RE: OT - He's just fine, right?

["Chasteen, Howard" <Howard.Chasteen(at)fotf.org>]

Below!

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From: owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM] On Behalf Of Tony Quinsee-Jover
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2005 2:18 AM
To: DS(at)Softimage.COM
Subject: RE: OT - He's just fine, right?

Okay Howard - so why is EECO timecode an octave lower than EBU timecode?

I remember phoning our local broadcaster (who used quad carts for commercials playout) to tell the transmission controller that every other commercial (ie cart 2) had timecode bleed on the audio.  He was most grateful for me pointing it out, but it still took a week before it got cured.

Most folks couldn't hear it, but with the mod I'd made to our TV with the audio fed through the hi-fi it came through loud and clear.

Regards,
Tone :)
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Howdy Tony

 

Because EECO time code was developed for government applications first and was adapted to video tape later. SMPTE TC replaced it having shorter pulses and containing more information as well as normally lower overall levels. Thus the lower frequency "sound" for EECO.

 

We used to have to record EECO at -4 dB and keep it on an audio track not adjacent to critical audio to avoid bleed. It was also notorious about bleed-through on older reel to reel oxides. Here is a quote from the EECO info editing page, http://www.sssm.com/editing/museum/eeco/eeco.html

 

"Electronic Engineering Company of California (EECO) was a major supplier of Time Code Generators and Timing Systems for government and scientific purposes, and in 1966 adapted that technology to time code for Television."

 

EECO was the "inventor" of Time Code systems at the request of the DOD and the first successful linear editors after the Ampex Editec system.

 

We had edited on Editec by using the analog tape timers! Hit or miss which some called punch and crunch!

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Hey. When I was working at WBT the famous regional CBS affiliate, the radio theater operations were still larger than the TV department. The combined operations at one time had 22 broadcast engineers and I don't mean appliance operators! All had earned First Class Licenses......

 

Hmmmmm? It seems I recall there was a young British transfer student who got a job as a page for the radio shows. Now what was his name???? All I can remember is the nickname, T.Q.

 

He was a slim young fellow and used to talk about a treadmill and really bad rolls for dinner as a child. After he had sharpened everyone's pencils and provided tissue for all the little old ladies who were moved to tears by the radio dramas he would pester the producer of whatever show was playing to let him audition.

 

Seems to me he got a job playing Tom Edison as a boy and during a realistic re-enactment he blew up  old Studio B which was subsequently renamed 911. The explosion was so magnificent that it gave the law enforcement authorities the idea for the emergency telephone exchange system.

 

;-)

 

Howard

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