Live Music Meets Markerless Mocap: Inside Copper Candle’s Breakthrough Workflow

Copper Candle are breaking the boundaries of immersive live entertainment. They gained recognition after launching the first independent music venue in Fortnite, and they’ve continued to grow by blending live events with XR-driven solutions and innovative technology that expands what’s possible in virtual spaces.

Through the CoSTAR Pilots and Prototypes Programme (PPP) at CoSTAR Live Lab, Copper Candle set out to discover the best workflows for bringing musicians’ performances into digital environments, without heavy technical intervention. The aim was clear: find a process that’s practical, repeatable, and delivers strong results.

Working alongside the Live Lab team, the project explored markerless motion capture for capturing live performance, then rendering and implementing it in a digital setting. The team tested a range of tools for facial performance capture, including Live Link direct into Unreal Engine, alongside alternative MetaHuman Animator workflows for ultra-detailed results. By investigating a broad scope of available technologies, Copper Candle were able to assess accessible options with affordability and ease of use in mind, especially for musicians who don’t have specialist technical support.

James Simpson, Founder at Copper Candle, said:

“The CoSTAR Pilots and Prototypes Programme has been transformative for Copper Candle. It gave us access to world-class motion capture facilities and expertise at the Live Lab, which allowed us to push the boundaries of what's possible in live performance technology. The support from Glen, the team, and the wider CoSTAR network has been invaluable by connecting us with researchers, technologists, and other innovators who share our vision for the future of immersive live experiences.

The programme has accelerated our R&D significantly and helped us develop prototypes that we simply wouldn't have been able to create otherwise. It's been a real catalyst for growth and innovation.”

Jack Hardwick, Technical Specialist at CoSTAR Live Lab, added:

“It was brilliant to work together with the inspiring Copper Candle team, to pioneer ground-breaking R&D for markerless motion capture of live performances. Pushing our sound, lighting and mocap systems to their limits really cemented for me the value Live Lab can provide to companies like Copper Candle. I look forward to seeing where this research will go next, and I hope Live Lab can continue to be a part of it.”

Since their PPP project, Copper Candle have shared their progress with the Starting Pixel community and also presented at the BEYOND Conference, sharing their research into accessible motion capture solutions for virtual experiences. Their approach opens up new opportunities for performers and audiences to enjoy digital spaces together.

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