Topic: Nagra LB

[John Willett]

Saw this at AES Amsterdam - looks *very* nice - and cheaper than the current Nagra BB.

Details HERE.



BWAV up to 24/192 as well as MP3 and MPEG layer II.

[digifish_music]

Saw this at AES Amsterdam - looks *very* nice - and cheaper than the current Nagra BB.

Details HERE.



BWAV up to 24/192 as well as MP3 and MPEG layer II.

+T

Oooo...pretty, I want one

No I don't...yes I do...no I dont...

I'll just lay here under a pile of previously purchased recorders and hope the feeling wears off 

digifish

[Sheed]

 

hot swappable memory and it's 6.8 x 2.5 x 7.25 inches. 

what's it gonna cost?  edit:  saw $3K on one site

this feature sounds particularly cool:

"The microphone inputs are of the highest possible quality and are fitted with a special integrated vortex filter to virtually eliminate wind noise."

[Gutbucket]

I assume the've adjusted the threshold of the "integrated vortex filter" to faithfully capture the spiralling decent into musical chaos of the freeform improvisational segment, deep in the second, late-night set without distortion. 

[John Willett]

It's due to start shipping in July, by the way.

The long awaited Nagra VI should start shipping now (in two weeks time I was told by Nagra two weeks ago).



I'm definitely getting one of these. 

[digifish_music]

It's due to start shipping in July, by the way.

The long awaited Nagra VI should start shipping now (in two weeks time I was told by Nagra two weeks ago).



I'm definitely getting one of these. 

120 Gb internal hard-drive, I don't get it, they could add $10 to the RRP and give you 250 Gb. 

digifish

[Ozpeter]

"The Nagra LB is fitted with an internal 2GB NAND flash memory which serves two important rolls."  Rolls as in Royce, I guess.

[mmedley.]

It's due to start shipping in July, by the way.

The long awaited Nagra VI should start shipping now (in two weeks time I was told by Nagra two weeks ago).



I'm definitely getting one of these. 

Congrats. Think I might stop by their office in Franklin next time I am there and play with one. 

[John Willett]

It's due to start shipping in July, by the way.

The long awaited Nagra VI should start shipping now (in two weeks time I was told by Nagra two weeks ago).



I'm definitely getting one of these. 

Congrats. Think I might stop by their office in Franklin next time I am there and play with one. 

Just found out today that it should start shipping in a couple of weeks (small delay while they finished something else) - the LB is due July/August.

I may just get both - in which case I will have a Foster FR-2 with all the trimmings for sale. 

[John Willett]

For anyone interested - the review I wrote on the NAGRA VI for LineUp magazine is now on-line HERE.

I hope to bet the LB for review sometime next month and will report back on that later.

[OFOTD]

Nice review. 

I'd love to see a side by side test of the Nagra VI and Zaxcom's Deva Fusion.   Many featureset differences between the two but both are at the same price point.

The Nagra LB would compare with a 722 i'm guessing?

[John Willett]

Nice review. 

I'd love to see a side by side test of the Nagra VI and Zaxcom's Deva Fusion.   Many featureset differences between the two but both are at the same price point.

The Nagra LB would compare with a 722 i'm guessing?

Thanks.

I think the LB may be nearer the 702 than 722 - but we will have to wait and see.  Of course, it may be different in the USA as SD is made in the USA and the Nagra in Europe, so the exchange rate may get in the way.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

I think the LB may be nearer the 702 than 722 - but we will have to wait and see.  Of course, it may be different in the USA as SD is made in the USA and the Nagra in Europe, so the exchange rate may get in the way.

Which comes with TC capability?

[John Willett]

I think the LB may be nearer the 702 than 722 - but we will have to wait and see.  Of course, it may be different in the USA as SD is made in the USA and the Nagra in Europe, so the exchange rate may get in the way.

Which comes with TC capability?

The LB (like the 702 and 722) does not have timecode - the LB does have a time stamp, I am told.

The LB is not out until next month, so we'll see then.

[OFOTD]

I think the LB may be nearer the 702 than 722 - but we will have to wait and see.  Of course, it may be different in the USA as SD is made in the USA and the Nagra in Europe, so the exchange rate may get in the way.

Which comes with TC capability?

You can buy a 702 with time code.  It's the 702T.  The only other 7xx with time code are the 744T and 788T.  No time code for the 722.

While the Nagra VI is impressive I can't see the LB making a huge dent in the market for sub $2500 recorders.  SD has such a huge lead in the marketplace already and the LB does not appear to offer any gotta have features that the 7xx boxes don't.

