solsticeVR
Virtual Reality Music Composition
Leveraging the power of virtual reality and Unity, solsticeVR is a unique electronic music composition sandbox where amateurs and professionals alike can freely compose music based on their own original, custom samples.
Designed to supplement and not replace
solsticeVR does not take the place of traditional 2D audio environments such as Logic or Pro Tools. Where these software are precise and exacting, solsticeVR is childish, improvisatory, and intuitive enough that anyone can use it, while still being powerful enough for complex creation.
Manipulate and experiment
Artists are able to load up to 86 mp3, .wav, or .ogg files into custom arrays, and then instantiate and manipulate these samples in a truly 3D audio environment.
Beyond solsticeVR
At any point throughout the experience users can begin to record their mix directly to their PC in .wav format, capturing their creation as either a finished piece of improvisational art, or simply as a custom sample to be manipulated in another audio environment.
Import Audio Samples
Bring in your own .wav, .ogg, or .wav files and attach them to audio objects to move around the room, or "draw" the audio around you. Before entering VR, you can specify dozens of parameters from loop length, whether or not the audio has gravity, how much the Doppler effect impacts your audio, and even the stickiness or bounciness of the sound!
Custom Environments
Choose from a number of environments, each with their own custom acoustic profile.
Process Audio in VR
Process your audio in your 3D audio space by using intuitive sliders and presets.
Draw Your Sounds
Assign your audio samples to colors and draw them around you creating a 3D mix.
Record Live Audio
Record live audio directly into your scene to mix and manipulate in VR.
Roy D. Magnuson
Composer Dr. Roy D. Magnuson is an Associate Professor of Music Composition at Illinois State University. He is also the creator of solsticeVR and is the Director of XR @ ISU. At Illinois State, Roy teaches music theory, aural skills, composition in the School of Music, and virtual reality design in the Creative Technologies program.
Roy's music has been performed throughout the United States and Europe at venues such as the World Saxophone Congress, WASBE, CBDNA, the RED NOTE New Music Festival, and the Robb Composers’ Symposium. He is a member of ASCAP, and his music is recorded on Albany Records and NAXOS.
Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts
Illinois State University School of Music
https://soundcloud.com/roy-magnuson
What do you need to use solsticeVR?
Virtural Reality Ready PC
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows PC (there is currently no Mac support for solsticeVR)
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, AMD Radeon R9 290 equivalent or better
CPU: Intel i5-4590, AMD FX 8350 equivalent or better
RAM: 8 GB or more
Video Output: HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2 or newer
USB Port: 2x USB 2.0 or better port
Operating System: Windows 10
Recommended System Requirements:
Windows PC (there is currently no Apple OS support for solsticeVR)
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, AMD RX 580 or better
CPU: Intel i7-7700, AMD Ryzen 1700 or better
RAM: 16 GB or more
Video Output: HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2 or newer
USB Port: 2x USB 2.0 or better port
Operating System: Windows 10
Virtual Reality Headset (HMD)
VR Head Mounted Display (HMD) Requirements:
HTC Vive: https://www.vive.com/us/
Oculus Rift: https://www.oculus.com/rift/ (unavailable for purchase directly from Oculus - superseded by Rift-S)
Recommended VR Head Mounted Display (HMD):
Oculus Rift-S: https://www.oculus.com/rift-s/
Leap Motion Controller
Leap Motion Controller: https://www.leapmotion.com/
A Leap Motion Controller is required for hand tracking.
It is possible to purchase an official mounting bracket to mount the Leap Motion directly on the front of your VR HMD, however these have been out of stock at all retailers for sometime. I have also used 3M velcro strips to secure mine to my headset.
Interested in sVR?
Contact Roy Magnuson directly for availability.