Most of you have probably noticed just how popular virtual reality is in the world of video games. But the promises posed by the latest wave of VR haven’t stopped there.
虛擬現實(Virtual Reality，以下簡稱VR)在電子游戲領域的風靡程度大家大概都有所耳聞，但VR技術近來的浪潮可沒有就此止步。
Live music is now leveraging the medium in order to transport would-be concert goers from the comfort of their homes to the front row of the stalls, and few genres have made such impressive gains as the electronic dance music scene.
如今，音樂會借助著媒體，將潛在的聽眾從他們的舒適小窩里帶到現場的前排座位上，有些風格的音樂諸如電子舞曲甚至賺得盆滿缽盈。
YouVisit is a specialist studio that prides itself in merging “technology with creativity,” reaching over six million different users with its broad selection of VR offerings to date. It’s also identified the vast potential VR has in tandem with large festival experiences. At last year’s TomorrowWorld in Georgia, the studio partnered with international superstar DJ Armin Van Buuren to create The Armin Effect.
YouVisit作為一家專業的工作室，自豪于將“科技與創意”相融合，至今為止擁有各式各樣的VR產品供超過六百萬用戶選擇。他們同時也發掘出VR技術與大型慶典體驗相結合的巨大潛力。在去年佐治亞州的明日世界電音節上，該工作室與國際巨星DJ阿明·范·布倫攜手打造了“阿明效應”。
As its first dive into VR concert recordings, The Armin Effect offered viewers 360 degree movement from various camera angles during the world-renowned spinner’s set — from as far back as the peripheral campsite, all the way up to the DJ booth, and even smack bang behind the decks. At CES in January this year, YouVisit showcased the whole performance in 4D by setting users up in a chair that vibrated alongside the music. Although under wraps for now, the studio is said to be currently working with other artists and labels to deliver similar experiences.
雖是初次涉水VR音樂會的錄制，在這場舉世聞名的動感打碟中，阿明效應使用了多個角度的攝像機，為觀眾提供360度的活動視角——從遙遠如周圍的露營地，一直到DJ臺，就連舞臺的后方也能看到。在今年(2016年)1月份的CES(Centre for Environmental Studies，國際消費類電子產品展會)上，YouVisit讓用戶坐在一把會隨著音樂震動的椅子上展示了整場4D演出。盡管目前尚且保密，據稱該工作室正在同其他藝術家及唱片公司一道合作，為人們帶來類似的體驗。
Van Buuren’s fellow countryman Hardwell is another dance dynasty who’s recently sized up the VR concert experience. At this year’s Miami Music Week at Nikki Beach, the 2013 World Number 1 DJ allowed his set to be streamed globally in full 360 degrees. With exclusive first person views — courtesy of a specialised camera equipped with two fish-eye lenses that can stitch footage together instantaneously — fans could watch on remotely at the hyped crowd, banging tunes and flashing lights via VR headsets, iOS, Android, Apple TV and the web.
范·布倫的同鄉哈德維爾則是最近被VR音樂會體驗看中的另一代勁舞霸主。在今年尼基海灘的邁阿密音樂周，這位2013年的世界第一DJ準許了他的打碟被360度全球直播?，F場使用了一臺配有兩個魚眼鏡頭的特制攝像機，能夠瞬間將畫面拼接在一起，歸功于這臺攝像機，粉絲們可以遠程置身于興奮的人群中，看到獨家的第一人稱視角，通過VR頭盔、iOS、安卓、蘋果TV和網頁，一邊敲打著節奏一邊搖曳著閃光燈。
Music festival Coachella recognized the growing appeal of VR this year by launching a new app and shipping Google Cardboard headsets to its attendees alongside their tickets. Debuting ahead of this year’s event, the Coachella VR app was designed to let Cardboard VR, Gear VR, Oculus, and Vive owners browse through 360 degree photos from previous festivals and watch interviews from this year’s lineup of artists. 3D virtual tours of the festival grounds let fans familiarize themselves with the layout before they even left the house. Eventually, the app may even let users live stream acts from their living rooms.
科切拉音樂節今年發現了VR不斷增長的吸引力，他們發布了一款新的應用，并將谷歌的紙板頭盔(Google Cardboard headset，用硬紙板制成的簡易VR設備)和門票一起寄給了音樂節的參與者們?？魄欣璙R應用于今年的音樂節前首次亮相，讓紙板VR、Gear VR、Oculus及Vive的用戶能夠瀏覽往屆音樂節的360度全景照片以及今年諸多藝術家們的訪談。音樂節場地的3D虛擬游覽讓粉絲們得以足不出戶地熟悉場地的布局。最終，這款應用或將讓用戶得以在自家客廳中直播表演。
Similarly, VR was an integral theme of the 2016 SXSW Interactive, Film and Music Festival earlier this year. The technology was thoroughly explored in panels and presentations, with some field experts proclaiming the medium as the future of both music videos and live performances. Attendees learned that although record sales continue to fall, VR is likely to help the music industry earn revenue. VR concerts might not be as far away as we think.
無獨有偶，VR是2016年“SXSW互動、電影與音樂節”(South By Southwest西南偏南，舉辦于德克薩斯州的音樂節)的必備主題。這項技術在座談會和展示環節中得到了充分的探索，一些領域的專家正式宣告這種媒體是音樂視頻和現場表演的未來。與會者們得知，盡管唱片的銷售額持續走低，VR卻有可能幫助音樂產業獲得盈利。VR音樂會或許沒有我們想象得那么遙遠。
While you’d have to assume this form of concert “going” won’t replace the real thing any time soon, it would provide a less expensive and more accessible way of enjoying your favorite musicians live. Then again, if everyone were to attend gigs in this way, is it possible live performances of the future will take place in front of empty venues, with their attendees watching on from home?
盡管你會覺得這種形式的音樂會短期內無法取代真實的音樂會，只會提供一種更為廉價和便捷的方式，讓人們能夠盡情享受自己最愛的音樂家們的現場直播?？墒窃捳f回來，如果大家都以這樣的方式聽演唱會，那么在未來，這種觀眾在家觀看的現場表演會取代賓客滿席的演出場館嗎?
