Why are we Live Streaming?
As large gatherings are cancelled and postponed for the forseeable future, Artists are seeking new ways to perform live for their fans virtually. Its still such a new frontier and there is a lot of experimentation happening. Artists are using the resources at their disposal to do what they can to create a show and entertain their fans via the streaming platform of their choice.
Lets take a look at a few of the different forms that a virtual concert production can take, and how DJs, Musicians, and VJs can create together via the internet.
THE DIY SETUP
The simplest form is for the musician to point a camera at themselves and go Live. While it may not be the most visually stunning, it is easy to deploy and can have an intimate atmosphere especially if the artist is able to interact with their audience during the performance. This is a great option for those with an active performance element like finger drumming or live instrumentalists. Try dressing up your space with themed props or creative lighting to add visual interest for those watching.
Another simple setup if the artist has access to a projector and has some visual experience or if the artist and VJ can be in the same room. The projected visuals add some visual interest to the stream. If you're a solo operation try using Serato or Ableton to link video to the different parts of your track. If you need some loops, check out vjloops.com resolume.com/footage or VJ Union Sell & Share on Facebook, or just rip your favorite Rick & Morty episodes and call it a day.
THE SETUP: Camera to Capture card and Audio to Audio interface into Streaming Computer.
Visuals FOCUSED
Another option is to focus the stream on the visuals and stream those full screen. This approach can have a clean and high quality visual look when a camera-ready space is not available, and you can always mix in a camera feed as well. This is a good option for DJs and VJs working remotely, as the DJ can stream privately to the VJ, who then mixes live to that stream, and streams their output to the final viewer.
THE SETUP: DJ Camera Feed into VJ Computer. VJ Output and DJ Audio to Stream
DJ On Green Screen
To build on the previous option, if you have a green or bluescreen backdrop available, you can film the DJ against that and composite them over the visuals or into a virtual stage design for a cleaner combination of DJ Cam and Fullscreen Visuals. The possibilities for creativity really start to expand here when you get into the idea of a virtual set, and the setup is still relatively simple to execute.
THE SETUP: Solid backdrop behind DJ, DJ Camera Feed into VJ Computer, Remove Background with Chroma Key and Layer onto Visuals. VJ Output and DJ Audio to Stream
DJ with Full Production
A great option for tours that were just about to hit the road or production companies with space and LED panels available is to stream a session in your space with the full production set up. LED Screens, Smoke, Pyro, the full show seen from the best angles live. Kayzo and Code Orange did this really well, as is Insomniac with their Virtual Rave-A-Thons
EXTENDED REALITY (XR) / MIXED REALITY
One of the new frontiers of visuals which has began being used in films is gaining a lot of interest for virtual concerts due to it actually needing to be viewed through a camera. Essentially projection mapping with a dynamic camera position, this setup allows a partial cube of LED panels to be transformed into a 3D environment when viewed through the camera. Using realtime software like Notch, Unity, or Unreal, that camera can move around the scene and the proper viewing perspective is projected onto the LED walls which creates a 3D illusion that is unprecedented.
VR concerts
Another cutting edge approach being pioneered by the fine folks at The Wave, the artist is suited up in a mocap suit which controls their avatar within a VR concert venue. The entire space becomes a VJ-able 360 degree visual experience that viewers can participate in using their VR headsets.