Nagra 233460 217269106 2008-06-05T09:10:43Z MWielage 3654159 '''Nagra''' is a generic term referring to any of the series of professional audio recorders produced by [[Kudelski SA]], based in [[Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne]], [[Switzerland]]. The machines were initially designed by Polish inventor [[Stefan Kudelski]], and his company won numerous technical awards for their precision and reliability. [[Image:NAGRA--TYPE3---PL-GR.jpg|300px|thumb|Nagra III]] Nagra-brand tape recorders were the ''[[de-facto]]'' standard sound recording systems for [[film|motion picture]] and [[Single camera setup|single-camera]] [[television]] production from the 1960s until the 1990s. Their physical appearance, with the single transport selector and large [[Reel-to-reel audio tape recording|reel-to-reel tape deck]] are still the [[stereotypical]] image most people have of a professional tape recorder. A Nagra recorder prominently appears in the [[1981]] movie ''[[Diva (film)|Diva]],'' which features an opera fan making bootleg tapes of his favorite opera singer; another Nagra (a Nagra III) features in the 1981 John Travolta film ''[[Blow Out]]'' about a freelance sound effects engineer. The word "nagra" comes from [[Stefan Kudelski]]'s mother tongue ([[Polish language|Polish]]) and stands for "[it] will record". The analogue Nagra recorders have a reputation for extreme ruggedness and reliability, essentially being the "Swiss watch" of audio tape recorders. Their cases are highly durable, and every component, from the transport rollers to the gain [[potentiometer|pots]] have the feel of excellent engineering. The feature that gave Nagra the edge in quality and film use was [[Stefan Kudelski]]'s development of the [[Pilottone|Neo-Pilottone]] system, where [[synchronization]] data could be recorded on the tape in the middle of the audio track, but without [[crosstalk]] onto the program recording. Kudelski SA defines Neopilot as follows: "Full track monophonic recorders (Nagra models III, E, IV and 4.2) use a patented system in order to control the speed of the NAGRA during playback to ensure it turns at the exact same speed as the reference (Projector / Camera / Perfo-tape machine). The frequency of the pilot signal is 50/60 Hz and is often derived from the mains. The signal is recorded as a twin track signal 180° out of phase so as to be invisible to the full track playback head. The start point is indicated by the clap of the film clapper board and the synchronization to the magnetic film is maintained using the pilot signal throughout the take." Neopilot was the standard synchronization system used in filmmaking until the late 1980s, when [[SMPTE timecode|timecode]] became the preferred standard. Nagra used a special, very narrow timecode track located in between the space of channel 1 and channel 2 on the stereo Nagra IV-S and T models. The advantage of timecode over Pilottone was in being able to slave the visual time code signal on a timecode slate, like the award winning [[Denecke]] model commonly used by major studios; similar slates were also manufactured by companies like Ambient of Germany and PSC of Valencia, California. By the mid-1990s, the use of analog 1/4" tape began to transition to [[DAT]], which also used time code. By the mid-2000s, the industry trend was firmly set to [[non-linear recorders]], such as [[Zaxcom]]'s Deva and [[Aaton]] Cantar systems, along with lower-cost recorders from [[Sound Devices]]. Nagra recorders are identified by their model number, which indicate their technological generation and features: *'''NAGRA I''' - The very first prototype with clockwork motor and miniature tubes, appearing in 1951. Two of them were sold to Radio Genève. *'''NAGRA II''' - The first production model, miniature tubes equipped, clockwork motor, appearing in 1953. *'''NAGRA II CI''' - The second generation fitted with [[printed circuit board]]s replacing chassis wiring, appearing in 1955. *'''Nagra III NP''' - The first Nagra usable for film work, first appearing in 1962. *'''Nagra IV-L''' - Monaural, featuring two microphone inputs and a built in [[audio limiter]]. Introduced in 1968. *'''Nagra 4.2''' - Same as the IV-L, but added powering for microphones and built-in equalizers. Introduced in 1972. In the '80s one could upgrade a 4.2 to record [[SMPTE]] [[SMPTE timecode|timecode]]. *'''Nagra IV-S''' - Stereo Nagra, recording two track stereo. It had dual level [[potentiometer|pots]], limiters, and [[equalization|equalizer]] presets. It was introduced in 1971. Originally it was available with a [[pilottone]] crystal, and then in 1984, with [[SMPTE timecode|timecode]] support. With [[SMPTE timecode|timecode]] support