10MM140-The Decca Tree

The Decca Tree has been a staple stereo recording technique for more than 50 years. Mark Cousins goes back to its roots.

There are many ways of mic’ing a stereo sound source, from spaced omnis to Blumlein pairs, but it’s arguably the Decca Tree arrangement that is most commonly called on when it comes to recording classical music and soundtracks. It’s less likely to be used for popular music productions, but it’s nonetheless a fascinating insight into the art of stereo recording, offering one of the most effective ways of capturing the full width of an orchestral soundstage and a tight, focussed central image.

This feature first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 68
Filed under Ten Minute Masters, Features

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