[ohboring1]

I am a high school band director and I would like to setup a permanently installed Decca tree. It would be used to record everyday rehearsals and to record concert album tracks. I will be recording wind ensembles and percussion ensembles.

I would like to suspend it from the ceiling instead of placing on stands.

My question is what kind of mics should I use and can I leave the mics installed on the tree all year long without damaging them? Also, do you think the Decca tree is the best option for my needs?

Here is what I have:

2 Neumann KM 184 (matched pair)
4 AKG C414 XLII (2 matched pairs)
4 Royer 101 (2 matchd pairs)
3 AKG C214
SM 57 (dozens)

I can also get additional microphones if none of these would meet my needs.


Thanks for the help!

Jason
High School Band Director

[Tim Halligan]

Your 414's should do the trick...and will give you the option to try the left and right mics as either omni or cardioid.

If necessary, you could use a pair of 214's as outer mics for the large ensemble if you want to stay with large diaphragm condensers all around, other wise the KM184's could fill that role.

http://tapeop.com/tutorials/46/microphones-decca-tree-technique/

If you wanted to get really cute funny and fresh, you could rig a pair of the Royers in a Blumlein configuration just above the conductor's head for a different take on a stereo setup.

As for leaving them up for the year, that would depend entirely on the environment...dust, humidity, etc.

HTH

Cheers,
Tim

[Fletcher]

Tim's suggestions are pretty much spot on... I would investigate if its possible to raise and lower the "Decca Tree" and remove the microphones when not in use.  As Tim pointed out, environmental factors [dust, etc.] will put them in harms way if you leave them in a fixed position.  Dust screens can be used... but must be washed on a fairly regular basis as dust accumulations will indeed alter the sound [in a dulling / not really pleasant kind of way].

Peace

[umairali]

Nice Post



-----------------------
Umair

[wildplum]

i know i am late to the party, but...

For this application, I would go with a trio of OM1 mics.
http://www.lineaudio.se/OM1.html

they are inexpensive (won't hurt the scholl budget), are very small (easy to hang and move) and sound very, very good (surprisingly so, considering the price).