| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 01.11.1944 |
Company founded as Ampex Electric and Manufacturing Company in San Carlos, California. The name Ampex is derived from the initials of the company's founder, Alexander M. Poniatoff, plus "ex" for excellence. |
| 02.05.1946 |
Incorporated in California as Ampex Electric Corporation. |
| 01.10.1947 |
Model 200A audio recorder demonstrated at Radio Center, Hollywood, Calif. |
| 1948 |
American Broadcasting Company uses an Ampex Model 200 audio recorder for the first-ever U.S. tape delay radio broadcast of The Bing Crosby Show. |
| 24.04.1948 |
First production model 200A recorders delivered to ABC and placed in service Apr. 25 across the country. First regular professional use of magnetic recording. |
| 05.1949 |
Model 300 audio recorder. It "provided improvements in head design, drive system and tape path." |
| 07.1949 |
Model 300 production begins (Harold Lindsay, "Magnetic Recording, Part II," db, Jan. 1978: 41). |
| 1950 |
Ampex introduces the first "dedicated" instrumentation recorder, Model 500, built for the U.S. Navy. |
| 01.10.1950 bis 20.12.1950 |
Herbst: Model 400 audio recorder. This was "lower priced," "of professional quality," and "developed specifically for independent broadcast stations." |
| 04.1953 |
Model 350 audio recorder replaced the model 400. "The model 350's simplicity, improved tape drive system, durability and performance established a new standard of excellence for the broadcast industry." |
| 01.-02.05.1953 |
Name Ampex Corporation adopted (01.05. or 02.07.). |
| 09.1953 |
Entered motion picture field with sound equipment for Cinemascope. |
| 1954 |
Ampex introduces the first multi-track audio recorder derived from multi-track data recording technology. |
| 1954 |
Ampex introduces the first magnetic theater sound system, made for Todd/AO CinemaScope. |
| 1954 |
Models 3200-3300 high-speed duplicators. |
| 05.1954 |
Model 600 portable recorder for field use. It "retained full master quality in a highly compact form." |
| 03.1956 |
Ampex wins Emmy for VR-1000. |
| 14.03.1956 |
The Ampex VRX-1000 (later renamed the Mark IV) videotape recorder is introduced on March 14, 1956, at the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters in Chicago. This is the world's first practical videotape recorder and is hailed as a major technological breakthrough. |
| 04.1956 |
Demonstrated model VR-1000, the first video tape recorder at NAB convention in Chicago. |
| 30.11.1956 |
CBS goes on air with the first videotape delayed broadcast, Douglas Edwards and The News from Los Angeles, California, using the Ampex Mark |
| 30.11.1956 |
First coast-to-coast network TV broadcast using an Ampex video recorder was "Doug Edwards and the News" on CBS. |
| 1957 |
Emmy Award for VTR development |
| 1958 |
Model 351 audio recorder. [A flyer copyrighted 1962 refers to the 351's "four-year history of dependable operation by more than 9,000 units."] |
| 04.1958 |
NASA selects Ampex data recorders and magnetic tape, used for virtually all U.S. space missions since. |
| 04.1958 |
Color video tape recorder. First demonstration of video tape editing. |
| 1959 |
The famous Nixon-Khrushchev "Kitchen Debate" takes place at the Moscow Trade Fair, and is captured on an Ampex videotape recorder. |
| 19.01.1959 |
Ampex stock listed on N.Y. and Pacific Stock Exchanges. |
| 06.1959 |
United Stereo Tapes formed to record, make, and distribute stereo music tapes for home use. |
| 10.1959 |
Orr Industries, Opelika, Ala., merged into Ampex Corp. and became the Ampex Magnetic Tape Division. |
| 1960 |
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents Ampex with an Oscar for technical achievement. |
| 1960 |
MX-35 four channel stereo mixer |
| 01.1960 |
Model 970, a self-contained portable stereo recorder. It had a built-in stereo amplifier and speaker system for monitoring purposes. |
