Nagra Seven Operating Instructions Manual

Audio Technology Switzerland SA, Chemin de l’Orio 30A, 1032 Romanel-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. Tel :[phone]

Web : www.nagraaudio.com e-mail: [e-mail]

R

EFERENCE

M

ANUAL

AND

O

PERATING INSTRUCTIONS

(Software version V 1.50)

NAGRA

Seven

1

Guarantee / Warranty

AUDIO TECHNOLOGY SWITZERLAND certifies that this instrument was thoroughly inspected and tested prior to
leaving our factory and is in accordance with the data given in the accompanying test sheet.

We guarantee the Nagra

Seven

and products of our own manufacture against any defect arising from faulty

manufacture for a period of TWO years from the date of delivery.

This guarantee covers the repair of confirmed defects or, if necessary, the replacement of the faulty parts,
excluding all other indemnities.

All freight costs, as well as customs duty and other possible charges, are at the customer's expense.

Our guarantee remains valid in the event of emergency repairs or modification being made by the user.
However we reserve the right to invoice the customer for any damage caused by an unqualified person or a
false manoeuvre by the operator.

We decline any responsibility for any and all damages resulting, directly or indirectly, from the use of our
products.

Other products sold by AUDIO TECHNOLOGY SWITZERLAND S.A. are covered by the guarantee clauses of their
respective manufacturers. We decline any responsibility for damages resulting from the use of these products.

We reserve the right to modify the product, and / or the specifications without notice.

2

About This Manual

This instruction manual is broken down into several chapters. Each chapter covers different aspects of the
Nagra

Seven

recorder, the settings, actual use, eventual problem localisation and technical specifications.

GUARANTEE / WARRANTY Page 1
ABOUT THIS MANUAL Page 2

INTRODUCTION TO THE NAGRA

Seven

Page 3

Chapter I The “POWER”

Battery packs, Fuses, Mains powering, Charging Power
indication, RTC / TC powering, Lithium battery care.

Page 4

Chapter II The “EXTERIOR”

Operational front panel, Input panel (Left side), Output panel
(Right side), Back side and Power.

Page 7

Chapter III The “INTERIOR”

THE OPERATIONAL SECTION

Part 1

HOME / MENUS

General overview of the touchscreen display, Home screens and
menu access.

Page 15

Part 2

The AUDIO

AUDIO MENU, Input matrix, Analog inputs / selection,
Analog levels, AES, Slate Microphone, Digital filters, ALC /
Limiters, Outputs,Monitoring, Loudspeaker, Reference
generator, Meters, Mic. display scale.

Page 24

Part 3

The SETTINGS

SETTINGS MENU, sampling freq., clock ref., Pre-record,
Auto-skip in play, Start stop polarity, File format, type,name
/ size, Pot. assignment, Display settings,Icon selection.

Page 35

Part 4

The TEMPLATES

TEMPLATE MENU, Data entry

Page 41

Part 5

The MEDIA

MEDIA MENU, Directory, Folder, Drive, COPY functions,
Autocopy and copy manager

Page 43

Part 6

TRANSMISSION

Ethernet transmission, F.T.P. transfers

Page 50

Part 7

The METADATA

iXML METADATA, False start, Wild track, Pick-up scene, data
entry

Page 55

Part 8

The TOOLS

TOOLS MENU, Re-format, Time / Date (RTC), Misc. Machine
name, Keyboard Layout, (Auto folders), About.

Page 58

Chapter IV The “EXTRAS”

Hardware and sofware options – Overview

Time code

Time code system: Frame rates, Internal generator, TC playback,
pull up/down, TC display, TC rec, TC menu

Page 64

Interface, Mode, Contacts
Voice over IP (VoIP) Page 72
I.S.D.N. (R.N.I.S.) Page 78
WiFi / 3G / GSM transmission, SIM insertion Page 84

