[QuadList] Question of the week-RCA AE 6000 editor/TEP

Guy Spiller quadruplex at verizon.net
Tue Mar 8 08:05:30 CST 2011


Here is a TEP.RCA TEP

On 3/7/2011 5:50 PM, Chill315 at aol.com wrote:
> This is not the TEP.  That had thumb wheels only.
> This is actually a programmer that was made by ECCO for RCA.  It 
> consisted of a number of parts.
> The top display was an auxiliary display panel.
> The Unit Programmer is the middle unit that is a couple of rack units.
> The bottom was a transport control panel.
> It was possibly a system that was first used on Laugh In.  Can someone 
> confirm that?
> Chris Hill
> In a message dated 3/7/2011 5:31:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
> david at dcvideo.com writes:
>
>
>
>     Hello Trevor,
>
>     Thanks for the insight and the confirmation of similar problems
>     with the TR 600's. At least I can say now "It wasn't just me".
>
>     In regard to the TEP, here are two shots (for those who have no
>     idea what we are talking about):
>
>
>     The TEP actually worked pretty well with the TR-70's. However, it
>     was a 10 second pre-roll on the record VTR and five seconds on the
>     source. Edit 2 and 3 at NBC Burbank had TEPs.
>
>     David
>     www.dcvideo.com <http://www.dcvideo.com/>
>
>
>
>     On Mar 7, 2011, at 9:08 AM, Trevor Brown wrote:
>
>>     Ted thanks for the heavy weight credit
>>     We had one three machine edit suite with equipped with TR600's
>>     If the crew leader had asked,  do you want to go and try and get
>>     the TR600's to lock up
>>     or go see the nurse she needs to stick pins in someone's eyes I
>>     might have opted for the nurse
>>     Like a lot of things the AE 600 was a good idea with poor
>>     implementation
>>     It used an 8080 micro (big step up from RCA's TEP is anyone
>>     remembers it  "Tape Editing Programmer")
>>     Machines had to be pulled into sync, but unlike previous systems
>>     that used TSO to speed up or slow down the capstan
>>     and create major servo disturbances
>>     The AE 600 reprogrammed a counter chain in the capstan servo
>>     This was I think 4.3. 4 in pixlock  and either 4.4.4 or 3.4.3 to
>>     speed the tape up or slow it down (cannot remember the original
>>     numbers or what they were counting)
>>     So the lock to station sync slipped one way or the other without
>>     major servo disturbances, and so station lock was a quick
>>     recovery process after time pulling the time codes into the
>>     correct sync
>>     It was a poor lockup system and frequently failed
>>     Worst was the non standard logic to drive it, it was complex with
>>     a mix needing the third machine to stagger start
>>     Numerous keystrokes and only an external event to drive the
>>     mixer, so if the preview was OK you had to remember to reset the
>>     mixer or it would toggle the wrong way on the print
>>     Add to that a ¼ tape deck (again external event fired) to lift
>>     audio and mix it across the edit which again needed re cueing
>>     after a preview
>>     and the  operating alone could make grown men cry, before machine
>>     lock up problems.
>>     Easy to look at the director and ask is that what you wanted, it
>>     was so long ago when you explained I have forgotten
>>     and if you did like the P/V can I repeat it, I never smiled like
>>     the guys in the picture
>>     Trevor B
>>     UK Member
>>     *From:*quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com
>>     <mailto:quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com>[mailto:quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com]*On
>>     Behalf Of*Ted Langdell
>>     *Sent:*07 March 2011 15:54
>>     *To:*Quad List
>>     *Subject:*Re: [QuadList] Question of the week-RCA AE 6000 editor
>>     Here's a shot of what looks very much like a version of the
>>     AE-6000 in an RCA trade show booth:
>>     http://www.oldradio.com/archives/hardware/TV/rca-tr600.jpg
>>     Perhaps someone on the list remembers this particular booth?
>>     Or the people in that shot or this one:
>>     http://www.oldradio.com/archives/hardware/TV/rca-tr600(nab77).jpg
>>     <http://www.oldradio.com/archives/hardware/TV/rca-tr600%28nab77%29.jpg>
>>     The guy in the blue suit and glasses could be the person sitting
