Budgeting for Nagra audiotape stock

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Budgeting for Nagra audiotape stock was created by Fred Ginsburg

"How much reel to reel Nagra tape do we need for our film shoot?"

A standard magazine of 16mm film is 400 feet and runs approx 11 minutes. A standard magazine of 35mm film is 1000 feet and runs approx 11 minutes.
So budget one 5 inch reel of tape (15 min @ 7 1/2 ips) per magazine. Or, two film magazines per each 7 inch reel (30 min).
Yes, you might have some audiotape left over, but tape is cheaper than film & processing so you never want to risk tape running out on the Nagra during a take.

Note that reel-to-reel audiotape for the Nagra is very scarce and hard to come by. 3M, Zonal, and Quantegy are out of the audiotape business. The last report was that BASF had licensed RMGI to produce a version of 468... but the last tape dealings that I had were well over a year ago, so I do not know what is currently available, if anything.

Personally, I would put away any thoughts of using a Nagra and just go digital. Although the Nagra was a great recorder in its time, that was then and this is now.
12 years 6 months ago #47

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