I like the Nagra VI but it looks rather dated when compared to the similar priced Zaxcom boxes.  The Aaton Cantar x2 is a bad ass box but is $5k or more than the Nagra or Zaxcom boxes.

[OFOTD]

As a funny addition I was looking at a bunch of the gear/field pics on the Aaton site.



744 love!

[John Willett]

While the Nagra VI is impressive I can't see the LB making a huge dent in the market for sub $2500 recorders.  SD has such a huge lead in the marketplace already and the LB does not appear to offer any gotta have features that the 7xx boxes don't.

Oh yes is does, it has several unique features which SD don't.

SD are excellent recordes - so are Nagra - the LB is is an alternative.  The worst thing for any company is not having any competition, competition is good for the product, the companies and the end users.

I like the Nagra VI but it looks rather dated when compared to the similar priced Zaxcom boxes.  The Aaton Cantar x2 is a bad ass box but is $5k or more than the Nagra or Zaxcom boxes.

The Nagra VI is superb; personally I would not touch Zaxcom with a bargepole, I just don't trust them.

Agreed about the Cantar, though - but the price!!!

[OFOTD]

While the Nagra VI is impressive I can't see the LB making a huge dent in the market for sub $2500 recorders.  SD has such a huge lead in the marketplace already and the LB does not appear to offer any gotta have features that the 7xx boxes don't.

Oh yes is does, it has several unique features which SD don't.

SD are excellent recordes - so are Nagra - the LB is is an alternative.  The worst thing for any company is not having any competition, competition is good for the product, the companies and the end users.

You obviously have quite a bit more experience with the Nagra's.  What do you see as the unique features that make the LB standout not just against the SD boxes but against their competitors in that price range?   I dig my 744t but its not the end all be all for me.  Personally I am not a fan of the pre amps in the unit at all.  Hence the interest in the Deva Fusion.

I like the Nagra VI but it looks rather dated when compared to the similar priced Zaxcom boxes.  The Aaton Cantar x2 is a bad ass box but is $5k or more than the Nagra or Zaxcom boxes.

The Nagra VI is superb; personally I would not touch Zaxcom with a bargepole, I just don't trust them.

Agreed about the Cantar, though - but the price!!!

WOW!  First i've really heard of Zaxcom hateraid.  I've been working with a company to try and get a demo unit of one of the Deva Fusion boxes for a few days.  What concerns do you have with the Zaxcom boxes?    We've got a fellow Team Texas member running the Deva 5.8 (came from the Deva IV) and i've heard nothing but praise of the units. 

The Cantar is real cool but for $16k it isn't real suited to the gear sluttiness of this group of tapers.   

[John Willett]

A couple of the unique things about the LB are the double screens for "over the shoulder" and "on the table" operation and integrated bluetooth for sending recordings back to base.

I will get my hands on one in a few weeks time for a proper review and will give it a full and honest review as I did with the Nagra VI.  Anything I don't like I will discuss with the manufacturers (as I did with the VI and they changed with firmware updates).

After using the Nagra VI and they fixed my query I just had to buy one it was so good.

SD stuff I do like a lot, though I do have a few reservations on the 788T (heat and fiddly controls mainly).

Zaxcom I respect for being the first HD recorder and they make some good stuff.  But I don't like their attitude - I won't go into chapter and verse, but I have met the man from Zaxcom and know several users.  I'm not saying they are bad, just that there are certain things I don't like and reasons I would not buy one.

The Cantar is great, just it's fat too expensive for me - the Nagra VI pushed me to the limit.

[Ozpeter]

What are the monitoring options on these 'serious' multitrack machines?  As I've said before my chief beef with the humble (relatively!) R-44 is lack of monitoring level and pan controls per track during recording (and no pan when playing back) - does the Nagra LB have those features?  Or is fully controlled monitoring generally seen as something not required in the field?

[John Willett]

What are the monitoring options on these 'serious' multitrack machines?  As I've said before my chief beef with the humble (relatively!) R-44 is lack of monitoring level and pan controls per track during recording (and no pan when playing back) - does the Nagra LB have those features?  Or is fully controlled monitoring generally seen as something not required in the field?

The Nagra LB is a stereo machine, so this does not apply.

Ths Nagra VI is a 6-track machine.  Monitoring can be switched on or off for each channel and each channel panned left, centre or right.  There are also two MS maxtrixes that an be switched into the monitoring chain.

[Ozpeter]

Monitoring can be switched on or off for each channel and each channel panned left, centre or right.

Hmmm. That really does surprise me when paying this kind of money.  Thanks for the info.

[SClassical]

http://www.gearwire.com/media/nagra-lb-125aes.wmv

[su6oxone]

The Nagra LB is a stereo machine, so this does not apply.