Audio Editor

Internal audio editing option Page 87

Chapter V The SOLUTIONS

Error messages and problem solving Page 95

Chapter VI SPECIFICATIONS

Full technical specifications Page 97

ANNEX I

ALC / LIMITER detailed explanations Page 98

ANNEX II

Recording times

Page 100

ANNEX III

iXML implementation

Page 101

ANNEX IV

Firmware updates Page 102

ANNEX V

Useful “Cyber” Term explanatioins

Page 103

ANNEX VI

USB Keyboard template and functions

Page 105

Declaration of conformity CE Page 106

index

Page 107

3

Introduction

The NAGRA Seven is a 2-track, 24-bit digital recorder offering sampling frequencies up to 192kHz,

with analog and digital inputs and outputs on XLR connectors, and AES 42-ready for digital microphone
applications. Standard features include full iXML metadata, USB 2.0 and Ethernet ports, and a docking battery
pack. The principal recording media is an internal 16GB memory backup with removable standard SD cards.
Hardware options include SMPTE/EBU Time Code or I.S.D.N. codec, W iFi/ 3G communication and a
rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack. Two software options for audio compression and on-board audio editing
are also available.

Our aim is quality, not quantity – adding tracks seems to be easy and inexpensive to others, our concept was

to build a portable, high-quality two channel recorder that offers an intuitive interface with modern features
never seen in any other battery operated over-the-shoulder recorder, and with a modular design allowing it to
adapt to a multitude of field applications.

To make it more practical and more reliable – we added a sunlight-readable color touchscreen, combining

the metering and information display with a practical touch control of the operating system. The main
transport functions are still implemented with the familiar rotary Nagra main function selector, a unique design
that is less susceptible to accidental switching than the common hardware devices.

To clean and simplify the audio path – audio limiters, automatic gain control and equalization are achieved

through a dedicated Digital Signal Processor. The principal advantages are enhanced and cleaner AGC, to have
limiter and filter processing with the possibility of adjusting more parameters, and due to less electronics in
the analog audio signal path – achieve better microphone preamplifiers !

Software updates will be available, from time to time, through our website www.nagraaudio.com offering

system upgrades and additional new features as they become available. Please use the contact form from our

website for any questions or comments you might have about the

NAGRA

Seven

Versatile – like a Swiss Army Knife
and again – very user-friendly !

AUDIO TECHNOLOGY SWITZERLAND
Chemin de l’Orio, 30A
CH-1032 ROMANEL-SUR-LAUSANNE
SWITZERLAND

Tel : [phone]

Fax : [phone]

[e-mail]
www.nagraaudio.com

4

CHAPTER I THE POWER

YOU NEED POWER FIRST

The Nagra

Seven

is delivered with an empty battery box, into which 8 rechargeable NiMh “AA” cells can be
installed. We do not recommend the use of dry cells except in emergencies. The running time of the recorder
depends upon the capacity of the cells used, as well as the operating mode. Alternatively an optional Lithium
Polymer pack can be used. The supplied external DC supply can power the machine, and recharge the batteries
at the same time.

Charging of the battery packs

The detachable battery boxes, and Lithium Polymer packs are fitted with a RED LED to indicate when external
DC is present and the charge status.
When external DC is connected the LED will light and if rechargeable cells are installed in the battery box it will
start to flash after a few seconds to indicate that the cells are being charged. When fully charged, the LED will
remain ON. No harm will be caused to the lithium packs if the external charger is left connected as they cannot
be “Overcharged”.

Charger ON / OFF switch

Removable battery box for “AA” size cells

Some approximate times are shown below using the Nagra charger and supplied power supply:

Battery type Capacity Approx. Running time (with 2

+48V condenser mics)

NiMh 2500 mAh 5h (4h)

Lithium Polymer 3200 mAh 8h (6h)

Dry Cells 2h45m (2hr)

The above trials were made with fully charged cells, with the recorder in continuous Record mode with using
dynamic microphones and time code running and the display set to “dimmer” mode.

The optional 3200 mAh lithium-polymer rechargeable pack is available (Part Number # 70 19166 000) can also
be used giving an autonomy of about 8 hours. External DC can also be used by connecting the supplied, wall­mount charger to the DC connector. The use of standard “AA” cells is not recommended as their discharge rate
will exceed the specifications of the cells. However, they can be used in an emergency, but will be drained
quite quickly, and will get quite hot while being used.

Charging times

N7-BB1 3.2 Ah Lithium Polymer battery pack is approximately 5 hours.
Eight 2’500 mAh NiMH cells will take about 3½ hours to charge.

5

Fuses

The power supply board is mounted on the rear panel board and is accessible in the bottom of the recorder by

removing the lower panel. There are 2 fuses F1 and F2 in the external power line and battery power line
respectively. These fuses are of the OMF 63 type and manufactured by Schulter and do not require soldering.
Replacement fuses are available through your Nagra agent.

