thumb|Nagra III with Pilottone

thumb|Nagra VI

Nagra is a Swiss brand of portable audio recorders first introduced in 1951. In 1997, the company expanded into new markets by launching a range of high-end equipment designed for the audiophile community.

Originally a product of the Kudelski Group, Nagra recorders are now developed, produced and sold by independently owned company Audio Technology Switzerland S.A., based in Romanel-sur-Lausanne.

History

The machines were initially designed by Polish inventor Stefan Kudelski, Nagra means "[it will] record" in Polish, Kudelski's native language.

Nagra-brand tape recorders were the de facto standard sound recording systems for motion picture and (non-video) single-camera television production from the 1960s until the 1990s.

Synchronization

Originally, a physical sync lead tethered the Nagra recorder to the camera (putting a pulse from the camera onto the tape), to ensure any fluctuations in the tape were accounted for. After the introduction of crystal sync, the tape recorder could operate separately from the camera, each having a separate accurate clock guaranteed to stay in sync with the other, allowing the sound recordist significantly more freedom of movement. This was commonly known as double system sound.

Models

Nagra recorders are identified by a number that indicates their technological generation and features:

  • NAGRA I – The very first prototype with clockwork motor and miniature tubes, appearing in 1951. Two were sold to Radio Genève.
  • NAGRA II – The first production model, miniature tubes equipped, clockwork motor, which appeared in 1953.

thumb|Nagra SNS

The SN range comprises the following models:

  • Nagra SNN – monaural, full-track, main tape speed of 3-3/4 ips.
  • Nagra SNS – monaural, half-track, main tape speed of 15/16 ips (multiplying the recording length at the expense of the dynamic range and high-frequency response).
  • Nagra SNST – stereo, intended more for security service "two microphones to record two different people talking" usage than hi-fi usage due to technical limitations.
  • Nagra SNST-R – full hi-fi stereo.

A special version of the SN using unique tape cassettes was made in cooperation with JBR Technology and widely used by US domestic intelligence agencies.

Digital recorders

The Nagra IV-STC was the standard for film and classical music recording until the mid-1990s, when DAT recorders became reliable enough to use in the field. In response, Kudelski produced two digital recorders to compete:

  • Nagra D – 4 channel PCM digital audio recorder. Instead of recording to the DAT format, the D used a digital reel-to-reel format using a helical scan head and 1/4" tape on 5" and 7" reels. The tape is identical to that used on Digital Audio Stationary Head machines such as the Sony PCM-3202 and Mitsubishi X-86 series. The unique format, combined with its heavy weight, made it somewhat unpopular with many production sound mixers, but year after year many films were completed with Nagra Ds (and the newer 24-bit/96 kHz Nagra DII). Despite some popularity in the late 1990s, the Nagra D and DII are a rarity on US films as of the mid-2000s.
  • Nagra ARES C and ARES- PP – In 1995 the ARES-C recorder was introduced with the aim of replacing the ageing NAGRA-E portable tape recorder in the broadcast market. Based on a tape-less platform using PCMCIA computer memory cards as a recording medium, the ARES-C offers a recorder, editor and ISDN codec in the same portable, battery operated box. Accepted by radio stations around the world it formed the basis of a new generation of digital recorders for the NAGRA company. After the success of NAGRA D digital tape recorder, the NAGRA ARES was the first NAGRA digital tape-less recorder. The ARES C-PP was a studio 19" (2U) rack-mountable version of the ARES-C and gave broadcasters a full system for journalistic transmission. The C-PP was extensively used in broadcast OB vans and small radio studios. Nagra ARES models use PC (formerly PCMCIA) Cards for data storage, Flash RAM Type I and II (max 192 MB).

thumb|Nagra V

  • Nagra V – 2 channel PCM digital audio recorder, 24-bit/96 kHz, removable hard drive based recorder with timecode support. Has the additional benefits of being very light, and producing files easily processed by non-linear editing systems. Originally released with the Orb removable hard drive system, which proved unreliable. The drive system was replaced by Agate Technology's DN-Boy system in October 2002. Unlike the analog Nagras, the Nagra V digital recorders have not been adopted as readily for the motion picture and TV industries, which mostly use competing digital multi-track machines from manufacturers such as Aaton's Cantar, Fostex, Sound Devices and Zaxcom.
  • Nagra VI – Released in 2008, originally as a 6 channel recorder and later upgraded to 8 channels (six inputs plus two mix), the Nagra VI was touted as "the natural successor to the NAGRA-D / DII multi-track digital recorders" and is equipped with four microphone preamps, two line level inputs which double as dual digital inputs (AES/EBU and S/PDIF), with input channels equipped with low pass filters, limiters, variable mic sensitivity settings and variable voltage phantom power. Rotary encoders and soft buttons allow the user to program the function of the main audio pots and shortcut keys. The VI records to an internal 2.5" hard drive with compact flash as a backup or for transfers, has full timecode capability and meta-data entry for audio files and digital sound reports. Records 24-bit/96 kHz as well as MP3 Since then, the range has grown steadily and have added tubes and mosfet amplifiers, CD players, other pre-amps and DACs.

Appearances in Films

Nagra audio recorders have made appearances in numerous films, including:

  • Help! (1965) - Nagra III, recording The Beatles song, I Need You, on windy Salisbury Plain
  • Klute (1971) – Nagra SN
  • THX 1138 (1971) – Nagra III
  • The Conversation (1974) – Nagra SN
  • Diva (1981) – Nagra IV-S, a recording made by the machine is a central to the film's plot.
  • Blow Out (1981) – Nagra III and Nagra SN
  • Gorillas in the Mist (1988) – Nagra III
  • The Russia House (1990) – Nagra III
  • Sneakers (1992) – Nagra III
  • Voci notturne (ep. 2, 1995) – Nagra 4.2
  • Spy Game (2001) – Nagra IV and Nagra SN
  • The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) – Nagra 4.2
  • The Informant! (2009) – Nagra SNST behind opening credits and prominent throughout film
  • Captive State (2019) – Nagra IV-D

In music

Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and others recorded the rhythm track to the Simon and Garfunkel song Cecilia on a Nagra recorder which was unintentionally creating the echo effect on the recording as they banged on a guitar case, piano bench and their legs.

The Nagra IV-S was also used in the recording of the following albums:

  • The Beatles "Let It Be" (1970)
  • Pink Floyd "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973)
  • David Bowie "Heroes" (1977)
  • Led Zeppelin "In Through the Out Door" (1979)
  • Michael Jackson "Thriller" (1982)
  • AC/DC "Blow Up Your Video" (1988)

References

  • Nagra Audio website
  • Documentary sound recordist discusses his work and approach when using a Nagra III as part of a 16mm film crew