Nagra 4.2 Instruction Manual page 20

discharged batteries.
Direct and Tape Chains
General
Signals coming from the microphone(s), line and mixer inputs, once they are amplified, fiftered, controlled and
mixed, form the "DIRECT" signal which will be recorded on the tape.
The signal played back from the tape gives, after amplification and equalization, the "TAPE" signal. During
recording, the "TAPE" signal is that which has already been recorded on the tape, and therefore is not that
which is being recorded.
The modulometer measures the level of the "DIRECT" signal. It is operational even in the absence of a tape. On
the other hand. there will be no "TAPE" signal in this case.
When the Nagra is in playback, the level control potentiometer "LINE AND PLAYBACK" is used to adjust the
"TAPE" signal. The "DIRECT" signal may therefore be made up of the input signals, plus the playback signal. This
allows for example, the superimposition of a commentary to the signal being played back from a tape. On
the other hand, the "TAPE" signal will always be exclusively the playback signal from the tape.
The line output amplifier, which also feeds the headphones, can be connected either to the "TAPE" signal or to
the "DIRECT" signal, the choice being made by the "LINE AND PHONES" switch on the front panel. The loud-
speaker amplifier is only fed from the "TAPE" signal. Acoustic feedback, therefore cannot be produced, even if
the microphones are in service, unless, of course, this takes place from the headphones.
The Line and Phones snap switch allows meter readings of the playback signal while recording. It always snaps
back into the "DIRECT" position.
Audio Inputs
The Nagra 4.2 has 4 inputs:
– 2
– 1
– 1
Manual Level Control
When using manual level control, adjust the position of the microphone potentiometers in such a way that the
loudest sounds to be recorded do not exceed the maximum level. The potentiometers corresponding to the
unused inputs should be kept in their anti–clockwise position.
The active potentiometers can be equally used to give a compression, by increasing the sensitivity during the soft
passages, and vice verse.
microphone inputs
asymmetrical line input transformable into a 3rd microphone input by means of an exter-
nal preamplifier
mixer input at fixed level