HOBO, a boutique audio company, has launched a 360 VR division and formed strategic alliances with production/postproduction studios East Coast Digital and Hidden Content, both based in New York, to offer clients a full service approach to 360 VR content creation--from concepting through production, post, music and final audio mix in an immersive 360 format.

Several projects have coming in recently, giving the team at HOBO an opportunity to employ its object oriented audio mix skills to enhance the 360 viewing experience.

VR content creation is on the rise, thanks to the emergence of new hardware from companies like Oculus, Samsung, Sony and Google. Howard Bowler, HOBO founder and president, sees unique opportunities for the new medium to both entertain and educate more deeply than ever before.

“The applications of 360 VR,” Bowler said, “are already having an impact on everything from gaming and entertainment to science, health, medicine, history and teaching.  At HOBO, we get comfortable with new technologies that inspire us by diving in and working with the tools.  That’s what we’re doing with 360 VR content.”

Creative Alliances
Partnering with HOBO are the production/post studios Hidden Content and East Coast Digital.  Founded by creative director Ant Gentile, Jake Wasserman, and Adam Donald, Hidden Content is a VR company working with such clients Samsung, 451 Media, Giant Step, PMK-BNC, Nokia, and Pop Sugar. 

East Coast Digital (ECD) was founded by Scott Kleinberger in 1998 and provides complete postproduction services for content creators, including editorial, color correction, delivery, archive/asset management and mobile rental systems. Its 360VR work includes the short film Cardboard City, which was a co-winner of the Samsung Gear Indie VR Filmmaker Contest and debuted at Sundance 2016 on the Milk VR platform.

In addition to working with its partner clients, HOBO (through its division Green Point Creative) is developing an original dramatic TV series produced in 360--a Wire inspired story set in the suburbs that will be shot and distributed to various 360 platforms. 

“I’ve always envisioned HOBO as doing more than audio, but resisted the temptation to simply add post services,” Bowler added. “I wanted something more holistically focused. 360 VR is a technology that we believe will grow as more companies like ours create content for it.  We are working with others businesses committed to pushing the boundaries of this new medium.”