<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>The Ampex Digital Octoplex was shown in 1979, at the SMPTE 13th annual Winter Conference in SF.</div><div><br></div><div>There's a writeup in Broadcasting Magazine and in Abramson's "History of Television..."</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=JMTnTBmt7F0C&pg=PA181&dq=AVR-3,+with+a+octoplex+head&cd=2#v">http://books.google.com/books?id=JMTnTBmt7F0C&pg=PA181&dq=AVR-3,+with+a+octoplex+head&cd=2#v</a>=onepage&q=AVR-3%2C%20with%20a%20octoplex%20head&f=false</div><div><br></div><div>The above preview link has some recording specs and packing density info on both machines, which will enable "how much tape did it use" questions to be answered for Richard's presentation.</div><div><br></div><div>Bill, do you know what ever happened to these machines? </div><div><br></div><div>Ted</div><br><div><div>On Mar 9, 2010, at 12:03 AM, Bill Carpenter wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div id="ygrp-mlmsg" style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; position: relative; "><div id="ygrp-msg" style="line-height: 1.22em; z-index: 1; "><div id="ygrp-text" style="line-height: 1.22em; font-family: Georgia; "><div style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="line-height: 1.22em; font-size: inherit; position: static; z-index: auto; "><tbody style="line-height: 1.22em; "><tr style="line-height: 1.22em; "><td valign="top" style="line-height: 1.22em; font: inherit; "><div id="yiv1261267713" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><div id="yiv1869665008" style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Hi Richard,<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Back in the late 70's, when everyone was messing around with digital recording, there were three major showings:<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">First, John Baldwin showed one head pass of a BCN helical, digital recording made in a lab, of test signals.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "> (I think this was in England, with BBC help?) I can check this?<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Second, Ampex showed a AVR-3, with a octoplex head (8 tips on a quad headwheel) at the next winter SMPTE in San Francisco, and we showed recordings made On-Site, This was a NTSC composite,3 times subcarrier sampled system.running at 15 ips lineal tape speed.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Maurice Lemoine created this great machine, nicknamed "Annie", after his wife. We brought the machine up to the St. Francis in San Francisco, and I had rented a meeting room on the lower level since the booth area was not where it allowed acess to the stage. They checked out the machine, and I had brought a studio camera, and after recording all test signals, then a class photo, wih everyone who was there that worked on it with Maurice, and then I walked in with that days newspaper and had my friend, who was the cameraman, zoom in on my hand, which was on the date bar on the top of the paper, below the headline.That was to show anyone and everyone that we had brought a fully operational digital VTR to that one time showing to support Maurice's paper. We moved the machine to the stage, during afternoon break, and at the end of his paper we turned the machine on, pressed PLAY, and everyone there saw full screen digital pictures, which were recorded on-site, about 1 hour earlier.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">With evryone in the room, 900 plus folks, on their feet and clapping I restored order, sorta, by announcing that SMPTE would allow us to show the machine for 1 hour, from 6-7pm, after the conference closed at 5pm. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">That was exactly what I wanted to do, since there was a very interested mob of enginners, that wanted to climb all over the machine.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">I held the door closed till almost 6 pm, with over a hundred folks in the hall outside the setup room. Then Maurice started talking to folks from CBC Montreal in French, and it was all over! The door was open and for the next hour I replayed that demo over and over many,many times, and never stopped the head or the tape. Everybody that knew anything wanted to examine the head assy. or get a section of the tape to develope, but that did not happen.!!<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Later that night I took the whole team to the Crown Room for a big celebration dinner.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">That was the end on January, and Maurice and his team built another machine, on an AVR-2, in PAL,four times subcarrier and it was shown at Montreaux at the end of May.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">These were very interesting times, so long ago, and that is when everyone was was thinking about what you are now documenting.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">How tight can we pack the data!!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">I know that 7.5 IPS operation was discussed before Montreaux!<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">(It may have run at that speed, but I was doing other things)<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">OBTW Maurice was given the Alexander M Pontiatoff, by SMPTE many years later, when I was on the award comittee with John Streets.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">I have a DVD to look at tonight which may identify who was the man behind the VHS format. It's named "Dawn of a new Day". (the men behind the VHS format)<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">More to follow!.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; "> <br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">--- On<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Mon, 3/8/10, richcam1<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i style="line-height: 1.22em; "><richcam1@yahoo.<wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">com></i></b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>wrote:<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><blockquote style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 4px; line-height: 1.22em; border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">From: richcam1 <richcam1@yahoo.<wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">com><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Subject: [oldvtrs] Re: tape usage?<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">To: oldvtrs@yahoogroups<wbr style="line-height: 1.22em; ">.com<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Date: Monday, March 8, 2010, 2:31 PM<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><div id="yiv1116476036" style="line-height: 1.22em; "><span style="line-height: 1.22em; "> </span><div id="ygrp-text" style="line-height: 1.22em; font-family: Georgia; "><p style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; ">Check my math (all RS-170 / 60Hz):<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Quad (15ips) = 750 sq. ft./hr.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">VR-1500 = 185 sq. ft./hr.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Type C = 240 sq. ft./hr.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">IVC-700 = 172.75 sq. ft./hr.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">EIAJ type H = 93.75 sq. ft./hr.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Akai 1/4" = 70.3 sq. ft./hr.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Panasonic NV-8000 = 150 sq. ft./hr.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Craig Format = 118.75 sq. ft./hr.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">More coming soon.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">Richard<br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">--- In<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; font-family: Verdana; ">oldvtrs@yahoogroups .com</a>, "richcam1" <richcam1@.. .