Replacement fuses part number:

F1 & F2 # 54 82001 500

Mains power unit

The N7-PSU (KSA# 20 19180 020) external mains power unit supplied with the Nagra Seven is a 100 - 240V
50/60Hz supply with a rated output of 15V 2A.

The Nagra Seven can be operated while the mains power is connected to the battery box on the rear of the
machine without danger, and it will supply enough energy to power the recorder and recharge the attached
pack at the same time.

Power indication

The top line of the main display shows a “fuel gauge” type charge indication of a battery at all times. Different
indications show the various status positions of the batteries:
When the background of the fuel display turns RED this indicates that there is approximately 10 minutes of
power remaining.
When the curved “flash” is present, this indicates that external DC power is present on the dc connector of the
battery box

- Battery full

- Half-full battery

- Battery pack almost exhausted (Icon will flash)

- External Mains power connected to the battery box (charging)

Note: All times and durations indicated in this section assume that the phantom powering is OFF and that

options such as WiFi are not in use. In addition it is assumed that the battery elements are in good
condition and are fully charged.

6

Time Code and Real Time Clock (RTC) powering.

The power supply circuit of the Nagra Seven is equipped with a “super capacitor” which is designed to maintain
the time of the internal RTC and the time code clock (If TC option is fitted) for about 10 minutes if the battery
of the recorder is removed. This ensures that the time code will remain accurate while the battery pack is
replaced. If the date and time is lost, then it will automatically be requested when the next power on is made.

Note: The external DC supply can be connected and disconnected at any time without any interference even

during recording.

Lithium-Polymer battery life and care

Lithium-Polymer battery packs will last for between 500 and 1’000 charge cycles before being replaced, which
if correctly cared for, in the case of a Nagra Seven would represents about 5 years or so of normal operation.
However there are some important points to be made concerning the “housekeeping” of such packs, to
guarantee their best performance.

Contrary to NiCd packs, the most damaging event that can happen to a Lithium pack is for it to discharge
completely. If this happens it is very likely that the pack will be irreparably damaged. In the Nagra Seven the
software will close the recorder down well before the battery pack gets to a critical charge point thus
protecting the cells. In addition, a security circuit inside the pack itself will also cut in should the pack get too
drained, however in any event running the battery flat is strongly inadvisable.

It should be remembered that even with the recorder turned OFF, the internal real time clock and Time Code
circuit (if fitted) WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW POWER from the pack. The time code circuit alone will completely
drain a fully charged pack in about 1 month.

A Lithium-Polymer pack will have a longer lifetime if it is regularly recharged (even when half full). It is not
possible to “overcharge” the pack. Unlike a NiCd battery, the “memory” effect does not exist with Lithium­Polymer packs.

A charged battery pack, in good condition, can be stored, disconnected from the recorder, for a period of 1
year without risk. If one wishes to store a Lithium pack for an extended period at room temperature (a year or
more) then ideally it should be charged to about 50-70% before storage (suggested by the manufacturer). In
such a case, after 1 year the pack will have lost about 4% of its total capacity, whereas if the pack is charged to
100% before storage, after 1 year it will have lost nearly 20% of its total capacity. (At lower storage
temperatures, this effect is minimized). One should always verify from time to time that the pack remains at
around 50% and recharge a little as necessary.

So remember:

- DO NOT store the Nagra Seven for long periods with the battery box attached.

- NEVER allow the pack to be drained completely.

- ALWAYS keep the battery charged as no harm will occur.

Chapter II March 2014

7

CHAPTER II THE EXTERIOR

The OPERATIONAL FRONT PANEL

Main Display Screen

The Nagra Seven uses a 3.5” color TFT touchscreen display. Its resolution is of 270 dpi giving precise definition
and excellent resolution (a standard computer screen generally has a resolution of around 70 dpi).
It is a “resistive” touchscreen, meaning that it activates when gently “pressed” or “tapped” using a finger or
pointer stick (a set of 2 pointers is included with the machine and replacements can be ordered under the
number 2019180010) and can thus be manipulated using gloves which is more difficult with a “Capacitive”
touchscreen (as used on mobile smartphones and tablet devices). The touch feature is adjusted so that the
action is effective when the touch is released rather than at the moment the screen is touched which gives a
more user-friendly feel to the functions. Operation is easier using a pointer stick if possible, and gets the best
response from the sensors. As the display is the heart of the communication interface between the user and
the recorder, the screens and different functions are explained in detail in chapter III of this manual.

