Topic: New handheld recorder on horizon - NAGRA SD

[Tonis]

I found this information at this year NAB convention product listing.

Name:   NAGRA SD
Description: A hand held audio recorder, extractable SD memory card storage. Records PCM linear audio or MPEG compressed. Equipped with exceptional microphone preamps housed in a sturdy aluminum case, produces high quality audio recording in hostile environments.
Details: The Nagra SD is a hand-held digital audio recorder, packed with features, menu driven(?), and housed in a sturdy aluminum case. It uses a selection of different plug-on Nagra microphones or an XLR cable for an external dynamic microphone or line input. Audio storage media is an extractable SD memory card. Records PCM linear audio (24 kHz to 96 kHz) or MPEG compressed audio. Other features include 3 second pre-record buffer, USB 2.0 communications.
Based on this brief description it seems to be something similar to Ares M and P series. Something which can use plug-on mics or an external dynamic mic < does that really mean that it will not power condenser(s)?

Of course I sent out some email to the people at Nagra USA and to my contact at Nagra Switzerland to inquire more information if possible.

Tonis

[John Willett]

Sounds interesting.

It cartainly sounds like an updates Ares.

Nagra will also be showing another new unit - due for sale April/May I think - this is a stereo mic. pre. of the same quality as the Nagra VI, designed to increase the Nagra VI to 6 mics at once.

However - there will also be a version of this with a built-in flash recorder.  I have my name on the list for this one.  Will extend my Nagra VI and, if I only want a smaller stereo recorder, I can take it out on its own to record (for places where the Nagra VI would be too much).

So I'm looking forward to getting more details of this as well - I can't make NAB; but I'm hoping they will show all this at Musikmesse / Pro Light + Sound in Frankfurt in April.

[Tonis]

...
It cartainly sounds like an updates Ares.
...
However - there will also be a version of this with a built-in flash recorder.

Luc from Nagra Switzerland said that this new recorder will be a replacement for Ares ML.

But as much as I've asked I never got an answer on and if there will be a stereo pre with recording capabilities which I'm most interested in - if the project isn't canceled like it happened to the "light" version of LB.
I so wan't to purchase the LB but it should be a simpler more straight forward mic-preamp-recorder with good headphone amp, gain knobs and metering, that's it.
Oh. dreams.

T

[John Willett]

...
It cartainly sounds like an updates Ares.
...
However - there will also be a version of this with a built-in flash recorder.

But as much as I've asked I never got an answer on and if there will be a stereo pre with recording capabilities which I'm most interested in - if the project isn't canceled like it happened to the "light" version of LB.
I so wan't to purchase the LB but it should be a simpler more straight forward mic-preamp-recorder with good headphone amp, gain knobs and metering, that's it.

My understanding is that this new mic. pre. with recorder is the replacement for the "light" version of the LB.

It did not seem to make sense to make an LB-LE when they were already doing a mic. pre. with the better circuit of the Nagra VI - it was much better to include a recorder option in this instead.

They did show it in the USA last year and I picked up on it from a post in the Gearslutz Forum and have already spoken to my contacts at Nagra about it.

They will definitely show it at NAB, I am told and I have even been told (in confidence) the estimated price - I have already put my name down on the list for one.

[page]

They will definitely show it at NAB

They are keeping it a surprise then. I checked the NAB site last night and they have some new products listed (that aren't on the official nagra site), but nothing about the "EMP" preamp.

[John Willett]

They will definitely show it at NAB

They are keeping it a surprise then. I checked the NAB site last night and they have some new products listed (that aren't on the official nagra site), but nothing about the "EMP" preamp.

Maybe they are keeping it quiet - It was Nagra Switzerland I was speaking to, as well as Nagra GB.

Maybe they only decided to show it after the text had to be in.

Interesting that NAB starts on the last day of Musikmesse / Pro Light + Sound in Germany - what a headache for exhibitors wanting to do both shows. 


PS - Just done a search in Musikmesse / Pro Light + Sound - can't find "Nagra" at all.  So it looks like they will only exhibit at NAB.  If you see the new pre-amp with recorder please (pretty please) will you take a photo and post it here - or send me a PM and I'll give you an e-mail address to send it to.  Thanks.

[Tonis]

So it looks like they will only exhibit at NAB.  If you see the new pre-amp with recorder please (pretty please) will you take a photo and post it here - or send me a PM and I'll give you an e-mail address to send it to.  Thanks.

Will do that.

T

[John Willett]

So it looks like they will only exhibit at NAB.  If you see the new pre-amp with recorder please (pretty please) will you take a photo and post it here - or send me a PM and I'll give you an e-mail address to send it to.  Thanks.

Will do that.

Thanks very much - I'm eager to see this, and better, to get my hands on one.

[F.O.Bean]

So it looks like they will only exhibit at NAB.  If you see the new pre-amp with recorder please (pretty please) will you take a photo and post it here - or send me a PM and I'll give you an e-mail address to send it to.  Thanks.

Will do that.

Thanks very much - I'm eager to see this, and better, to get my hands on one.

I am PUMPED to see it too

[Jhurlbs81]

BEAN is back in a big way! 

[F.O.Bean]

BEAN is back in a big way! 

Where have you been hiding Jesse?

[Jhurlbs81]

Bout to get married next month, so you can pretty much kiss my taping career goodbye!   I still get out a few times a year, but the new job is taking a lot out of me. Hope your doing well brotha!

[F.O.Bean]

Bout to get married next month, so you can pretty much kiss my taping career goodbye!   I still get out a few times a year, but the new job is taking a lot out of me. Hope your doing well brotha!

