Brutally raw and uncompromisingly pure: The ultimate hardcore analog experience (Turntable tips)
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You can comment on this video at YouTube
Thursday April 20, 2023
David Mellor
David Mellor is CEO and Course Director of Audio Masterclass. David has designed courses in audio education and training since 1986 and is the publisher and principal writer of Adventures In Audio.
@mlambrechts1: Nice video,...but what's the point???
@mjloudspeaker: Great show Sir, thanks. but I threw Revox reel to reel machines away like you displayed because obsolete. Cheers!
@AudioMasterclass replies to @mjloudspeaker: Take a look at eBay, see how much money you threw away.
@ahmadnaseem1874: One of the best Audio file . You are Sir
@Stelios.Posantzis: 12:55 I can't believe sound engineers slate audiophiles all the time when they themselves come up with gimmicks of this sort...
@Stelios.Posantzis: 10:36 I guess that'd fit the bill perfectly for those wanting to save their treasured mono records - be it 33 1/3 rpm LPs or gramophone shellacs or other such media. Oh you say so yourself at 12:27 !
@Stelios.Posantzis: Ah Nagra! It's Christmas soon isn't it? Tease audiophiles time...
@aeyb701: Audiophile went to a Steely Dan concert. Said it wasn’t accurate enough.
@iqnill: Fun fact, Nagra is Polish for "it will record". Mr. Kudelski, a Polish engineer chose that strange, yet good sounding word as the name of his recorders.
@arcyex9661: As a sound editor/field recordist for last 35 yrs,been through most of the transitions in tech. During covid i went a bit nuts and grabbed almost every nagra i grew up with! all the 4's,even found a nice IS machine, then i found a
E machine and fell in love. so easy to use and teach to helpers on field sessions. Of course when getting payed gigs the Sound Devices boxes come out to play, but i still incorporate a Nagra when possible!
@bartonyount9421: You are a hoot! I enjoy watching your channel.
@dougg1075: I’m from the South of America. And the heat is brutal:)
@markphilpot8734: Nagra is hardcore. I have two Revox decks so I kinda get it. The Nagra is a a deck for pros, not consumers. It requires a professional mindset and, like you explained, must know the pin arrangement of the inputs. I would drool for an A80 as it represents a pinnacle mastering machine. There are stereo Nagra machines, but unless you have megabucks, that’s not happening. Nagra is too serious for non professional use. Mono works for some things, but I prefer stereo for audio reproduction. Nagra build quality is unquestionable. I’ll love my Revox decks and be happy in them thank you.
@ksteiger: Digital is lifeless, soulless and stone cold frigid... in other words accurate. I've been saying this for years my friend. Thanks for backing me up.
@ColocasiaCorm replies to @ksteiger: Nobody is backing you up
@Garry646: Shitpost
1. (noun) any content on the internet whose humor derives from its surreal nature and/or its lack of clear context. Differs from a meme: whereas a meme's humor comes from its repeatability, a shitpost is funny simply because it isn't a predictable repetition of an existing form. Shitposts can become memes, but memes cannot become shitposts.
2. (verb) to create such a post
@jackhreha4907: In the real old days they recorded in 35 mm film. Talk about a big buck thing ! I know i am on my way to audio hell. With little or no money because i live in seattle for the reason i love my grandaughter, I have found that if you take an old sony stero betamax covert it to audio you almost sound like you know what your doing. Love yourshow. Best Regards Jack.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @jackhreha4907: It's an interesting thought that, despite technical limitations, recordings were often better when the equipment and materials were massively expensive. DM
@wojciechczupta9185: sounds like ass but looks cool
@muratserveterer7234: Miss my Revox A77
@AudioMasterclass replies to @muratserveterer7234: You don't miss the cost of tape. DM
@martinekolin1780: You can get banana plugs from most "electronics" and hifi stores in Sweden.
@straymusictracksfromdavoro6510: I understand very little of what you are talking about, but I can't stop watching because you are a very droll and entertaining man indeed!