Main function selector

The 5 position rotary main function selector is used for the principal “transport” functions of

the recorder, in the traditional Nagra manner. It should be noted that the transport icons on

the main display will change depending on the position of the main function selector.

The various function positions of the selector are described below.

OFF:

This is the main power OFF position of the Nagra Seven. None of the circuits of the machine
are powered in this position except the real time clock and the time code generator (if
fitted).
When OFF is selected the main display will show “SHUTTING DOWN” while all the machine
settings are being saved. Moving the selector during this phase will prevent the machine
from stopping but will save all the internal settings of the recorder.
Power OFF is completed 3 seconds after selection but will NOT occur while the machine is
copying files, only once the copy procedure is completed.

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8

TEST:

In this position all the circuits are powered allowing recording levels, audio monitoring
adjustments, menu verification and alteration. This can be considered as a "stand-by before
record" position. If the Pre-record function is active the REC led flashes and some menu
alterations are prohibited. In this position the time code to be recorded will be fed to the
time code lemo output if the TC option is installed.

REC:

This is the standard position used for recording. When recording, the red led beside REC
position of the main function selector will be alight. Record can be selected at any time and
will take priority over any other function. Some menu settings are prohibited in the REC
position. From full power off to RECORD mode takes about 10 seconds – depending on the
number of files on the media. Recording will begin before the entire booting process is
completed.

STOP:

In this position the push-button transport keys on the touchscreen display are active for
rewind, fast forward and skip functions. Access to all menus and machine settings is also

enabled.
In this position the time code output will be frozen at the last value read.
In this position the audio inputs are not fed to the outputs.

PLAY:

This is the principal PLAYBACK position. Playback will start either from its current

position, or from the beginning of the last recorded take if the machine had

previously been in record mode.

In this mode the transport icons for search (4x) and skip can be used as well as the

pause fuction.

In this position the time code from the take being played will be fed to the time code

lemo output.

Slate Microphone

Located towards the top center of the front panel is the internal built-in microphone,

commonly called a “Slate” microphone. It is activated by pressing the SLATE icon on the main

display. It can be programmed to toggle ON and OFF on each consecutive press or to be

active only while the icon is pressed. It can be directed to one or both audio channels in the

menu mode, and it can either be mixed (added) to the audio tracks or can replace the audio.

If the Icon is not present on the screen then it must be added using the Icon selection menu

as this is the only way to activate the slate mic. The slate mic can be used at all sampling

frequencies.

Level potentiometers

Two potentiometers located on the front panel can be used for various features according to

their programming in the pot. assign menu. Principally, they are used to adjust the input

sensitivity of the microphone inputs or the line input levels. They can be ganged together

when working in stereo or if a fixed offset between the channels is to be maintained.

Pressing a pot will activate the push-button switch and this will instantly display the current

level adjustment setting of the corresponding channel on the main display, and will also

select the corresponding channel in “Solo” (Mono) on the headphone output. A “double”

press of either pot will select the “Solo” for the respective channel and maintain it until the

pot is pressed again. The pots programming to other functions is covered in the pot. assign

menu. Both straight or round knobs are available – as shown.

Chapter II June 2014

9

Headphone connector and level control

The headphone output is a 6.35mm stereo jack connector and its level is adjusted using the

pot. The headphone output level can be digitally boosted in the menu mode if required by 6

or 12 dB. Pressing the headphone volume button will temporarily set the headphone output

to mono monitoring. This can be programmed to a toggle mode in the monitoring menu. A

“double” press is a user programmable feature and can be used, for example to rapidly

switch the internal speaker on and off.

Chapter II June 2014

10

LEFT INPUT SIDE PANEL

MIC / LINE Input connectors

These transformerless inputs can be used for both dynamic and condenser
microphones or as analog line inputs. The sensitivity for the different
microphone input sources is selectable from 2.8 mV/pa to 40 mV/pa in the
audio settings menu. When used for analog line inputs, they will accept up
to +24 dB.
The pinning of the connectors is the standard 1 = Ground, 2 = (High), 3 =
Return (Lo)

AES connector

The AES input connector is used for digital AES input signals. This selection
is made in the menus. The AES input is a standard AES 3 stereo audio input.
This connector is also used for a digital microphone according to the AES 42
format. The digital inputs are fitted with an internal SRC (sample rate
convertor) to ensure accurate synchronization is possible at all times.

