a good example of Shelley's lyric poetry.这首诗是雪莱抒情诗的范例。
• His earlier work announced a lyric talent of the first order.他的早期作品显露了一流的抒情才华。

6 graphics   

n.制图法，制图学；图形显示

参考例句：

• You've leveraged your graphics experience into the video area.你们把图形设计业务的经验运用到录像业务中去。
• Improved graphics took computer games into a new era.经改进的制图技术将电脑游戏带进了一个新时代。

7 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。