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Peace for Triple Piano

vihart.com

338 pointsfanf241 comments

The explanation of how the video was made [0] was fantastic! It goes into the insane math behind everything and Vi even makes little physical models showing how the objects move through space and time... Definitely worth a watch!

[0]: https://youtu.be/x1zJoU6Luss

I went straight to the video and was confused at first not realizing it was a 360° video. Make sure to drag around while watching for the full effect!

Ah, thanks for pointing this out. This helped a lot.

Am I understanding correctly that she only recorded a single video, and spliced it together 3 times?

Yes, if I'm understanding the making video correctly, it's three different time sections of the same video at once, timeshifted equally, with the three views also slowly rotating around the sphere (more like a cylinder) over time, which keeps the three edges seamless as long as you plan your movements carefully. And a bit of editing to correct issues.

> more like a cylinder

Or a "sphube," according to the making-of video.

Seriously! I watched the entire thing without realizing this, thinking "Um... this is nice but I don't understand what is Vi Hart-ish about it?" Then I noticed the 360 aspect and mind blown.

The effect when watching it on your phone (with headphones) in the YouTube app is really neat, with the 3D audio and orientation tracking.

With >$7500 per month rolling in[1], I doubt she has to starve very much, or at least I hope so. Amazing that she has managed to get that far! Way to go Vi.

[1] https://www.patreon.com/vihart

I don't know if that's as much as you think it is. Vi's actually pretty forward with what some of those costs are on her Patreon page there, and in calling the goal of $10,000 "sustainability". If I were to throw some very rough numbers, I'd guess at 10% of that going to payment processing (iirc, Patreon takes 5%, paypal/stripe would be at 3-5%?), which would leave 81,000/yr. 24,000 to tax, and we're down to 4,750/mo.

Internet, piano loan, and rent are 2,650 as per Vi's Patreon pledge amounts. So, 2,100/mo for the rest of life's costs (and if you're not used to seeing the cost, remember that health insurance is not cheap in the US), as well as the costs of material and equipment for her work. I'll point out that "sustainability" as her Patreon goal still involves counting on Amazon wishlist gifts to provide the equipment she wants/needs, and this is before we talk about savings or other such adult things.

It's great that she's getting Patreon income (and probably Youtube ad income)! I really would love to see amazing creators supported in such a way more often. We should just be careful when reading the Patreon top line number that we don't compare it to our bottom line on a pay stub.

I think every other artist, creator or more generally, independent worker in the world also has all of those costs you mention, and a big chunk of them aren't making anywhere near 7.5k/month. Not that I think it is "too much" or anything like that, please support the arts, but I can see the OP's point regarding it already being a nice sum that she's getting for her most excellent work.

Many if not most artists and creators also make use of sponsorship and selling merch and physical copies of their work. Just comparing Patreon numbers doesn't really mean anything. Who knows, maybe vihart also ears quite a bit of money from other activities...

Hart is offering some merch too: https://store.dftba.com/collections/vi-hart . I think physical goods are or were a significant part of her revenue plans, though I don't know how that's working out. Unlike a lot of other Patreon creators she is apparently trying to live full-time on her creative/featured/sponsorable output without a day-job to supplement it.

Patreon donations are taxed?

Income is taxed

They're income like everything else?

What is your purpose in posting this comment?

Probably just to link to the Patreon? There's a paragraph in the article that says she's still traumatized from having been a starving artist.

Related, my wife is a visual artist and she finds it quite maddening that a typical conversation with a stranger goes:

  Q: So what do you do?

  A: I'm a sculptor.

  Q: Oh, how do you sell enough to make a living at that?

There are several alternative formulations focused on money, like, "who do you sell your work to", or "who bought your last piece".

Always about the money. Very rarely, "what material", or "where can I see your work", or "where's your studio".

Yeah but if that's a viable career path, I'd want to know about it.

Vi Hart is like all the Tenenbaum children rolled into one. So much talent!

It's been years since I read, "Family of Geniuses". I agree - Vi Hart could be the other "adopted daughter".

Watch the "making of" video! So much hard work!

My favorite phrase from the making-of video: "time sphube"

Hey! If you like 3D audio and video music projects check out this awesome project called Smart Concert: http://patrickfedigan.xyz/smartconcert.html

Worth pulling out the Google Cardboard (or fancier VR device) for this video.

It's pretty disorienting to turn around and see/hear her behind you. I spent a few minutes confusing turning 120 degrees for turning 180 degrees. I though she pulled some crazy hexaflexagon style trick in the video, since it took me 3 "about face" turns to get back to my original position.

Very nice! Reminiscent of Michael Gondry, on what must be a minuscule fraction of the budget. Compare with Gondry's "Come Into My World": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63vqob-MljQ

He took it to the next level on the "Let Forever Be" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5FyfQDO5g0

I was hoping for a very quiet “ppp” piece of music, maybe some science or just curious insight behind pianissimo. I figured “peace” only re-iterated the quietness sought after.

Is it spelled "Peace" deliberately or is that a typo?

Pacem == Peace, the main lyrics are Dona Nobis Pacem

Thank you, I hadn't paid attention.

This is incredibly well made!

Anybody know what camera was used to film this?

Ricoh Theta (https://theta360.com/en/about/theta/)

It was briefly mentioned in the making-of video.

From Vi Hart's FAQ

Q: How do you pronounce “Vi”? A: Usually “Vi” rhymes with “Hi”, but the non-English pronunciation is often like “Vee,” and I consider that also correct. I will also answer to “Six” and “Not-Emacs”.

I'm also enjoying reading the FAQ. My favorite part:

> Q: You should make a video about…

> A: Nope! You should make that video!

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