Bie

Don't think I can ever get mine as neat as Jacks but here it is.

You hang it all on your neck?

Hi guys,

A friend of mine yesterday had an issue with his nagra VI. While recording , he couldn't keep on copying at the same time into the flash card( card was not full at all). He decided to keep recording on the internal hard disk. After the shooting he tried to transfer the data to a computer, but the computer didnt recognized the Nagra. No indication what so ever of a device connected to the computer. So, suddently there's an issue with the Nagra's USB. Has anybody here had the same problem before?

Thank you very much,

Marco

Nagra VI doesn't like Mac.

Hey Gang,

I'm a new Fusion user and have been digging into the menus and trying to wrap my head around the machine...quite excited so far.  That said - there are a couple things that I wish were different and wonder if any Fusion/Deva users can chime in on:

EQ - why is it so hard to adjust this damn thing!?  The only way to work quickly with it is if you use presets...which is unfortunate but I suppose ok.  One would think that with a touch screen interface it would be great to adjust the settings, but instead you have to dial in numbers on the keypad (is this any different with the mix12 - does that speed it up at all?).  I imagine I'll be using this functionality less than I had hoped as it's only available on the input side - not post-record, which...really sucks.  One would think this could be offered with a software update, but it's probably pretty complicated.

Outputs being line level only - I often run Mic level to certain cameras and I know I can solve this with pads, but when it comes to the 10 pin out, I'd have to place the pads on the camera end, which is not something I think most camera ops would be used to seeing.  I'd like to think a change in the software on the outputs page could solve this.

Anyone else?

-Greg-

Could Fusion indicate (in the screen) when does the limiter work?

Doesnt sounds  Sound devices ,more Sopranos  land :-)

the biggest problem for  these who wait is a weak $, other wise they could easily go  for  AETA  6 track recorder  which beat  a shit on paper the 552  for everything  except the price - 1500 more  and start ships in 2 months .

of course , the most exiting what could happen is that the Zoom will make tc  unit on a base of  the r-24.

and francly  the most exiting  thing i see on the horizon  , maybe not now  but defiantly in near feature is smart phone with ability  get smart analog  to digital interface - , then you will get  what you really need , small , light intelligent and ready to upload  recorder .

Soon Iphone5: 8 tracks with TC

Hi Folks first of all thanks for all the info and help given to me by a lot of you over the past year. My question? Is the Audio Developments AD-146 Mixer, that I am told is 12 years old to obsolete for todays work environment? I have have been having jobs that suddenly have a need for more than the 4 inputs on my SD442. I would also like to have some eq control. Is under 4k a fair price for this mixer and finally , service in the USA? I currently have a bag setup and most of the jobs turn out to be something where I can sit at a cart not run and gun. I am thinking I could output from this mixer to my 442 thus keeping the 2 return snakes I already have and not having to purchase 2 new snakes. Your thoughts are appreciated. please note, I am working interviews and such not any Indies or features.

Thanks to all and Happy New Year

Tom

My ear says that the Audio Developments is better than Cooper.

Bié

A little clarity, please for me (and this has nothing to do with trim pots), "gabi" and "gabriel" are two different people, right? I did not realize this. I thought that Gabi just changed her name as used here. You are both located in Brazil, yes? Sorry if I have offended anyone assuming that Gabi and Gabriel(a?) were the same person.

-  Jeff Wexler

Hi, Jeff,

My new name: Bié (Bié = Gabriel)

Bié

Every analog mic preamp has a trim. In most cases this is a pot. The pot is set to a position by the sound mixer. No 2 pots are ever in exactly the same position. This is exactly the case here with the addition of a numerical value that shows the pot position. We are not going to change the software as the other 99.9% of all Deva and fusion users would be effected. This system and menu has been fine for about the last 7 years. If any preamp is out of our +/- 3 dB spec the unit can be sent in for service and we would be happy to take care of it. I want to be as helpfull as possible on this but other than a input or two out of the 8 on the machine being out of specification there in nothing wrong in the design or implimentation of the input. In fact many would argue no preamp in a portable device can match the sonic performance of the Deva/Fusion input for Noise and distortion.

