Alejandro Peralta Almague was one of the first people in the world to use the new rugged and portable RF Venue CP stage antenna. Almague, an audio professional for 25 years who serves as an RF coordinator for high-profile Latin American events, chose the CP Stage antenna for use with IEM systems and, as a diversity pair, for wireless microphones, delivering the benefits of circular polarization and antenna gain without the disadvantages of conventional helical and linear-polarized paddle antennas.
Almague received a manufacturing prototype CP Stage antenna just in time to test it with IEM systems during two major concerts, with “wonderful” results. “The first one was in Tijuana, Mexico, in a big show for Latin GRAMMY winner Siddhartha,” he shares, noting that the CP Stage was first tested on the engineer’s Shure PSM1000 in-ear monitor system on the November 30 date on the artist’s Miel de Azar 2024 tour at Monumental Plaza de Toros de Tijuana.
When the crew asked about the antenna's location, the crew was in disbelief that Almague informed them it was in his backpack. When the crew was shown the antenna in its rectangular, IP-rated housing, Almague said the common comment was that it looked more like a Wi-Fi router than how they expected a circularly polarized antenna to appear. “The CP Stage is a low-profile antenna,” said Almague, “and no one can see the antenna on stage.” But the crew’s wireless beltpacks could certainly “see” the antenna.
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At sound check, said Peralta (whose company LiveS is a commercial distributor for RF Venue products and through which he offers audio engineering consultancy and other professional services, audio education, and product training), he put the antenna up stage side and helped a bit with the frequency coordination for the show. With 18 frequencies in use, he also reported that there were no IEM issues. The use of antenna was transparent.
“The design of the antenna is very aesthetic and very compact, and it can be transported very easily,” recalled Siddhartha’s production manager and monitor engineer, Alfio Alejandro Gómez Trigueros. “We used it during this show, and it was amazing. We didn’t have any problems. Without a doubt, it is a great option for someone who wants to have advantages in the use of helical antennas.”
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Almague’s second application of the CP Stage was for artist Carín León (also a Latin GRAMMY winner) when the artist’s Boca Chueca 2024 tour stopped on December 7, at Mexico City’s largest venue, Estadio GNP Seguros. The CP Stage was first tested on the monitor engineers’ Lectrosonics M2 Duet and Sennheiser 2050 IEM systems. The principal performers’ Lectrosonics IEMs were fed through the CP Stage during the show, an indication of the CP Stage antenna’s performance and their confidence in Almague. “The challenge in Mexico City is huge with an open venue and a crowded RF spectrum,” said Almague. “I put the CP Stage antenna in a high position on a stage truss to include a stage extension in the coverage, and the result was, again, very nice.”
“I liked the design of the antenna,” commented León’s RF engineer, Martin Rodrigo Rodriguez Villegas. “It is quite compact, it is very easy to transport and, above all, discreet for mounting. It can remain on stage without problems.” A characteristic of highly directional polar patterns for antennas, as with the audio pickup patterns of hypercardioid microphones, is a significant rear lobe of coverage. That’s a boon for monitor mixers working from the rear of IEM antenna placement positions.
The show was important for Carín León as his first in the venue, where top-tier artists like Paul McCartney, U2, The Cure, and Oasis have played. The show and the CP Stage antenna’s performance were both successful, and per Almague, León was happy because he’s one of the first testers in the world of the CP Stage.
“Everyone fell in love with the antenna,” Almague concluded. “It’s a beautiful antenna, the price is also attractive, and the behavior of the antenna in the field is very, very good. The CP Stage will be hugely successful.”
