Tag: Music

Ceek: A Brief Introduction

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Ceek is yet another blockchain-based VR app that has ambitious plans to offer live concert events and other experiences:

CEEK VR simulates the communal experience of attending a live concert, being in a classroom, attending a sporting event and other “money can’t buy” exclusive experiences with friends anywhere at anytime. CEEK VR creates, curates and distributes Virtual Reality content for top-class partners using patented headsets and CEEK’s VR platform.

The website is full of references to big-name musical artists such as Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. A YouTube promotional video explains how blockchain technology is used on the Ceek platform:

Here’s a second promotional video, showing some of the VR venues within Ceek:

The Ceek token sale website has more information. Ceek alrready has a partnership with Universal Music:

CEEK VR, Inc.’s partnership agreement with Universal Music Group grants rights to live performances with top tier artists including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, U2, Sting, Neyo and more! CEEK has upcoming releases with major studios and influential producers.

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CEEK’s mobile ready, VR headset is sold at major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target and includes a $10.00 iTunes reward gift code with purchase.

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CEEK VR is a distributor of cryptographically authenticated immersive content and merchandise. CEEK’s device agnostic platform is compatible with smartphones, Smart TV’s, desktop, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality devices. CEEK’s world class partners include Universal Music, Apple and T-Mobile.

CEEK Tokens are governed by Ethereum Smart Contracts, allowing token holders ability for flexible, tokenized ‘in-world’ interactions, rewards, voting, contests, virtual goods and other transactions utilizing ERC20 compliant Tokens called CEEK.

At the moment, Ceek does not appear to support either the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive VR headsets, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, or Gear VR, although they have issued a press release that they plan to offer support sometime later this summer:

With the mission to be the first to reach one billion “CEEKERS” of content and exciting experiences, CEEK VR will be introducing new environments which will include photorealistic avatars…debuting this summer for ROBLOX in VR, GEAR VR, OCULUS VR, AND MICROSOFT mixed reality headsets.

The Ceek website currently only offers two VR viewer options: a Ceek-branded VR headset for US$99.99, which works with your existing cellphone, as well as a US$14.99 Megadeath-branded cardboard headset, which also works with your cellphone :

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Here’s an unboxing and hands-on review video of the Ceek headset:

I downloaded the Ceek app to my iPhone to test it out (it’s also available for Android devices). It offers two ways for you to view content, either a 360-degree display or the use of the Ceek VR headset:

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Since I don’t have the Ceek VR headset, I chose the first option. Bascially, you get a sort of heads-up display that looks like this:

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What I found incredibly annoying was a pop-up window that appeared over the HUD, which I could not clear:

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I eventually gave up in frustration. I have no idea how well the Ceek VR headset works, but the app seems pretty useless without it.

It would appear that Ceek still has a few bugs to iron out. I’d check back in 6 to 12 months to see what progress has been made.

Second Life Machinima: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

The following wonderful machinima (i.e., a video made within Second Life) is by Tiara Ashley, who has a whole YouTube channel full of cleverly-made music videos:

I first heard about Tiara’s work via Wagner James Au of New World Notes. And I agree with Wagner; more people need to know about this! So I am blogging her video here.

REMINDER: The Voices of Sansar Talent Competition Starts Today!

An update to my earlier blogpost about the Voices of Sansar talent competition, to be held at Alfy’s Arena Live Music Stage in Sansar. He had to push back the start date, and the first round of judging of the musical artists will take place today, Saturday, May 12th.

Here’s a link to the event in the Sansar Events listings. See you there, right after Atlas Hopping!

Voices of Sansar Image 8 Apr 2018

Sansar Store Spotlight: GotMojo Musical Instruments

GranddadGotMojo has just released what I believe to be the first line of playable musical instruments in Sansar. He has listed them all for sale in his store, GotMojo Interactive Music:

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There’s a steel pan drum, a regular drum set, a Hammond organ, a grand piano, a Moog synthesizer, a drum machine—even a boombox with 40 jam tracks! And he has also put working models of all his instruments in his new Sansar experience, called GotMojo Interactive Musical Instruments:

GotMojo Musical Instruments 12 Apr 2018.png

To try them out, stand on the red pad in front of each musical instrument. Give it a few seconds to load, and then use your keyboard to play musical notes!  Granddad explains:

The Stand Alone Instruments are played using the PC Keyboard. The top row of numbers 1 to 0, the keypad numbers 0 – 9, the Shift Key plus the top row numbers 1 to 0 and the Shift Key plus the keypad numbers 0 to 9. This means that you can play up to 40 notes using the PC keyboard.

For example, here is a chart on the wall showing you what keys control various sounds on the drum kit:

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To learn more about what you can do, check out the wiki that GranddadGotMojo created to support these products. They are quite detailed, and explain exactly how to set the musical scale, octaves, volume, and pan of each instrument.

You can buy and install these playable musical instruments in your own Sansar experience, following the step-by-step instructions GraddadGotMojo has prepared. There’s a fair bit of setup involved, but Granddad walks you through it all.