>>     in the director's chair at the editor console.
>>     Ted
>>     On Mar 7, 2011, at 7:36 AM, David Crosthwait wrote:
>>
>>
>>     The answer is the
>>     RCA AE 6000 "Automatic Computerized Editing" devise.
>>     /"A new sophisticated editing system providing optimum simplicity
>>     and efficiency to enhance creative expression"./(I've had
>>     some/"creative expressions"/when editing with TR-600A's which
>>     cannot be printed here).
>>     <RCA AE 6000 bro1x.jpeg><RCA AE 6000 bro2x.jpeg><RCA AE 6000
>>     bro3x.jpeg><RCA AE 6000 keyboard1.jpg><RCA AE 6000
>>     screen1.jpg><RCA AE 6000x1.jpg><RCA AE 6000 bro4x.jpg>
>>     I do not know if this product ever came out, but certainly from
>>     what I can tell by pulling brochures from the DC Video file
>>     cabinet is that I picked up this printed material in 1978 or so
>>     and it appeared to be a real product. But I never heard of any
>>     implementation. Perhaps the heavy weights here on the list i.e.
>>     Gary Adams, John Turner, Don Norwood, Chris Hill, Trevor Brown
>>     and others who were associated with RCA gear (perhaps the
>>     recipient of a sales pitch or two) could elaborate. If 1978 is an
>>     accurate time period for this product to be marketed, then I
>>     think we have to keep in mind what the competition was then i.e.
>>     Ampex ACE, CMX 340, ISC, Mach 1, and perhaps some others that
>>     I've failed to mention. If one looks at the CRT display here,
>>     it's a bit convoluted compared to the industry standard at the
>>     time (in my opinion), that being the CMX 340. So perhaps the RCA
>>     AE 6000 was a little too late to come to market.
>>     I once worked with a woman who had just come from a religious
>>     network editing facility who had four TR-600A's tied to (I think)
>>     a CMX edit system, and she swore by them.
>>     There were four 600As tied to a CMX 340 (no AE-6000) in edit five
>>     at NBC Burbank, and those machines would move tape very fast,
>>     even dual edit record under CMX control. However, they were not
>>     very reliable in other aspects. That edit room had been
>>     originally projected to have four AVR-3's, but an "upper level
>>     decision" placed the 600A's in that project instead.
>>     One last note: The brochure mentions that this editor has a
>>     "switcher control system designed to interface with any 1600
>>     series Grass Valley E-MEM equipped switcher" (did not scan that
>>     page yet but can if someone wants to see it). I can't recall RCA
>>     ever mentioning another major manufacturer in a brochure,
>>     although I could be dead wrong. Perhaps this was a no brainer as
>>     RCA was (?) totally out of the switcher business by then.
>>     David Crosthwait
>>     DC Video
>>     2" quad transfers
>>     <http://www.dcvideo.com/obsolete-video-formats/2-inch-quad.html> and
>>     more...
>>     <http://www.dcvideo.com/obsolete-video-formats/2-inch-ampex-vr-660.html>
>>     www.dcvideo.com <http://www.dcvideo.com/>
>>     Not seen this before, but I'd say it's an RCA multi-machine edit
>>     controller circa 1983-86.
>>     Perhaps a product that didn't make it into any facilities before
>>     the door was shut and Nipper's doghouse closed.
>>     Ted
>>
>>     Looks like a "super-duper" CMX type editing device for the TR-600
>>     or above RCA quads. BIG floppy drives to hold edit info (reminds
>>     me of the 4100 Chyron's). Buttons and panels very similiar to the
>>     TR-600 edit system at Olympic Broadcasting Studio in Chicago mid
>>     to late 70's. Machines had come from Montreal Olympics, no 2
>>     quite alike, what complete DOGS. Thankfully the truck had HS-100!
>>
>>     Pat
>>     Good stumper.
>>     It looks like it was done by either CDL or Telemation.
>>     The 5 inch disc drives give it a time frame of the 70's or early
>>     80's.
>>     It has to be after the original CMX as the unit has some features
>>     that were enhancements.
>>     Have no idea other than that.
>>     Chris Hill
>>     _________________
>>     On Mar 4, 2011, at 9:33 AM, Trevor Brown wrote:
>>
>>
>>     Looks like an RCA AE600 edit panel
>>     You can clearly see the gold key as in 66 gold key 6 (Change Pal