I miss you Congrats on getting married and getting a new job tho

[Jhurlbs81]

Phat FOB from the fall beaner...

http://www.archive.org/details/db2010-09-10.mk21.flac16
 

[F.O.Bean]

Phat FOB from the fall beaner...

http://www.archive.org/details/db2010-09-10.mk21.flac16
 

Thanks brotha That show AND recording smokes It makes me want to buy some MBHO KA300N Subs

[sunjan]

A couple of photos of the Nagra SD posted on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nagritsrl/

[aaronji]

Nagra now has the SD listed on their website.  Some new photos in the .pdf download and some more details in the text.  I would be curious to see a manual to get an idea of the menu options...

[John Willett]

A couple of photos of the Nagra SD posted on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nagritsrl/

Thanks for this.

I saw the SD in the flesh at Frankfurt last month as well as the new EMP.

Due to the disappointment of the EMP only having a 16-bit recorder I am considering getting the SD to record from the EMP when I want a smaller recorder than my Nagra VI.

(the EMP photo is on the same Flickr pade as the SD).

[viceadmiraal61]

we have for sale a nagra sd with green mic for 600,- euro new in box....I don,t use it..have my great nagra VI ...info@sts-digital.nl

[cashandkerouac]

the Nagra brochure for the SD says "...it uses a selection of different plug-on Nagra microphones or a XLR cable for an external dynamic microphone or line input."  however, i don't see anything "XLR" on this recorder at all.  is it a misprint?

[Fried Chicken Boy]

^^ It's just the way the copy reads.  You are correct, there are no XLR inputs on the SD, but I believe Nagra is stating that they offer a special cable that plugs into their device and terminates in a XLR socket that you can plug a mic into.  Note that they specify "dynamic microphone"; no phantom power available.

On another note, was in B&H a few weeks ago when I looked at this and Nagra is also offering the LINO.  Something in the same arena as all the Sony, Roland, Tascam, etc handheld recorders, no doubt?

[H₂O]

Didn't someone vet the Lino and find out it's an OEM'd Chinese recorder with nagra branded firmware?

[jbell]

^^

http://www.aeq.eu/products/digital-portable-recorder

[noahbickart]

It is so offensive that a brand like nagra has taken someone else's gear, slapped a nagra badge on it and markets it as their own.

[OOK]

It is so offensive that a brand like nagra has taken someone else's gear, slapped a nagra badge on it and markets it as their own.

My guess is actually the reverse.  Nagra is a company with great heritage.  I am sure they may have designed  the recorder and had them built by a Chinese source company, which was a mistake.  Said company then ripped the design and sold it in Chinese markets and grey markets around the world under another name.  Think of all the Chinese mics that are actually rebranded designs of the same mic...  or Oktava mics.  Some Chinese company made very convincing clones of the MK012 and then flooded the market with them.  While I am not opposed to Chinese companies who make excellent quality gear their laws in terms of ripping off other companies don't seem to exist....

OOK

[JD]

I'm with OOK on this, the Chinese are notorious for rebranding, counterfeit cloning, reverse engineering and basically stealing the designs of the world's manufacturing base.

[John Willett]

the Nagra brochure for the SD says "...it uses a selection of different plug-on Nagra microphones or a XLR cable for an external dynamic microphone or line input."  however, i don't see anything "XLR" on this recorder at all.  is it a misprint?

The SD has a selection of cable options.

They plug into the twin 3.5mm jack sockets that the microphone uses and comes with a lockable connector.

You hav have:-
Mono microphone cable
Stereo microphone cable
Line cable with XLR-5F
Line cable with 2 x XLR-3F

I have the mono mic. cable and the Line cable with 2 x XLR-3F.

This is the mono mic. cable:-

[John Willett]

It is so offensive that a brand like nagra has taken someone else's gear, slapped a nagra badge on it and markets it as their own.

Nagra don't do this.

More like they went to a OEM manufacturer - took a basic body design and "Nagraised" it internally to make the SD.

The manufacturer then sells the standard model under their own name, but it would be quite different from he Nagra, who take great care with their audio quality.

[supo]

Is it me, or is Nagra sorta like the IPhone?  They have great stuff, but, really falling behind the rest of the world sitting on their laurels.  By now, they should have a 16 track box and leading the field.  A pre to expand their old unit to 6 mics?  Yippie - yi -ey.  Smirk.

[Xonic]

I took one of these units for a spin a while ago whilst trying to find a tiny little recorder with a really quick boot up time and a good set of internal microphones.
I can't comment on the rest of the gear, but I used the more expensive internal stereo microphone and nearly shot myself after listening to it. The hiss on this thing is unbelievable. I don't know if I had a dodgy unit or what, but I've seen other people complaining about it as well and here in the UK it's about £900 which is simply unacceptable for that poor level of quality.

I think the hiss was actually worse than some of the Marantz stuff or the h4n. Really surprised a company with such a good reputation would put something like that out there.
Also as an aside, the stereo mic looked like it would snap right off if knocked in the wrong way.

[George2]

I think you are wrong about the Nagra SD.
Who set the recorder up for you?
If you are blind, what color was on the the mic you used?
Hi or low gain?
Mic power?
What were you recording?

[Xonic]

HI George. not sure of the colour of the mic sorry, I did know at the time but it was a couple of months back. Is the Nagra SD not the recorder being discussed here or is it something newer than the SD? tried all sorts of gain settings from low to high, also tried adjusting the headphone output, same result. was recording in a quiet room to analyse background hiss without too many external sounds. I also heard a wildlife recording on a website which exhibited the same sort of noise problem. happy to be toldotherwise though if there are better samples available in a dead room.