@AudioMasterclass replies to @straymusictracksfromdavoro6510: I aim to please. DM
@MaltLiquor45: Grown up M3GAN is creepy
@ericberger6966: Nice trigger. 🙂 Nagra build the best recorder, but not the Nagra E, it is the Nagra T. I love your stories of real life in the 1980s, and your british humour makes my day.
@allanemery310: I like your posts. Thank you. I would like to confess my brother is a snob. He loves the sound of AB tube amps with huge transformers and lots of power driving huge expensive speakers using an analog source. To him, that is great sound. That is what he was told was high fidelity for years and he internalized it. I have an exceptional ear and the sound of a type D amp playing a digital source better creates the sound of the instruments and voices played through well made medium sized speakers that are properly placed. Yet, nobody is holding them up as them as the best, because they sell for way less and they'd rather sell the more expensive tube amp and large speakers than the solid state amp and the medium sized speakers. In the end, whatever you love is what you should have. When I was 8 I would listen to WLS Chicago on my transistor radio and think I had it made. The truth is it is all relative to what you personally like. Who cares why? The best system is the one that best satisfies you.
@markboyle9941: Reel to reel is a pain in the arse. Nagra might be OK but it aint a Studer. Sticky shed anyone?? Revox tape machines are fine until Rifa madness sets in and the whole thing goes up in a puff of acrid electrolyte smoke.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @markboyle9941: I think that sticky shed, which I've suffered myself, is more to do with the tape than the machine although I'd say it's just within possibility that some machines might aggravate it more. DM
@ninovasev: Like your humour....keep on
@evenblackercrow4476: Beautiful machine.
@Mute67: I own two of them; 7,5"ips and a modified one @ 15"ips. Best tape sound I ever heard. You can overdub by bypassing the tape back of the erase head.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @Mute67: Overdubbing by bypassing the erase head is a fun way to do it. If you mess up, you've ruined everything you've done so far. DM
@Mute67 replies to @Mute67: @@AudioMasterclass That is so true.
@plasticflowertown replies to @Mute67: Hi @Mute67, do you have informations on how the 15ips was achieved? Was it only done electronically (besides the needed adjustments to the equalization etc.) or was also mechanical work involved?
@marcelocampoamor4761: You are a very nice person with your style and presentation, you also achieve what very few do, you throw bait in all your videos and everyone is happy.
@_Scintill8tor: What is your professional opinion on Tandberg machines? Were they considered top range? I got a TD20a, including remote.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @_Scintill8tor: I don't know from experience but if I look at https://www.hifi-classic.net/review/tandberg-td-20a-se-271.html it seems to compare well with a Revox and you could certainly make professional recordings on those. DM
@nicoras8803: A pity it is mono. I will have to design some synchronising circuit to use two for stereo 🤣🤣
@NONFamers: I have a Nagra IS ("Idioten Sicher") obtained from a flea market held by DR, the Danish National Broadcasting Corporation for like £50. Back in the day, when these machines were brand new, they went for something like £6000. Quite a bargain. The (pretty well-known) danish journalist who sold it to me claimed it was virtually indestructible! I had an epiphany of the Earth being destroyed and the only thing left would be a spherical cloud of Nagra recorders...
@salmorreale7900: She’s frightening!
@AudioMasterclass replies to @salmorreale7900: Betty frightens me sometimes. DM
@simongills2051: Pesayta, not pessetta, por favor..
I'm right because I'm from the South. Lol.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Love your output.
One thing. Your lovely end fotos are rather spoiled by that modern black plug...
@AudioMasterclass replies to @simongills2051: I'd guess the power supply is generic and not the original. Nagra would have made it beautiful. DM
@simongills2051 replies to @simongills2051: @@AudioMasterclass
Hi there. A nice(?) Ivory coloured good condition period plug (there is probably an acronym for that) instead. Maybe you could do an upload against a revival of those too!
Thank you for what and how you are doing what you do so well.
