nagra/stellavox

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by tsvisser

Just ordered my VI in slate gray + battery + bag. A pair of MKH 800 Twins and new DPA SMK4060 kit to christen it. Am I happy or sad?,

Both - happy about the equipment, sad at the money now gone (like me).

Originally Posted by tsvisser

I'm not quite sure, talk about different emotional directions... but did not go in debt to purchase it! So I guess I'm happy, yeah!

Same here - not in debt.

My Nagra VI should be on the next shipment in 2-weeks and it will include the +6dB fix for the headphones level I pointed out to them (on the next software update for everyone else).

You should be happy with the twins, they are excellent. I have original 800s and a pair of 8040s - I'll get the 8020s soon and the MZD 8000 digital module when it comes out later this year.

I'm thinking about a twin to do double-MS, but as I then need a full surround monitoring kit as well I'll do that later.

[tsvisser]

Monitoring surround... do you mean on location or back during post? At my desk I have a Grace m906, which I will feed from my DAW after I process the 800 twins in M-S-M. I'm not expecting to really monitor stereo on location. I'm just going to tie all 4 inputs to a single gain knob and just monitor the front M in mono, even though the -S and rear -M will be at much lower levels, I'm thinking it would be better for the signal chain of all mics to be identical, including gain levles. Would you do anything differently? I'm not sure 100% about using the 800 twin as a figure-8, but if it doesn't work out, it is such a flexible mic, I will have absolute no problem finding another use for it. I see that you have GFM 132s. What do you think of them?

[Plush]

tsvisser---Strong Move!

No one regrets using a Nagra.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by tsvisser

Monitoring surround... do you mean on location or back during post? At my desk I have a Grace m906, which I will feed from my DAW after I process the 800 twins in M-S-M. I'm not expecting to really monitor stereo on location. I'm just going to tie all 4 inputs to a single gain knob and just monitor the front M in mono, even though the -S and rear -M will be at much lower levels, I'm thinking it would be better for the signal chain of all mics to be identical, including gain levles. Would you do anything differently? I'm not sure 100% about using the 800 twin as a figure-8, but if it doesn't work out, it is such a flexible mic, I will have absolute no problem finding another use for it. I see that you have GFM 132s. What do you think of them?

I have no surround monitoring at all at the mo. I use a Grace m902b. So getting surround monitoring will be a considerable expense.

You will have no trouble using the two twins in M-S-M format. I would record all at normal level and sort it out in the DAW.

Make sure the NAGRA VI is updated with all the latest software (this goes for Plush as well). An update posted just over a week ago added the facility to link the faders (which was not on the unit I had for review) and also added metadata editing. Another update coming shortly will add an extra 6dB to the headphones output level (which I pointed out to Nagra when I did the review).

It's worth keeping an eye on the Nagra wensite HERE for the latest updates (go to "Support" and then select "NAGRA VI"). No doubt there will be a few as they tidy things up.

Regarding the GFM 132 - these are definitely the best boundary mics around, but I do not use them that often. They are superb on the floor underneath a grand piano when space is tight.

[tsvisser]

Just finished plucking foam and outfitting a pair of travel cases...

MobileMe Gallery

I ordered a tan/beige colored case which will be the permanent home for the Nagra... just wanted something other than the ubiquitous black case so if someone snatches it from the airport, I can run outside and quickly see my case being rolled away and hit the perp with my carbon fibre boom stick. When that happens, I'll glue all the foam permanently in place, I know it looks a little sloppy right now. This is definitely a carry on solution. The thinness of the foam on the sides definitely would prohibit me from thinking about shipping or handling by baggage handlers. I had to modify the foam a bit for it to even fit at all.

[John Willett]

That looks very nice - I'm still thinking of how to pack mine.

I'm still waiting for mine - it's on the next shipment due very soon.

[0VU]

Originally Posted by John Willett

Regarding the GFM 132 - these are definitely the best boundary mics around,

As the very happy user of Schoeps BLM03Cg and BLM3g, (amongst other BLMs) I'd dispute that! One the best, maybe; 'the best' no, no more than any other mic is ever really 'the best' in any given type.