Please contact us directly if you wish to arrange for service.

Glenn

    Glenn,

Thanks for continuing this discussion.

About  direct contact with the Zaxcom, I, before posting here,

sent messages to the support and directly to  Collen, without any reply.

Tks,

Gabriel

will the off-set between channels stay freeze once leveled to 0dB? Or does this vary from day to day? If it stays there could be an software option "set all trims to zero". That way one levels the particular recorder and after all is set the trims are set to "0" which makes it easier to set them back to an equal level after some changes were made.

I often record stereo-mic parallel to dialog scenes (street noise, crowd, FX). It would be very annoying if I can´t just plug into 2 channels, set them to equal trim, link faders and be sure to record a true stereo-image. I often wouldn´t even listen to that mics but concentrate on the production mix.

Matthias

These differences are not equal on all machines, is random, which makes it harder to solve the problem of all

units with a single firmware.

Gabriel

Woo-hoo! I've learned so much in 15 minutes. We got our Fusion the night before starting a feature so I had no time to learn or play before getting up and running.

I noticed the inputs were weird compared to my 744, but attributed it to it being a new recorder... And I think that is definitely the case.

I consistently use the same receivers on the same input channels of my recorder. It is a compulsive habit of mine. I have have noticed different blocks of my Lectros can sound very different from one to another. I even just sent one in for repair as it seemed too far off from the rest (in my opinion very noisy). I was told nothing was wrong.  : /  Now I know. So, by using the same receiver in the same input, I develop habits and instincts. I wire certain voice types on certain blocks as I thinks scratchy voices sound awful on my yellow block, but the red block is a little warmer... Etc, etc.

But after getting the fusion, something has still been a little off with my input gains and I haven't been able to pin down why exactly. So, thank you Gabi for posting about this. It really started to make sense to the oddness. Things have been working fine... But I haven't been nailing things as much a I like.

Thank you, Billy, for your advice. That is exactly what I will do... And it should solve my problems. I rely heavily on my ears, which do a nice job monitoring levels. )  but sometimes what I see and hear is a little more 'off' than I like and I worry when that happens. This will help my eyes and ears calibrate as well, I think.  )

I will be checking and calibrating my Fusion soon and will report my results.

Thank you to everyone here for providing such an amazing forum for learning!!

In my Fusion, with the fader set to "0", to align the signal on the display, between inputs 3 and 6 (if the trim is true) there is a difference of 15dB.

Gabriel

I'm talking within a few degrees of each other.

Not enough of a difference to be seen when visually scanning across the channels.

The point being, preamp gain structure was pretty much identical across the board.

Certainly no more than .5dB either way.

Since 1967 with sound, I never saw a difference greater than 0.5dB.

Gabriel

I'd like to quickly chime in to say that even though I do not use the Zaxcom recorders, it would seem that Billy's logic is reasonable.

As long as your gain structure is not compromised (increased noise floor or unpleasant compression), it doesn't really matter how the input gain is set on the recorder.  Make your gain adjustments on the mixer for optimal sound at the correct levels.  The couple of dB here or there difference on the recorder's input gain seems to me to be an acceptable compromise if the inputs are as quiet as people say.

Robert

Billy's logic is good for Zaxcom, for me, not!

Am I missing something?  Why don't you just plug in a tone generator and set each trim to 0 (or -10 or -20 or whatever)?  Once they are set forget about them.  They will all be equal.

Billy Sarokin

Billy,

Your Deva also has the same problem and you solved this way?

Gabriel

I wasn´t talking about setting the trim being impossible in the field. I meant that setting all the trims to the same amplification (as per reading of the display) and have different levels across the board is something I haven´t seen so far. At least not that coarse. No one I know would set different trims for each channel when he plugs in a stereo-mic or a 5.1 rig. People assume that if the trim is set to 0dB it´s at 0dB for all those channels.

Or how would you recommend setting input trims for a stereo mic. Isn´t the first thing we all do is set both channels to identical setting assuming that the inputs behave the same way?

But maybe Gabi´s machine is having a problem...