@paulcrowder: I can never tell if you’re trying to be informative or condescending.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @paulcrowder: I might be informative, ironic, sarcastic, slightly entertaining even, but never ever would I want to be condescending. DM
@melaniezette886: I want a Studer studio r to r
@AudioMasterclass replies to @melaniezette886: Don't we all? You could have had one for cheap a few years ago, but it would need maintenance. Now you'll only get one for extremely expensive. And it will still need maintenance. DM
@richsherman3673: Thanks so much, you are giving us lost knowledge on the subject of Analog Tape recording.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @richsherman3673: The knowledge mostly isn't lost, but if you don't already know it then it's hard to find. DM
@cosmicdebris2223: 1:06 I suppose Uher will think otherwise... :D
@AudioMasterclass replies to @cosmicdebris2223: I could Google 'Uher appreciation society' but why take the risk? DM
@cosmicdebris2223 replies to @cosmicdebris2223: @@AudioMasterclass well, I was only messing around, I remember the Uher fanboys back in the day, they wouldn't entertain anything else. That was the game back then I'm sure you recall.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @cosmicdebris2223: @@cosmicdebris2223 I did have access to a Uher back in the day. I took an instant dislike to it, basically because it wasn't a Nagra. But it had its uses - easy to operate, did the job, sound not too bad, a lot less expensive. I doubt if I'll be making a Uher video, but never say never. DM
@dhpbear2: 5:37 - What's with all the 'white space' above the VOLTAGE LINE INPUT?
@sonusancti: Nagra Vs Studer? You can't go wrong with either imo.
@erikmolnar6585: Sounds like you're from Macclesfield and looks like your Paul's twin brother but was born 15 years earlier. Cheers from Flour Bluff on the Texas Gulf Coast
@AudioMasterclass replies to @erikmolnar6585: That's right, I was born in 1927. DM
@erikmolnar6585 replies to @erikmolnar6585: @Audio Masterclass No you weren't! Haha. Maybe 1957, your breaking my balls m8 lol. I meant you are 15 years his junior
@LasseHuhtala: I gave my Nagra away to a friend of mine who's an analogue freak. I do most of my stuff in box anyway.
@doublebass5y: What about Studer.
@jen3800: Excellent! I'm looking for one now in Canada. Is the Meltron E the same machine?
@AudioMasterclass replies to @jen3800: It looks too similar not to be the same with a different badge. Just my guess though. DM
@TheDeepening718: I have a 2008 Cadillac DTS with factory tweets and two 10-inch JL woofs in that big spacious carpeted trunk powered by a Rockford Fosgate punch 500 amp...
I'm truly sorry my friend, but you and all your equipment has lost to me. I am the undisputed king of perfect audio experience.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @TheDeepening718: Call me weird but I quite like the sound of a car going by with its system pumping out beats. Costs me nothing. DM
@nikolaki: No r in castle.
@ajayb100: Weird idea, what about using two of them for two separate channels and playing together in stereo channel 😅
@tactileslut replies to @ajayb100: Slowly drifting (drifting, drifting) in the wind.
@sparky60ful: I own 2 Nagra E's. They look just as well used as yours. They are in need of some TLC. Maybe this video is inspiring to get started. Parts I have in abundance including the original "in the field" parts supplied with te recorder.
@lyntedrockley7295: Nothing sounds better than a NAGRA........ except a DAT.
So I understand it was originally a Polish company, or Mr Nagra was Polish (though Nagra is a name often found in India). Steve McQueen (the Hollywood actor) came across an early tape recorder by the company when filming on location in Poland. Impressed with its quality, portability and robustness he took one back to the LA studios, where it quickly became the de-facto kit for live sound recording for film.
Now whether this was before or because of pilot tone and the Nagra's ability to record synchronised sound or whether that came later as the demands for using it for film work I'd be interested to find out.
