Nagra LB mic pre-amps compared to other state of the art mic-pres

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by apple-q

some aspects that haven't been mentioned yet:

The LB only runs 3 hours with a set (8xAA) of batteries.

But there is a new rechargeable battery pack available for the LB that replaces the battery box and gives a much longer running time.


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[Bechstein]

NAGRA LB Battery life
8 hours (8 x NiMh 2500 mAh) Record @ 24 bits 48 kHz with 2 x phantom +48V (2 x 4 mA), continuous recording. Between 5 and 5 1/2 hours with 8 x LR6 dry alkaline cells.

???

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Bechstein

NAGRA LB Battery life
8 hours (8 x NiMh 2500 mAh) Record @ 24 bits 48 kHz with 2 x phantom +48V (2 x 4 mA), continuous recording. Between 5 and 5 1/2 hours with 8 x LR6 dry alkaline cells.

???

Nagra tell me that this will be doubled with the new battery pack (which is also thinner than the battery box).

Do it looks like 10 to 16 hours with the accupack.

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[apple-q]

Originally Posted by John Willett

Nagra tell me that this will be doubled with the new battery pack (which is also thinner than the battery box).

Do it looks like 10 to 16 hours with the accupack.

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Do you know a price-tag?

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by apple-q

Do you know a price-tag?

Not off hand - give your local Nagra agent a shout.

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[Douglas Whates]

Just thought I'd pass on some info about LB-S availability -- I'm told by Nagra U.K. that it won't be around for at least 9 months.

So - the original LB is the only option at the moment. Not even sure you can get the "long-life" battery pack yet. I'm a bit reluctant to run this thing off the mains, as I had some problems running the VI off mains. What is a realistic recording time if using NiMh 2500 mAh cells? Really 8hrs of continuous recording with phantom?

Still a bit torn between the LB and the Sound Devices 702. Having experience a couple of minor issues with the Nagra VI (one corrupt file when writing, the other with the power supply), the brand doesn't just get carte blanche as best choice!

I think I may have to just buy both units and try them out.

Douglas.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by naturalstudio

I'm a bit reluctant to run this thing off the mains, as I had some problems running the VI off mains.

Please can you elaborate.

I have never had a problem running my Nagra VI off the mains - my understanding is that the recorder is running off the battery while the mains unit is simultaneously charging it. So any problem with the mains at all should not affect it as it is actually running from the battery.

Or were you using the XLR-4 and by-passing the battery?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by naturalstudio

Having experience a couple of minor issues with the Nagra VI (one corrupt file when writing, the other with the power supply), the brand doesn't just get carte blanche as best choice!

I have never had a corrupt file with the Nagra VI - what was the situation when it happened? The *only* problem I have had with the Nagra VI was with the firmware upgrade when it did not copy to CF unless track-8 was ticked. Nagra sorted this with a firmware upgrade in less that 48 hours (to be precise. 30 hours from when they read the e-mail the next morning) which I take as exemplary service.

I can understand a PSU problem as it is a carpet carbuncle, but as the recorder is powered via the battery, all that should happen is that the battery takes over without a glitch. I can't understand a PSU problem affecting the recording - unless you didn't notice and the battery ran flat.

[Douglas Whates]

Originally Posted by John Willett

Please can you elaborate.

I was recording in a *very* quiet space, and I was recording a *very* quiet instrument. I was using a stereo pair of Schoeps and had the gain up quite high.

Just before hitting record for the session, I did my usual - crank up the volume on the headphones really high and listen for any buzzes/interference, noises in the room etc. Well, I heard a very low hum. I eventually found out that if I unplugged the power supply (the bog standard one which comes with the unit) the hum went away. I did a bit of testing, and the hum was indeed recorded. If I recorded something without the power supply plugged in, there was no hum. And if I played back that humless recording, but plugged the power supply back in, there was no humming. In other words, the humming was only present on "Test" mode, and also recorded to disk. But, it didn't seem to be affecting playback itself.

The corrupt file issue was on a different session. It was a very intensive 5 days of recording where I recorded hours and hours of material. I have no idea what caused it to happen, and I had no idea it was corrupt until I tried playing that particular take back, and it crashed the machine - it completely froze and I had to power off. What was particularly unsettling about this corrupt file issue, was that I had no idea about it until I had returned from the session. The Nagra didn't say anything like "record fail" or "record error". It appeared as if it was absolutely fine. Luckily, everything was covered in other takes, but it certainly made me a little bit wary. When I used the Nagra VI after that, I always checked that I could play back takes after I recorded them.

