flatwood wrote:if I want it to sound like it was recorded on a high quality analog machine then why not just record it on a high quality analog machine.
That's way more than you wanted to know but I am up in the air about keeping the 2" machine when I sell the studio so it's been on my mind and I read everything about Nagra recorders I see.
I recently listened to some old songs I recorded in December 1989. Time has a way of distorting the memory of sound, but I was utterly impressed with their warmth and punch.
They were recorded on 2" 24-track. It was Ampex tape, and the feel of the mix owed everything to tape compression. These days, I rely heavily on a TC Electronic PowerCore DSP farm to approximate the sound that used to come so naturally.
Sadly, I haven't touched an analog multitrack transport in over a decade. Sigh.
Talking about Nagras, there was the 1" C format portable VTR made for Ampex that I remember seeing the demo of back in the mid 80's, that was an interesting device too. Maybe I'll find one in a secondhand shop one day. Very Happy
He has one and has info and pics of it and its insides, as well as loads of other beautiful old tech including nagras, a stellavox etc etc. if you're into that sort of thing
I recently became proud owner of a broken Nagra IS-L -the Idioten Sicher (fool proof?)- it has fewer knobs to twiddle. Its a beautiful thing- anyone have any experience with one of these? Can't find much info about it on the net. I think I've fixed it but it needs a new pinch roller so I haven't tried it with tape yet.
On the subject of tapes, are the numbers in their names just model numbers or do they mean something technical?
reflex wrote: These days, I rely heavily on a TC Electronic PowerCore DSP farm to approximate the sound that used to come so naturally..... Sadly, I haven't touched an analog multitrack transport in over a decade. Sigh.
Thanks for the tip on the DSP, I will have to check it out. I have a TC-2290 and its a supurb processor. I've also rented a TC Finalizer a few times for clients.
I do know what you mean. Running a heavy weight 2" machine is fun (kind of like driving a bulldozer) and as I'm sure you know the remote becomes an extension of your brain. Recording engineers using heavy analog gear develop a feel for the 5ms or so delay for record heads to go in and out of record. I thought for years about putting out a t-shirt that read "Recording Engineer - I live 5ms in the future!"
BK wrote: The tiny mics are designed for bugging and surveillence purposes really so quality is nothing to rave about. I see if I could upload a pic or two.
Hmmm. Was that the original purpose of the Nagra machines, bugging and surveillance??? I know that the vintage Neumann mics which we all covet had a sinister beginning but leave it to the artists of the world to plant flowers in an army helmet!!!
Talking about Nagras, there was the 1" C format portable VTR made for Ampex that I remember seeing the demo of back in the mid 80's, that was an interesting device too. Maybe I'll find one in a secondhand shop one day. Very Happy
I would not recommend the Ampex 1" C machines, rather the later Sony ones. I have had to transfer 1" tapes created on Ampex machines and suffered through a lot of pain, due to the extremely high tension required to get the tape to track properly. Ampex machines ran with very high tape tension, which shortened the life of tape and rotating heads.
Are you in the market for a 1" video machine? I might be able to line you up with a seller.