SD Flash card Slot

This slot permits the use of removable SD memory cards. The Nagra Seven
will accept SD, SD-HC (4 – 32 GB) and SD-XC (32+ GB) type cards.To remove
the SD card, press directly on the end of the card and it will eject. Micro SD
cards may also be used with the appropriate adapter.
The LED to the left of the slot will light when the card is being addressed. It
is recommended to format removable cards using the Nagra rather than a
PC, to guarantee optimized performance. The machine does not need to be
powered down to insert or remove an SD card they can be “hot swapped”.

Chapter II July 2014

11

Ethernet connector

The RJ45 Ethernet connector is use to connect the NAGRA Seven to the
internet and will allow file transfer using FTP and Voice Over IP (VOIP) and
is planned to permit streaming of live audio in the future. The yellow led in
the connector will light when an active ethernet cable is connected and the
green led will light when communication data is being transmitted.

USB port

The Micro USB connector is of the A/B style, and serves not only as a slave
port, allowing the Seven to be connected to a computer and appear as an
external device, but via the appropriate adapter (Part number 20 70119

000) it can be used as a host port and can accept an external device such as
a keyboard, mouse or a USB thumb drive.

Start / Stop connection

This miniature 3.5mm jack is a remote start / stop connection or “fader
start”. It is a simple contact closure and activation is achieved by making a
short-circuit between the terminals. The “polarity” can be selected in the
menus, and if the position “Inverted” is selected, then the function will be
activated when the connection is shorted out as opposed to “open”. The
function depends on the position of the main function switch. In the record
position, it will switch between record and test modes. If the pre-record
function is active then the start / stop will switch between record and Pre­record. In playback it will switch between playback and stop.

Chapter II June 2014

12

RIGHT OUTPUT SIDE PANEL

The right side panel of the recorder is different depending on the version of the recorder. There is one panel
for the standard version without any internal options, another for the time code version and a third one for
the ISDN version, both of the latter two are also available with the 3G / WiFi option. (version pictured has both
Time code and WiFi / 3G installed)

AES output connector

The 3-pole male XLR AES output connector is a digital output
corresponding to the format of the AES bus used throughout the
professional audio industry. The resolution is of 16 or 24 bits depending of
the current machine settings, and if the machine is in 24-bit mode this
output can be redithered to 16 bits to feed a lower resolution device. This
liason allows direct connection to any other digital equipment fitted with
an AES-3 interface.

Line output connectors

These two 3-pole XLR connectors are the standard analog audio
transformerless symmetrical floating outputs. The output level on these
connectors is adjustable from o6 to +15 dBu for 0dBFS on the meters.

Chapter II March 2014

13

Time code LEMO connector

The time code input and output is located on a traditional 5-pole
LEMO connector, the pinning of which corresponds to that of all
previous Nagra TC models.

(QCTCU cable # 70 16909 000 – LEMO to “open-ended” TC cable)

WCK IN / OUT

The two BNC connectors form part of the TC option and are the
standard external word clock refernce connectors for locking the
Nagra to an external reference and for supplying such a reference to
other equipment. Other reference signals such as PAL / NTSC video,
HDTV references are also fed to the recorder through the WCK IN
connector, in video applications.

WiFi / GSM / 3G antennae

These are the antennae connections that form part of the WiFi / GSM
option. A pair of antennae is delivered with the option. The gold antenna is
for the WiFi and the steel (Silver) antenna is for the 3G communication.

Replacement GSM and WiFi 3G antennae kit: 20 19180 008

I.S.D.N. connector

The RJ45 connector is part of the I.S.D.N. system and is only available on
machines equipped with this option. This is where the ISDN line is
connected to the NT.

Chapter II March 2014

14

The BACK and POWER

Rear view of the Nagra Seven showing the battery connector and battery fixing threads.

Serial number

The serial number, located on a sticker on the rear panel of the recorder is also burned into the internal
memory of the recorder and cannot be altered or erased. The serial number can be seen in the “Tools /
about” menu.

Battery packs

Please refer to Chapter 1 “Powering” for all information concerning the battery packs and powering options.