| 04.1960 |
Model 354 audio recorder, "designed specifically for recording and reproducing stereophonic sound." |
| 04.1960 |
VR-1001A video tape recorder, an upright model, introduced. |
| 1961 |
Helical scanning recording is invented by Ampex, the technology behind the worldwide consumer video revolution, and used in all home VCRs today. |
| 01.1961 |
VR-8000, a closed-circuit video tape recorder for education and training applications. |
| 04.1961 |
Awarded Oscar for "development of an advanced multipurpose theater sound system." |
| 12.1961 |
40 acres purchased in Redwood City, Calif., for a new corporate headquarters and research complex. |
| 12.1961 |
Experimental video tape recorder weighing 35 lbs. and occupying one cubic foot of space developed to record one half hour of satellite television pictures. Delivered to NASA. |
| 03.1962 |
Ampex Electronic Editor, which allowed editing video tapes without cutting and splicing. |
| 26.07.1962 |
Ground breaking for Redwood City facility. |
| 12.1962 |
VR-1500 portable video tape recorder. |
| 12.1962 |
VR-660, a 130-lb. model priced at one-fourth the cost of previous video tape recorders. |
| 1963 |
Ampex introduces EDITEC electronic video editing, allowing broadcast television editors frame-by-frame recording control, simplifying tape editing and making animation effects possible. This was the basis for all subsequent editing systems. |
| 1963 |
Ampex introduces a new computer peripheral digital tape transport, the TM-7. Its design far surpasses previous tape drives, using 80 percent fewer parts and completely eliminating pinch rollers and brake cylinders. |
| 12.08.1963 |
Moved in to Redwood City facility. |
| 04.1964 |
Ampex introduces the VR-2000 high-band videotape recorder, the first ever to be capable of the color fidelity required for high-quality color broadcasting. |
| 04.1964 |
MR-70 mastering audio recorder. July: United Stereo Tapes changed name to Ampex Stereo Tapes. |
| 02.1965 |
VR-303 closed-circuit video tape recorder. (Dropped the same year; replaced by the VR-7000.) |
| 05.1965 |
AG-350, the first all-transistorized audio recorder. |
| 07.1965 |
VR-660B, advanced version of VR-660; replaces VR-660/1500. |
| 11.1965 |
VR-7000 compact portable closed circuit video tape recorder. |
| 01.1966 |
AG-300 solid-state audio tape recorder. |
| 03.1966 |
VR-1200 high-band broadcast color and B&W video tape recorder. |
| 03.1966 |
VR-1100E, modification of the VR-1100 for mobile use. |
| 05.1966 |
VR-6000 low-cost, compact close-circuit video tape recorder. |
| 11.1966 |
VR-6175 closed-circuit video tape recorder/TV receiver. |
| 1967 |
ABC uses the Ampex HS-100 disk recorder for playback of slow-motion downhill skiing on World Series of Skiing in Vail, Colorado. Thus begins the use of slow motion instant replay in sporting events. |
| 1967 |
Ampex introduces the RG memory. It is a medium capacity memory with an access time of 350 nanoseconds (less than half of one millionth of a second) and expandable from medium to very large capacity (up to 5,000,000 bits) by adding memory modules. |
| 1967 |
Emmy Award for VR-2000 color VTR |
| 01.1967 |
AG-440 series audio recorder. "It is a new generation of the 350 and 351 Series recorders, most widely used professional audio recorder/reproducers ever built." AG-445 is a playback only machine. |
| 02.1967 |
AG-500 series, solid state compact portable audio recorder. "An advanced generation of widely used PR-10 recorder/reproducers." |
| 02.1967 |
VR-7003, first closed-circuit video recorder that can record & play back at both 525-line and 625-line standards. |
| 03.1967 |
HS-100, high band color recording system that can do slow motion and stop action instant replays. |
| 03.1967 |
VR-3000, battery powered portable video tape recorder and camera combination, less than 50 lbs. |
