September Newsletter - Get ready for Virtual Reality

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Subject: September Newsletter - Get ready for Virtual Reality

Hi Friend,

Welcome to my September Newsletter.

There's a revolution happening and for once, it's fairly easy to get on board. I'm talking about Virtual Reality, and more specifically, the music and audio for VR.

You might think it's a gimmick, but done well, VR or AR (Augmented Reality) is groundbreaking and the next level of entertainment.

Virtual Reality Is Almost Here

1. It hasn't hit the mainstream yet, but expect a big push for the Christmas sales season. That said, it's early yet in development and you may not see too many "killer apps" (Pokemon Go being the current exception) since creators are still getting the hang of it.

2. It may take a while. There are a lot of big brands dipping their toes in the water as games, commercials and even short films and documentaries are trying out the new technology. When it works, it makes anyone a believer, but when it fails it's only a parlor trick. That said, don't expect it to come and go at Christmas. The uptake will be long and gradual.

3. It could take off in unusual sectors. One is medical, where it may be a boon to ill, infirm or disabled patients. News gathering is another, where it brings the viewer inside the news like never before.

4. AR is where the action will really happen. As cool as VR is, Augmented Reality (think the view of the Terminator or most "from the future" sci-fi android characters) is what promises to be the real revolution. The processing power for that is intense, so expect that to be a few years behind VR.

But The Audio Is Usually Overlooked

5. It's the movies and television all over again. When it comes to anything with picture, audio is somewhat an afterthought, and so is the case with VR. A truly immersive sonic environment really enhances the experience, but there are fewer people doing VR audio than creating VR picture.

6. It doesn't take much to get into the game. For the first time, it's actually inexpensive to get into something this new. No expensive studio is necessary since you're always on headphones (at least for now), and some of the tools are free. A good place to start is at Facebook 360, believe it or not. Be sure to download the free Facebook Spatial 360 audio workstation tool (the package is free) as it's the best way to get going. Waves NX is also something that's inexpensive and worth the purchase.

7. Keep abreast of the latest news. The news is scarce for VR audio news but I'm in the process of setting up a site that will curate VR audio info. Stay tuned.

8. There are some cool VR audio-related conferences coming up. The Audio For Virtual Reality Conference will take place at AES on Sept 30 to Oct 1 in Los Angeles, and GameSoundCon will feature a track on VR sound on Sept 28 and 29 at the Biltmore Hotel, also in LA. Get $100 off by using the coupon code INCIRCLE16.

The Bottom Line

This is an exciting time to be in the music and audio business. We'll soon see new companies created that are dedicated to VR and AR sound and music, which will mean many more opportunities. Will you take advantage?

If you've read through to the end, you now know a little more about our Music 4.0 world than the majority of people in the music business today. Aren't you glad you subscribed to my list?