[Oleg Mikheev]

Hi Rob,
I have been a professional photographer for 30 years shooting fashion and still life for major glossy magazines ( https://www.oleg-photo.com/ ). I could do the job virtually with any camera – at some point I had 14 cameras and cannot recall how many lenses. The art directors and editors would not see the difference – nothing saying about the readers. But I especially enjoyed working with Leica MP and lenses made in the 1950s-60s. In the end of the day I am in profession because I love the process more than the result.
I have left photography because it stopped surprising me. I am more interested in filmmaking now. I have discovered sound and even went to study the basics to Islington Music Workshop. I feel that I am immersing into something completely new but the same time very similar to what I have experienced before.
As to the recorders, Nagra in film sound is equal to Leica in photography. It is in a different league. The practice shows that in most cases I use just one channel with a Neumann KMR-81 shotgun plugged in. Only a few times I had to record stereo sound. Just in case if I would need more than that I have an SQN-IV series 4 (bought it on BB List). Actually both – Nagra and SQN have something special. For me Sound Devices are like Nikons – very reliable with amazing quality but… But no finesse.
Initially I was looking for a French Aeta Mix 2000 – arguably the best location sound mixer ever made… And it is blue. But I could not wait. Fostex FR-2 with a time code card I bought for £300. For this money it was a steal. Some people say that Fostex has pres as good as SD702; some people think the Fostex is better. I really liked it…
But the Universe gave me Nagra and SQN. 🙂

[Oleg Mikheev]

[Rob Dunford] “Sold my FR2 long time ago. I understand that the repair shop simply removed old power inlet and soldered new one in. I don’t have any info on connections etc You know there is a menu item for battery power, it allows the recorder to differentiate between voltages and different battery types. I think the old jack socket had three connections to the board, I know only two are used.”

Oh, Gosh! Rob, thank you very much for your reply and sorry: I have just found it. The CCow have not informed me about the new post.
I have re-assembled my Fostex and removed the old socket – it is true: it has three connectors. One is “+” and two are grounded “-“. When you insert the plug, the grounded connectors get disconnected between each other inside the socket, though on the pcb they are permanently connected. The battery has a common grounded “-“, but the “+” is connected to the power supply’s “+” via a diode, which prevents the battery from being charged while connected to the PS.
Sorry for such a long explanation… Anyway, tomorrow I am going to put all the bits and pieces together, check the Fostex and… put it on eBay. Pity to do it – I really liked the quality and intuitive interface but two days ago I bought a Nagra V in mint condition on the Techbid.
Thank you again for your help!

Oleg

[Oleg Mikheev]

Hi Rob,

I guess that you replaced your FR-2 years ago and probably do not recall the details of the modification but I would appreciate any information on the subject.

Yesterday I worked on my Fostex FR-2. I mounted a Hirose socket in a place of the plastic cable holder just above the original standard socket. The old socket I removed (the connection was so loose that it ruined the last take on the set). After the assembling, the recorder would not switch on. Just the light on the display while I held the power lever up. That was it. The same situation happened with the internal AA batteries. The Hirose pins have been correctly soldered according to the SQN recommendations (pins 1 and 2 are grounded “-” and 4 is “+”).
I cannot find any information on mechanism of triggering between the AA batteries and the external power supply. It seems that it is NOT mechanical (if you insert the external power plug, you disconnect the internal AA batteries), but electronic/logic instead.
It seems to me that there is something else I have to do apart from soldering the Hirose socket directly to the external power terminals. May be add some kind of a jumper?

Rob, do you recall what your repair guys told you about it? Was it a straight forward job?

Thank you,

Oleg