Perform With Perfect Audio In Somnium Space Metaverse!

I’ve been performing music and experimenting with audio in Somnium Space for almost two years. In Somnium Space VR, I’ve streamed myself dj-ing for weekly Saturday Disco parties through Twitch, which Somnium players can watch on the “big screen” in-game web browser. I’ve performed acoustic shows wearing my vrGuitars on my selfie-based Ready Player Me avatar. I’ve even performed a fully body-tracked concert with my Visitors of Imma Degen NFT avatar with a Twitch stream of myself performing irl.

The Dask entered the METAVERSE !

This is only the beginning.

Thank you to @ImmaDegen & @OLYsounds for this awesome live envent !#Metaverse #Metavatars #theklubrises pic.twitter.com/934QlDnxuy
— The Dead Army Skeleton Klub (@The_DASK) February 5, 2022

In Somnium Web, I host weekly open mics that you can access through most devices – no powerful gaming equipment needed. Another musical pioneer in Somnium Space, Scessions, recently broke the freestyling world record rapping in Somnium Web, broadcasting himself via Twitch (Scessions hosts weekly freestyling cypher jams at The Bassment every Monday.)

The Bassment Monday Night Cypher Jam with Scessions

Here are a few videos of Somnium Space performances – twitter compressed them a lot but you’ll get the concept:

@Shontelle_Layne’s avatar launch and song release party:

Fun fun fun in the #Metaverse!
Saturday Disco Nite at @SomniumSpace #VR and #SomniumWEB with @TheMetheors avatar #NFT launch with @Shontell_Layne, @SCessions, and @OLYsounds!

:https://t.co/BoUjiLnSL9
WEB:https://t.co/uaZGqub2Cd #blockchain #virtualreality #vrevent #nfts pic.twitter.com/ddcATwmrTH
— Somnium Times (@SomniumTimes) February 2, 2022

Livestream for Ukraine:

A beautiful display of standing up for peace and non violence in @SomniumSpace. ︎

Watch as performers show their support and send their love to the #Ukraine and the people being affected by war. #NoWarInUkraine in #VR

: @UltraLord19 https://t.co/HANiPDNqv2 pic.twitter.com/UPETQCliK5
— Somnium Times (@SomniumTimes) March 12, 2022

Dance party at my virtual club with dj DanceStash performing from Twitch:

Amazing EXCLUSIVE event at #PRIZMCLUB!

Hosted by @OLYsounds ft. @DanceStash and more; in @SomniumSpace #Metaverse!

Energy up with #highlights from one of the dopest nights to experience in #VR!

:https://t.co/T2wOguXg2X

Web:https://t.co/uaZGqub2Cd #blockchain #nft pic.twitter.com/Zjyl43gwMi
— Somnium Times (@SomniumTimes) February 13, 2022

Almost daily, I get audio questions from pioneering musician who want to perform in the new virtual universe we call the metaverse. Turns out, getting high-quality audio output to your audience for performances isn’t as difficult as it seems. Here is a straightforward, comprehensive breakdown of my sound set up to get you started performing with perfect audio in Somnium Space.

Below, I’ll show you the hardware and software I use to perform. You can use these things separately or in combination.

Note: I’ve found that using my Allen & Heath USB mixer along with Voicemeeter Potato software works best but be aware – Voicemeeter can be glitchy. The most consistently great audio I get is using my usb mixer alone. Learn more below!

Setting up sound with hardware mixer or interface:

Audiobox USB96 Interface (left) and Allen & Heath ZED 10FX usb mixer (right)

You can use a simple audio interface, as pictured in the photo above on the left, or a more advanced audio mixer with effects and EQ-capabilities as pictured in the photo above on the right.

Simply plug in your microphones, instruments, dj decks, mp3 player and/or whatever you’re using to your hardware, then connect it to your computer, adjust system sound settings to relative hardware, then open Somnium Space, and configure your sound settings there. It works most consistently when you do these steps in order.

In the photo above, my microphone and guitar 1/4 inch are plugged into my audio interface. Then I just connect it to my computer usb slot and, from there, configure the input and outputs for Somnium Web or Somnium Space VR respectively as shown below:

Somnium Web:

Selecting microphone in Somnium Web during Friday night open mic at Prizm Club

Somnium Space VR:

Complete your interface/mixer set up and adjust your PC sound settings (shown below under “System Settings”), then launch Somnium Space VR Client in VR.

