Virtual reality comes to Standard Bank Joy of Jazz – which takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 24 to 26 – as visitors will be given the chance to enter a virtual world and experience a live jazz performance recorded with cutting edge and ground-breaking technology that takes viewers “into” the concert.
Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz Nduduzo Makhathini’s performance at The Orbit jazz club in Braamfontein was recorded in 360 degree spherical which will allow the viewer to feel that they were actually there and “stepping into” the video. The video was shot by Standard Bank using a unique trigger camera.
With virtual reality technology, jazz fans at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will be able to experience music in a whole new way. The technology makes use of the 360 degree video footage, which is integrated with a Virtual Reality headset powered by Oculus. This is the first time this headset has been used for an activation of any sort in South Africa and allows users to immerse themselves in a high definition, life-like environment. This is the first live jazz performance recorded with this cutting edge and ground-breaking technology in South Africa.
The viewing experience at Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will be enhanced with the use of eight Ocupods which are futuristic pod like seats. The units provide a comfortable, environment in which users can immerse themselves in the jazz video experience. The Ocupod houses a set of speakers, which coupled with the pod design, creates a bubble for the user where external noise is cancelled, thus making the experience more immersive.
For experiences which require navigation, the pod is designed to incorporate a track-ball and pedals, but can take the experience a step further by the integration of Motion Tracking technology.
It’s a concert experience unlike anything audiences will ever have seen or heard. In a regular concert, the musicians are all on stage in front of you and all of the sound is coming from one direction. Thanks to this ground-breaking technology sounds are coming at you from every direction in a surround-sound soundscape. As you turn your head to see the various instrumental sections, you can clearly and accurately hear each section in both direction and volume.
Some of those who have experienced it feel that the virtual reality version is even better than the live event.
Says Hazel Chimhandamba, Head of Group Sponsorships at Standard Bank, “This is an exciting new collaboration that brings music and technology together, pushing the boundaries of the experience that live jazz can offer through this brand new technology. Nduduzo Makhathini’s music takes audiences to another dimension through a fully immersive experience that engages most of the human senses.”
Audiences will be able to experience the Nduduzo Makhathini’s recording at Standard Bank Joy of Jazz which takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 24 to 26. There is no charge.