Recording a Wind Ensemble

Recording a wind ensemble within a concert hall is much different than recording a band in a studio.  Everything from the way you position a microphone to the type of preamps you choose is different.  Microphones are placed within the Hall, as well as in front of various sections of the ensemble.  These are commonly referred to as "spot mics" and act as subtle reinforcement if needed.  Most of the recorded sound will be comprised of the stage and hall mics.  Mic position is key since phasing can quickly become a concern if proper distances and directionality are not maintained. When considering mic placement, sound localization should also be considered.  It is important to decide how the direction we hear each instrument from within the mix should be handled, either mellow or aggressive and sharp (does the xylophone player sound like it is resonating from far stage right, or more in the center?.)  A Decca tree configuration is a tried and true technique to capture great results.  The Decca tree is a three omni-directional microphone setup.  The first two mics are positioned in a spaced pair configuration, and panned hard left and right in the mix.  The third mic is placed in the middle of the other two and slightly in front.  This mic helps to provide additional localization of where the sounds are coming from.  The tree is usually placed right behind the conductor, helping to achieve a decent blend between the sound of the hall and the instruments directly.  

Sources: www.bedroom-recording.com/decca-tree.html   davidmaslanka.com/recording-the-wind-ensemble-music-of-david-maslanka/