[QuadList] TCR-100 EPIS

[Dennis Degan]

		On Nov 5, 2011, at 9:22 AM, Gary Adams wrote:

 > "Electronic Program Identification System".  Was a fairly simple ID  
system.  While most customers considered it an expensive and not  
necessary add on, I convinced many that it saved incorrectly loaded  
spots several times.  While you can easily check the carts loaded in  
the belt, you did not know which two were actually threaded prior to a  
break.  A simple matter of looking at the log and visually seeing what  
are the next two to run.  I would say it saved us the expense in make  
goods assuming you consider make goods cost money. There was no easy  
method of exporting this data but I don't doubt some smart techs did.

		I offer:

	At NBC, EPIS was linked to the Hazeltine automation system:
		<http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisdegan/515347244/>

		Gary added:

 > In the latest models, a bar code was added to the carts that would  
interface to an automation system.  This was part of the random access  
feature.  There were not many of those in use.

		I point out:

	EPIS was pretty necessary at the network level.  Spots aired  
nationally and obviously generated more revenue than local spots.   
EPIS allowed verification that the correct cartridge was playing, not  
just loaded in the belt.  EPIS data was displayed on the output video  
of the machine for operator verification (the display would blank out  
when the tape was playing).  The bar code system could only tell the  
automation which cartridge was loaded in the belt.
	Though my responsibilities at NBC covered TCR maintenance at the time  
(as well as other quad VTRs in 30 Rock), I didn't and still don't know  
much about EPIS.

			Dennis Degan, Video Editor-Consultant-Knowledge Bank
					     NBC Today Show, New York