I found a used Nagra 4-SJ for about 800$ Could this be used for live music recording? I can't seem to figure out if this is strictly for nature recording and/or also for live music applications. I have been trying read other forums on the internet, but nothing solid. The SJ model is different than the S. I can't seem to understand some of the technical data, and just want to know if this could work for loud, live music. Also, how are the on-board pre-amps?
Thanks for any help.
mark
Sometimes modified Nagra IV-S machines appear on the used market. These are the model IV-J machines, adapted for use as instrumentation recorders and used by institutes to record for subsequent analysis vibration information (and sometimes bird and insect calls). They look attractive: the recording circuits have a frequency response that extends to 50kHz; the recording level potentiometers replaced by precision attenuators, and the microphone input sockets replaced by multi-way Lemo connectors for use with Brüel & Kjær instrumentation microphones – but they are of no real use to audio enthusiasts, because to preserve signal waveform fidelity these machines use no equalisation whatsoever to the detriment of the signal/noise ratio. Avoid!
NAGRA IV-SJ - Portable Self-Contained Instrumentation Tape Recorder for Scientific Analysis !
Specifications :
Detailed specifications, see the photos below
Track system: 2-track, 2-channel, stereo/monaural system
Tape speeds: 1 7⁄8 3 3⁄4 7 1⁄2 15 ips
Wow and flutter: 0.005% (15 ips)
Frequency response: 25Hz to 35kHz (15 ips)
Signal to Noise Ratio: 44dB The signal to noise ratio quoted on the introduction page, is for the FM track of the recorder though it implies it is for the audio tracks. The audio S/N ratio is 57 db at a flux density of 320nWb. Just in case it confuses anyone that this is a poor quality audio machine.
Total harmonic distortion: 1.5%
Output: 1.0V (line)
Dimensions: 333 x 242 x 113mm
Weight with batteries and tape : 7.3kg
Comes with :
1. Tape recorder
2. Leather bag
3. The original power supply - ATE 110 to 220V
4. Dust cover
5,6. Two types of cables: for recording and playback with RCA connectors.
Made in Switzerland (KUDELSKI)
1972 saw the adaptation of the popular IV-S into the IV-SJ.This was an instrumentation recorder for noise and vibration measurement and other scientific audio analysis organisations. Equipped with special microphone pre-amplifiers, modulometer and stepped input attenuators the IV-SJ is used for a multitude of different environmental and industrialization applications.
Customers for the IV-SJ varied from NASA to Rolls Royce and Greenpeace.
Nagra IV-SJ - Stereo Nagra for instrumentation and logging. Pots are replaced with switches to set gain in precise steps, no limiters, and when present, the microphone inputs are for high-voltage unbalanced instrumentation mics rather than low impedance balanced with T-power and phantom.
Interesting and probably rarer version of the famous portable audio recorder, this Nagra is a highly specialized instrumentation recorder ! What sets this machine appart is that it has two 'direct' type wideband recording channels that have a frequency response of 2.5 Hz to 35 kHz, and one frequency modulated channel with a frequency response of 0 Hz (DC) to 4 kHz. It also has precision switched input attenuators with a resolution of 1dB (see the photos), an accurately calibrated 'modulometer' with Peak and RMS scales, and in-built physiological filters type A, B, C and D. In other words it is actually a precision recording sound level meter to the 'CEI 179 norm', and with a separate B&K measuring microphone, made this recording measuring instrument a popular tool for noise and vibration analysis.
The IV-SJ was a stereo machine destined towards the music industry, allowing musical performances to be captured in Stereo in a portable format !