AEA Stereo Bars & Arrays SMP-S Slider — an individual replacement and expansion slider for AEA SMP series stereo bars, featuring laser-etched azimuth angle markings, a 5/8"-27 male thread, and an extra-large diameter locking ring.
Every AEA SMP series bar — SMP-17, SMP-1M, SMP-1.25M — is built around the SMP-S Slider as its core positioning element: the slider holds the microphone, sets the azimuth angle, and locks position along the aluminium rail. Sold individually, the SMP-S serves two distinct purposes: as a replacement for a damaged or missing slider on an existing bar, and as an expansion component that adds a third, fourth, or further microphone position to any SMP bar without purchasing a new assembly. In Decca Tree Regular and Mini configurations, additional SMP-S sliders are what enable outrigger extensions and centre-fill additions — the modular logic of the entire AEA array system depends on this part being available separately.
Azimuth Angle Without Guesswork
The slider body carries laser-etched markings around its circumference at 0°, ±30°, ±45°, and ±55°. These correspond to included angles between two microphone axes of 60°, 90°, and 110° respectively — covering the full range of standard stereo techniques: XY (60–90°), Blumlein (90°), and ORTF (110°). Setting the angle means rotating the slider to the engraved mark and tightening the thumb screw — no protractor, no visual estimation. Repeatability between sessions is therefore guaranteed by a number, not by muscle memory.
Mounting and Compatibility
The slider mounts to any SMP bar via two thumb screws and locks at any point along the full rail length — no indexed slots, no position limits. The 5/8"-27 male thread on the slider head accepts any standard microphone clip or 3/8" adapter. The extra-large locking ring provides sufficient clamping surface to hold heavy large-diaphragm condensers without rotation under capsule weight — a failure mode common with narrower slider designs when tilted off-axis. The SMP-S is compatible with every bar in the AEA SMP family and with all Decca Tree bracket assemblies: Regular, Mini, and Super configurations.
KEY FEATURES
- Laser-etched angle markings: 0°, ±30°, ±45°, ±55° — included angles of 60°, 90°, and 110° (XY, Blumlein, ORTF).
- 5/8"-27 male thread — standard microphone thread, accepts clips and adapters from all manufacturers.
- Extra-large diameter locking ring — stable clamping for heavy condenser and ribbon microphones.
- Two thumb screws — independent locking of bar position and azimuth angle, no tools required.
- Modular compatibility — replacement and expansion part for all AEA SMP bars and Decca Tree assemblies.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Model: AEA SMP-S Slider
- Type: Replacement / expansion slider for SMP series stereo bars
- Microphone thread: 5/8"-27 (standard)
- Angle markings (laser-etched): 0°, ±30°, ±45°, ±55° (included angles: 60°, 90°, 110°)
- Locking mechanism: 2 × thumb screw (bar position + azimuth angle)
- Compatibility: AEA SMP-17, SMP-1M, SMP-1.25M, Decca Tree Regular, Decca Tree Mini, Decca Tree Super
- Material: Anodised aluminium
- Country of manufacture: USA (Pasadena, CA)