Open your in-game tablet by pressing the “A” button on your right controller. Click select “Settings” in the bottom right corner. In the Settings menu, scroll down to “Mic source”, open the dropdown menu, and select your mixer or interface. In the photo below to the right, I am selecting my Allen & Heath usb mixer titled “Microphone (2- USB Audio CODEC).

In Somnium Space VR 2d mode, the tablet will be in the upper right of your screen as shown below.

System Settings:

Windows input settings

Windows output settings in Somnium Space WEB

Windows system output in Somnium Space VR

Mac output and input settings when using Audiobox interface

Note that you can use a Mac for Somnium Web, but not for Somnium VR.

WARNING: Making sure to keep your performance input different than the in-game audio and the output you’re using to hear the game, otherwise everyone in the game will hear themselves and it will cause annoying echoes and feedback.

For example, I set my system output to my headset with headphones connected (pictured below), while the input setting in my computer and Somnium Space is set to the mixer or interface.

Setting up sound with Voicemeeter virtual mixer and virtual cable:

Voicemeeter by VB Audio is a great tool to use in substitution of hardware or in combination with it to fine-tune and utilize more channels (for example, you can play a karaoke track from youtube directly from your PC into the game). Either way you choose, it is recommended to use Voicemeeter in combination with Virtual Cable and Ear Trumpet.

My Voicemeeter Potato setup

Voicemeeter offers a variety of free virtual audio tools like Voicemeeter Banana and Potato, which I use (pictured above). They also offer Virtual Cable on their website, which you will use for virtual mixing as well.

To install and set up Voicemeeter properly, watch our tutorial & installation video or read the full article below:

Oly shows you how to install, setup and stream with Voicemeeter Potato.

Stream Mic and PC Audio in VR, OBS, Discord and More With Voicemeeter: The Free Virtual Mixer

Full article on setting up Voicemeeter in Somnium Space

Somnium Web:

Select Voicemeeter as your input in the upper right settings of Somnium Web as shown below.

CrazyNici and Therealcyberpunk88 performing at Prizm Club Web open mic

Somnium Space Vr:

Set up your virtual mixer and/or hardware first, then launch Somnium Space VR. Open your tablet by pressing “A” on your right controller. Go to the “Settings” menu, then scroll down to “Mic source” and select “VoiceMeeter Aux Output”. Now everyone in the game can hear what you’ve mixed using Voicemeeter.

In Somnium Space VR 2d mode, the tablet will be in the upper right of your screen.

System Settings:

Voicemeeter as computer system input

Playing instruments:

As mentioned above, you can plug your instruments into your mixer or interface, then select your hardware as your Somnium Space and system inputs.

The below left and middle photos are of cellist Metaveo using custom controller-holder gloves to play in Somnium Space. Below on the right, you’ll see how I put my hands through my Meta Quest controllers and tighten to my forearms with built-in straps. You can also duct tape them, but I don’t recommend that as it’s hard to readjust quickly to your hands if you need to move around in the game.

Dj-ing:

While dj-ing, I use my mixer as my Somnium Space input and my PC system input, and then plug my DDJ-400s directly into my mixer and my computer via usb. I then mix using Rekordbox with the Rekordbox output going to my DDJs.

Ddj400 link: DDJ-400 – Pioneer DJ – USA

RekordBox download link: rekordbox – free to download – System Requirements – Manual

Streaming from Twitch:

You can also perform on Twitch using OBS and stream into Somnium Space. Just add a web browser to your parcel and link it to your Twitch. No parcel, no problem! Contact club owners through the Somnium Space Discord and they’ll set you up. Below, I’m performing at R00T’S CLUB NFT World:

You’re ready to go! I hope to see you playing music in Somnium Space someday soon. It’s a wonderful experience for the performer and audience alike. I highly recommend it . Contact me with any questions on Discord at OlySounds#6405.

Oly is a musician, writer and gamer usually playing Somnium Space VR.

Check out her latest music, NFTs, and gaming projects at linktr.ee/olysounds.