Event production specialists Showtime Sound (based in Frederick, MD) recently supported the University of Maryland commencement ceremony where 12,600 graduates were honored from the classes of Summer 2021, Winter 2021 and Spring 2022 on Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium (also in Frederick), with Sommer Cable playing a major role in audio, lighting and video distribution.
The University of Maryland Office of Special Events reached out to VPC to provide front-end production management and content creation and Showtime Sound to round out the team. Showtime Sound director of operations and production Brian Linnemann explains, “The two separate venues housing the ceremonies (Maryland Stadium and Xfinity Center) were drastically different. We integrated Showtime’s audio, lighting, and LED walls with the venues’ existing wealth of technical resources to maximize the production value for the events.”
Showtime relied on manufacturer partners such as L-Acoustics, Absen, Tyler Truss Systems and Sommer Cable for the event. Marc Chauvin (SSM, MSPM, CTS), Showtime’s director of technical operations elaborates on the choice of cabling, “In thinking of transmission systems for audio, lighting, and video distribution it was clear that we needed a specialized partner and that’s where our relationship with Sommer Cable began.
“When it came time for us to rebuild our systems,” he continues, “we made the move to Sommer’s Mercator CAT7 line for multi-channel Ethernet-based snake solutions. Using both single, 2-channel, and 4-channel versions, we can seamlessly cover up to 125 meters with solutions that not only work for our day-to-day production needs and our touring clients, but also as the backbone for the University of Maryland graduation for all aspects of production.”
Linneman adds, “We were able to team up with University of Maryland’s game-day staff for cameras, switching and playback. With bi-directional ties into the house systems, we sent audio to the house while they returned playback and IMAG content to us.”
“With our confidence and experience with the Mercator line,” Chauvin concludes, “we have also added inventory in not only 4-channel snake systems, but additionally, we have been using Sommer’s Transit MC123HD hybrid cable as the perfect complement to our small-format audio/video distribution systems, camera work, and also as the integral part of our Follow-Me Tracking Systems that we have been using out on national tours with popular comedian Kevin Hart and other client projects where traditional follow spot systems are not usable.”