| 04.1967 |
VR-7500C, first compact color video tape recorder to cost less than $50,000. |
| 04.1967 |
Ampex Stereo Tapes announces it will start making cassettes. |
| 05.1967 |
AL-500, long play professional logging recorder, will record more than 34 hours on a seven-inch reel. |
| 06.1967 |
Second Emmy, for high band color video tape recording. |
| 10.1967 |
AG-440-8, eight-channel version of AG-440. |
| 10.1967 |
AG-1000-24 & AG-1000-16, two new solid-state multi-channel audio recorders. |
| 10.1967 |
ADM-500A Duplicator Master and AD-150 Duplicator Slaves for high-speed cassette duplication. Could make ten copies of an hour long tape in two minutes |
| 10.1967 |
AG-600 series, a solid-state version of the 600 series audio recorders. |
| 10.1967 |
AA-620, solid-state, portable 20W amp/speaker system. |
| 10.1967 |
AM-10, portable six-position 2 channel mixer. |
| 11.1967 |
VR-2000B & VR-1200B, high band color video tape recorders. |
| 11.1967 |
VR-5000 and VR-7800 portable video tape recorders. |
| 1968 |
Ampex invents magneto-resistive (MR) heads, now used in advanced computer disk drives. |
| 04.1968 |
VR-3000 introduced; first deliveries in May. |
| 04.1968 |
HS-200, color disc recording & editing system for producing commercials. |
| 04.1968 |
MM-1100 multi-channel audio recorders for mastering, TV, and motion pictures. |
| 06.1968 |
VR-5003, international version of VR-5000. |
| 08.1968 |
VR-4900 and VR-5100 closed-circuit video tape recorders. |
| 11.1968 |
[Sanner: Chronology of Ampex Professional Products (1995/99, Internet)] |
| 1969 |
Ampex introduces the Videofile® system, used by Scotland Yard for the electronic storage and retrieval of fingerprints. |
| 01.1969 |
AG-440B, an update of the AG-440. |
| 01.01.1969 bis 30.01.1969 |
VP-4900C, closed circuit video tape player, priced at $1950. |
| 07.1969 |
VR-7500X, closed circuit video tape recorder with higher resolution than previously available. |
| 09.1969 |
MM-1005, a playback-only version of the MM-1000. [This must be what was referred to as the AG-1000 above in the entry for 1967.] |
| 11.1969 |
VR-1500E, lowest priced video tape recorder that allows B&W assemble editing. |
| 1970 |
Ampex introduces the ACR-25, the first automated robotic library system for the recording and playback of television commercials. |
| 1970 |
Ampex introduces TBM (TeraBit Memory), a 2-inch transverse tape-based online digital storage system for high-performance computing applications. |
| 1972 |
The first TBM delivered reaches a never-before-achieved 3 trillion-bit capacity. |
| 01.11.1973 bis 31.12.1973 |
MM-1100 (vmtl. Ende 1973) |
| 1974 |
Ampex introduces the AVR-2, the first modular quadruplex recorder/reproducer for professional broadcasters. It requires one-half to one-third the operating space required by other quad machines. |
| 01.12.1974 bis 31.01.1975 |
MM-1200 (vmtl. Ende 1974 / Anfang 1975) |
| 1976 |
Ampex introduces the VPR-1, helical scan, 1-inch videotape recorder. The VPR-1's successor, the Type C VPR-2 (1978), becomes the industry standard for video recording. |
| 01.03.1976 bis 30.04.1976 |
Im Frühjahr: ATR-100 introduced at AES in Los Angeles. |
| 1977 |
Ampex introduces the AST® process, the first automated scan tracking for variable speed effects, making slow motion possible directly from tape for the first time. |
| 1977 |
Ampex introduces Electronic Still Store (ESS) which allows producers to store digital video images for later editing and broadcast. |
| 1977 |
Ampex introduces the HBR-3000, the first high-bit rate, high-density magnetic recorder for logging and storage of electromagnetic data. |
| 1978 |
The Ampex Video Art (AVA) video graphics system is used by artist Leroy Nieman on air during Super Bowl XII. AVA, the first video paint system, allows the graphic artist, using an electronic pen, to illustrate in a new medium, video. This innovation paved the way for today's high quality electronic graphics, such as those used in video games. |
