SANTA MONICA, Calif.�KCRW, the public radio station associated with Santa Monica College, has announced a new free virtual reality app that will offer musical performances by guests of the radio station. The goal is to put users inside intimate performances in the legendary basement studio of the radio station.
The app is designed to work withGoogle Cardboardand is launching with music videos from a number of big artists, including the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Brandie Carlile, Penguin Prison, Shana Halligan, Korey Dane and more.
Built by hand in the basement of KCRW�s Santa Monica studio, the custom video rig features eight GoPro cameras that allow each artist�s performance to be captured in stereoscopic 3D (Virtual Reality) to create a 360� panoramic video. �Footage is then stitched together to create an immersive, stereoscopic 3D VR experience that puts the user inside the session.
�Now for the first time, you can be in our studio with the artists. It�s a revolutionary change in the way KCRW curated artists and music can be discovered. �We are always striving for creative ways to connect with our community and we�re so excited to try out this new technology together,� commented Jennifer Ferro, KCRW president.
To experience KCRW�s exclusive performances in full stereoscopic VR video, fans can download the free app in theiOSandAndroidstores and can purchase a specially designed KCRW Cardboard, with artwork by Mr. Scruff, for only a $5.00 donation to KCRW.com. �Users that do not have KCRW Cardboard can still watch the videos as an interactive 360 degree video on KCRW�s YouTube channel.
For more information on KCRW�s virtual reality experience, including a behind-the-scenes video, visitwww.kcrw.com/vr.
