Update 1.1.2 of Vinyl Reality has left the beta phase and is now available on the main branch.

This update implements the new SteamVR input system, which allows you to setup an alternate control scheme for your controllers. The controller binding UI can be accessed in the headset through the SteamVR dashboard or on the desktop under the Devices menu in SteamVR.

Here’s an overview of all the input actions that can be configured:

• Grab Pinch: Grab objects or input controls using the index finger (ex: sliders, knobs, etc..)
  
• Grap Grip: Grab objects or input controls using the entire hand (ex: vinyl records, etc…)
  
• Button Press: Press buttons (ex: start button, cue button, streaming console pads, etc…)
  
• Toggle Virtual Headphones: Toggle virtual headphones channel
  
• Joystick Position: Scroll through the record case list or make precise input control adjustments by moving the controller’s joystick
  
• Trackpad Slide: Scroll through the record case list or make precise input control adjustments by sliding the thumb over the controller’s trackpad (Requires Trackpad Position to be assigned)
  
• Trackpad Positon: Position of the thumb on the controller’s trackpad
  
• Record Case Open Menu: Open radial navigation menu in record case (Requires Trackpad Position to be assigned)
  
• Record Case Enter: Enter selected folder in record case
  
• Record Case Return: Return to previous folder in record case
  
• Toggle User Settings: Toggle user settings panel
  
• UI Click: Interact with UI elements in the main menu and user settings panels

• Feature: Added support for SteamVR input system
  
• Turntable: Fixed strobe dot speed on turntable platter
  
• Turntable: Reduced size and priority of turntable cartridge collider, to avoid accidentally grabbing it while reaching for the turntable's platter
  
• Environments: Removed creepy dude from club environment
  
• Tech: Rewrote input system to simplify implementation of different controller types
  
• Tech: Updated SteamVR plug-in to latest version
  
• Tech: Small performance improvements and tweaks
  
• Bug Fix: Fixed minor haptic feedback bugs
  
• Meta: Updated User Manual

Hi everyone,

I’ve just pushed version EA v1.1.2b1 of Vinyl Reality to the beta branch.

This update implements the new SteamVR input system, which allows you to setup an alternate control scheme for your favorite controllers.

It also enables Windows Mixed Reality users to use both the trackpad and joystick on their controllers to scroll through their record collection or to make precise fader adjustments.

The default controller bindings are identical to the previous version, so if I have done my job correctly you shouldn’t notice any changes, unless you personalize the bindings.

To opt into this beta version, follow these steps:

• Right click Vinyl Reality in your Steam library
  
• Select Properties
  
• Select the BETAS tab
  
• From the drop-down menu, select “beta – Beta Testing”

If you notice any issues while using the new beta, be sure to report them in the Steam forums or on the Vinyl Reality Discord server.

Today marks the one year anniversary of Vinyl Reality’s release on Steam Early Access.
To celebrate this joyous occasion, the application will be on sale for the next 24 hours!

If you already own the application, you can still enjoy a 25% saving on all Vinyl Reality merchandise purchased from the online merchandise store in the next two days.


If you’re wondering what has changed since the initial Early Access release a year ago, here’s an overview of some of the major features that have been added since then:

• Native Oculus Rift support
  
• Ergonomic DJ workstation with adjustable height and angle
  
• Vinyl records grooves which visualize the track’s structure
  
• Support for loading FLAC, OGG, WAV, WMA and AIF file formats
  
• Optional BPM (Beats per Minute) display
  
• Windows Mixed Reality support
  
• Recording Studio environment
  
• Streaming console and third person cameras for live streams or performances
  
• Main menu redesign
  
• Underground club environment with sound reactive lights and visual effects
  
• Vinyl Reality environment SDK

Apart from all these features, there have of course also been a ton of minor improvements and bug fixes. I look forward to developing even more new features with the help from the community, and to releasing the full version of Vinyl Reality some time next year.


I’d like to give a big thank you to everyone who’s supported Vinyl Reality over the past year, since none of this would have been possible without you!

Version 1.1.1 of Vinyl Reality is now available. This is quite a small update to the application itself, but I’m also releasing version 1.0 of the Vinyl Reality SDK alongside it.

The Vinyl Reality SDK enables you to create custom environments for Vinyl Reality inside the Unity Editor. It includes an example scene and all the components needed to setup your own Unity scene so that it can be loaded in Vinyl Reality.

In this first version, the functionality is limited and only exposes control on spawning the user and placing all of the required DJ Gear, but future version of the SDK will gradually expose more functionality.

To get started creating your own environments, download the SDK and the documentation from the Vinyl Reality website.

If you create an environment and want to share it with the rest of the Vinyl Reality community, be sure to post it on the SDK Discord channel!
A more convenient way to share and install the environments from inside the application itself, will be added in the future.

Looking forward to seeing all of your creations!

Full release notes:

• General: Released SDK v1.0 for creating custom environments
  
• General: Added “load custom content” panel to main menu to load user created content
  
• General: Improved main menu design
  
• Bug Fix: Possible fix for audio issues reported by some users

Update 1.1.0 of Vinyl Reality has left the beta phase and is now available to all users!

The main new feature in this update is the underground club environment with sound reactive lighting. Please keep in mind that this is only the first iteration of the new environment, and that more features (additional types of lights, special effect and a virtual interactive crowd) will be added in subsequent updates.

To showcase the new environment and further promote the application, I’ve recorded an eclectic half hour DJ set packed with ten of my favorite tracks:

https://youtu.be/h_ikqqi7Soc
This update took quite a long time to finish, because a lot of new content needed to be created, but from now on I plan to divide features into smaller updates, which will be released more often. I have updated the roadmap to reflect these changes.