Chapter III September 2014

15

CHAPTER III THE INTERIOR

Operational section

PART 1 – HOME SCREEN AND MENUS

The screen or display of the Nagra Seven is the main user interface and has the following tasks:

Display operational information to the user

Display and modify the parameters of the recorder (Menus)

Allow control of the unit as well as communication (Short-cuts)

As the display is the heart of the communication interface between the user and the recorder, the screens and
different functions are explained in detail in the following pages.
The “home” screen, is adaptable depending on the users desires. Certain elements are fixed but other items

can be displayed depending on the position of the main function switch and the icon programming chosen by
the user:

Chapter III September 2014

16

The main screen

The central area (shown in grey) of the home screen can be programmed in the “Home screen menu” to
display up to three different sets of information, which will be scrolled through each time the central section of
the display is touched.
The available displays depend on the options installed in the machine.

The example below shows the home screen of a NON-TC Nagra Seven, where the “Counter and settings”
display selection has been chosen.

Current time (RTC) Selected media and folder Remaining time Power source /
Battery status
Monitoring
format

Current Modulometers
operating mode

Menu button

Selection zone

Status

Index / counter

File data Shortcut

Icons

Transport keys

Below is the home screen of a TC machine with the “Time code and settings” display selected.

Time code
information

Along the top, the status bar remains the same on all displays and shows the current time, the recording media
and data folder in use, remaining recording time (according to current file format and media size) and the
status of the battery / power source.

On the second line of the display, the current operating mode, monitoring format, the modulometers for audio
levels with peak indicators are shown as well as the Icon to enter the MENU mode.

The central section is programmable in the display menu screen (described later) and the bottom line shows
the transport functions / action buttons (depending on main selector position) and user selectable shortcut
keys.

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Display Screen Information

Current time:

Shown in HH:MM:SS format. The internal clock is set in the menu mode.
This is independent of time code (if fitted). This data will be used for the
time information of a recorded index.

Media / folder:

Shows where the recordings will be stored. The media can be either the
internal micro-SD card (INT) or the extractable SD card (SD) or USB memory
(USB). After the “:” the name of the selected folder on the current media is
displayed, and is where the files will actually be stored.

Remaining time:

Indicates the remaining recording time on the selected media depending
on the current recording file format and media free size.

Power source / status:

EXT : External power supply is connected
LiPo: Lithium Polymer pack
NiMH: Rechargeable cells
DryC: Regular alkaline cells
The battery status icon shows the remaining battery reserve.

Monitoring format:

Indicates the audio headphone monitoring format currently selected.
Possible indications are: M (Mono), ST (Stereo), L / R (Left or Right) and MS
(Mid/Side)

Modulometers:

Standard level metering over a 50 dB range. Touching on the modulometer
display will show the “Highest Level” or “Hold Max.” peak level reached
since the last reset, and touching / pressing for 5 seconds will reset the
“Hold” display to -50dB.
Activation of the audio limiters is shown by the L / R modulometer signs
having a yellow background as shown below.

Menu mode:

Pressing the will select the MENU mode.

Status section:

Inputs Source Phantom Phase Limiter Filter Track
Analog L (AL) M: Mic +48V NORmal LIM FIL L
Analog R (AR) L: Line INVerted R
Digital L (DL)

Digital R (DR) 10V (AES 42 powering)

keys :

Either transport keys or “action buttons” according to main function switch

position.

Progression line:

A white horizontal bar across the bottom of the display (from left to right)

shows the progression of the playback through a file and the width of the

display is a % representation of the file.

Chapter III September 2014

18

Transport and action buttons

Seven buttons

The lower portion of the display is user configurable, and can have different sets of buttons for the PLAY/STOP
and TEST/REC positions of the main selector. In the PLAY/STOP position, the 5 leftmost keys are fixed as
transport functions, only the 2 rightmost buttons are configurable.

In the TEST/REC position all seven positions are programmable. This system has been adopted to allow the
user to program the desired buttons that are to be used frequently during recording, for example Slate mic
ON/OFF or MARK etc. They can also be programmed under the “MORE” button which will light a second row
of shortcuts, thus avoiding that functions are activated unwillingly during recording.
With the main function selector in the TEST (pre-record) position:

In the picture above only the “MARK” key is active. The “New Index” and “Delete Last” are greyed out as they
are not active in pre-record / TEST modes. The will become active when the main function selector is set to
REC. or as soon as the function is possible.

