$ cat sound-escape-vr.json
title: Sound Escape VR
category: ar-vr
client: Personal Project
date: March 2023
stack:Unity3DC#VR DevelopmentAudio VisualizationInteractive Music
Project Overview
Sound Escape VR is an immersive virtual reality music-making and exploration experience that channels a retro 80s synthwave aesthetic while blending real-time audio visualization and interactive world-building. Users can craft their own musical tracks on a grid-based sequencer and watch as the environment reacts and transforms in sync with every note.
Situation
• Overview
Virtual reality offers unique opportunities for music creation and visualization, but many existing applications either focus solely on professional music production or provide only passive music visualization experiences. There was a gap in the market for accessible, intuitive music creation tools that leverage the immersive potential of VR.
• Challenge
How might we create an engaging VR experience that allows users with varying levels of musical expertise to create and visualize music in an intuitive, embodied way?
• Context
The rise of consumer VR headsets like Meta Quest 3 has created new opportunities for innovative music applications that go beyond traditional interfaces.
Task
• Overview
The goal was to develop an immersive VR application that combines music creation with visual feedback in a cohesive, engaging experience. The project needed to:
• Simplify Music Creation
by implementing an intuitive grid-based sequencer that doesn't require musical expertise.
• Enhance Immersion
through real-time audio visualization that responds dynamically to user-created sounds.
• Optimize Performance
to ensure smooth operation on standalone VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3.
Action
1. Technical Architecture
Developed the application using Unity3D with C# as the primary programming language. Implemented custom shaders for responsive visual effects and optimized audio processing for real-time feedback.
2. User Interface Design
Created an intuitive spatial interface that leverages natural hand movements for music composition, allowing users to place notes on a three-dimensional grid sequencer.
3. Audio-Visual Integration
Programmed a system that translates musical parameters (pitch, volume, rhythm) into visual elements that transform the environment, creating a synesthetic experience.
4. Performance Optimization
Reworked the original Oculus implementation to ensure optimal performance on Meta Quest 3, focusing on maintaining high frame rates while preserving visual quality.
Result
• Overview
Sound Escape VR successfully bridges the gap between music creation and visualization in virtual reality:
• Intuitive Music Creation
Users can quickly learn to create musical patterns using the grid-based sequencer, regardless of their prior musical experience.
• Immersive Audio-Visual Experience
The environment reacts and transforms in sync with user-created music, creating a deeply engaging experience that connects sound and visuals.
• Technical Achievement
Successfully optimized for Meta Quest 3, demonstrating the ability to create complex, interactive experiences for standalone VR headsets.