Notch takes center stage at the 2020 MTV VMAs with XR Studios

Notch
NotchBlog
Published in
5 min readAug 31, 2020

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A vast city scape with Black Eyed Peas performing on a virtual stage.
Photo: MTV Video Music Awards.

The biggest musical entertainment show of the year, the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, aired Sunday the 30th of August. The main hosting environment was an XR stage powered by Notch real-time 3D rendering technology.

Originally set to air live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show took on a partially virtual nature this year. To create the dynamic virtual hosting stage and the XR components for the impressive performances from Black Eyed Peas, Miley Cyrus, and Doja Cat, XR Studios produced the XR filming and created a technical infrastructure that allowed for content designers to use Notch on the virtual XR Stage which was featured throughout the show.

“The move to a virtual stage event came pretty late in the process, and we had to turn to tech that we can trust to give us great content on a short turnaround. Having recently used Notch for the groundbreaking XR performance by Katy Perry on American Idol, it was the natural choice for us for the even bigger task of bringing the whole VMA show to life in a virtual setting. Notch offers the perfect combination of high-end real-time rendering quality and usability for designers on tight schedules.”

— Scott Millar, XR Studios

The presentations of awards and the main hosting location for the show took place in an Extended Reality environment designed by Silent Partners Studio utilizing Notch’s real-time content creation environment.

This home base for the show showcased Notch’s flexibility and dependability as a speedy solution that tied in incoming video content and packages from the VMA Screens Producing team at Visual Noise Creative, as well as incoming live Zoom Audience feeds, and even musical performances such as the Black Eyed Peas.

A UFO hanging over the city landscape, now filled with green and blue light.
Photo: MTV Video Music Awards.

Notch’s live editing functionality allowed for adjustments during rehearsals, staging, and blocking times during the show filming period. NDI was the feed of choice for the Virtual Billboard content that served as the main content delivery method for the show, and Notch’s robust integration with external video as well as external triggers through ArtNet from an external content team allowed for a structured and dependable virtual system that replicated and mimicked a traditional “real world” setup. Virtual Doors for entrances, virtual light cues, even swapping out pre-filmed virtual audience members all happened in real-time and were easily accessible to the show running team.

From a creative performance standpoint, Notch was also chosen by Blink INC for their performance with Doja Cat (see video), creating a futuristic world that transported multiple times throughout the performance. Blink tapped Hidden Road Studios for Notch design and integration on this performance.

The artist Doja Cat performing on a purple fractured landscape with a virtual waterfall behind her.
Photo: MTV Video Music Awards.

For other performances, including Miley Cyrus’ debut of Midnight Sky (see video) and the medley from Black Eyed Peas (see video), Silent Partners Studio chose Notch as a continued known workflow for the team from their years of live generative content in touring shows and performances, as well as the recent successes of XR performances using Notch, such as the Katy Perry American Idol Finale Performance and multiple performances across the summer of 2020, including with the Black Eyed Peas.

The artist Miley Cyrus standing in sharp relief against a round white back light.
Photo: MTV Video Music Awards.

“I am incredibly happy that artist accessible tools like Notch have made XR production such a compelling storytelling tool, especially now in these difficult times. Watching the VMAs reminded me how much I love the live music industry and how the work XR Studios are doing is so important.”

— Matt Swoboda, Notch

About XR Studios

XR Studios is a Los Angeles based studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of XR technology to new heights. Their bespoke workflows and expert technologists strive to create new possibilities for live performance and entertainment in an XR world.

They work closely with artists, producers, creators, and creative directors to deliver their vision in a cost-effective and visually stunning manner, and offer a full-service solution to a variety of XR needs.
https://www.xrstudios.live

Twitter: @XR_Studios
Instagram: @xr.studios
Facebook: XRStudios.Live

About Silent Partners Studio

We are a group of creative directors, projection designers and screen producers. We specialize in experiential content — from effect to affect, visuality is our medium. We animate ideas and audiences.

A fully integrated design and production studio, we devise innovative stagecraft for live touring concerts, theatre, opera, music videos and award shows. We thrive on creative challenges and embrace technological ingenuity; balancing the cutting edge with the popular.

We take you from the drawing board to opening night and beyond. We bring your image to life.

We are your Silent Partners.

https://www.silentpartnersstudio.com
Instagram: @silentpartnersstudio

About Notch

Notch is the game-changing real-time visual creation tool that keeps up with a creator’s ideas. Designed from the creative process up, it puts the creator back in charge of the creative.

Powered by real-time rendering, Notch helps creators rediscover the joy of problem-solving, experimenting and improvising on the fly. Creators can get closer than ever to the thing they’re creating. Feeling the freedom of the creative rhythm, with nothing interrupting the flow.

Notch technology powers visuals for acts from U2 to Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran, Eurovision, The Brits, and numerous music events worldwide. Its technology offers solutions for artists, for live and for XR/AR.

https://www.notch.one

Twitter: @notchvfx
Instagram: @notchvfx (Community hashtag: #MadeWithNotch)
Facebook: Notch VFX

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Notch
NotchBlog

Notch is the game-changing real-time visual creation tool that keeps up with your ideas. Share your work with #MadeWithNotch