With the main function selector in the RECORD position:

Other features such as

False start can be programmed if desired.

Chapter III September 2014

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The possible Transport / Action buttons are:

Normal playback in PLAY or STOP.

Pause at the current point during play

Search forward at 4x nominal speed while in
playback or Fast Forward at 128x when in STOP
mode.

Skip to next take

Search backwards at 4x nominal speed while in
playback or Fast Rewind at 128x when in STOP
mode.

Skip to previous take

Chapter III September 2014

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Shortcuts

Depending on the installed options a different number of shortcuts can be shown on the main screen. Pressing
the MORE key will display the remaining choices. The displayed icons can be programmed depending on the
position of the main function selector. Access to all the menus of the machine is gained by pressing the
key.

REC screen showing
the “MORE” key

More icons

M

Loudspeaker: This icon will show blue when the speaker is active.

Audio: Access to the audio related features menus of the recorder (Inputs, Outputs, filters,

ALC and reference generator).

Inputs: Access the input related parameters.

Media: Access the internal micro SD memory card and the extractible SD card, USB media,

copy settings/status as well as the different folders of each media.

Tools: Access to features not involved with recording and that are considered as user tools,

such as Date & time, formatting, keyboard layout etc.

Settings: Access to all other settings of the recorder, such as Sample frequency, File format,

display appearance, beep functions etc.

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Slate: Activates the slate microphone. It can be programmed to toggle mode also.

This icon will turn blue whenever the internal slate microphone is active.

Filters: Access internal programmable digital filters.

Alc/Lim: Access to the Automatic level control and audio limiters programming.

Outputs: Access to the audio headphone and loudspeaker outputs programming.

Reference
generator: Audio signal generator activation icon programmable in level and frequency

in the menu mode. This will turn blue when the reference generator is
active.

Meters: Programming of the modulometer color bars and Mic display indication

Pot Assign: Assignment of the main level and headphone pots as well as switch

functions of the headphone pot.

Metadata: Access to iXML metadata programming.

Templates: Up to 6 user programmable templates (complete machine parameter

settings) can be recalled rapidly using this short-cut.

Time Code: Access to the internal time code settings of the machine (if TC option # 71

19185 000 is installed).

Transmission: Access to the internal communication possibilities, including, Ethernet, FTP,

I.S.D.N. if ISDN option #71 19186 000 is installed and WiFi/3G if option
#7119187000 is installed and VOIP if option #7019180030 is installed.

Editor: On-board graphic audio editor (if Editor option # 70 19180 020 is installed)

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Places a mark (pointer) in the audio file when pressed

Restart a take with the same index number

Seamlessly create a new index while recording.

Each of the topics shown here is covered in detail in the MENU section of this manual, along with all the other
menu-driven features.

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Menu mode

Like other Nagra models the Seven is structured around a system of powerful user-friendly menus. However,
unlike previous models where the structure was based on a “Tree” where each branch was dedicated to
specific areas, the Nagra Seven’s menus take full advantage of the touch screen and specific features are
grouped together in a similar way as in a modern mobile phone.

To enter the menu mode, press on the icon on the main display screen.
Each of the different menu items is covered in detail below:

Clicking on the individual icons will enter the respective menus, and the reverse arrow will return
to the previous screen. Holding the reverse arrow will jump all the way back to the main display
screen.

Screen lock

The display of the Nagra Seven can be voluntarily locked by the user at any time to avoid accidental alteration of
settings while in operation.
To lock the display, simply press and hold the icon for 2 seconds and the message SCREEN LOCKED will
appear on the top of the display. Pressing on the icon again will open the window, press OK to unlock the
display.

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PART 2 - The AUDIO

Audio Menu

The Audio menu is used to set the parameters of all audio related aspects of the Nagra Seven.

Inputs

Will enter the inputs of the audio menu, giving access to all the parameters related to the analog
and digital audio inputs of the recorder. This menu is split into 5 different sections:

Input matrix

The Input Matrix is used to route the audio to the left and/or right channels. By touching the different boxes,
either input can be sent to either or both channels. The selections can be made for both analog and digital
input signals. The analog and digital “Presets” will reset the inputs to their default mode of standard stereo.

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Analog inputs

This screen programs the analog inputs. For each input, the type of source signal (Mic. or Line) can be selected,
and +48V Phantom powering, phase inversion, filters and ALC/LIM can also be chosen. If the limiters are
ganged (Linked) then if one limiter is activated due to a strong signal then the other channel will activate
simultaneously as well.

