480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC has a total of 525 lines, only 483 of these are used to display the image for DV-NTSC. Its PAL/SECAM counterpart is 576i; together, these are the two common forms of standard-definition television.

Technical detail[link]

For analog NTSC there is a total of 525 scanning lines of which originally 483 lines were visible (241.5 visible lines + 21 lines of vertical blanking per field) and later 480 (240 complete lines per field). A full frame is split into even and odd fields where the even fields end with half a line and the odd fields begin with the other half of the line. By convention an NTSC video frame is considered to start with an even field followed by an odd field. The disparity of the line numbering compared to other systems is solved by defining the line numbering to start five equalising pulses (or 2 and a half lines) earlier than on all other systems (including Systems A and E even though they had no equalising pulses) on the first equalising pulse following an active line or half line. This has the effect of placing a half line of video at the end of the even (first) field and the beginning of the odd (second field). Thus the line numbers correspond to the real lines of the video frame. On all other systems, the field was considered to start with the falling edge of the first field pulse which gave the confusing position that the odd field (first) had a half a line of video occupying the latter half of a whole line and ended with a whole line of video but half a scanning line (and vice versa for the even field). The NTSC convention solved this confusion.^[1]

For DV-NTSC only 480 lines are used. The digitally transmitted horizontal resolution is usually 720 samples (which includes 16 samples for the horizontal sync and horizontal blanking) or 704 visible pixels with an aspect ratio of 4:3 (with vertically rectangular pixels) and therefore a display resolution of 640 × 480 (VGA); that is standard-definition television (SDTV) with a 4:3 aspect ratio (with square pixels).^[2][3][4][5]

The field rate (not the frame rate) is usually (60/100.1%) ≈ 59.94 hertz for color TV and can be rounded up to 60 Hz. There are several conventions for written shorthands for the combination of resolution and rate: 480i60, 480i/60 (EBU/SMPTE) and 480/60i. 480i is usually used in countries that conventionally use NTSC (most of the Americas and Japan), because the 525 transmitted lines at 60 hertz of analogue NTSC contain 480 visible ones.

480i can be transported by all major digital television formats, ATSC, DVB and ISDB.

See also[link]

Television portal

• 480p
• Enhanced-definition television (EDTV)

References[link]

Burton Cummings
Cummings in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Burton L. Cummings
Born	(1947-12-31) December 31, 1947 (age 64) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres	Rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, saxophone, drums, percussion, harp, flute
Years active	1965–present
Associated acts	The Guess Who, Bachman & Cummings, The Deverons, Tim Thorney
Website	burtoncummings.net

Burton L.^[1] Cummings, OC,^[2] OM (born December 31, 1947, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian musician and songwriter.

He was the lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. During his 10 years in The Guess Who, from 1965 to 1975, he sang and wrote or co-wrote many songs including "American Woman," "No Time," "Share the Land," "Hand Me Down World," "Undun," "Laughing," "Star Baby", "New Mother Nature," and "These Eyes." His solo career includes many Canadian singles including "Stand Tall", "My Own Way to Rock" and "You Saved My Soul."

Biography[link]

Cummings was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as were all of the other original members of The Guess Who, and attended St. John's High School.^[3] His first band was a local Winnipeg R&B group, The Deverons, with an 'E' (not to be confused with the band The Devrons who had Country/R&B hits in the early 1960s). The Deverons with Cummings released two singles on the tiny REO Records label. The first single, "Blue Is The Night / She's Your Lover", was cut in a Winnipeg radio station. The second single, "Lost Love / Feel Alright", was recorded at Kay Bank Studios in Minneapolis, where The Guess Who frequently recorded. He joined The Guess Who in 1965 to replace keyboardist Bob Ashley and shortly thereafter its previous lead singer, Chad Allan, left the band.

Cummings also tried his hand at acting. He appeared alongside Paul Sorvino, Glynnis O'Connor and Don Johnson in the 1982 film Melanie.^[4]

Success with The Guess Who[link]

Between 1966 and 1969, The Guess Who were one of the hardest working-bands in Canada. Despite having released several strong singles, a hugely successful split LP ("A Wild Pair", which also featured Ottawa's The Stacattos), and a weekly stint as house band on CBC-TV's "Let's Go!", mainstream success eluded them.

In 1969 The Guess Who scored an international hit with "These Eyes", co-written by Cummings and guitarist Randy Bachman. It was followed up by hit "Laughing", again written by Cummings and Bachman. Another Guess Who song, "Undun", featured Cummings on a jazzy flute solo. In 1970, the band hit no. 1 in Canada with "American Woman."

Ultimately, conflict between Cummings and bandmate Randy Bachman—partially ignited by Bachman's then-deepening Mormon religious beliefs—caused a rift in the band.^[5] Bachman left and went on to form the band Brave Belt with former Guess Who mate Chad Allan, and later Bachman–Turner Overdrive.

Cummings became the band's leader and recorded songs that included "Share the Land," "Hand Me Down World," "Albert Flasher," "Rain Dance," "Sour Suite," "Glamour Boy," "Star Baby," "Clap for the Wolfman," and "Dancin' Fool."

Going solo[link]

In 1975 Cummings left The Guess Who after 10 years to become a solo artist, and the group disbanded. One of his first projects included providing back-up vocals on Eric Carmen's second solo LP, Boats Against the Current, including "She Did It."