| 1978 |
Emmy Award for AST® Video Tracking |
| 1978 |
Emmy Award for Type C format development |
| 1978 |
ATR-700 audio tape recorder. (ca. 1978) |
| 1981 |
Ampex introduces the ADO® system, which creates digital special effects, allowing rotation and perspective of video images. This changed forever the way television material would be manipulated and created. |
| 1981 |
Emmy Award for ESS; Still Store |
| 1983 |
Ampex introduces the DCRS digital cassette recorder, offering compact cassette storage with the equivalent of 16 digital, 14 inch, 8 DDR instrumentation reels on one cassette. |
| 1983 |
Partial-response maximum-likelihood (PRML) data decoding technology has its first use in Ampex's DCRsi; recorders. This technology is now commonly used in high performance computer disk drives and other high density magnetic data storage devices. |
| 1983 |
Emmy Award for ADO® Digital Effects System |
| 1983 |
Monitor Award for ADO® Digital Effects System, presented by the International Teleproduction Society for outstanding technical achievement |
| 1983 |
ATR-800 audio tape recorder. (ca. 1983) |
| 1984 |
Emmy Award for VPR-5 (first helical scan portable VTR) |
| 1985 |
Monitor Award for VPR-5 Portable Videotape Recorder, presented by the International Teleproduction Society for outstanding technical achievement |
| 1986 |
Emmy Award for Zeus; Advanced Video Processor |
| 1986 |
Emmy Award for VPR-3 Videotape Recorder |
| 1987 |
Monitor Award for Zeus; Advanced Video Processor, presented by the International Teleproduction Society for outstanding technical achievement |
| 1988 |
Ampex introduces D-2, the first composite digital video recording format. |
| 1989 |
Emmy Award for D-2 video recording technology development |
| 1990 |
Emmy Award for ACR 225 Commercial Spot Player |
| 1991 |
Ampex obtains patent for keepered media, which adds a soft magnetic layer to magnetic recording media, increasing the resulting recording capacity. |
| 1992 |
Ampex introduces its DCT® products, the first digital component post-production system using digital image compression technology to produce unsurpassed quality images. The system includes the finest videotape recorder ever made, the DCT 1700d. |
| 1992 |
Ampex introduces its DST® products, high-performance computer mass data storage systems able to store half the contents of the Library of Congress in 21 square feet of floor space. |
| 1994 |
Monitor Award for DCT 700d Digital Tape Drive, presented by the International Teleproduction Society for outstanding technical achievement |
| 1995 |
Ampex introduces the DIS 120i and DIS 160i dual port, data/instrumentation recorders, making it possible for the first time to capture real time instrumentation data and then utilize the same recorder to process the data in a computer environment through its second port using SCSI-2 protocol. |
| 1996 |
Ampex introduces the new double density DST data storage product line, offering the highest capacity data storage system in the industry. The DST 812 robotic library can now store 12.8 terabytes of data, the entire Library of Congress, in 21 square feet of floor space. |
| 1997 |
Ampex introduces the DST 712 Automated Cartridge Library System capable of storing up to 5.8 terabytes with an aggregate data transfer rate of up to 40MB/sec. |
| 1998 |
Fox Television Network becomes the first network to store its primetime television programs as data files on DST media and library systems. |
| 1999 |
Ampex Introduces scalability to the to the DST 712 library system, allowing multiple DST 712 cabinets to be connected via a simple cartridge pass through mechanism Multiple libraries can be configured for almost unlimited capacity. |