an IV-S became a '''Nagra IV-STC'''. *'''Nagra IV-SJ''' - Stereo Nagra for instrumentation and logging. Pots are replaced with switches to set gain in precise steps, no limiters, and when present, the microphone inputs are for high voltage unbalanced instrumentation mics rather than low impedance balanced with T-power and phantom. In addition to these field recorders, Kudelski S.A. produced a studio recorder called the '''Nagra T-Audio''', designed mainly for use in [[telecine]]s for transferring dailies. All of the above machines use 1/4" tape. Kudelski SA have also produced a series of miniaturised reel-to-reel recorders using 1/8" tape. These machines are referred to as SN (for Série Noire) and production was originally ordered by [[John F Kennedy|President Kennedy]] for the [[United States Secret Service]]. [http://www.nagraaudio.com/highend/pages/productsSNSTR.php] The SN range comprises the following models: *'''Nagra SNN''' - monaural, full-track, main tape speed of 3-3/4 ips. *'''Nagra SNS''' - monaural, half-track, main tape speed of 15/16 ips (multiplying the recording length at the expense of the dynamic range and high-frequency response). *'''Nagra SNST''' - stereo, intended more for security service "two microphones to record two different people talking" usage than hi-fi usage due to technical limitations. *'''Nagra SNST-R''' - full hi-fi stereo. A special version of the SN using unique tape cassettes was made in cooperation with JBR Technology and widely used by US domestic intelligence agencies. The Nagra IV-STC was the standard for film and classical music recording until the mid-[[1990]]s, when [[Digital Audio Tape|DAT]] recorders became reliable enough to use in the field. In response, Kudelski produced two digital recorders to compete: *'''Nagra D''' - 4-channel [[PCM]] digital audio recorder. Instead of recording to the DAT format, the D used a digital reel-to-reel format using a helical-scan head and 1/4" tape on 5" and 7" reels. The tape is identical to that used on [[Digital Audio Stationary Head]] machines such as the Sony PCM-3202 and Mitsubishi X-86 series. The unique format, combined with its heavy weight made it somewhat unpopular with many [[production sound mixer]]s, but year after year many great-sounding films were completed with Nagra Ds (and the newer 24-bit/96 kHz '''Nagra DII'''). Despite some popularity in the late 1990s, the Nagra D and DII are a rarity on U.S. films as of the mid-2000s. *'''Nagra V''' - 2-channel [[PCM]] digital audio recorder, 24-bit/96 kHz, removable [[hard drive]] based recorder with [[SMPTE timecode|timecode]] support. Has the additional benefits of being very light, and producing files easily processed by [[non-linear editing system]]s. Originally released with the [[Castlewood Orb Drive|Orb]] removable hard drive system, which proved to be unreliable. The drive system was replaced by Agate Technology's DN-Boy system in October 2002. Unlike the analog Nagras, the Nagra V digital recorders have not been adopted as readily for the motion picture and TV industries, which mostly use competing digital multi-track machines such as the [[Aaton]] [[Cantar]], the [[Fostex]] PD-6, the Sound Devices 744T and the [[Zaxcom]] Deva (as of the mid-2000s). Aside from its line of motion picture sound recorders, Kudelski S.A. originally produced and continues to produce high-quality recorders for [[electronic news gathering]], [[radio]], and [[music]] recording. The ARES-PII hand-held recorder for journalists, and the Universal digital recorder, the ARES-BB+, both introduced in 2004, are state-of-the-art digital recorders recording to compact flash PC cards. They offer USB file download and can record both linear PCM or MPEG compressed audio. Nagra's main business in the 2000s has diversified into digital security encrypting systems, including cable TV and satellite descrambling systems and other high-tech components, while audio occupies a smaller side of their manufacturing. Although digital recording is now the norm for most dialog recording in motion pictures and television series, [[sound effects]] recordists still use analog Nagra recorders for certain kinds of background sounds, particularly explosions, gunshots, and other loud sounds of extreme dynamic range. Engineers advise that while digital recording is technically more accurate, [[analog tape]] [[recording]] still has the edge in terms of being able to handle unexpected signal overloads. ==External links== * [http://www.nagraaudio.com/ Nagra website] [[Category:Audio equipment manufacturers]] [[Category:Audio storage]] [[Category:Digital television]] [[Category:High end audio]] [[fr:Nagra]] [[ia:Nagra]] [[it:Nagra]] [[pl:Nagra]]