The next update will focus on building a basic SDK, so users can create and import their own environments into the application.

Full Release Notes:

• Environments: Added first iteration of new underground club environment with sound reactive lighting
  
• General: Added support for AIFF file format
  
• General: Hid interaction outlines on specator cameras
  
• User Settings: Stored audio settings separately for different XR SDKs
  
• Bug Fix: Fixed loading screen on record case UI not displaying correctly in certain edge cases
  
• Bug Fix: Fixed visual stutter on turntable platter and slipmat rotation
  
• Bug Fix: Fixed intense glow on vinyl record label text when bloom was enabled

Thanks again to all beta testers who helped test this new update ;)

I’m happy to announce that the beta version of the upcoming update (EA v1.1.0) is now available for testing!

This update includes the first version of the new club environment with sound responsive lighting.

Most of the features are completely functional, but some things still need to be finished before the final version will be released, including:

• Replacing the DJ workstation with a flight case version
  
• Adding the streaming console and spectator cameras to the club
  
• Small tweaks and minor bug fixes

Please keep in mind that this is only the first iteration of the new club environment, and that more features will be added in subsequent updates. For an overview of all planned features, check out the Early Access Roadmap.

To get access to the beta test, all you need to do is sign-up to the Vinyl Reality mailing list and you’ll receive the beta unlock code!

If you encounter any issues while testing the beta, or have other feedback, be sure to share it in this forum thread or on the Vinyl Reality Discord Sever.

Since I know a lot of you are eagerly awaiting the next update, which will include the brand new club environment, I thought I’d give you all an update on the progress so far.

The last couple of weeks I’ve been mainly focused on programming a system that analyses the audio signal from the mixer in real-time, to detect beats and energy transitions in the music.
This system will drive all the sound reactive light and visual effects inside the club environment. For example, the colors of the lights will change depending on the energy of the track that’s playing, dimming to warm and soft tones during quiet interludes, to then abruptly change into bright and vivid hues when the beat drops in again.

Here’s a short video showing the new system working its magic in an early version of the club environment: https://youtu.be/JeHTUlQXVmM
For now I’m quite happy with how well the system works. It can adapt to different genres of music and is rather versatile. I will probably keep working on the system after the first iteration of the club environment has been released, to further improve its accuracy and reliability.

Before starting work on the sounds reactive lighting system, I designed the basic layout of the club environment. I tried many different iterations, trying to find a space that feels and looks good from a VR perspective, while keeping in mind performance constraints. The current design I’ve settled on has a strong underground vibe and is heavily inspired by Berlin clubs located in old industrial buildings.

The next couple of weeks I’ll be working on adding details to the club environment as well as adding more lighting and visual effects. If you want to stay up to date with the latest developments, I suggest you join the Vinyl Reality Discord Server!

The Vinyl Reality Discord server is now live: https://discord.gg/9TCsXfc

Join the server to ask me questions directly and to provide feedback, or just to hang out with other Vinyl Reality users!

I’ve also just uploaded a small update, which adds a couple of features and addresses a couple of minor issues. Check out the full release notes below for more info.

Full release notes:

• General: Added web links to main menu
  
• General: Added ability to interact with objects using the controller’s grip button
  
• General: Added hint to user settings panel
  
• Oculus: Tweaked pitch control slider thumbstick sensitivity
  
• Oculus: Enabled personalized avatars in Oculus SDK version
  
• Bug Fix: Fixed audio not playing when turntable needle dropped from too high

Version 1.0.7 of Vinyl Reality has left the beta phase and is now available for everyone to try out.

This update adds native support for the Oculus Rift headset and touch controllers, allowing Oculus users to run the application without SteamVR, resulting in better performance and an overall smoother experience.
Another small bonus feature for Oculus users is that they now have a more lifelike 3rd person avatar, which is visible from the spectator cameras in the Recording Studio environment.

To launch the Oculus VR Mode, simple right click the application in your Steam library, and select the Launch Vinyl Reality in Oculus VR Mode option.

For this update, I’ve also completely redesigned the main menu, to make it more user-friendly and visually appealing.

Last but not least, all audio and application settings can now be accessed from inside VR, removing the need to take off your headset when configuring your settings.
When running the application in Steam VR Mode, you can open the settings panel by pressing the menu button on the HTC Vive or Windows MR controllers, or by pressing the B or Y buttons on the Oculus touch controllers.
When running the application in Oculus VR Mode, the settings panel can be opened by pressing the start button on the left touch controller.

Full Release Notes:

• General: Added native Oculus support
  
• General: Redesigned Main Menu UI and environment
  
• General: Redesigned loading screen
  
• User Settings: Made setting panels accessible in VR
  
• User Settings: Added dropdown selection for default audio device
  
• User Settings: Added button to set privacy preferences
  
• Interaction: Improved outlines for interactive objects
  
• Fixes: several small bug fixes and improvements
  
• Other: Hidden customization feature

Thanks again to all beta testers who helped test this new version ;)

EntroPi Games has partnered with Print Beach to offer our fans an exclusive line of Vinyl Reality merchandise.

If you’d like to buy some swag to show your support for Vinyl Reality, be sure to head on over to our newly launched online store to discover all of the available products!
Free shipping in the EU and worldwide delivery are available.

Visit the Vinyl Reality store!


In other news, I’ve been hard at work on the next update (1.0.7) which, if everything goes according to plan, will be released some time next week.

The beta version will be available to all beta testers soon. If you would like to get access to the beta branch, be sure to sign up to the Vinyl Reality mailing list to receive your unlock code.

Sign up to the Vinyl Reality mailing list