Metallica’s M72 World Tour

Nocte Studio used Notch to simplify production and create two unique sets of fundamentally different visuals for Metallica’s latest world tour.

In developing Metallica’s M72 World Tour, Production Designer and Show Director Dan Braun brought on Nocte Studio to work closely with him and Video Director Gene McAuliffe to spearhead content production.

The team faced the primary challenge of producing two unique experiences for Metallica’s back-to-back shows in each city, which featured totally different setlists from the band’s full catalogue spanning eleven studio albums over forty years—including deep cuts the band might decide to play at the last minute—with no repeats whatsoever.

Nocte Studio streamlined their process to handle perennially increasing screen resolutions, using Cinema 4D for some initial 3D work before producing the bulk of their pre-rendered content in Notch. They also brought select assets into Notch for composition, animation, sequencing, and video effects.

In Notch, the Nocte team used a 3D previsualisation model with UV texturing matching the final pixel map, ensuring precise output and allowing for the integration of virtual lighting, content projection, and spatial effects. They also used NDI to bring content from After Effects into Notch, allowing them to see a 3D preview of their edits in real time.

For certain songs, they used moving spotlights to project a pre-sequenced video layer and an additional layer with audio-reactive details. As Content Director Andrea Cuius noted, “We were endlessly impressed with Notch 1.0, from its ray tracing to its field system. Even certain specific effects, like the lens flare, proved to be indispensable additions.”

“Unburdened by traditional pipelines and long rendering times, we could bring this show together organically, with each element evolving naturally through creative collaboration.”

Andrea Cuius, Content Director, Nocte Studio

Additional press coverage:
Kerrang!, Ghost Cult Magazine, MetalTalk.

Credits
Client: Metallica
Production Design & Show Direction: Dan Braun
Content Production: Nocte Studio
Content Director: Andrea Cuius
Notch Designers: Andy Overton, FengYan Mi & Mike Wilson
Content Designers: Jack Lietti, Dylan Byrne, Mary Jane Moussa & Diego López

Video Director: Gene McAuliffe
Lighting Director: Rob Koenig
Video Programmer: David Leonard
Lighting Programmers: Joe Cabrera & Cat West
Photography: Jeff Yeager/Metallica & Brett Murray/Metallica