Hi to all,
Hi Etype2, old_tv_nut,
Early color Quad machines :
"RCA LABS color and RCA Broadcast Color"
The full story is here :
http://www.quadvideotapegroup.com/re...washington-dc/
and here :
https://www.provideocoalition.com/re...ision-history/
Early experiments by RCA to record color on 2" Quad was done by modifying an Ampex VRX-1000 series machine which was then only B&W.
The experiment used a mix of heterodyning the color signal & optimizing the pre-emphasis of the FM recording modulator.
The machine worked but was a totally non-standard setup as the standard had not been written yet.
Later on, the FM recording frequencies and pre-emphasis/de-emphasis parameters became a standard which all brands of Quad machines had to respect to ensure tape interchangeability.
Now some very early color recordings of historical value were made with the experimental RCA Quad color specs.
One of Ed Reitan's significant achievements was to modify an Ampex standard color VTR to replay once & transfer the historical content to a modern digital format.
This was a difficult endeavour, electronically modifying a 60 year old machine to work with a +/- unknown experimental color format.
An Ampex AVR-1 was used. A set of spare plug-in boards were modified to comply with the RCA experimental standard.
After the transfers, the VTR was returned to standard configuration.
Ed Reitan and other team members of the project received an Emmy Award for their achievement.
Best Regards
jhalphen
Paris/France