AEA
AEA Stereo Bars & Arrays Decca Tree Mini
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AEA Stereo Bars & Arrays Decca Tree Mini — a compact microphone array positioner measuring 1 meter wide by 17" (approx. 43 cm) deep, designed for chamber ensembles, smaller acoustic sources, and recording situations where a full-size Decca Tree physically cannot fit above the instrument or within the available rigging space.
The Regular Decca Tree spans 2 meters — standard for a symphonic hall, but over a string quartet, a small choir, or a solo piano it often overshoots the acoustic centre of the ensemble or conflicts with lighting rigs and cameras. The Mini solves that geometrically: the rear arm drops to 1 meter, the forward arm to 17", producing a tight, lightweight assembly that one engineer can mount and break down in minutes without a second pair of hands. The sonic principle remains unchanged — three omnidirectional microphones in a T-formation, natural depth, and a coherent centre image that spaced pairs alone cannot deliver.
Full Control in a Smaller Footprint
The SMP-S sliders function identically to those in the Regular version: continuous travel along the full bar length, thumb-screw lock at any position. With a 1-meter rear bar, the outer microphone spacing ranges from a narrow near-ORTF setting to a full 1-meter A-B spread — enough range to cover intimate chamber recording as well as mid-sized ensembles. All four SMP-S sliders included allow for the standard T layout (centre plus two outer mics) with one spare position for a spot microphone or a fourth outrigger capsule. The centimetre-engraved scale on each bar makes session-to-session geometry repeatable without notes or measuring tape.
Location Work and Fast Setup
The Mini is the version that travels. Lightweight anodised aluminium bars, a single AEA-CP coupler onto a standard 5/8" stand, and no additional rigging hardware mean the rig goes up fast in a church, a school hall, or a film scoring stage with limited overhead clearance. At close distances — above a solo instrument or a small vocal ensemble — the shortened 17" forward arm positions the centre microphone closer to the source without introducing off-axis colouration from excessive distance. For engineers working location sessions alone, that combination of compact size and acoustic precision removes the main argument against using a tree at all.
KEY FEATURES
- Array dimensions: 1 m wide (rear arm) × 17" / approx. 43 cm deep (centre arm) — compact Decca Tree proportions.
- Stepless SMP-S sliders — continuous positioning along the full bar length, thumb-screw lock at any point.
- 4 sliders included — standard T configuration (3 microphones) plus one additional position for a spot mic or outrigger.
- AEA-CP coupler — direct 5/8" mic stand mount, no adapters needed.
- Centimetre-engraved scale — session-to-session geometry repeatability.
- Single-engineer setup — lightweight construction, no tools required for assembly or adjustment.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Variant: Decca Tree Mini
- Array dimensions: 1 m (rear arm width) × 17" / approx. 43 cm (centre arm depth)
- Bars included: 1 × SMP-1M (1-meter bar) + 1 × SMP-17 (17" bar)
- Sliders included: 4 × SMP-S
- Bracket: 1 × Mini Tree bracket
- Coupler: 1 × AEA-CP (mic stand coupler)
- Mount thread: 5/8" standard microphone stand
- Bar material: Anodised aluminium with engraved centimetre scale
- Country of manufacture: USA (Pasadena, CA)
