Mike Borlace

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

Go to www.coffeysound.com, look for the "community" tab, click on it and in the list there are 3 groups that specialize in film sound recording:

-RAMPS newsgroup (my favourite, it has recordists from around the world and also

audio manufacturers who answer questions)

-The Recording Arts Forum

-CAS forum (Cinema Audio Society)

Mike Borlace