My Decca Tree Array

[tapermark2006]

I've been working on an affordable decca tree array. Here are some initial results.

The whole thing only weighs 4.5 pounds. Consists of [3] 1 meter markbars. [.250 aluminum]
You'd of course need sandbags or a heavy boom counterweight to run it though.
The bars can also be run independently by putting the rapid adapter in the center hole of the bars.
This is only a prototype that I fabricated by hand. The final version will be laser cut and formed.
Basically it will look a lot cleaner.




More pics here....

tapermark/markbar deccatree - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

[boojum]

Mark -

It looks really good. Could you not support it from a place on the leg for the middle mic for recording Decca Tree style. That way the support would be closer to the center of gravity. Just a thought. I suppose you thought of it, too, but thought better. Oh, well. ;(

[mrsteaks]

Mark -

That's a beautiful thing, quite elegant! I gotta agree with boojum, though (and the pilot in me is showing), I think the stand mount needs to be closer to the center of gravity. That would negate the need for a heavy counter weight.

Just a thought!

Really nice work! I can't wait to see a laser cut version. Is it going to be indexed?

[ghellquist]

Nice work!

I have a home-made solution as well. It is built from aluminium U-bars which gives it a little bit more of stability in my opinion. I mount it at center of gravity on the top of a Manfrotto stand. Center of gravity mounting is much better as the need for sandbags is reduced. My experience is that it works quite well placed right in front of the conductor, they don´t seem to mind too much. Will try to post pictures, probably next week though.

Gunnar

[klaukholm]

Originally Posted by boojum

Mark -

It looks really good. Could you not support it from a place on the leg for the middle mic for recording Decca Tree style. That way the support would be closer to the center of gravity. Just a thought. I suppose you thought of it, too, but thought better. Oh, well. ;(

When you use M150's in the tree (plus the ocational royer sf12 behind the centre
mic) you need to be able to move the centre of gravity by suspending it from 2-6 inches in on the center bar.

Otherwise the tree can go belly up in the middle of a session when moving the tree.

It would also be good to consider a very solid mechanism for avoiding the tree twisting when being moved. i find this to be an issue with the AEA. Not a biggie, but it can cost you 5 minutes when you don't really have 5 minutes.

[Testing123]

How about a stand mount that would go in one of the slots in the forward pointing leg - then you could slide it forward and backward to put it where you wanted it related to the center of gravity. You'd probably want to make provisions to keep the whole thing from pivoting at that point.

[roonsbane]

Nice work!

This might work well using one of these:
http://www.wesdooley.com/images/SMP-S.jpg
and one of these:
http://www.wesdooley.com/images/AEA-CP.jpg
as a moveable center of gravity support. This would cost around $60.00. It looks like you still need the mic supports and this type of mount would work in this regard as well. You could probably make something like it fairly easily. I also would suggest making the two meter section one piece so that it could be used separately on some weird occasion.

Cameron

[Jim vanBergen]

Mark, that looks pretty cool.

Whats the total weight? I'm amazed a boom clamp can support it with mics as the far ends. Did you use a K&M boom and customize it for the base of the unit?

JvB

[fifthcircle]

You do nice work- with the tree that I made for myself (which doesn't look anywhere near as pretty), I used aluminum L-bar. I then cut 5/8" holes in it and use mic slugs from an AKG/K&M stereo bar.

The L-bar really helps a lot with the stability of the whole device. I didn't think I needed slides in it as I usually put my mics in one of 2 positions anyways when I do decca tree work. I found that I use mine most when I need to hang mics- so I built a hang contraption that uses the mic cable as one line and wire rope as the other two. Seems to work pretty well. You could do that easily with yours as you have those holes in the centers of each bar.

The center of gravity is important. Even light microphones will put the whole rig out of balance. I use DPA 4006's with balls and it can be fun getting things to balance correctly. The point, though, for center of gravity is always quite a ways over the center bar.

Anyways, looks good- good luck with it.

--Ben

[wildplum]

I have made one myself also, going the aluminum L-bar, 5/8" holes etc. route. I made holes in a couple of places (big tree, little tree). But i have not been happy with the way it looks. The AEA looks far more "pro" than my home made job. And mine has to be flown as stand mounting is a bit risky. That is why i am interested what taper2006 is working on.
I will say this about the aluminum L-bar: when flown right, it works just fine. no problems with support the weight of the mics and cabling. and it is very inexpensive.

[ghellquist]

These are the pictures I managed to put together at short notice of my tree.

My homegrown Decca tree

Gunnar

[tapermark2006]

Well I got tons of great suggestions and did a bit of redesigning. Lemme know yer thoughts folks. Again the bars can be run independent of the mount. The center point can be ran anywhere along the bar now and the bars are now run horizontal as opposed to vertical. The vertical position limits the type of mounts you can use due to the clearance if that makes sense. Some pics. Keep in mind I don't own any omni's. I designed this by request. Just threw up my limited number of mics as a demonstration. FWIW the TOA's and mounts are damn heavy.

EDIT: oh ya there was a few suggestions the front bar should be 1.5 meters. Your thoughts on that as well.

[tapermark2006]

More pictures...

[klaukholm]

Good job!
For your information M150's are about 2.2 pounds each.
(800 grams plus mount and cable)

M50's may be a bit more, but that is about the heaviest mics I have seen in a tree.

[Thom]

Looks good. Consider me a customer when complete.thumbsup

[mrsteaks]

Mark!

Now yer talkin'! Nice work, really nice work. Looks nicely balanced now.