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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: skimmel on July 10, 2013, 09:39:56 PM

Title: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: skimmel on July 10, 2013, 09:39:56 PM

I'm considering the Nagra SD but it appears there is not a setting for limiters.  Are there any limiters on the device?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: DigiGal on July 10, 2013, 11:56:12 PM
Here's a couple of threads about the Nagra SD but not discussing limiters.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=161559.msg2031103#msg2031103

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=160020.0
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: George2 on July 11, 2013, 12:16:38 AM
No Limiter, has AGC.
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: skimmel on July 11, 2013, 12:22:33 AM
No Limiter, has AGC.

Seems a bit strange in a $1000 field recorder!  Unless AGC is something better than most AGCs I've tried, this seems very limiting (excuse the pun).
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: John Willett on July 11, 2013, 05:00:49 AM

I'm considering the Nagra SD but it appears there is not a setting for limiters.  Are there any limiters on the device?

YES

The Nagra SD does have a limiter.

You need the latest firmware - v1.2.0.12 - which you can download from the Nagra website HERE (http://www.nagraaudio.com/pro/index.php) - go to "Support" and select "SD" - the manual will also need to be downloaded as it's been updated to include the updates.

NB: some updates may change your settings, so make sure that you take a note of them before the update and re-set them after the update.


After the update you will see in "Record settings" that "AGC" has been changed to "AGC/Limiter".

In this section you can set the:
"Target level" to -3dBFS, -6dBFS or -9dBFS
"Attack Time" to Short or Long
(default is -6dBFS/short)

You can also set the rear switch (marked AGC) to either switch AGC on or off, or to switch the Limiter on or off.



I am very glad you asked this question as I went through my SD to check and then decided to check the Nagra website to see if I had the latest firmware installed.  I noticed that I had v1.2.0.8 and the latest was v1.2.0.12 - so I installed the latest version an there was the limiter in the latest version.  ;D

So, your answer is YES and you have my thanks for asking the question, or I would not have found it for a while.


Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: John Willett on July 11, 2013, 08:04:23 AM
I have just discovered that I am about the first to get v1.2.0.12 as it was only put on the website today.  ;D

The "Software Bulletin" that lists all the recent firmware updates and the improvements included is HERE (http://www.nagraaudio.com/files/SoftwareBulletinV1_2_0_12.pdf).

The new, updated, user manual is on the Nagra website now - direct link is HERE (http://www.nagraaudio.com/files/NagraSd_ManualV1_2_0_12.pdf).
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: skimmel on July 11, 2013, 08:53:53 AM
Wow, John, thanks!  I'm really glad you found this.  Have you had a chance to try them out to see how well they work? (And were you surprised originally not to have limiters?)
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: John Willett on July 11, 2013, 08:58:16 AM
Wow, John, thanks!  I'm really glad you found this.  Have you had a chance to try them out to see how well they work? (And were you surprised originally not to have limiters?)

Not had a chance to try them out yet, but being Nagra they will be excellent.

I actually had not missed the limiters as I tend to leave enough headroom - but now they are there I have them switched on for safety.

The updated manual is now on the Nagra website and the direct link is HERE (http://www.nagraaudio.com/files/NagraSd_ManualV1_2_0_12.pdf) so you can se it.
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: skimmel on July 11, 2013, 09:00:48 AM
Wow, John, thanks!  I'm really glad you found this.  Have you had a chance to try them out to see how well they work? (And were you surprised originally not to have limiters?)

Not had a chance to try them out yet, but being Nagra they will be excellent.

The updated manual is now on the Nagra website and the direct link is HERE (http://www.nagraaudio.com/files/NagraSd_ManualV1_2_0_12.pdf) so you can se it.

Thanks John.  Will be curious to hear what you think of them once you get a chance.  (Now, I wonder if they're going to add limiters to their Lino, Mezzo, etc?
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: John Willett on July 11, 2013, 09:05:48 AM
Wow, John, thanks!  I'm really glad you found this.  Have you had a chance to try them out to see how well they work? (And were you surprised originally not to have limiters?)

Not had a chance to try them out yet, but being Nagra they will be excellent.

The updated manual is now on the Nagra website and the direct link is HERE (http://www.nagraaudio.com/files/NagraSd_ManualV1_2_0_12.pdf) so you can se it.

Thanks John.  Will be curious to hear what you think of them once you get a chance.  (Now, I wonder if they're going to add limiters to their Lino, Mezzo, etc?

I just checked with Nagra - no plans to add limiters to the Lino and Mezzo.

As top of the portable range, priority was given to do the limiters on the SD - R&D is all going on getting the new Nagra Seven out later this year.

Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: George2 on July 11, 2013, 11:13:15 AM
Nice, thanks for that.
Somehow I'm not getting the software download correctly.
Comes to me as script.
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: John Willett on July 11, 2013, 11:45:59 AM
Nice, thanks for that.
Somehow I'm not getting the software download correctly.
Comes to me as script.

That's because you are left clicking to download instead of saving the file.

Take the SD card out of the Nagra SD and plug it into the computer.

Right click on the software download link and select "save link as" (or whatever, Mac and PC are different here).

Select the root of the SD card and save the file there.

(I think you can also connect the Nagra SD direct via USB and "save as" into the root memory that way.)

Then plug the SD card back into the recorder and go; Menu - System settings - System update -OK

The Nagra SD will then update and switch off when done.

Restart and then check the "version" to make sure all is OK.

Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: George2 on July 11, 2013, 12:08:24 PM
Thanks, but it doesn't work. Saves as a .coe.txt file.
I didn't have this problem with v1.2.0.10
I'm on a mac.
I download and then "Save As" like I always do.. no go.
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: DigiGal on July 11, 2013, 12:37:37 PM
Thanks, but it doesn't work. Saves as a .coe.txt file.
I didn't have this problem with v1.2.0.10
I'm on a mac.
I download and then "Save As" like I always do.. no go.

Maybe hidden files???  Here's how to see hidden files on an SDHC card in OS X Snow Leopard. 

 
You can toggle show/hide the hidden files back and forth in this manner.
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: John Willett on July 11, 2013, 01:20:58 PM
Thanks, but it doesn't work. Saves as a .coe.txt file.
I didn't have this problem with v1.2.0.10
I'm on a mac.
I download and then "Save As" like I always do.. no go.

It works perfectly on my Mac.

Let's try a different way...

I downloaded the file to my Mac and then saved it in my "Copy" folder in the cloud.

I just sent you a PM with a download link - so please try that and see if it works.

If not - PM me with your e-mail address and I'll e-mail the file to you.

I hope this helps.

Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: George2 on July 11, 2013, 01:29:16 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: Nagra SD -- No Limiters?
Post by: John Willett on July 11, 2013, 07:20:46 PM
Thanks

Cheers - did it work?