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.

　　虚拟现实(Virtual Reality，以下简称VR)在电子游戏领域的风靡程度大家大概都有所耳闻，但VR技术近来的浪潮可没有就此止步。

　　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，音乐会借助着媒体，将潜在的听众从他们的舒适小窝里带到现场的前排座位上，有些风格的音乐诸如电子舞曲甚至赚得盆满钵盈。

　　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作为一家专业的工作室，自豪于将“科技与创意”相融合，至今为止拥有各式各样的VR产品供超过六百万用户选择。他们同时也发掘出VR技术与大型庆典体验相结合的巨大潜力。在去年佐治亚州的明日世界电音节上，该工作室与国际巨星DJ阿明·范·布伦携手打造了“阿明效应”。

　　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.

　　虽是初次涉水VR音乐会的录制，在这场举世闻名的动感打碟中，阿明效应使用了多个角度的摄像机，为观众提供360度的活动视角——从遥远如周围的露营地，一直到DJ台，就连舞台的后方也能看到。在今年(2016年)1月份的CES(Centre for Environmental Studies，国际消费类电子产品展会)上，YouVisit让用户坐在一把会随着音乐震动的椅子上展示了整场4D演出。尽管目前尚且保密，据称该工作室正在同其他艺术家及唱片公司一道合作，为人们带来类似的体验。

　　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·布伦的同乡哈德维尔则是最近被VR音乐会体验看中的另一代劲舞霸主。在今年尼基海滩的迈阿密音乐周，这位2013年的世界第一DJ准许了他的打碟被360度全球直播。现场使用了一台配有两个鱼眼镜头的特制摄像机，能够瞬间将画面拼接在一起，归功于这台摄像机，粉丝们可以远程置身于兴奋的人群中，看到独家的第一人称视角，通过VR头盔、iOS、安卓、苹果TV和网页，一边敲打着节奏一边摇曳着闪光灯。

　　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.

　　科切拉音乐节今年发现了VR不断增长的吸引力，他们发布了一款新的应用，并将谷歌的纸板头盔(Google Cardboard headset，用硬纸板制成的简易VR设备)和门票一起寄给了音乐节的参与者们。科切拉VR应用于今年的音乐节前首次亮相，让纸板VR、Gear VR、Oculus及Vive的用户能够浏览往届音乐节的360度全景照片以及今年诸多艺术家们的访谈。音乐节场地的3D虚拟游览让粉丝们得以足不出户地熟悉场地的布局。最终，这款应用或将让用户得以在自家客厅中直播表演。

　　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.

　　无独有偶，VR是2016年“SXSW互动、电影与音乐节”(South By Southwest西南偏南，举办于德克萨斯州的音乐节)的必备主题。这项技术在座谈会和展示环节中得到了充分的探索，一些领域的专家正式宣告这种媒体是音乐视频和现场表演的未来。与会者们得知，尽管唱片的销售额持续走低，VR却有可能帮助音乐产业获得盈利。VR音乐会或许没有我们想象得那么遥远。

　　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?

　　尽管你会觉得这种形式的音乐会短期内无法取代真实的音乐会，只会提供一种更为廉价和便捷的方式，让人们能够尽情享受自己最爱的音乐家们的现场直播。可是话说回来，如果大家都以这样的方式听演唱会，那么在未来，这种观众在家观看的现场表演会取代宾客满席的演出场馆吗?

（编辑：何莹莹）