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Nagra introduces the Nagra VI six track recorder (15/5/2008)

A new real step forward

The introduction of a new Nagra is relatively rare yet an eagerly awaited event. The company does not renew its products because of "fashion" nor for purely marketing reasons. The introduction of new products occurs when advances in technology are significant enough to allow the end-user to gain a real benefit for an acceptable length of time.

The Nagra VI represents a new step for the brand and for the music, cinema and television industries. This six track recorder, as the name suggests, is the most sophisticated device to evolve from the Cheseaux factory.

State-of-the-digital-art

The Nagra VI retains some principles derived from its prestigious predecessors, the Nagra D and Nagra V, but globally, in terms of recording platform, it benefits from a totally new approach. The elements inherited are typically the time code, the integration of a hard disk and a slot dedicated to an external compact flash memory. For the rest, the design innovates in every aspect.

On the digital side, the signal processing and the command structure are entirely new and the recorder incorporates the most effective techniques available today.

The Nagra VI is based on 16/24 bit files recorded in either monophonic or polyphonic Broadcast Wave file formats at sampling frequencies up to 96 kHz with iXML compatible meta data. The time code system covers all traditional SMPTE/EBU frame rates and will allow 0.1% pull down for NTSC compatibility. The 23.976 time code rate is also supported for the modern 24P high definition digital video format compatibility. The entire heart of the Nagra VI is clocked from a Stratum III quartz guaranteeing a maximum drift of less than three ppm throughout the temperature range from -20°C to + 70°C over a 15-year period.

Features includes notably pre-recording buffer, two M/S decoders, audio limiters, output dithering, chase synchronizing, word clock in /out, analogue and digital outputs.

Ergonomy, ease of use

Digital pots on the front panel give level adjustment to the four pre-amplifiers, while the remaining two analogue inputs can be level set in the menus. The choice of inputs, along with all other machine parameters, is selected through a clearly laid-out menu system displayed on a 31/2" colour TFT screen. This screen has been specially selected as it is "sunlight readable" and has a very large viewing angle. The controlling software for the display has been written in such a manner as to allow the permanent indication of important information (TC, track, etc.) even when browsing the menus.

Principal operation of the Nagra VI is achieved using the traditional Nagra rotary main function selector placed in the standard location on the right side of the front panel. This switch not only follows tradition, but also frees up space on the front panel to allow unimpeded access to other principal controls. The audio tracks can be monitored as required, using a selection of channel switches also located on the front panel, via either of the two 1/4" jack headphone connectors.

Powering of the recorder is achieved either using external DC or detachable battery boxes containing a choice of different capacity lithium-ion sealed battery packs.

New analogue inputs

The Nagra VI has six analogue inputs on XLR connectors, four of which are equipped with extremely high quality microphone pre-amplifiers. The circuitry and the pre-amplifiers, inspired from the Nagra D and Nagra V, are of a totally new design. They not only offer +48V phantom powering, as one expects, but they are also equipped with in-house wound transformers (when set to the dynamic position) offering an improvement of more than 6dB in the noise floor over the equivalent transformerless inputs.

Fitted with an integrated "vortex" filter, these pre-amplifiers can be used in the windiest conditions imaginable, without suffering from the "popping" traditionally associated with outdoor operation. Naturally this does not eliminate the need for proper microphone protection, but is a great help to the user in unpredictable circumstances. They have been designed to be accurately matched in sensitivity to the various different types of microphones through individual sensitivity selectors for each pre-amplifier.

Total compatibility

Two USB ports, one "Host" and one "Device" allow not only the recorder to be connected to a PC/MAC and appear as a generic hard drive for rapid file transfer, but also a multitude of external communication possibilities to be considered. Nagra engineers feel that the ergonomics of the display and general lay-out of the front panel makes the need for a PC software (as developed for the Nagra D and Nagra V) unnecessary, although the possibility of connecting a PC for diagnostics or input of meta data from an external keyboard are likely future software updates for the host USB port.

Any software updates are made by simply downloading the file from our web site onto the CF card, and inserting it into the slot. No recorder ever suits every single application perfectly, but the aim of the development of the Nagra VI was to cover as many bases as possible for a price that is not prohibitive, while maintaining the Swiss tradition of precision, reliability and excellent performance specifications.

www.nagraaudio.com  

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