> wrote:<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">> Working on my ETF presentation today. Who knows the answer to this stumper?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">> I need to know how many square feet per hour of tape was used by various formats?<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">> Quadruplex low band, one inch type C, betamax and VHS<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">> Bonus for Sony one inch EV, Ampex 1500 and 660<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">> Anyone got the numbers handy? I'll do the arithmetic.<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">> Thanks in advance,<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">> Richard<br style="line-height: 1.22em; ">><br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><br style="line-height: 1.22em; "></p></div></div></blockquote></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br style="line-height: 1.22em; "><div style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 0px; ">__._,_.___</div><div id="ygrp-actbar" style="line-height: 1.22em; clear: both; margin-bottom: 10px; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); padding-top: 15px; "><div style="line-height: 1.22em; "><a href="mailto:wcarpen107@yahoo.com?subject=Re: [oldvtrs] Re: tape usage?" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; margin-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; ">Reply to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.22em; font-weight: 700; ">sender</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>|<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:oldvtrs@yahoogroups.com?subject=Re: [oldvtrs] Re: tape usage?" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; ">Reply to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.22em; font-weight: 700; ">group</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>|<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldvtrs/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwdjZjYmdjBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI2MTEyNTkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDE2MDYxBG1zZ0lkAzY4MjkEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMjY4MTExNDI5?act=reply&messageNum=6829" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; ">Reply<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.22em; font-weight: 700; ">via web post</span></a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>|<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldvtrs/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlODVhOG9jBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI2MTEyNTkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDE2MDYxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTI2ODExMTQyOQ--" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; font-weight: 700; ">Start a New Topic</a></div><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldvtrs/message/6814;_ylc=X3oDMTM0Ym12anMxBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI2MTEyNTkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDE2MDYxBG1zZ0lkAzY4MjkEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMjY4MTExNDI5BHRwY0lkAzY4MTQ-" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; ">Messages in this topic</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(<span style="line-height: 1.22em; font-weight: 700; ">14</span>)</div><div id="ygrp-vital" style="line-height: 1.22em; background-color: rgb(224, 236, 238); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; "><span id="vithd" style="line-height: 1.22em; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-transform: uppercase; ">RECENT ACTIVITY:</span><ul style="line-height: 1.22em; list-style-type: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; "></ul><div style="line-height: 1.22em; clear: both; padding-top: 2px; color: rgb(30, 102, 174); "><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldvtrs;_ylc=X3oDMTJlbnQ0Y2xpBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzI2MTEyNTkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDE2MDYxBHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3RpbWUDMTI2ODExMTQyOQ--" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none; ">Visit Your Group</a></div></div><div id="ygrp-mkp" style="border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-right-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-bottom-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-left-color: rgb(216, 216, 216); font-family: Arial; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; line-height: 1.22em; clear: both; float: left; "><div id="hd" style="line-height: 13px; color: rgb(98, 140, 42); font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; ">MARKETPLACE</div><div id="ads" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 10px; "><div class="ad" style="line-height: 1.22em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(98, 140, 42); font-family: Arial; font-weight: 700; "><p style="line-height: 1.22em; "><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14k34oc28/M=493064.13983314.13948445.13298430/D=groups/S=1705016061:MKP1/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1268118629/L=/B=N46UKUSO5_s-/J=1268111429902127/K=ugUlFVBMd_KpYWm0gfGBVg/A=6024901/R=0/SIG=111j0g3nr/*http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); line-height: 1.22em; font-family: Verdana; text-decoration: none; ">Check out Yahoo! Movies to get a recap of this year¿s Oscar winners, red carpet looks & nominated film trailers.</a></p></div></div></div><div id="ft" style="line-height: 1.22em; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; "><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkMXUwaWZjBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzI2MTEyNTkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDE2MDYxBHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMjY4MTExNDI5" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; float: left; "><img src="http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/yg/logo/us.gif" height="15" width="137" alt="Yahoo! Groups" style="line-height: 1.22em; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; "></a><div style="line-height: 1.22em; color: rgb(116, 117, 117); float: right; ">Switch to:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:oldvtrs-traditional@yahoogroups.com?subject=Change Delivery Format: Traditional" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none; ">Text-Only</a>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:oldvtrs-digest@yahoogroups.com?subject=Email Delivery: Digest" class="margin-rt" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none; ">Daily Digest</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>•<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:oldvtrs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none; ">Unsubscribe</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>•<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); line-height: 1.22em; text-decoration: none; ">Terms of Use</a></div></div></div><div id="ygrp-sponsor" style="line-height: 1.22em; width: 160px; float: right; clear: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-position: initial initial; "><div id="ygrp-reco" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></div></div><div style="line-height: 1.22em; clear: both; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1px; ">.</div></div><img src="http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=2611259/grpspId=1705016061/msgId=6829/stime=1268111429/nc1=4836040/nc2=5733768/nc3=5741392" width="1" height="1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><div style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); height: 0px; ">__,_._,___</div></div></blockquote></div><br></body></html>