User needs in the Musical Metaverse: a case study with electroacoustic musicians

The Musical Metaverse (MM) is expected to pave the way for a new era of musical activities in immersive, and technology-mediated environments. However, research on the MM is still in its infancy. Until now, the attention has primarily been directed toward engineering and artistic issues. Few studies have explored the uses and desires of stakeholders in immersive environments, particularly in terms of how these environments can best support musicians’ needs for musical composition, performance, and education. This study aims to explore the needs of electroacoustic composers and musicians in a Metaverse dedicated to musical activities. For this, we conducted a half-day workshop with fourteen participants to collect data. Eleven user needs and potential issues were identified and discussed. The reported findings may contribute to enhance the understanding of the user experience in the MM by considering the needs and requirements expressed by specific stakeholders and early adopters, such as electroacoustic practitioners.