ABSTRACT
The Decca Tree is a very widely used technique for commercial recording, but is also often wrongly described and not fully understood. The most common variations that were used at Decca (1950s to present) – the three-, four-, and five-microphone trees – are described in detail, and methods of troubleshooting the exact placement of the tree are explained. The requirement for microphones with some directionality at high frequencies for the tree to produce the best imaging is outlined. The Neumann M50 and modern alternative microphones are discussed, as is the alternative use of cardioids in a reverberant acoustic. A brief history of the development of the Decca Tree is included.