Its interesting that it ends up in Lausanne, where its pedigree of ultra precision design could be compared to a Swiss Watch. And its interesting that Stellavox, though adopting a similar aesthetic and making machines of comparable quality, never really made inroads into Nagra's main customer base, film and tv.
I always thought the E was a bit of a step backward compared to the III and IV in all their variants. An attempt to make a 'cutdown' cheaper and easier to run version of the industry workhorses. Its interesting to see Nagra's trademark precision styling in modern context. Compare its internal circuit board with that of a laptop to see how far things have progressed.
@monsterrun: Just use 2 and then play your tapes like 2 monobloc dac's lol.
@iridescent6685: I haven't watched the video yet, but howabout going to a concert.
@ramblinginmeath4950: Nakamichi Dragon anybody.... :) I feel a backlash a coming / great presentation highly informative - greetings from Ireland
@nazcaplain: That AI femme-bot blathering on about the Nagra is straight up disturbing.
@gordonwelcher9598: You are rather ugly and have an annoying accent.
Please employ the girl in the tshirt for your future videos.
@jerrythornton7167: Interesting use of AI for the company-provided information. It's almost real but not quite.
@ReasonablySane: It sounds like fun, and I considered equivalent of using a film camera to take pictures. And my friend has some vintage Leica cameras for exactly that.
@ReasonablySane: I finished my 16 by 30 audiophile room a few months ago and I just realized I painted the walls the same color as yours. I love that look.
@scottlowell493: Nagra makes cool looking gear, I've always referred to it as "laboratory chic". Nagra components looks like nice lab test equipment.
@offthebeatentracks4515: Love the girl. That kind of thing would be perfect for my channel but everyone Avatar provider I've looked at are ridiculously espensive. Which one do you have? (I won't poach her from you.)
@basspig: Any so-called audio file that believes that tape and vinyl are more accurate or sound better closer to the original performance then the best digital methods offer is an audio fool.
@billwall267: interesting and entertaining look at this piece of equipment. i hope your tongue-in-cheek review gets some ebay sellers a few more sweet sweet audiophool bucks.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @billwall267: It's kind of not tongue in cheek. Nagra recorders were great in their day and if someone wants to own a piece of history then why not? I have a 78 'picnic gramophone' that comes out every so often for a bit of fun. I'd compare it with that. Whether anyone would want to own a Nagra, even a IVS, for serious listening, I can't really imagine. DM
@billwall267 replies to @billwall267: @@AudioMasterclass oh i have no doubt they're great for what they are. i assumed it was tongue in cheek because you hammered on the headaches of owning and using one as much as its positive qualities (which aren't really relevant in the current year). i'm all for retro technology as a hobby, though. guess i misunderstood.
@rabarebra: I bet the Female/Male-tag for naming input/output of connectors will offend the LGBTH people today.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @rabarebra: Shush. No-one has noticed yet. DM
@northcabinent4222: I find your channel fascinating. And I'm wondering your opinion on tascam portastudio, model 488... cheers!
@c128stuff: Hmm? I can buy banana plugs at the nearest 'hifi store'.. (and I'm in continental Europe, in the EU even)
@jonathanknight8251: 18ips is best if you are trying to sell your modified Studer C37 with its 50 Hz AC synchronous capstan motor to a customer that lives in a country which uses 60 Hz mains. Tim could spin a yarn.
@petertate8366: It's a work of art just on that table.😮
@Dandroid5000 replies to @petertate8366: Absolute design classics.......I've got the Nagra III and IV S, and they're the sturdiest bits of kit I'll ever own.
@4Nanook: We're all entitled to our opinion, as far as tape recorders go, I much prefer Tandberg which can produce good highs even at 1-7/8th IPS tape speeds. Crossfield bias eliminates the self-erasure of highs due to the bias signal that occurs on normal tape recorders.
@xvdifug: Obviously a NAGRA centric video, Yet no mention of Stellavox?
@peters7949: Re passing the audio from your DAW through the Nagra E ‘warm up’ ten sound.
