8mm Forum: Braun Visacoustic Digital 2000

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Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 03, 2015, 05:44 AM:

We spoke of various decent Super 8mm non scratching projectors yesterday and indeed on many occasions on here in the past.

One machine that hardly ever gets a mention is the Braun Visacoustic Digital 2000 model.

Has anyone had any experiences of ownership with one of these?
If so, what are your opinions of this machine and even a full review of one of these would be most welcomed given the limited posts on here in the past.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on June 03, 2015, 06:56 AM:

Always felt a little cheaply made but a high sell through price at the time. They had a quality Schneider 1.1 lens which was a bonus and I think it was a 15 watt amplifier along with 150 watt lamp. You don't see them around so often over here Andrew and the few I have seen are defunct usually due to cracked drive gears a known fault with them sorry to say. [Frown]

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 03, 2015, 07:19 AM:

Thanks Lee. Yes the Drive gear was an issue with them but is now readily available in brass as a spare. Will last forever now.

the one Edwin is selling has this fitted already.

What way did it feel cheap Lee? As you say it certainly was never cheap to buy and the specs tick all the right boxes especially as it can be pulse synced right out of the box so to speak.

The Stereo Amplifier is 2x 20w power, or 2x 15w Sinus so is comparable to that of the Bauer T610 in terms of output power I would have thought.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on June 03, 2015, 07:27 AM:

Andrew
It looks very similar to the Bisonix Duo which as the name implies was a dual guage machine, autoload. It had as slide switch to change formats and as Lee says it was cheaply made, very plasticy and not too kind on film. It wouldn't be one I would go for. Also difficult for amp repairs due to germanium transistors used.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on June 03, 2015, 07:38 AM:

Just a feeling I got from them Andrew, all felt a bit Italian plastic and put together elsewhere. I'm not keen on Bauer either having repaired a couple in the past, why on earth they packed so much in such a small body I'll never know. These were sold as blanks to other cine companies which they then put a name on even Fumeo! I had the 9910 at one point out of curiosity being a cream/greyish colour and similar to the Bauer T170 and a lasting memory of the lens focus pin always breaking off with use.

The gear cracking thing is not unique to Braun as we know as quite a few makes have the problem Fumeo Elmo etc, still new parts are available although expensive.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 03, 2015, 07:43 AM:

Terry the projector you mentioned was manufactured by one of the the worse and cheapest projector manufacturers that I know..Imac.

I cannot somehow see that Braun, who incidentally made some of THE very best super 8mm sound cameras, could churn out anything remotely similar to anything I have ever seen or used by Imac (or for that matter Cinerex).

Granted, the outline shape appears somewhat similar but I would like to believe that is where any similarity starts and ends I would have thought.

I look forward to hearing from anyone who has actual experience of owning or using one of these please.

Incidentally, I am not looking to buy one of these as I consider myself to be fortunate in having what I already want in respect to Super 8mm Magnetic sound machines, just curious to see how they compare with the Bauer "Studioline" and if they were as kind to film in use, unlike anything Imac.

Lee, I do not know of any other manufacturer that uses a similar bodyshell of any of the "Studioline" Bauer series of projectors. I have a T192 Mag / opt Bauer model and yes, it does have similarities to many other smaller, more mainstream machines.

The "Studioline" models however, especially the T610 stand very much above the other models in operation and build quality.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on June 03, 2015, 07:53 AM:

Yep the Nizo cine cameras are my own preferred filmic tool which I still use regularly capturing excellent images, the down side is they all suffer from poor switches and often you see them non working. [Roll Eyes]

As I say I found the Braun to feel a bit cheap but others may love them. One came up for sale at the film fair last year complete selling for under 100 but I didn't see it working.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 03, 2015, 07:59 AM:

Very cheap indeed Lee, even if not fully working if it was a Digital 2000 and not the 1000 model.

The Schneider Xenovaron f1.1 lens alone can sell for up to £100!

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on June 03, 2015, 08:08 AM:

I still have the Schneider 1.3 in my Norisound and the clarity is stupendously awesome along with probably the best illumination from a 100 watt lamp due largely to the shutter aperture design. Happy days! [Cool]

You don't hear of many people using the Norisound these days but they were oh so popular with amateur film makers decades ago due to the bright picture, image clarity and crystal clear sound recordings, I could right a book about them for sure.
Good luck with the Braun

Posted by Edwin van Eck (Member # 4690) on June 03, 2015, 08:27 AM:

The Braun Visacustic 1000 and 2000 are very nice. One of the advantages is that you can regulate the speed (very nice for telecine-transfer).
One of the week parts is the gear. But, luckily these are made newly today again.
More information about the 2000 can be found here: http://van-eck.net/itable.php?lang=nl&size=0&cat=film&merk=braun&type=Visacustic%202000%20Digital

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on June 03, 2015, 09:08 AM:

I've never owned one of these, but I had the chance to see one in operation and closely inspect it in/outside. IMHO in no way can the Visacustic 2000 be called a cheaply built machine: clear the outer shell is plastic (of good quality) but the rest is built in no different way as the higher -end models from Bauer and Eumig.

It's very silent, almost as silent as a Bauer, with very bright, and steady images, not to mention sharp. A bonus to me is the rear sprung film presser, and the fact both the sound head assembly and the film gate can be easily cleaned, the former having the possibility to be totally detached from the projector in a matter of second. It's a great machine and, although I have seen it running for too short a time and cannot vouch for long-term gentleness on film, I'd say my first impression is it won't scratch films unless seriously misused/mismaintained.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 03, 2015, 09:30 AM:

Thank you Maurizio & Edwin for your valued input. That sounds much more like I was suspecting given the high specification of these machines as well as excellent German engineering etc etc.

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on June 03, 2015, 11:48 AM:

I remember Kevin F. really liked the Noris. Said it was the brightest 100 watter he had ever seen, image was great, and the image stability was very good as well. These are machines we never see here in the states. The Braun does look nice but the lazy part of me would hate to have to attach the speakers all the time.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on June 03, 2015, 12:15 PM:

Andrew
Back in 2008 Maurice gave a detailed report of the visacustic 1000 on this forum. Based on that it certainly shouldn't be confused with the IMac Bisonix and it follows that the 2000 digital would be an improved on the 1000.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 03, 2015, 12:36 PM:

Quite right Terry. [Smile]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on June 03, 2015, 02:57 PM:

Yes.
As I posted on another link, I have a German (well) made Braun Visacustic 1000 Stereo.
For those who do not know this projector click on the link below.
http://super8data.com/database/projectors_list/projectors_braun_ag/braun_visacustic1000.htm

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on June 04, 2015, 05:27 AM:

Twas Frances Williams the popular cine columnist who raved about the Norisound and its wide shutter blade degree and the Schneider lens combination that really got me into this particular machine for home movie making/projection. Today I still use one just for 18fps and showing my own home movies on as they have the perfect crisp edged gate (hope that sounds right) bright sharp picture and crisp sound. Inside the back two pots are visible near the fan and you can tweek these for variable speeds and I even ran a knob off the 24fps to make the speed completely variable from stop to full steam back then. I've mentioned before but I used to phone Mr Bird at Cresta and chat for ages about the Norisound as he knew them in and out.
Good times.

Sorry Andrew back to your Braun..

Posted by Edwin van Eck (Member # 4690) on July 22, 2016, 07:21 AM:

Next to the gear we have also a handy tool (pulley puller) for easy replacement of the gear

See: http://shop.van-eck.net/?_globalsearch=pp-0028

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