[QuadList] Early CMX Documentation

[David C. Crosthwait]

George and Don,

When I worked at NBC Burbank, they too had an early version of a CMX  
300 on the PDP-11 (punch tape). Thanks for reminding me of "the  
Bootstrap program" and the he "Absolute Loader". Four VR 2000A's and  
an HS 200. The other CMX systems (in a TR 600A room and a BVH 1000  
room) were 340's, later upgraded to 3400's and 3600's.

David Crosthwait
DC Video
www.dcvideo.com


Quoting georgenann at aol.com:

>
> Hi Don,
>
> Once again I am reminded of CBS's depressing method of "Recycling"   
> it's old and often historic equipment.  I recall the first CMX   
> system at CBS.  It was referred to as "The ABC Room" as it used   
> VTR'S A,B and C.  It used a PDP11-05 and a big interface.  I   
> remember the interface, it was well documented as I had to modify   
> one of the functions of it and it was surprisingly easy.
>
> We had to toggle in the "Bootstrap" program manually.  Then a tape   
> called the "Absolute Loader" then the program tape.  Later on as the  
>  program got bigger, the pile of tape got bigger and would  
> frequently  fall on the floor which accounted for a lot of overtime.
>
> I don't remember the model number, but 300 sounds about right.  I   
> think 400 was the model which had it's own built in computer, not   
> the DEC, also had a "Decrwiter" which was rarely used.  Also along   
> came the "BIG" floppy drives.
>
> The last one was the "Omni1000" which is still in use in at least   
> one of the CBS weekly shows.
>
> At any rate, all of this stuff, manuals, computers, I2's, etc. all   
> went in the dumpster.  I suspect that when the last Omni is replaced  
>  they will all go the same way.
>
> We had one strike in my 42 years at CBS and the main reason was CMX.  
>   Apparently the "Light Pen" was going to put us all out of work   
> because the directors would be able to do all their own editing.  I   
> never saw the "Light Pen" anywhere in CBS.
>
> There are 2 fotos I know of, one is in DennyD1's collection and it's  
>  file name ends in CMX ABC.  I have almost the same foto with the   
> same editor, Hank Wolf who passed away many years ago, he was the   
> first CMX editor we had.  I will be glad to send it to you, but I   
> don't think I can send it on this circuit, will have to do it to   
> your e-mail address.  I tried sending a couple fotos before and   
> received a  nastygrams about them.
>
> One thing caught my eye, you mentioned the Ampex "Ace" editor as   
> being a PDP11 powered.  I never saw one of them, the only Ampex   
> "Ace" editor I came in contact with was at NSA and I remember it as   
> a Dos based "Box" of some sort.  I only used it breifly and that was  
>  the only time I ever edited anything. It was hooked up to a few   
> BVW-75's.
>
> 73,
>
> George Keller
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Don Norwood <dwnorwood at embarqmail.com>
> To: Quad List <quadlist at quadvideotapegroup.com>
> Sent: Sat, Feb 20, 2010 12:36 pm
> Subject: [QuadList] Early CMX Documentation
>
>
> I've recently received a great deal of information on the CMX 300 &   
> 400 systems.  Included is a 55 page training manual in 11"x17"   
> format that was developed by NBC Burbank.  I've included a scan   
> below of the introductory page.  I never worked on these systems,   
> but I did have many years of experience with DEC PDP-11's in other   
> applications, so the opportunity to learn more about how two of my   
> favorite technologies came together has been a real treat.  My first  
>  experience with the PDP-11 in an editing environment was the Ampex   
> ACE, and that was a decade after the CMX systems were developed.
>
> The comparison of this technology to todays' world of non-linear   
> editing is such a striking contrast that it's probably inconceivable  
>  to many people in the industry today.  Perhaps the idea of having  
> an  edit system composed of tape machines is not too far removed  
> from  most of our memories, but concern for what bits in which  
> register  are controlling which machine function disappeared a long  
> time ago.   An editing system with diagnostic routines to monitor  
> specific bits  on a data bus just isn't standard fare anymore!
>
> I don't know how rare or how common the existence of these documents  
>  may be.  Have any of these systems been preserved?  I'd like to  
> find  the most effective way to ensure that this information is not  
> lost.   Perhaps the folks at Woonsocket would be a good repository?   
> Ideas,  suggestions or comments?
>
> Don Norwood
> www.digitrakcom.com
>
>
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David C. Crosthwait