[drpro]

I have watched John's posts on other sites and he seems very biased towards only Sennheiser and Neumann. Which is fine. I have had a pair of the Nagra 6's for almost a year now and they are one of the best recorder/pre systems out there. Neumann/Sennheiser are the same company/ownership and make some good mics, however for what they are Schoeps are also some of the very best. I have been on shoots over the years and have had clients ask for a equipment list and once they know you have Nagras, Schoeps they seem satisfied and the job is mine. Makes no sense.
Use what you like and what works for you.

Regards
David

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by drpro

I have watched John's posts on other sites and he seems very biased towards only Sennheiser and Neumann.

Yes, but I also often mention DPA and Schoeps and have often recommended certain AT and Røde models at times when appropriate.

I *do* genuinely love the symmetrical capsule MKH series above all others - which is why I own 10 of them, with more coming.

When I mentioned the GFM 132 I had honestly forgotten about the Schoeps version, which is a good mic.

But I mention loads of other things as well - like the Nagra in this thread.

[David Spearritt]

Originally Posted by drpro

I have had a pair of the Nagra 6's for almost a year now ...

Intriguing, since they have only just gone on sale. Are you a beta tester for Nagra?

[drpro]

Nagra US is in Franklin close to where I live. There have been some early ones available, you just need to know the right people. Not quite a year, perhaps 10 months actually.

David

[John Willett]

There were quite a few changes in the production version from the early test versions - and a few changes in the software since the first run (a couple due to my comments back to Nagra).

But the software updates are easy and quick to implement from the Nagra website.

[Plush]

I have been informed from Nagra headquarters that my red NVI is coming to the States.
They asked if they could display it at the upcoming AES show in SF/CA.

Nagra needs bling!

My agreement with them says that they must whisper "Atelier HudSonic" into the prospective customer's ear.

Check for the red box on the Nagra stand.

[John Willett]

I'm still waiting for mine too - any day now I hope.

I hope it's in the same batch as yours, I'm getting impatient to get going with it.

By the way, they have now done my suggested level increase and it's a choice of +6dB or +12dB, perfect.

The latest manual which includes all the updates (and v1.2 software for anyone with a version already delivered) is on the Nagra website. I downloaded it and have been browsing through it today.

[tsvisser]

I updated my unit to 1.2 - I had a bit of a hiccup, I don't know if its just something peculiar with my computer, a MacBook Pro, or if its something that others will face too, but when I clicked on the link for the firmware, it opened up a Safari window and showed the contents of the .nbu as a raw text file. No, problem, command-click or right click and save as... But then my file shows up in Finder as NVI.....nbu.txt - not a big deal, if you command-I (info) the file, you can delete the .txt extension and all is well. For me, I couldn't just change the file name in the regular Finder view, as the extension didn't change, it just hid the .txt extension from me. Not a huge thing, but it did cause me a couple of tries before I figured out what was going on.

Should we start a new thread for VI errata or requests or just append to this one?

When I store and recall presets, it recalls EVERYTHING that is a setting... including things like monitoring boost and line output levels. I can't think of too many situations where I would want these values to change from preset to preset, in my mind, they should stay constant - although the argument could be made that line output level could change. This leads me to believe that something should be done to the settings presets feature that allows for some sort of default setting and configurable option to allow any particular preset to be 1) set to the preset value or 2) set to default or 3) remain unchanged from the current setting. This machine is about simplicity, and maybe the above request departs from that paradigm. I could also accept simply having the monitoring boost level removed as a stored/recalled preset level. In fact, I'd rather see the presets only affect mic/line configuration, routing, and mixing settings. Things like sampling rate, file format, etc... I would rather see as manual adjustments only. In my mind, recalling presets is a way to quickly access my most commonly used mic layouts, adjust sensitivities, phantom, limiting, filter, etc... If I'm working on a music remote, I'll set to 44.1 or 88.2. If I'm working on TV production, 48. A music video might call for 96. But I'd rather set these manually and not have to go through the whole setting menu every time I recall a preset just as a confidence check that I didn't change some setting value that I did not really want to be changed.

