VR mindfulness and meditation experience. That was the idea Oussama presented to me, and I loved it. However, I realized it would be a difficult challenge. It’s unlike any other VR game or experience; in a meditation, acoustics play a significant role in defining the user experience. It needed to be more than simply noises; the soundscapes needed to transport people to another peaceful realm, allowing them to be present and totally involved in the meditation.
After a meeting with the creative team, our objective was to create an environment where every sound complimented the visual and guided the user through his peaceful trip.
The key Challenge : Create a soundscapes that seemed natural and harmonic while also properly matching the rhythm of the meditation.
So get in board with me and let’s see how we made this possible:
Ambient Sound Layers: We began by creating ambient sound; these elements are associated with the environment that the user has selected. We designed layers of natural sounds, including ocean waves, wind through trees, and distant bird cries…
Key Point: The ambient sound has to seem natural, as if the user were sitting in nature.
Binaural Audio: Binaural sound allows users to feel like they are hearing the environment around them, as they would in real life. We placed sounds such that when a bird chirped or the wind blew, it appeared to be coming from a specific direction.
Key Point: Since VR is an immersive platform, using a binaural audio was essential create 3D auditory experience.
Guided Meditation Voice Integration: When it comes to voice recording, narrative and tone are extremely crucial, thus we made this obvious to the voice artist. But it doesn’t stop there; the voice still has to be edited so it doesn’t sound dry. We processed the voice with EQ and compression, and we made sure that the levels were balanced so that it fit perfectly into the soundscape.
Key Point: The voice had to feel intimate and personal, as if the guide was speaking directly to the user.
Sound Effects as Emotional Cues: Along with ambient sounds, we used subtle sound effects to indicate emotional shifts during the meditation. For example, gentle chimes or bells were put at key moments to indicate transitions between stages of the meditation, allowing the user to move from one state of mind to the next.
Key Point: These elements were kept minimal and organic, always serving the meditation rather than distracting from it.
Achieving Balance: Silence may be equally as effective as sound in guiding meditation, providing room for thought and deeper focus. We carefully selected quiet times to allow the user’s mind and body to relax more. After conducting some research (which wasn’t the most exciting part of the job), we paid great attention to volume levels and frequencies that may distract or increase the mind’s relaxation, and we carefully tuned the soundscapes to avoid upsetting it.
Delivering the Final Experience: After going back and forth testing and modifying pieces with various users, we were able to deliver a soundscape that completely immerses patients in their meditation trip.
I hope this gave you an insight into our project procedure, from creative to technical. Sound is such a vital part of VR experiences, and it’s always fascinating to see how it can drastically change the outcome of a meditation session.