>>     Phase)
>>     There should be a Blue key too (edit replay)
>>     Picture is a little burnt out to identify
>>
>>     Don't remember the 5 1/4 discs or the comments key board
>>
>>     TrevorB
>>     UK member
>>
>>     -----Original Message-----
>>     From:quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com
>>     <mailto:quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com>
>>     [mailto:quadlist-bounces at quadvideotapegroup.com] On Behalf Of David
>>     Crosthwait
>>     Sent: 04 March 2011 15:59
>>     To: Quad List
>>     Subject: Re: [QuadList] Question of the week
>>
>>     Here is a photo from the file cabinet.
>>     The questions for the contest are:
>>     What is it?
>>     What is the model number?
>>     Did anyone ever see one in action other than on the showroom floor?
>>     Was it a product that was "Dead On Arrival"?
>>
>>     Other documentation will be posted about what this is (or was
>>     supposed to
>>     be) once the questions have been answered.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>     _______________________________________________
>>     Please trim posts to relevant info when replying!
>>     Send QuadList list posts toQuadList at quadvideotapegroup.com
>>     <mailto:QuadList at quadvideotapegroup.com>
>>     Your subscribe, unsubscribe and digest options are here:
>>     http://mail.quadvideotapegroup.com/mailman/listinfo/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com
>>     _______________________________________________
>>     Please trim posts to relevant info when replying!
>>     Send QuadList list posts toQuadList at quadvideotapegroup.com
>>     <mailto:QuadList at quadvideotapegroup.com>
>>     Your subscribe, unsubscribe and digest options are here:
>>     http://mail.quadvideotapegroup.com/mailman/listinfo/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com
>>
>>     Ted Langdell
>>     Secretary
>>     Skype: TedLangdell
>>     e-mail:ted at quadvideotapegroup.com <mailto:ted at quadvideotapegroup.com>
>>     _______________________________________________
>>     Please trim posts to relevant info when replying!
>>     Send QuadList list posts toQuadList at quadvideotapegroup.com
>>     <mailto:QuadList at quadvideotapegroup.com>
>>     Your subscribe, unsubscribe and digest options are here:
>>     http://mail.quadvideotapegroup.com/mailman/listinfo/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com
>
>
>     =
>
>     _______________________________________________
>     Please trim posts to relevant info when replying!
>     Send QuadList list posts to QuadList at quadvideotapegroup.com
>     Your subscribe, unsubscribe and digest options are here:
>     http://mail.quadvideotapegroup.com/mailman/listinfo/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Please trim posts to relevant info when replying!
> Send QuadList list posts to QuadList at quadvideotapegroup.com
> Your subscribe, unsubscribe and digest options are here:
> http://mail.quadvideotapegroup.com/mailman/listinfo/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1497/3490 - Release Date: 03/08/11
>

-- 
Guy Spiller
email: quadruplex at verizon.net
phone: (804) 379-2050
website: www.GuySpiller.com
Midlothian, VA


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://quadvideotapegroup.com/pipermail/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com/attachments/20110308/3aff2676/attachment-0005.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: TEP 002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 448131 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://quadvideotapegroup.com/pipermail/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com/attachments/20110308/3aff2676/attachment-0003.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 117242 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://quadvideotapegroup.com/pipermail/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com/attachments/20110308/3aff2676/attachment-0006.jpe>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 76479 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://quadvideotapegroup.com/pipermail/quadlist_quadvideotapegroup.com/attachments/20110308/3aff2676/attachment-0007.jpe>


More information about the QuadList mailing list