John, I think I read a post of yours on gearslutz re: the LB and you mentioned that there was supposed to be a version of the LB coming out with a lithium rechargeable instead of the AAs (like the VI) and without the top LCD (for table top operation), in addition to some other differences.  Any update on when/if this version would be released? 

[John Willett]

The Nagra LB is a stereo machine, so this does not apply.

John, I think I read a post of yours on gearslutz re: the LB and you mentioned that there was supposed to be a version of the LB coming out with a lithium rechargeable instead of the AAs (like the VI) and without the top LCD (for table top operation), in addition to some other differences.  Any update on when/if this version would be released?

The rechargeable pack is not, as I understand, delivered with the LB.  It's an optional extra.

From my understanding it should be available now.  Just give Nagra a shout.

[su6oxone]

The rechargeable pack is not, as I understand, delivered with the LB.  It's an optional extra.

From my understanding it should be available now.  Just give Nagra a shout.

Cool, thanks.  No word on the different version of the LB though (without the top face LCD/controls, etc.)?

[John Willett]

No word on the different version of the LB though (without the top face LCD/controls, etc.)?

Not that I know of.

Though I did hear that Nagra will be doing a stereo mic. pre. with Nagra VI quality amplifiers for the Nagra VI and I have heard that there will be a version of this with a built-in recorder - maybe this will be instead of the modified LB?

[su6oxone]

Not that I know of.

K, thanks for the info, I've always wanted to try out the LB.

[John Willett]

Not that I know of.

K, thanks for the info, I've always wanted to try out the LB.

I have an LB with me now, I'm doing a review for Sound On Sound.  It's a very nice machine.

[su6oxone]

I have an LB with me now, I'm doing a review for Sound On Sound.  It's a very nice machine.

Cool, looking forward to reading your review.

[andromedanwarmachine]

There is a "reduced-fat" version of the LB in the pipes.

I asked Nagra a few weeks ago and this is what I got;

Hello Jim
 
I can confirm that there will be a simplified version of the LB. It will have no editing facilities and no screen, jog wheel or buttons on the top panel.
 
I cannot tell you when it will be available or the projected price as Switzerland don’t have this information at present.
 
I would guess and it is a guess it will the middle of 2011 before it will be available.
 
Best wishes
John Rudling
Nagra Kudelski (GB) Ltd.

My own technical inability prevents me from posting a picture, but if you do a Google images search for Nagra LB-S you get a shot immediately from "nagrit.com"

Hey John- that's great news that you are doing a write-up because, a) I have just subscribed to SOS and b) I have started a fund to save up for an LB!! When do you think it will be published??!

JimP

[su6oxone]

Thanks, that's the one I was thinking about!  Here's the pic from nagrit:

[andromedanwarmachine]

THAT is the one!

I did see a cost actually somewhere on a dealer site in Italy (Rome) which kind of flies in the face of what I was told by Nagra. (in that it seems they have it for sale already??)

But it was interesting to get a price comparison as there was a distinct difference between the costs.

I think most people here would prefer the S, as I don't do a lot of in the field editing myself. I think people want the preamps and the machine itself...

JimP

[John Willett]

Thanks, that's the one I was thinking about!  Here's the pic from nagrit:

Image does not display - try this:-

[Tonis]

There is a "reduced-fat" version of the LB in the pipes.

I asked Nagra a few weeks ago and this is what I got;

Hello Jim
 
I can confirm that there will be a simplified version of the LB. It will have no editing facilities and no screen, jog wheel or buttons on the top panel.
 
I cannot tell you when it will be available or the projected price as Switzerland don’t have this information at present.
 
I would guess and it is a guess it will the middle of 2011 before it will be available.
 
Best wishes
John Rudling
Nagra Kudelski (GB) Ltd.

My own technical inability prevents me from posting a picture, but if you do a Google images search for Nagra LB-S you get a shot immediately from "nagrit.com"

Hey John- that's great news that you are doing a write-up because, a) I have just subscribed to SOS and b) I have started a fund to save up for an LB!! When do you think it will be published??!

JimP

Just today I got confirmation from NagraVision SA (Switzerland) that there will be no "simplified" version ever produced that leads me to the suspective new product in pipeline that could well be that simple stereo recorder with good preamps > this feels inevitable as they have all the know-how, resources and sales channels to provide a "Golden" $1000 Nagra Stereo Recorder > just a bit better than an ordinary $500 recorder but which has those "Nagra" sonic abilities.

T

T

[andromedanwarmachine]

Hey Tonis,

sorry- what are you saying- that the LB-S is not going into production, but you anticipate a cheaper version of a new machine...?

