SoundStage
- March 10, 2017
- Hard Light Labs
SoundStage is a single-player virtual reality musical sandbox game that offers a diverse toolset for self-expression. Players can create new sounds as a professional DJ, or rock out on virtual drums as a hobbyist. The game boasts a masterful soundtrack and is designed specifically for room-scale VR, providing an immersive musical experience.
PC
Reviews
- SoundStage offers a highly intuitive and immersive VR experience for music creation, allowing users to easily connect and manipulate various instruments and effects.
- The ability to import sound files and use external MIDI instruments enhances the creative potential, making it a versatile tool for both beginners and experienced musicians.
- The developer is responsive and actively updates the software, adding new features and improvements, which keeps the experience fresh and engaging.
- The application currently lacks some essential features found in professional DAWs, such as advanced effects, a comprehensive file browser, and full MIDI support, which limits its usability for serious music production.
- There are reports of performance issues, including crashes when using MIDI instruments and noticeable latency with the microphone, which can hinder the creative process.
- The development of the app has reportedly ceased, leading to concerns about its long-term viability and the potential for future updates or enhancements.
- music171 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the VR application "Soundstage" is widely praised for its innovative and intuitive interface, making it accessible for both novices and experienced musicians. Users appreciate the fun and creative potential it offers for electronic music production, likening it to a virtual music studio that encourages experimentation. However, many note that it currently lacks some essential features for serious music recording and production, suggesting it is more of a playful tool than a complete music creation suite.
“Soundstage is a delightful musical experience.”
“This is for music creation what Tilt Brush is for 3D drawing; maybe even more epic in some ways.”
“Intuitive enough that those completely unfamiliar can get something going with minimal effort, complex enough that music heads will find plenty to experiment with.”
“Overall, it's novel and fun to show to others new to VR, but not something I'll be investing much more time into even when I have a music itch.”
“That said, it is very hard to make actual music in the app as it stands; it badly needs a proper synth, either internal or via external VST support.”
“It will need a bit of work before it's a truly useful music tool, but for playing around with electronic music, it's fantastic, modular, and shows how things should work.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their bright and colorful retro-future aesthetic, with no issues of shearing or detail loss reported during extended play sessions. Users appreciate the polished visuals and user-friendly interface, which enhances the overall experience, especially when integrating live visuals in a VR setting.
“No shearing, jittering, or any loss of detail graphically, and I have played this for 5-8 hours straight with no side effects whatsoever (minus euphoria).”
“Bright and colorful retro-future graphics.”
“I put my Vive on and was thinking... hmm, the graphics are well polished and the sim is user-friendly in terms of easy to understand how to plug and play, change values.”
“The graphics are well polished, but they lack the depth and detail expected from modern games.”
“The bright and colorful retro-future graphics feel outdated and don't match the gameplay experience.”
“While the visuals are vibrant, they often appear flat and lack the immersive quality that would enhance the overall experience.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The optimization of the tool is criticized for being inadequate for live performances, with users noting its slow response and the need for extensive preconfiguration, making it challenging to use in a live instrumental setting. Overall, it is deemed not ready for stage use.
“My vision changed on how we were going to approach a live performance for mftech.”
“It would be difficult to use for live instrumental performance without a patient audience or a lot of preconfigured setups.”
“This is nowhere near ready for a stage performance tool.”
“Slow - it would be difficult to use for live instrumental performance without a patient audience or a lot of preconfigured setups.”
“To call this a soundstage and imply this is ready for stage performances is a big call.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the software is praised for its user-friendly approach, making it accessible and enjoyable rather than overwhelming, unlike other complex sound creation tools.
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay aspect is highlighted through the user's intention to create a video showcasing their experience, indicating an engaging and interactive gaming experience worth sharing.