[John Willett]

Might be worth starting a new thread, I suppose.

But - I would urge you to e-mail Nagra direct with all this as they are a very responsive company and do listen.

The +6dB and +12dB on the monitoring output are a direct result of my review of the machine that said I thought it was not quite loud enough. In fact I mentioned this to Nagra while I was in the middle of the review and had a confirmation back from them that they could increase the level in time to be included in the review when it was printed.

[tsvisser]

Email sent to Nagra and new post thread started.

Nagra VI Firmware Requests

[John Willett]

If anyone is interested - my review of the Nagra VI is now on-line HERE.

There is also another review HERE.

[Plush]

Hello John ,

Thank you for your well done review. I appreciated you getting into the description of the various modes of the meters. Also your suggestion of upping the headphone volume is a great idea. I'm pleased that your review caused Nagravision SA to change the machine.

By the way, the reason that Nagra headphones start out with a lower volume design is because of a lawsuit against them for hearing damage some years ago.

One correction for your files---this is the second multi-track digital machine for Nagra. The first was the Nagra D four track.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Plush

Hello John ,

Thank you for your well done review. I appreciated you getting into the description of the various modes of the meters. Also your suggestion of upping the headphone volume is a great idea. I'm pleased that your review caused Nagravision SA to change the machine.

By the way, the reason that Nagra headphones start out with a lower volume design is because of a lawsuit against them for hearing damage some years ago.

One correction for your files---this is the second multi-track digital machine for Nagra. The first was the Nagra D four track.

Thanks Plush - I had not realised the Nagra-D was a 4-track.

Funny Nagra did not correct me on that, as I sent a copy over to them before it was published to make sure I had everything correct.

I have also had word back from them that they are considering my suggestion that in playback the meters revert to "cinema" mode with the longer meters.

I liked to have the default meters as standard (in stand-by) so you can check all the settings - then go into "Cinema" mode when recording, for the longer meters. In Play it reverts to the stand-by setting, but all the settings are blank, so you get short meters with a blank underneath - hence my request for "cinema" mode here. I think (hope) that this will be enabled in the next firmware upgrade.

I am still waiting for my machine - but I was told yesterday that it should be in the UK in the middle of next week - so this time next week

[John Willett]

Nagra GB have just told me that my NAGRA VI should be with them tomorrow, so I should get it on Thursday - can't wait.

[John Willett]

Just arrived !

And it *does* look nice in "burgundy red".

But I will have to wait a little for the case and the high capacity battery pack, though, as they are out of stock.

But at least I can now get going.

[Plush]

Congratulations on the "red one," John
May you have many good recordings with it.

As an aside. . .

I have a letter here from the Nagra factory that tells me that, internally, on the factory floor in Switzerland, the red Nagra VI is referred to as "the pimp machine."

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Plush

Congratulations on the "red one," John
May you have many good recordings with it.

As an aside. . .

I have a letter here from the Nagra factory that tells me that, internally, on the factory floor in Switzerland, the red Nagra VI is referred to as "the pimp machine."

Thanks - I'm sure I will - just a shame I have to wait for the HC battery, but the standard one will do for now.


And - Pimp indeed! - The burgundy colour looks very high class to me and the controls are easier to see than the dull grey one (and the blue one just looks cold).

Cheers.

[David Spearritt]

Been playing with the Nagra VI tonight. Its an ergonomic masterpiece. The most intelligently designed bit of kit I have ever seen. Recording the Jerusalem SQ with it tomorrow night, will advise on sound quality then. Two 4006's with 40mm balls straight into this thing. Now gotta work out how to afford it.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by David Spearritt

Been playing with the Nagra VI tonight. Its an ergonomic masterpiece. The most intelligently designed bit of kit I have ever seen.

Agreed - and even better with the new 1.20 software.

Originally Posted by David Spearritt

Now gotta work out how to afford it.

That was my problem too. But having used it I just *had* to have it.

Just waiting for the case and high capacity battery now.

[fifthcircle]

Saw the Nagra VI and the Nagra LB at AES.. both were really sexy little machines.

--Ben