In VRChat, a wide variety of content is released day and night, from game worlds where you can play with friends to scenic worlds perfect for relaxing. In this series, we will pick out and introduce some of the most visually appealing worlds from the vast number of available worlds.
The sound world we’re introducing today is “Waves #256,” where you’re surrounded by 256 different sound sources.
“Waves #256” is a world created by Lactoice , a sound artist active in the VR field. While VRChat usually has a limit on the number of sound sources that can be placed in a world, this world is unique in that it uses parallel computing on the GPU for spatial audio processing, allowing up to 256 3D sound sources to operate. In addition, all sound sources have “position information” set, so the way they sound changes depending on the up, down, left, right, and distance, just like spatial audio.
The world itself is constructed with a grassland stretching across a space with concrete-like walls. When you respawn, a white orb appears in front of you; this is one of the 256 sound sources. If you listen carefully up close, you can hear the sound playing in sync with the waveform moving on the display.
The music being played is a fantasy-style song with female vocals, and once you enter the plaza, you can hear sounds coming from the remaining nearly 250 orbs. As mentioned earlier, all the orbs emit sounds based on their position, so changing where you stand or moving the orbs will change how the music sounds.
Further back in the plaza, there’s a control panel where you can change the song’s BPM, vocal volume, pitch, and more. You can also transform the orb itself into a “giant panel” or particles to significantly adjust how the sound is perceived.
For example, in panel mode, the sound source is fixed to a flat panel, and the sound is projected from the back of the world towards the control panel. If you didn’t notice much difference with the orb, you might want to try this mode.
(When you clap your hands with your avatar)
(There’s also a mode that shows the level of reaction from your own avatar.)
“Waves #256” is a world where you can easily and intuitively experience authentic sound effects. Lactoice is a veteran creator who has been active in “VRChat” since around 2019. In the past, they have participated in the “Artema Music Festival,” which aims to be the ultimate music festival in VR, and have released “Canon for cubes,” a 3D sound world where the entire building becomes an instrument. It is likely that the production process of this world also utilizes the know-how they have gained so far.
Incidentally, in Orb and Particle modes, you can use the control rod to change the position of the sound or activate all the orbs. It might be fun to try and find the “pattern” that sounds best to you.
(This is Mode Orchestra)
Why not experience the “pleasant feeling” of sound with “Waves #256”?
Click here to access “Waves #256” (PC required)