After eight years of experience working on StellaDATs, certain design shortcomings have become obvious. While the machine works pretty well on the cart cabled up to an analog mixer, over the shoulder documentary work can be a bit tricky.

With the documentary sound recordist in mind, we have designed a series of modifications to the StellaDAT-1. Additionally, we are now offering a trade in option so you can upgrade to other formats. Please take note, we do not offer trade in or our mods for StellaDAT-2.

Option # 1 is a slate mic system. A small protected push to talk for slating tape. The mic can either be built into the machine, or be integral to your headset, it's your choice.

Option # 2 is a tone generator card completely different than the factory option. This card is readily compatible with bloop slates designed for Nagra 4! Again, it's your choice.

Option # 3 is an additional direct output buffered for Com-Teks. Great for all RF/IFB feeds. Very good RF suppression. You can apply 48vt phantom to this output without a second thought. Again, it's your choice.

Option # 4 is invaluable for documentary work. We move the mic pots to the front of the machine, just like a Nagra! The master pots become part of the mixer module, on top. With this mod, mixing mics is a breeze. Again, it's your choice.

Option # 5 is a trade it in for other formats. Loose the headaches, enter the new millennium on a different note. Highly recommended, again it's your choice. Make the choice, move to a different format if that fits you.

Let's face the music - When designing the original StellaDAT DAT/Stellavox short changed the documentary sound recordist. Sonosax attempted to address these issues and failed (record run, need I say more???) miserably. CinemaSonics can make the changes needed to improve the condition of StellaDAT. Turn your lemon into Lemonaide... Give us a ring or send e-mail.

Download a revised version of Bill Drucklieb's trusty Stella-1 application notes, in PDF format *available soon*... (Tecnotes.zip -???MB)

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