General Chat (Non-Music-Related)

I propose a truce for this thread, guys.

Have you checked into virtual reality yet?

When the Oculus has it's commercial release later this year, VR will suddenly begin replacing mobile and television. There will immediately be 10 million users, swelling to 25 million in the next 18 months. I'm proud to say that my son is a film-maker in San Francisco, which is ground zero for this new platform, and has been working with several innovators on the ground floor.

We started shooting a virtual reality tour of Israel in February, that I'm trying to launch by July. The technology is improving in quantum leaps at the moment. In just the last 5 months, there have been so many drastic changes that it's a constant learning curve.

But very soon you will able to sit "live" (or perform) at a concert that is on the other side of the globe. You will be able to watch a football game from the quarterback's helmet. You will be able to experience anything you can imagine, and many things you can not.

I spent last night visiting Madagascar, Cambodia, and Mars without leaving my couch. Soon, and very soon, the biggest bands in the world will no longer have to travel anywhere to sell millions of tickets to a live concert. Music videos will no longer be something you watch, but something you experience as if you are in the middle of the action.

It's a brave new world about to burst wide open....

Here is an website that hosts VR producers so you can get an idea of what it looks like on a computer:
https://littlstar.com/videos/edb98aad
(use the arrow buttons and your mouse to spin the view around, up, or down)

But it's a pitiful example of what you'd experience when you put on the VR headset.

I heard about this a while back, a version is already being used to help people overcome things like fear of heights. Pretty limited of course, but it was several years ago that I saw the documentary. I'm sure it's progressed quite a lot since then. Should be quite interesting...not that I'll be able to afford it any time soon...

Actually it's very cheap, which is my biggest concern about the program we're producing.

Music was devalued once everyone could record digitally in their bedroom. Likewise, this technology produces the most amazing experiences you can imagine and it's cheaper than one broadcast quality camera. The entire apparatus for shooting a high-quality 360VR with 7 cameras is under 5k, and fits in a Folger's coffee can.

But only this week, we've figured out a way to shoot in a lesser quality (but still amazing) VR for about $700. That includes a camera and special mirror. My state-of-the-art Gear VR headset was only $200 (not including the necessary Samsung Note 4 phone) but you can find cheaper versions of VR headsets on Amazon right now for $20-$100. Those feel like toys compared to the Gear VR, but it's still the most amazing thing you've ever seen and will only get better in a very short time.

Right now, we're about 4 or 5 months ahead of a "new wave" that will change everything. I highly recommend that artists get familiar with it ASAP.




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