MelodyVR, Augmented Acoustics, and Hear Active Listening: how technology could change live music

The ultimate in music kudos is being able to say: “I was there.” But how often do the stars align for that perfect gig experience?

Your favourite band might be playing your dream set but if you can’t hear the tracks because of poor sound quality or the people next to you singing along, the experience can be ruined — and that’s if you’ve managed to score tickets in the first place.

But now, as festival season gets under way with Field Day this weekend, tech types are looking at solutions. The music of the future could be boosted by customisable sound, with perfect bass streamed directly to your ears from the stage — and you might even be able to feel like you are in the front row while still in your living room.

MelodyVR launches in the UK later this year. It promises the world’s largest library of virtual-reality music content, featuring artists from Skepta to the London Symphony Orchestra, so that whether you’re wearing an Oculus Rift or Google Cardboard, you can be in the centre of the action without leaving your bedroom.

If you tire of crowd noise you can listen to a feed straight from the band, or simulate jumping on stage. MelodyVR will film the action from vantage points that don’t intrude on the show and use ambisonic audio so you get a 360-degree sound. It has partnered with Ibiza Rocks, Snowbombing and Outlook festivals.

It’s not the only company exploring the possibilities of live music VR. Concert promoters LiveNation have signed a five-year partnership deal with NextVR with a view to streaming concerts live online.

If going to a gig without setting foot in a venue seems a step too far, other companies are making progress on improving the real-life experience. French start-up Augmented Acoustics is targeting poor sound quality. Its solution is to provide earphones at venues and a device containing a radio receiver to hang on a lanyard around your neck.

You might look like you’ve wandered in accidentally from a walking tour but you’ll be hearing perfectly balanced sound, regardless of the venue’s acoustics. Using an app on your phone you can even make adjustments yourself to what you’re hearing.

There is something of the silent disco about this, and many music fans would argue that it’s more important to experience the electric, roar of atmosphere than pitch-perfect synths, but if you’re a regular gig-goer worried about damage to your hearing, it will allow you to control the volume without muffling the sound.