CMX-600 demo - First nonlinear editing system (1971) - Pt 1

[wogfun]

Something that's bothering me here. If they are producing a live music video, shouldn't they have filmed all the close up shots with a backtrack of the audio from the first master shot? How on earth is spliced live audio, presumably at slightly different tempos, going to sound when it's all done? At a minimum they should only be dubbing the video from the closeups? Brilliant editor though, you can see how he keeps things together by splicing on the downbeat of each 4/4 measure.

[MacTVMan]

I have heard that a CMX 600 system with no more than 5 to 10 minutes of storage was priced at over a Million dollars (in 1971).

[TheFishboneX]

When The editor is satisfied he then uploads the video to youtube from the disk pack memories. Ha!!

[wogfun]

Obviously lacking the power and effects of todays software suites, this system has a simple elegance to it that can never be recreated. I also see that it is actually very responsive with hardly any delay for clip load times. A classic powerful machine!

[wrtlpfmpf]

@wogfun Actually you could probably make a system just as responsive today. Computers are far more powerfull than software makers make you believe.

[TVperson1]

Everyone who uses editing software has to respect this thing. It must have cost over a million dollars in today's money.

[TheSwillMan]

Extremely impressive for 1971; a system of this capability would still be of some use today. (though of course a Mac and a copy of iMovie would far more powerful and elegant)

[andremp03]

Never even knew NLE existed back then

[DigitalPraise7]

Now all that can fit on your desktop. Amazing.

[tsand19151]

wow!!!!!!

[CheapHomeFilms]

This is pretty interesting.

[langley2205]

Amazing. I had no idea digital off-lining existed as early as that. Just think, if the light-pen had caught on, we might never have had the computer mouse!

[WabdRTY]

I worked on this system back in the 70's

[quadvideotape]

I love that you have the old edit sync countdown at the head of this. What's it doing there?

[OelkerStudios]

This pre-dates George Lucas' Editroid by 13 years!

[Ihmameis]

CMX is great band!

[bertskoi]

I remember a laserdisc on the cover of a 1968 Popular Science Magazine and I remember this system showcased in Electronics Magazine @ that time. People do not realize just how much technology was ALREADY around, such as this 'on screen display' video editor with electronic pointer - just 11 short years after the "Fabulous 50's". One can only imagine what we will have in the future, should the world be at peace.

[norcoryde1]

verry nice