Nagra 4.2 - Is It Possible....

[Mike Tschel]

Hi folks,

Is it possible to create 'Sound on Sound' recordings on a Nagra 4.2 machine?
That is, can any sort of overdubbing be done on a stock machine? I think if
I put a 'disable' switch on the erase head, this might work - but are there
any other options? Why would I need to do this you might ask? I don't *need*
to...just was wondering if it was possible.

Thanks, any replies appreciated.
Mike T.

[Greg Glazier]

Well, since it's a full-track mono recorder, overdubs are not possible.
If you disconnect the erase head, it's no longer a "stock" machine, is
it? ;-)

If you disconnect the erase head, you'll still be piling up record bias
with each pass, adding more and more noise.

Go buy a used DA88 or ADAT. Much simpler.

[Eric Toline]

Re: Nagra 4.2 - Is It Possible....

Group: rec.arts.movies.production.sound Date: Sun, Jul 10, 2005, 5:20pm
From: ***@Hotmail.com (Mike=A0Tschel)
Hi folks,
Is it possible to create 'Sound on Sound' recordings on a Nagra 4.2
machine? That is, can any sort of overdubbing be done on a stock
machine? I think if I put a 'disable' switch on the erase head, this
might work - but are there any other options? Why would I need to do
this you might ask? I don't *need* to...just was wondering if it was
possible.
Thanks, any replies appreciated.
Mike T. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Sure it can be done by disableing the erase head but how are you going
to monitor the 1st pass track and still be in sync? There's no
"Sel-Sync" ability on a Nagra.

Eric

[Steve King]

"Eric Toline" <***@webtv.net> wrote in message news:21513-42D1A11E-***@storefull-3254.bay.webtv.net...

Re: Nagra 4.2 - Is It Possible....

Group: rec.arts.movies.production.sound Date: Sun, Jul 10, 2005, 5:20pm
From: ***@Hotmail.com (Mike Tschel)
Hi folks,
Is it possible to create 'Sound on Sound' recordings on a Nagra 4.2
machine? That is, can any sort of overdubbing be done on a stock
machine? I think if I put a 'disable' switch on the erase head, this
might work - but are there any other options? Why would I need to do
this you might ask? I don't *need* to...just was wondering if it was
possible.
Thanks, any replies appreciated.
Mike T. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Sure it can be done by disableing the erase head but how are you going
to monitor the 1st pass track and still be in sync? There's no
"Sel-Sync" ability on a Nagra.

Eric

When three track Ampex tape recorders were a big deal, we built our own
four-track machines by stealing the electronics from spare mono machines.
We added a switch to each track's electronics that disabled the erase head,
replaced the record head with a resistive load on the rcord amp, and swapped
the playback head for the record head so that early tracks could be
monitored in synch with new recording. Of course, this was tube equipment
with tons more room to add components and re-route cabling. I'd say that
trying to do the same thing on a Nagra would be very very difficult. If you
really want that 50s/early 60s sound, get two Nagras. Add tracks by
bouncing from one machine to another. When you get up to six or eight
generations, all at 15 ips please, voila --- the sound of a 50s single.
Mulitple passes through in/out transformers and tape hiss! Show me a
plug-in that can do that;-))

Steve King

[Philip Perkins]

We used to do a crude sound on sound w/mono machines
by recording the later passes with a plastic spoon over the erase head,
You had to record the passes in an order such that the one you wanted
to have the most high Hz info
was last, and of course there was no remixing.

Philip Perkins

[RC]

With a lot of engineering it could be done, Play back head moves to
where erase is, erase goes where record is and Record head where the
Sync head was, Sync head in the Playback head location.

Mix the output of the Playback head with the new audio, you lose the
original recording. Just don't screw up, or all is lost. You also will
not be able to monitor, to Azimuth use a loop of tape passing all heads.

Hey a new life for 4.2's ;-)))


Ok flame me.



Ray

[Mike Tschel]

Post by RC
With a lot of engineering it could be done, Play back head moves to
where erase is, erase goes where record is and Record head where the
Sync head was, Sync head in the Playback head location.
Mix the output of the Playback head with the new audio, you lose the
original recording. Just don't screw up, or all is lost. You also will
not be able to monitor, to Azimuth use a loop of tape passing all heads.
Hey a new life for 4.2's ;-)))
Ok flame me.<

Naw, they're gonna' flame me! (Original poster)

The question was just a speculative 'can it be done' as opposed to
re-engineering the machine. As much as I appreciate the replies - I didn't
expect a 'magical hidden Sound on Sound mode' to be unearthed. I really love
my Nagra, so I like to play 'sound' games with it and I'm often surprised to
know they sometimes work. Usually, they don't as it's only a mono
recorder...but I like playing with the input amps and mic ins.

I've had a lot of 'fun' mixing mic signals with line-ins and recording the
result. Stuff like that. Juvenile, 'kid stuff'....but there are worse ways
to spend ones time.

Thanks for the replies...let's kill this thread before it get's silly.
Mike T

Post by RC
Ray