Nagra VI 8-Channel Digital Field Recorder (Ltd. Edition)
Please note: This is the Limited Edition version with Brush Aluminium Face Plate!
The NAGRA VI is an 8 channel digital recorder, offerring 24 bit wordlength and sampling frequencies from 32 kHz up to 192 kHz. There are 6 analogue inputs, 4 of which are equipped with traditional high-quality Nagra microphone preamplifiers. There are also 2 AES inputs. It is fitted with a full SMPTE/EBU time code sytem including a chase synchronizer. Internal pogrammable digital filters and monitoring for Ambisonic microphones are included as standard.
The NAGRA VI is supplied with two plastic "handles" which serve to protect the front of the unit, but can also be used to carry the recorder. A carrying case, shoulder strap are also supplied for over-the-shoulder operation.
The NAGRA VI is delivered with a removable battery box containing a lithium-ion battery pack, a mains power supply and is equipped with a 120GB internal hard disk.
The supplied metal supporting "legs" can be easily attached to the case screws to elevate the front of the recorder when used on a table top.
Audio inputs
It offers six independent analogue audio inputs. Inputs 1 - 4 are equipped with traditional NAGRA microphone pre-amplifiers for dynamic and phantom +48V microphones and menu selectable sensitivity for different microphone types. These pre-amplifiers are a combination of those developed for the NAGRA V and NAGRA-D and are without doubt the best audio inputs NAGRA has ever designed. An audio limiter can be selected for each of these inputs and these can be ganged in pairs if desired.
Recording medium and format
The NAGRA VI records to a 120GB internal 2.5" hard disk. An extractable compact Flash card is used to record a copy of the audio tracks depending on the users track selections. The NAGRA VI allows approximately 15 minutes of 8-track 48 kHz 24-bit recording per GB of available disk / card space. Hot swappable CF card. File formats - Broadcast Wave File (BWF) format and is iXML compatible for the metadata.
Colour display
The NAGRA VI is equipped with a sunlight-readable 3.5" colour TFT display with a resolution of 320 x 200 pixels. This specially designed high luminosity display is used to visually indicate not only the status of the NAGRA VI but also the bargraph modulometers, take number, time code and the current operating modes of the machine.
Channel mixing
The Nagra VI has the possibility to mix the audio from the 6 analogue inputs to a stereo mix on channels 7 + 8. The output of the mixer can be set to both mono or stereo. Each microphone input level and L / R pan can be controlled using the arrow keys giving versatile mixing facilities. The mix channels can be recorded to the CF card in the copy process, as well as being recorded to the internal drive in the normal manner. If channels 7 + 8 are not being used for the mix, then all 8 inputs can be used for recording (using both digital inputs). Mixing to the audio outputs during playback is also possible.
Media verification
The Nagra VI is equipped with a powerful routine to verify the read and write speed permitted by the different media (internal drive, CF card and USB drives). Certain "clone" or "fake" CF cards are available on the internet and the NAGRA VI allows the user not only to verify the digital id of the CF cards but also to check the read/write capacity of these media. Poor quality, low cost cards can cause severe problems when trying to write high bit rate linear PCM audio in real time.
File back-up
The NAGRA VI is equipped with two high speed USB 2.0 ports. One is designed to connect the NAGRA VI to a computer for file transfer. The second is a "host" connection and is used for connection of an external drive (USB key, external hard disk, DVD-RAM burner) or an external device such as a USB keyboard.
Templates
The NAGRA VI can store up to six internal templates containing all the user selectable settings and parameters of the recorder.
Time code
The internal time code system and all the internal digital electronics of the NAGRA VI are clocked by a crystal which is a "Stratum III" TCXO which has been artificially aged in an oven to maintain stability. This crystal gives a guaranteed overall stability better than ±4.6ppm over a period of 15 years throughout a temperature range from -20°C to +70°C. The drift due to temperature changes is less than 0.28ppm. This is the most accurate crystal ever used in an NAGRA recorder. The NAGRA VI will handle all the standard SMPTE / EBU frame rates as well as the 23.976fps rate for the HD format. All the frame rates can be pulled "up/down" for the NTSC markets.
The internal chase synchronizer allows the NAGRA VI to follw any external time code signal for post production synchronization purposes.