Free VRtous connection tool
VRtous Companion App is a Windows tool for connecting pianos and Oculus Quest devices. It complements VRtous by Pavel Marceluch, created for virtual reality piano learning. The original program and companion app are still in development, with features continually added for improved user experience.
What is VRtous?
You’ll need a physical piano and the VRtous program to take advantage of this app. The latter is a play of words on virtuous, which you’ll become by using it. It’s a piano learning app with a much different approach than Flowkey or Vivace.
The program lets you calibrate your real piano into the system and import the songs you want to learn. The VR headset displays the notes falling directly onto your keys, making it easy to practice and learn new pieces. It also lets you customise the learning environment. You can incorporate custom backgrounds and input music folders for easy access.
How does the companion app help?
The companion app is a necessary element if you’re using VRtous with a midi piano and Quest headset. It connects the two, letting you enjoy everything this virtual reality program has to offer. It’s a simple pane on your Windows PC. There’s still no mobile app, unfortunately.
After you select input and output devices, visit VRtous and check the upper left panel. You’ll find the required IP address there. You can finalise the process by putting it in and clicking ‘Connect.’ You’ll achieve connection in a second, making the program responsive and ready to teach you songs on your midi piano.
Potential performance issues
Since it’s still a developing project, the program and application have frequent performance issues. Luckily, most of them are simple to solve by restarting your devices, ensuring that your Quest and PC are on the same WiFi network or hotspot, and checking whether your firewall is blocking the communication. If these solutions don’t work, you can reach the developer’s community on Discord, either the creator himself or a member of his network.
Must-have companion
Overall, downloading this app makes complete sense if you’re using VRtous. The Windows program is super helpful for connecting your piano and your Oculus device via local WiFi. Plus, it’s still a work in progress, with many handy features yet to come and improve the performance.
