Much of the focus around virtual reality has targeted the visual experiences, but audio is critical for pulling people into stories that unfold through digital worlds. In the opening minute of Lost, the first VR short film by Oculus Story Studio, a compelling soundscape that brings the viewer into the scene before leading them deeper into the narrative.
Saschka Unseld, creative director at Oculus Story Studio, knows that sound is critical to hooking people and heightening their experiences.
“The first thing you see is the firefly,” said Unseld, describing the opening scene. “Our thought was to have something tiny, the opposite of overwhelming, and let her be our guide into the world of VR.”
The story continues with a singing bird that flies by, drawing the user into the forest. “We used spatialized audio, so you know it’s coming from the right. That’s when the story for Lost finally begins, because you have settled in and we have your attention.”
3D audio is an integral part of virtual reality. It’s different from what people typically think of as “surround sound.”
Read the full article at Kill Screen.