JimP

[Tonis]

Hey Tonis,

sorry- what are you saying- that the LB-S is not going into production, but you anticipate a cheaper version of a new machine...?

JimP

Yes, LB-S will not go into production unfortunately. But the "other" machine lives only in my imagination fueled by few rumors and based on my intuition . (I'm inventor and manufacturer, in the field of motion picture)
If my brand was as legendary and reputable as Nagra is I wouldn't wait for a second to produce a simple $500 class stereo recorder to be sold for $999 simply because it's "Nagra". As for only added $50 manufacturing wise you could build beatiful aluminum housings and control knobs...

T

[andromedanwarmachine]

Ha!

that's really interesting! I think that's quite a clever business strategy...

I think however that as a manufacturer, Nagra dance to their own tune and base products more on what they think is right than what they feel the market wants...

That's seems naive to say I know... but it's just my perception...

JimP

[Tonis]

... dance to their own tune ...

JimP

I'm completely with you on that. Maybe I'll proceed with producing this type things in the future.

T

[John Willett]

LB-S will not go into production unfortunately. But the "other" machine lives only in my imagination

This is actually good news for me.

Nagra are doing a stereo mic. pre. with the same quality mic. pres. as the Nagra VI (better than the LB) - this is to make the Nagra VI able to record 6 mics at a time.

I heard from someone at a recent exhibition is the USA that Nagra will also do a version of this with a built-in recorder.

So this would actually be a better-spec'd recorder than the LB-S.

When it comes I will get one. 

[andromedanwarmachine]

hmm...

sounds tempting- but how long will we have to wait!??

[Tonis]

...
So this would actually be a better-spec'd recorder than the LB-S.
...

So the original LB is not that good preamps wise? Just the build quality and features are better than found on most recorders?
I ask cause for two years I've been waiting for getting the LB and I have to decide in 24 hours on if we will proceed with the purchase.
My only experience with Nagra is the old mono 4.2 and in digital I've used Sony, SD and Edirol (R44) recorders. So presumably I'd expect that Nagra LB will be an improvement over these.
With the main concern that it would be a bit more warm or open (more Nagrish if I may say so)  than the SD 702 is for example.
My 4.2 sounds really great but it's getting old and is a bit cumbersome for field use when compared to modern machines.

T

[andromedanwarmachine]

"than the SD 702"

I think at this watershed price level- you are only looking at the SD 702 or the LB.

And both will blow out of the water the other machines you describe as having used. They're a different galaxy to these current machines.

Mr Willet will be able to answer this better as I have actually not heard either device. I think you are looking at industry standard serviceability & familiarity against absolute esosteric quality, but perhaps at the expense of being part of a big movement of people. (whatever that means!)

I think you'll find ten SD 702 users for every one LB user and who's to say who is right.

A quick Google search for SD 702 costs against LB results brings up half a dozen options against one outcome.

I know where I'll be going- as in life; it is always the road less travelled!

JimP

[Tonis]

"than the SD 702"
...They're a different galaxy to these current machines.

Mr Willet will be able to answer this better as I have actually not heard either device. I think you are looking at industry standard serviceability & familiarity against absolute esosteric quality, but perhaps at the expense of being part of a big movement of people. (whatever that means!)
...

I know where I'll be going- as in life; it is always the road less travelled!

JimP

I think that these days the amount of information available for any given product/brand will indirectly (and unfortunately) determine the majority purchase decisions.
My only concern is if the LB will be more similar to the old Nagra reel to reels and the like or will be more on the side of high end prosumer recorders > I don't have the opportunity to see and try the LB in real life.

T

[andromedanwarmachine]

If it's competing with the SD 702 and I think it is- it is wholly professional, rather than high end prosumer.

The SD stuff is the real thing, but I know that Wildlife ound Recordist Chris Watson uses a Nagra...

I'd have to defer to Mr Willet's experience...

[RichT]

Actually I asked Chris about his gear a few months back, he used the handheld Nagra Ares PII (with electret mics) and the SD 744T

[John Willett]

So the original LB is not that good preamps wise?

Not at all, the originalo LB had superb pre-amps.  At least as good as the SD (maybe better), just not as good as the Nagra VI.

It's like saying a Merc. is not very good because it's not quite as good as a Rolls Royce 

[page]

John; any word when further details (price, functionality, etc) about the new machine might become available? Just curious, thanks.

[F.O.Bean]

Yea I'm curious too......

[AB52]

Where is the best place to buy a Nagra VI ?

[John Willett]

Where is the best place to buy a Nagra VI ?

Nagra

If you are in the UK go to Nagra GB and buy direct.

In the USA it's Nagra USA.

Just go to the Nagra Website and click on "Sales Network" and select your country.