The problem of Gabi's F12 is the same of my F10. Sees the pictures: 

To solve this problem, I intend to change the pots and the photocell gain control

Gabriel

The input trim must be set by the user in the field. It is impossible to not have an input trim function on any location recorder. This type of circuit provides very smooth transitions without digital steping common to other recorders. The trim function needs to change with different input levels so it can not be calibrated at the factory. The difference in levels between channels is normal in this case and does not present any issue when the input trim is set properly. Since this is an analog circuit with a adjustment range of about 30dB the +/-3 dB offset that we typically see is very normal.

Glenn

Glenn, 

I have 744T, 702T, 788T,  Tascam HD-P2,  Tascam HS-P82, Zoom H4N, Nagra LB and Nagra VI. 

In none of these machine  exists larger difference than 1dB among the inputs! 

Ok Fusion with difference of 3dB, but 10dB.... 

If you can send me the schematic, I make the necessary corrections here in Brazil, without problem. I know as correcting these differences. If you can send for me pots and fotocelulas  selected, my extra expense it will be smaller. 

Thank you, 

Gabriel 

How does one record a correctly ballanced stereo or multi-channel b/g when all the analogue ins are calibrated all over the place?! A mic does not output calibration tones so hownam I going to set my levels when recording stereo b/g's? On every other machine I can set the gain to visually the same trim lebel and get a perfectly alligned recording. I'm a bit shocked that on a deva the analogue ins are randomly far apart and it's left to the user to find the correct allignment? In the dield this is more or less impossible to do, or do we need to pull out our caliration unit every every time we want to record a stereo or 5.0 b/g?

I'm confused.

I am disappointed with Zaxcom. Cannot the machine be calibrated before leaving the factory? Several units in the same conditions. That is headache to the user!

Gabriel

The inputs of the Deva and the Fusion are designed with photocell gain control. These circuits vary greatly. The reason we use them is that nothing we have tested sounds better. The input channels vary +/- 3 dB and this is normal. This is the reason we have a trim menu page. It is used to calibrate the inputs to a constant level. If the input trims are calibrated and the channels are selected pre fader everything will line up perfectly.

If a channel is off more than +/- 3 dB the unit can be sent to us for calibration to get it to be closer but as long as all channels can be calibrated to a 0dB level there in nothing to worry about.

Glenn

Thank you for your answer, Glenn!     

For me, to send from  Brazil to Zaxcom, it is very risky and expensive.     

Can you send instructions for resolved here in Brazil by my trust technician? I can lose the warranty without problem.

Tks,

Gabriel

Hi Gabi.

Call me tomorrow I can help you out.

Glenn

Glenn, 

The problem of my Fusion 10 is identical to this of the Gabi. 

With a Neutrik Minitaror MR1 in 0dB/1KHZ > line and -40 >  mic, directly and each input of Fusion (checking in line and also mic - same result), Fader and Trim of Fusion in the position 0. I suspect of the pots of Fader. 

Some idea?   

Thank you, 

Gabriel

Hi Gabi,

The Fusion and Deva touch screens have been upgraded to a new display that are very bright and higher contrast than our original screen. The new screens are sealed better so any user experience should be with our newer screens to be relevant to your decision.

The main things to look at when buying our recorder is the touch screen interface, the MARF file system and its enhanced reliability over FAT32 file systems, 8 output buses with digital direct outs, ability to record up to 12 ISO tracks directly from the inputs with or without internal mixing, multi fader control surface interface, Zax-Net wireless remote control interface, Channel effects including EQ notch filter delay and softknee compressors, and the ability to infinitely buffer the audio so that DVD-RAM recordings are never missing audio due to bad media, very low power consumption and no detectable heating of the case. There are many more features but these are the main differences between the Fusion and other products on the market.

Glenn Sanders

President Zaxcom Inc.

Please, can you talk about the gain differences (up to 10dB) among the 8 inputs of Fusion 10/12? 

Is it possible to solve w/  firmware? 

Serial of my Fusion: 20166

Tks,

Gabriel

Hi, Jonny,

Please, cam Red run 24,  the tc of the syncbox connected  to Red is 24 or 30? 

Thanks,

Gabriel