Nagra (Nagra IVS -TC):
-still being manufactured
-created from the beginning as a professional machine
-will work in extremes of heat, cold, humidity & dust
-can drop it (to a certain extent of course) and it will still work
-non existent list of problems with unit reported on sound web pages and
newsgroups
-quality of sound recorded is warm & rich
DAT:
-Fostex and HHB have discontinued their time code DAT recorders
-tape transport mechanisms are not manufactured anymore for DAT recorders
-created from the beginning as a consumer format that failed
-will crease working in extremes of climate
-if dropped, most likely will be unrepairable
-regular postings of problems on film sound webpages and newsgroups
-being 16 bit, the quality of sound is colder and more limited
Prices for Nagras and DAT's are coming down as the new generation of non linear hard disk/DVD audio recorders come out. (There are 10 machines from 6 different companies out or on the way)
Mike Borlace