I was technical manager of a major pop studio in the 1980s, when mixing to PCM1610, PCMF1 or DAT, often the stereo mix would be passed through an A80RC 1/2” running at 30ips on route to the digital mastering machine,
@patthewoodboy replies to @peters7949: what was the reason for doing that ? Just heard a possible reason
@peters7949 replies to @peters7949: @@patthewoodboy soft limiting
@peters7949: I’m from south east Kent, but I’m with you on pronunciation of bus, bath & castle.
Admittedly I grew up in a coal mining village.
@OTLCellartapes: hmm - no need to employ a human to advertise this - we can just save money whilst also conditioning the public to fear and distrust our company by using a bot from uncanny valley to address them./,.,.
@BadBehaviorFilms: Yes, indeed, they are the best.
@focuspixvideoaudioservices68: Interesting point.. thankyou..
@redhorsereincarnated5040: In the 80's, when my brother and I were first learning to play guitar, we would sit around the living room jamming with friends. My dad gave us a reel-to-reel deck. An Akai. I still have it but it doesn't work. I have about ten tapes of us jamming. I would love to convert them to digital but I would have to get the deck repaired or buy a working one. I'm not sure it's worth it. We weren't very good. Too bad nobody makes cheap new ones.
@C90C60C30: Ohh your sense of humour !!!!!! Love it, and love you 👍👍👍😘😘😘
@C90C60C30: ‘Just a taste of the fun you’re going to have’. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😘
@C90C60C30: Banana sockets !!!!! Brilliant !!!! God, I feel old 😀😀😀😫😫😫
@C90C60C30: Love the way you just ‘look’ at this ‘chat bot’ mate 😆. Brilliant Channel. Love it 👍👍👍👍👍👍
@meilstone replies to @C90C60C30: That bot (or bottess?) is quite uncanny! 😅
@arde4: I love this channel for the information, but also for mocking the analog audiophile nonsense.
@ArturdeSousaRocha: If you want the really correct pronunciation of Nagra, ask a Pole. BTW, it means "It will record".
@vdochev: This time I agree with you 100%. Especially the things you said about digital - spot on!
@NagraAudioChannel: Thank you for your video !!
@davybloggs1564: CLICK BAIT!!! Where ARE the turntable tips, as mentioned in the title???
@AudioMasterclass replies to @davybloggs1564: This is a series of videos. A series needs a title. 'Turntable Tips' is the title. Here are some tips for you, from a different series - https://studio.youtube.com/video/grahWS5L5rE/edit DM
@pimianimavdo1523: Cool and fun video :)
For my taste (even if in a different "sport" altogether) i like the engineering and design of a stereo unit like the Technics RS-1500 to RS-1800 models. Good tape control is just so important for good sound (and also, dang those Technics units just looked soooo spiffy & nice!)
Cheers! :)
@timleelim9930: Here to contribute to your YouTube stats. I distinctly remember hearing “… 7 and a half i.p.s…” but can’t recall any of the other quoted specifications of the machine. 😂
@DJaquithFL: Probably my last comment just for the nostalgia trip if nothing more. I have a Tandberg TD20SE and for a home audio enthusiast, that's what I would call myself, they're a pain in the ass. Instead I did use my Nakamichi Dragon quite a bit. They're stored out in the garage and my wife wants to throw them all in the trash...
@DJaquithFL replies to @DJaquithFL: @@chrislj2890 .. Kinda what I'm in the process doing right now...
@DJaquithFL replies to @DJaquithFL: @@chrislj2890 .. I'm fine. 34 years down the toilet but now I'm looking at audio stuff again so there's that. Both my wife and mother-in-law 3 divorces each .. sometimes you can't escape your fate. My parents and grandparents 0 divorces...
@DJaquithFL replies to @DJaquithFL: @@chrislj2890 .. You're probably not having your son-in-law living with you for the past 9 years doing nothing and paying nothing. Meanwhile your daughter doesn't work, buying her $60K vehicles and taking care of two grandchildren. It's been quite unsatisfying to say the least.
