The CMX Model 600 The CMX Model 600

To appreciate the future, we must understand the past.

I came across a great demo video showing the first non-linear, random-access video editor. It was created by CMX Systems, a joint venture between CBS and Memorex. Dave Bargen, one of the most important persons in creating video editors, was on the staff that created the CMX 600. He went on to create the ISC system that was to become the Grass Valley VPR series and then the Editware family of editors.

You may also enjoy looking at the whole web site created by Software Systems / Sierra Madre. They describe their site this way. “We’ve set this corner of the Internet aside as a Museum of Early Video Editing Equipment and Techniques. We hope to serve three goals with our museum. Our first goal is to save a bit of the history before it all goes into a land fill. Our second goal; For those that have “been there, done that”, to give you a chance to revisit that time and equipment. Our final goal; For those that have entered video editing more recently, to let them see how the equipment and techniques they use today were developed.”

Take a look at this video of the 600. Also notice the slow pace of the piece. Nothing like the pace of today’s videos!

The CMX Model 600 video