Showtime Sound Blog

T-Pain and The Preakness Call on Showtime and Sommer Cable

Sommer Cable has long been a trusted name in professional audio, video, and broadcast cabling, supplying high-performance solutions to live events, recording studios, and broadcasters worldwide. Known for reliability and precision, the company’s products are a fixture in large-scale productions where flawless transmission is essential.

That expertise was on full display when Showtime Sound LLC staged rapper T-Pain’s trackside performance at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course following the 150th Preakness Stakes. The redesigned stage was visible from both the grandstand and the infield, making it one of the most prominent live setups of the year.

“The 150th Preakness Stakes is a milestone moment for Baltimore and in sports history,” said Belinda Stronach, chairman and CEO, 1/ST Racing and Gaming. “Preakness 150 is a celebration of racing, entertainment, culture and community, and is the kickoff to a new era for Maryland.”

To handle the complex audio, lighting, and video demands, Showtime Sound deployed Sommer’s SC-Mercator QUAD 4 x CAT.7 cable—a 2025 TEC Award finalist. “This was a huge and challenging show,” said Showtime’s Director of Technical Operations, Marc Chauvin. “When we built out and integrated our systems, we use Sommer's Mercator CAT7 line for multi-channel ethernet-based snake solutions. Using single, 2-channel, and 4-channel versions, we easily cover 300+ feet with advanced cabling that not only works for our day-to-day production needs and our touring clients, but also as the backbone for large-scale events like this Preakness T-Pain concert for all aspects of production.”

Showtime Sound’s ongoing reliance on Sommer Cable comes down to trust. “In planning transmission systems for audio, lighting, and video distribution we know that reliability and quality is a must for high level productions that we do,” Chauvin explained. “No single show for us is more or less important than any other—that’s why we continue to invest and rely on our partnership with Sommer Cable.”

T-Pain, known for pioneering the creative use of Auto-Tune in R&B and hip-hop, delivered a high-energy performance that capped off the historic racing day. While the artist provided the music, Sommer Cable ensured every note and visual effect reached the audience exactly as intended.

ABOUT SHOWTIME SOUND LLC
Showtime Sound LLC is a full-service event production company located in Frederick, Maryland that provides a wide range of audio, lighting, video, staging, and backline for any size event or venue. The Showtime team specializes in production integration. They design, build, and move events from large clubs to touring arenas to outdoor stadiums. From start to finish, Showtime Sound LLC provides turn-key event production. https://www.showtimesoundllc.com

ABOUT SOMMER CABLE
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, Sommer cable GmbH was founded in 1999 by musicians Rainer Blanck and Friedhelm Sommer. Together with a team of innovators led by cable specialist Pascal Miguet, sound engineers, electronics engineers and event technicians, Sommer has developed cables and connectors that offer optimum sound quality with ease of use. Sommer is one of today’s leading suppliers of professional, high-quality cable and connection technology with a focus on the audio, video, broadcasting, studio and media engineering sectors. In 2015, Sommer Cable America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sommer cable GMbH Germany, was established in Santa Rosa, CA. Jed Larson is COO of the new company, which supplies the North American markets with Sommer’s wide range of innovative and high quality products. 707.200.4020  https://www.sommercable.com/en-us/

*Photo Credit – Pete Redel 

*Original article can be found at https://www.musicconnection.com/t-pain-and-the-preakness-call-on-showtime-and-sommer-cable/