Abstract: In a method and apparatus for transmitting information from producer to end viewers, the information is provided on a first recording medium recorded at a standard speed and in a standard format in a series of tracks slanted relative to a direction of movement of that medium. The information is reproduced from the series of tracks on the first recording medium in the form of electric signals seriatim at increased speed on the order of a multiple of the standard speed. The reproduced information is simultaneously rerecorded from the electric signals seriatim in a standard format with series of tracks on several second recording media at the increased speed, for replay of that recorded information by several end users at different times from the several recording media at standard speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pancake duplicator for sequentially recording multiple copies of program material on a pancake reel of blank recording tape. The apparatus and method disclosed facilitate and economize the commercial preparation of large numbers of video tape copies of program material. The apparatus includes a video tape drive unit capable of handling large reels or pancakes of raw, unrecorded video tape and transferring the tape past a video recording head to a takeup spool whereby many copies of a particular program are recorded on the pancake. In an alternate form, the recording functions are performed by a conventional recording device using an integrated tape drive capable of transporting tape from a pancake past the recording head to a takeup spool at the appropriate rate.

Abstract: A system and method for producing rapid, high resolution hard color copies from computer-based graphics and image processing including a computer-controlled color video signal graphics system for producing electronically generated digital character and/or graphics data in response to programmed commands that are input to the graphics system. Thereafter, the graphics system transforms the digital data into blue, green and red color video signals which are input to a color camera system through a color control panel that is controlled by a microprocessor. The color control panel sequentially switches each of the red, blue and green video signals through to a video monitor where the signals are transformed into video images on a screen of the monitor. The video images appearing on the screen of the monitor are filtered by a color filter wheel which is also controlled by the microprocessor of the camera system. One of two types of film may be selected for exposure to the filtered video images.