Re: GG "Nagra" tape recorder

["John P. Hill" <jphill@frank.mtsu.edu>]

Regarding the Nagra tape recorder:

(a)  it is an audio tape recorder (no video)
(b)  the older Nagras were used primarily for
     location tape recording for film shoots
(c)  they have a reputation for being rugged,
     solid machines that incorporate SMPTE
     timecode for reliable synchronization
     with other machine transports
(d)  they are still made;  in fact, the Nagra-D
     (D stands for digital) is the only portable,
     open-reel recorder capable of 20-bit A/D
     conversion and storage (DATs and CDs are
     16-bit media).  In addition, the Nagra-D
     can record 4 tracks of digital audio.  This
     machine is also quite expensive:  about
     $20,000. US last time I checked.
(e)  I believe they are made in Switzerland,
     but I could be wrong on that one.

I'm not sure if Nagra has a site on the WWW, but
that would be my next stop if I were looking for more
info.

Hope this helps.

John Hill
Dept. of Recording Industry
Middle Tennessee State University




On Tue, 15 Oct 1996, Junichi Miyazawa wrote:

> In the GG letter to Paul Myers on March 11, 1974
> (English version, p.205; French version, p.355),
> there is a name "Nagra".
> 
> According to the footnotes, 
> "The Nagra was a highly regarded portable tape 
> recorder often used by radio and television 
> journalists"(English version, p.205).
> 
> So, is it a kind of a brand name like Ampex?
> Where is it made in?  US?
> Is it an audio tape recorder or a video one?
> Is a Nagra tape recorder still available?
> Is it still used? . . . . . 
> 
> Let me make it sure and have a bit more info
> re the machine.  (As a matter of fact,
> I am now translating the book of
> GG letters into Japanese: translation requires 
> to know every detail of the text.)
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Junichi / junichi_miyazawa@msn.com
>