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

The CMX 600 was the very first non-linear video editing system. It was introduced in 1971 by CMX Systems, a joint venture between CBS and Memorex. CMX referred to it as a "RAVE", or Random Access Video Editor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMX_600
http://www.sssm.com/editing/museum/offline/cmx600.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• CMX-600
• Avid
• Final
• Cut
• Lightworks
• Editing
• Videotape
• video
• television

[TheFishboneX]

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

[TVperson1]

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

[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.

[wrtlpfmpf]

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

[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).

[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!

[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!!!!!!