@eddents replies to @DJaquithFL: That's some nice technology. Is the eraser head GCHQ and NSA approved? I have lots of skeletons that need to remain in my analog closet. 🤐
@Fluterra: I’m more of Nagra Turntable guy!
Nagra R2R are great, but there is so limited reel content and tape wear out after about 50 plays.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @Fluterra: The price of a Nagra turntable would pay for my Spotify subscription for the next 1600+ years. I suspect however that the Nagra will still be going strong. DM
@EgoShredder: I'm fairly certain your technical consultant prefers the 10.5 inches, and something older with VAGRA. I mean NAGRA! Damn spell checker. 😉
@Nord72 replies to @EgoShredder: You mean Viagra...
@Raul-yg5oz: My Philips N4407 reel to reel tape recorder also has Din connectors and they do sound pretty good
@christopherward5065: Really cool. Weird AI woman explaining was a disturbing interlude…
@AnalogICarchitect: I'd actually forgotten DIN connectors existed.
@EgoShredder replies to @AnalogICarchitect: Not if you are a musician using MIDI and I am disappointed when a music manufacturer does not include them on a new device. Everyone else probably left those connectors behind about 30 years ago. 😁 I find they are reliable and easy to use for music purposes, which is something I can not say for USB A type plugs and sockets. DIN last forever it seems, and USB can go bad after a few years or less with repeated plugging/unplugging no matter how carefully done.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @AnalogICarchitect: @@EgoShredder I do actually have two DINs. They plug into the MIDI IN and OUT of my DX7. On the other end of the cable - USB. DM
@domfjbrown75 replies to @AnalogICarchitect: Not if you use Naim...
@EgoShredder replies to @AnalogICarchitect: @@AudioMasterclass Is it a cheap China made USB MIDI interface? Those are notoriously bad for handling System Exlusive bulk dumps or for tight dense heavy sequence data. It's why I stick to Roland UM880 to handle my studio MIDI duties (can chain up to four rack units on one PC with one driver). They are stupid money on Ebay the last few years, and I had a chance to add a second unit in 2008 but the seller mentioned it belonged to her dead husband, and my conscience would not allow me to take it from him. It was only £80 too! Arrrghh! 🤣 They are around £300 sometimes more these days second hand.
@MarkW_CSI replies to @AnalogICarchitect: @@domfjbrown75 I was just about to mention Naim. I've owned Naim equipment for almost 40 years now. With the obligatory Linn LP12 of course 😏
@zgra74: I have no idea what you're talking about, but I appreciate the presentation and video quality
@Threemicsrecords: Nagra is so good that no company thought to make plugin base on it yet.
@RealHomeRecording replies to @Threemicsrecords: Wasn't used for music recordings typically....
@OTLCellartapes replies to @Threemicsrecords: wouldn't it fail to alter the signal in any noticeable way?
@Dandroid5000 replies to @Threemicsrecords: @@OTLCellartapes If you push the pres you get plenty of flavour.....the older models are germanium, nice and coloured.
@kevinmcgrath3591: Thou art deliciously contumelious, you digital scapegrace you.
@kevinmcgrath3591 replies to @kevinmcgrath3591: lol, you agree !!!! thats one who has a grasp of english...🤗
@OTLCellartapes replies to @kevinmcgrath3591: loosefish.,.,?
@paulinboston: Uncle Grumpy is that your digital girlfriend? A bit on the young side.
@RealHomeRecording replies to @paulinboston: Unlike the analog girlfriends, digital ones don't nag...
@chaoticsystem2211: What's the tune in the end called? It sounds awesome...
@AudioMasterclass replies to @chaoticsystem2211: It's just one of my doodles. I don't have a title for it yet, so I'm open to suggestions. DM
@chaoticsystem2211 replies to @chaoticsystem2211: @@AudioMasterclass I'd call it Premature. Because it certainly belongs on the list of things that end too soon.