[QuadList] Early CMX Documentation

[David C. Crosthwait]

Not sure about PDP8. PDP 11 (I think) drove the CMX 340. I may be way off.

David


Quoting COURYHOUSE at aol.com:

> does anyone remember a system that used a DEC-  pdp-8E in it? it  had a
> diablo 2 or 5 meg hard drive on it as  well.
>
> thanks Ed#.
>
>
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> In a message dated 2/22/2010 1:28:23 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
> david at dcvideo.com writes:
>
> 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
>
>



David C. Crosthwait