What is this arena show device?

May 17, 2006 8:38 AM

I'm curious about equipment seen at larger concerts: opaque plastic (?) disc, clear plastic tube attached to one side, spiral wire around the tube, cable coming out of the other side of the disc. Some kind of microphone?

I go to lots of club & theatre concerts, and just the occasional arena show. I can usually figure out the purpose of most of the equipment on stage, but at the last 3 arena shows I've been to I've noticed the object described above and have no idea of it's purpose. It's always on the right-hand (as viewed from the audience) side of the stage, on a stand about 6'-7' high. The disc and open end of the tube face the stage. I'd estimate that the disc is 8"-12" across, the tube 6"-8" long.

I'm guessing that perhaps it's a surround sound mic, or an ambient mic? Or maybe something to do with wireless mics/in-ear-monitors? I've tried various google & google image searches and can't find anything.

posted by valleys to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Best answer: Sounds like an antenna
posted by Good Brain at 8:47 AM on May 17, 2006

Could it be a parabolic mic?
posted by contessa at 8:53 AM on May 17, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks Good Brain - I wasn't thinking of the correct term. Here's an example
posted by valleys at 9:06 AM on May 17, 2006

So the antenna is for what? The radio mics?
posted by StickyCarpet at 9:30 AM on May 17, 2006

usually an antenna for monitor headphones, like these
posted by gac at 9:49 AM on May 17, 2006

Response by poster: Yes, and in-ear monitors.
posted by valleys at 9:51 AM on May 17, 2006

Here's a pic of the antenna that works with the PSM system that gac links to...
posted by tomierna at 1:30 PM on May 17, 2006