Analog input selection

For both inputs, the LINE input can be selected as well as a choice of three different microphone sensitivity
positions, as shown below. The sensitivity of a particular microphone can be found in the respective
manufacturers’ documentation, but as a guide, dynamic microphones do not require 48V phantom powering
and have a very low sensitivity and therefore require the most amplification. Condenser microphones DO need
+48V powering and provide a much stronger signal, and will use one of the other sensitivity settings.

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Analog levels screen

For each input, the current microphone input levels in dBSPL, or Line input level in dBu can be displayed. If
they are assigned to the pots, then the up/down keys are inactive. If they are not assigned to a pot then the
levels can be adjusted using the buttons. In the example below, the both inputs are selected as line inputs and
assigned to the relevant pot. They can be modified with the UP/DN buttons, or by using the EDIT LEVEL button
where the exact value can be entered directly, as shown in the picture below.

The acronym dBSPL means “Decibels of Sound
Pressure Level” If the modulometer shows and
average of -10dBfs (full scale), and the dBSPL level
on the fuel gauge of display scale of the input
potentiometer shows 94dB, then this means that
the acoustic level on the input of the capsule of the
microphone is actually
94-10=84dBSPL

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AES screen

The AES screen gives the possibility to choose between AES 3 or AES 42. The AES 42 is the AES format for
digital microphones. The Nagra Seven will supply the 10V power for the digital microphones (known as mode 1),
but does not run the entire protocol to control the microphones dynamically (mode 2). The 10V supply is only
available when the inputs or clock reference are selected to digital, and will be cut is analog inputs or other
references are selected.

The SRC Sample Rate Converter can also be activated making sure there are no synchronization issues
between the digital microphones / inputs and the recorder.

Slate microphone

The front panel of the recorder is fitted with a built-in microphone or “Slate mic”. The operational parameters
of the slate mic can be set on this screen. The “Button mode” can be set to either “Normal” where the mic is
active as long as the icon on the main display is pressed, or “Toggle” which will toggle ON/OFF upon each
press.

The destination button allows the user to decide where the slate microphone will be recorded when it is
active, the possible choices are Left channel, Right channel or Both.
The Recording mode allows the slate mic to replace any existing audio input on the destination channel(s) or
for the audio to be mixed to the existing audio input of the destination channels.
The boost function allows the user to adjust the level of the slate mic.

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Filters

The Nagra Seven is equipped with fully programmable internal digital filters. These filters can be
programmed for each microphone input independently. The frequency of the filter, from 30 Hz to
300 Hz and the slope of either 12 or 24 dB/Octave and the headroom, from 0 to 42 dB can be
programmed using the settings window.

The settings window accesses all the specific
parameters of the digital filters.

The headroom can also be used by the filters if necessary, this can be useful when low frequencies are too
loud (wind noise for example) and may saturate the A/D converter; as the filtering is done next to A/D
conversion rather than in the microphone preamplifier, it will not prevent the saturation.

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ALC / LIM.

The Nagra Seven is equipped with a very sophisticated, fully programmable internal audio control
system that can be set as an audio limiter or ALC, or any combination between the two. It is an
entirely new approach that allows the user to adjust the parameters exactly as desired. The different

parameters of the system, such as the headroom, target, attack, release and ratio can all be set with
dropdown menus from the settings window. If the GRAPHIC window is opened then the operating
zone can be visualised to give a clearer understanding of the settings. When the graphic display is
shown, turning the left or right potentiometer will adjust the parameters for the corresponding
channel.

If the PRESET button is pressed a drop-down menu will appear allowing the user to choose between
several pre-programmed operational modes for the ALC / LIMITER. This is the simplest selection for
those not wishing to set all the parameters individually.

Preset: User selectable preset values
Headroom: The range into which the signal can go before distortion
Target: The upper limit of the operational zone
Input attenuation: Analog input attenuation control
Attack: The reaction time – ideal to filter against activation by rapid sounding HF

signals

Delay: Time before the release is active.
Release: The decay time of the ALC/Lim effect.
Ratio: How much audio compression will be used (i.e. 6:1 means that 6dB will be

compressed to 1 dB)

Limiter activation is shown on the main modulometers by the “L&R” having a yellow background.