Another issue I had was with backing stuff up to an external drive via USB. This was *very* slow, and caused the Nagra to crash on a couple of occasions. I realise this may have simply been compatibility problems between the Nagra VI and my external drive, but still - it was a bit unnerving.

So, I suppose the lesson is -- nothing is flawless or 100% reliable!

Douglas.

[John Willett]

Did you tell Nagra all this? If not, please do.


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[Douglas Whates]

I mentioned it to them when I returned their demo unit (I have since hired the unit on several occasions from Richmond Film Services). I haven't had a chance to file them a full report of the problems. I kept the test recording with the problematic hum, so I can let them hear that. Also, I should still have the corrupt file around somewhere.

[mosrite]

Douglas,

What CF card were you using?

[Douglas Whates]

Originally Posted by mosrite

Douglas,

What CF card were you using?

Can't remember exactly. I think it was a SanDisk Ultra II, but can't remember for sure. It was the one that Nagra included with the unit on loaning it to me. Also, the CF card I used in subsequent session was always the one provided by the hire company (Richmond Film Services).

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by naturalstudio

Can't remember exactly. I think it was a SanDisk Ultra II, but can't remember for sure. It was the one that Nagra included with the unit on loaning it to me. Also, the CF card I used in subsequent session was always the one provided by the hire company (Richmond Film Services).

You weren't recording direct to CF were you? Nagra don't recommend this.

I always record direct to hard drive and back up to CF (this is Nagra VI, of course).

The Nagra test can also tell you if you have a genuine card or a fake.

[Douglas Whates]

Originally Posted by John Willett

You weren't recording direct to CF were you? Nagra don't recommend this.

I always record direct to hard drive and back up to CF (this is Nagra VI, of course).

The Nagra test can also tell you if you have a genuine card or a fake.

Of course, I was recording to the hard-drive.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by naturalstudio

Of course, I was recording to the hard-drive.

I thought you must - it was the talk of CF cards that threw me.

Still concerned about that glitch, though.

Could it have been something outside the Nagra VI? interference or the like?

[Bié]

[QUOTE = John Willett ; 5822571 ] Eu pensei Que VOCÊ DEVE - FOi uma conversa de Cartões CF Que jogou comigo.

Ainda falha ISSO preocupado com , não entanto .

ter Podería fóruns Sido algoritmo do VI Nagra ? Algo OU Interferência do Género ? [/ QUOTE]

Eu uso Nagra VI há 13 meses. Nenhum problema.
Eu também tenho SD788 , SD744 , SD702T , Tascam HS- P82, Tascam HD -P2 ...
Para mim, Nagra ainda é a máquina mais confiável.

Gabriel

[David Spearritt]

Originally Posted by Bié

[QUOTE = John Willett ; 5822571 ] Eu pensei Que VOCÊ DEVE - FOi uma conversa de Cartões CF Que jogou comigo.

Ainda falha ISSO preocupado com , não entanto .

ter Podería fóruns Sido algoritmo do VI Nagra ? Algo OU Interferência do Género ? [/ QUOTE]

Eu uso Nagra VI há 13 meses. Nenhum problema.
Eu também tenho SD788 , SD744 , SD702T , Tascam HS- P82, Tascam HD -P2 ...
Para mim, Nagra ainda é a máquina mais confiável.

Gabriel

Translation .....
I use Nagra VI 13 months ago. No problem.
I also have SD788, SD744, SD702T, Tascam HS-P82,
Tascam HD-P2 ...
For me, Nagra is still the most reliable machine.

[Bié]

Originally Posted by David Spearritt

Translation .....
I use Nagra VI 13 months ago. No problem.
I also have SD788, SD744, SD702T, Tascam HS-P82,
Tascam HD-P2 ...
For me, Nagra is still the most reliable machine.

Tks, David!
Sorry for my lapse!

Gabriel

[Bié]

Please, some idea of this problem? video >

https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D959989969%2526email%253D10444c9fdcd227b715140deac3319430

Resolved problem, via the internet, with help of Bartels Herbert's, Nagra of Switzerland.

[Bié]

Please,

Does anybody here have experiences in production in Antarctica or similar conditions?

Tks,
Bié