Cummings' subsequent solo hits in Canada included "Stand Tall," his greatest American solo hit, peaking at #10, "I'm Scared," "Break it to Them Gently," and "Fine State of Affairs." Cummings charted outside Canada with "Stand Tall" and "You Saved My Soul." His Dream of a Child album released in 1978 was the biggest^{[clarification needed]} Canadian album in history at that time. Cummings released a total of eight solo albums and collections from 1976 to 1990. In 1997 he released a live compilation album of his solo performances entitled Up Close and Alone.

Cummings became a resident of Sherman Oaks, California, and began writing and singing for films in the late 1970s. He currently winters in California and returns to Winnipeg in the summer, living in Canada throughout autumn.^{[clarification needed]} Besides his music, Cummings purchased Winnipeg's "Salisbury House" restaurant chain with manager Lorne Saifer, and is an avid comic book collector.

For several years Cummings has been active on My Space, blogging and posting music and photos. As of June 25, 2010, he unveiled a new website where you can stream all his music and where he will continue his blog – http://www.burtoncummings.net

The Guess Who returns[link]

In 2000 Cummings, Bachman, and original drummer Garry Peterson toured as The Guess Who. Bassist Jim Kale played one show and former Guess Who sidemen Donnie McDougall and Bill Wallace re-joined the line-up through the remainder of the tour in Canada and later in the U.S. The reformed The Guess Who toured with Cummings from 2000 through to the summer of 2003. In 2001 Cummings and the rest of The Guess Who received honorary doctorates at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba. Cummings was also made a member of the Order of Manitoba. In 2003, the band played at the so-called "SARSstock" concert in Toronto.

Bachman-Cummings[link]

Cummings plays occasional shows with Randy Bachman as The Bachman-Cummings Band, featuring The Carpet Frogs, a band from Toronto and makes occasional appearances at various Canadian casinos as a solo performer. The Bachman-Cummings Band have released a compilation album titled the Bachman-Cummings Song Book featuring songs from The Guess Who, Bachman–Turner Overdrive and Cummings' solo career. They have also released an album titled The Thunderbird Trax, which is an album that Cummings and Bachman recorded in Bachman's toolshed in British Columbia in 1987. Previously unreleased until 2006, it was made available exclusively at Bachman-Cummings concerts, and is now available on the Bachman-Cummings website.

The Bachman-Cummings First Time Around CBC TV Special was released on DVD in November 2006 on the Sony BMG label. In June 2007, Bachman and Cummings released an album titled Jukebox that covered various songs from the 1960s that influenced them. A follow-up album to Jukebox as well as a television special have also been discussed.^[6]

They last played together in 2009 at Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario. Bachman has since rejoined with CF Turner and Cummings has toured on his own with the Carpet Frogs.

[edit] Above the Ground

Outside of his work with Bachman, in November 2004 Cummings released a single "With God on Our Side", a cover of the famous Bob Dylan song. The single debuted at the 21st spot on the Canadian music internet music chart.^[which?]

On November 4, 2008, Cummings released his first solo album of new studio material in 18 years titled Above the Ground. The album has 19 tracks of original songs written by Cummings, some of which were written by him many years ago. The album was recorded with his touring band The Carpet Frogs. The release also includes a DVD with a behind the scenes look at the recording process. The first single from the album was "We Just Came from the U.S.A." Originally a Canadian-only release, Above the Ground is now available at Burton Cummings' website and on iTunes.

The Burton Cummings Theatre, located in downtown Winnipeg, is named after Cummings.

Cummings performing with his band at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut, on July 2, 2011--this was the first concert of his U.S. tour

Order of Canada[link]

On December 30, 2009, Cummings was named an officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Michaëlle Jean. The Order of Canada is one of the country's highest civilian honours, and was established in 1967 to mark a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community, and service to the nation.^[7]

Book of poetry[link]

On the November 23, 2010, morning show episode of Canada AM, Cummings announced that he will be releasing a book of poetry. He mentioned that he had been working on it for the past 3 years; and that it would be available in 2011. The collection of poems will be titled "The Writings of B. L. Cummings." He stated that works by Kipling, Keats and Edgar Allan Poe were great inspirations to him during his writing process, saying, "I like to be influenced by the best."

On June 28, 2011, it was announced that Cummings will receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame and will be inducted on October 1 at Elgin Theatre in Toronto. He previously received a star as part of The Guess Who in 2001.^[8]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Singles[link]

Collaborations with Randy Bachman[link]

• 2006 Bachman-Cummings Songbook – Compilation that features tracks from The Guess Who, Burton Cummings and Bachman–Turner Overdrive
• 2006 The Thunderbird Trax – A compilation of previously unreleased material recorded by Bachman and Cummings circa 1987
• 2007 Jukebox – Bachman & Cummings album that features covers of songs by artists such as Bob Dylan, The Shadows and The Beatles

See also[link]

• The Guess Who
• Canadian rock
• Music of Canada
• Bruce Robb (producer)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Burton Cummings' Official website
• Official website for the Bachman-Cummings Band
• Bio at CanadianBands.com CanConRox entry
• Bruce Robb (producer)