Case Study: Stereo in the Round at Stadium Scale – Metallica’s 72 Seasons Tour
Delivering powerful, clear sound for a metal band in a stadium is no small feat—especially when the stage is “in-the-round.” Add the challenge of providing true stereo coverage for tens of thousands of fans, and you have one of the most ambitious sound reinforcement projects ever attempted. Metallica’s M72 tour achieves all of this, creating a near-field listening experience in massive venues. Presented by Bob McCarthy, Meyer Sound’s Director of System Optimization, this session reveals the innovative design strategies and technologies behind this unprecedented approach.

About Bob McCarthy, Director of System Optimization at Meyer Sound
Bob McCarthy’s involvement in the field of sound system optimization began in 1984 with the development of Source Independent Measurement (SIM®), which was inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame in 2019. He has been an active force in modern sound system design and optimization for over 35 years, including three generations of SIM, thousands of designs, tunings, training seminars and publications. Bob has had the privilege to work with many great sound designers, including Abe Jacob, Andrew Bruce, Tony Meola, Jonathan Deans, Francois Desjardins and more, and has been charged with tuning systems for Cirque Du Soleil, Walt Disney Entertainment, Carnegie Hall, Celine Dion, Grateful Dead and others. Musical theater credits include Les Miserables, The Beatles’ LOVE, Wicked and many more. Recent designs and tunings include the ongoing Metallica WorldWired tours, Roskilde Festival, Shanghai Disney Resort and more.

His award-winning book, Sound Systems: Design and Optimization, now in its third edition, has sold over 15,000 copies in three languages. USITT presented Bob with the Distinguished Achievement in Sound Award in 2014. Bob is well known in the field of audio education and delivered the keynote address at the 50th AES Conference, which was the first ever dedicated to audio education.

Metalica's 72 Seasons Tour: Stereo in the Round at Stadium Scale

Presented by Bob McCarthy