Prototype DECCA Optical Transport.

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This transport was to form part of the Decca's next generation digital recording system. This was to
be used in conjunction with industry standard digital converters. This particular device seems to be
a simple acquisition recorder, though it could probably also form part of an editing system, as it has
all sorts of mulitway interface connections on the back (including something called 'MADI', which I
think was to be recording industry control/information standard).

Unfortunately my example shows signs of being rather unwell, but it makes an interesting contrast to
the earlier system.

The image at the foot of this page shows the same machine standing on its front panel with the top
cover removed. One of its five boards has been pulled out and placed in front.

Mr Griffiths comments:

'This was the replacement for the IVC and processor. Recording real time to the MO disc there was
no need for a Winchester disc. It was two channel although more were thought of. It had a basic
editor in build with non-destructive editing so that a quick edit could be made on location to check
recordings, which would be done with more care back at base. It also had a user data feature tied up
with a locator system to allow quick access to recordings enabling comparison of different "Takes"
of the same piece of music. There was built in memory to allow continuous recording if the disc was
changed when full, during the next 30 sec or so. The idea of MO disc was a medium which would
last more than 300 years, have excellent data integrity and would work in an automated juke-box
type of central music database which would then give near instant access to the whole catalogue.
Having instant access to the disc also was meant to speed up conventional editing where all session
discs would be loaded in a small multidisc player and thus reduce the cost and speed up the
throughput of the editing department. Reaching the final approved recording was always a
bottleneck because a recording was not finished until everyone was happy with it. The recorder was
operated by remote control on location recording, using a laptop pc with our own operational
software. In editing use the Decca editor controlled operations.

As new computer disc drives became available then also the recorder could be upgraded without
significant cost. We started with 1GB discs and they were soon up to 5GB and more. About 30 were
started to be built but many were not completed by the time Decca management pulled the plug on
the Recording Centre.'