TheWaveVR is a social VR music platform which allows DJs to mix tracks live in VR in front of a virtual audience which can connect to experience the performance from around the world.
The company announced today that it’s raised a $2.5 million seed investment to build out the platform. KPCB Edge, Presence Capital, Rothenberg Ventures, RRE Ventures, The VR Fund, Seedcamp, Luma Launch, Boost VC, Immersion VC, GREE, Outpost and several angles participated in the round. TheWaveVR was co-founded by Adam Arrigo, Aaron Lemke, and Finn Staber.
The company says, “TheWaveVR is a VR platform for people who love music, enabling them to view, host and socialize in live and recorded shows worldwide, anytime, anywhere. By democratizing the concert experience, TheWave will disrupt and help revitalize the music industry,allowing musicians and artists to reach a much broader audience like never before.”
Earlier this year at SVVR 2016, we caught a glimpse of TheWaveVR in action. Inside, DJs have a virtual mixing table where they can grab track samples and insert them into a module to play to the audience. A fader between the two tracks allows the artist to shift the relative volume, while transparent boxes to the right and left apply effects to the tracks in real time as you move your hands through them. Meanwhile, abstract visuals pulsate to the beat throughout the virtual venue.
Then there’s the audience, who can join and experience the performance socially with other VR users. Audience members with VR controllers were able to paint with light to express themselves during the show.
Right now there’s no word on how many audience members TheWaveVR will support simultaneously, or precisely which headsets it will be available for, however we have seen it used on both the HTC Vive and Gear VR. The company says they’re aiming for a Q4 2016 beta launch.
“We’re working toward empowering artists and music lovers alike and transforming the way people connect through music by building the world’s first musical metaverse in VR,” said Adam Arrigo, CEO of TheWaveVR. “Music creators will be able to fully customize how their audience experiences the music – whether that’s by transforming the venue from a realistic nightclub to outer space or putting on the most unimaginable light show ever. Fans won’t have to travel the globe or miss out on their favorite DJs, musicians or festivals and can experience the music like never before, while socializing in totally new ways alongside their friends.”
At VRLA Summer Expo 2016 this weekend, TheWaveVR is the centerpiece of a “VR Rave”, which will feature DJs mixing music through the platform while an audience equipped with positionally tracked Gear VR headsets and subwoofer vests enjoys the performance.