Okay... what's the deal with clapboards?

ruester

ruester

Well-known member
I thought, hey I can't afford much, but I should be able to at least afford a clapboard - NO! Again I was wrong! Why does a clapboard cost $1200? I know I could get a plain no frills one for 30 bucks, but why is there this leap from $30 to $1000 !? I don't get it. Sorry to rant, maybe I don't need the $1000 one, can somebody straighten me out, please? Thanks,
Aza
 
A fancy $1000+ slate is going to be capable of reading and generating timecode. For a professional production being able to jam timecode makes a huge difference when it comes time to edit audio and video tracks. For your purposes, it would probably be a waste of money. Get a standard slate and that should be fine. You don't need anything fancy.

http://www.filmtools.com/donclasensla.html
 
They are used for sync and reference of your shots the high cost digital slates (or what people call clapboards) work with timecode generated by a DAT, camera, etc... right now there is no way to use a digital slate with the hvx trust me i have checked. I shoot super 35mm mostly and on our shoots we use them only the odd time if its a long shoot. to be honest you could use a small chalk board to do the same thing or a small dry erase board
 
Oh yeah,

Oh yeah,

And if your'e real crazy, one director synced up the sound from the clap from a cheap clapboard after importing the separate audio tracks. Hilarious.

And, yes. That independent film found domestic and international distribution.

Priceless.
 
clap two pieces of wood together and just talk and sign language into the camera and name the scene reel and take... works for me!! only if you're the only editor too!!!
 
Unless youre shooting film, theres no reason not to record sound in cmaera, pre synched. the only case where it makes a difference is fast/slow motions for audio synch playback like on a music video.
 
I have been using the same two slates for decades. These are just the basic chalk slates with the wooden clappers. One is a large production slate and the other is a small insert slate. No frills. Just add chalk and a rag, and you're good to go.

I'm old-school film. So, I have no need for the expensive, electronic slates - even for using my trusty HVX's and (soon) HPX-500.

For you video guys who have not had the pleasure of shooting film and using slates, spend just a few bucks and buy a basic one. You're life in post will get a LOT easier when you have a visual record of your shot information included at the head of each take. Trust me.
 
If you are on a budget and you just need to ID the shots, you can get an insert slate without clapper from filmtools.com for $10.
 
I printed out a sheet on an 8.5x11 ( all of what I thought I needed) bought a couple of Plexiglas and poprivetted it together. Works great with a dry erase marker, cost was not that expensive either. Had fun making it to!
 
TimurCivan said:
Unless youre shooting film, theres no reason not to record sound in cmaera, pre synched. the only case where it makes a difference is fast/slow motions for audio synch playback like on a music video.
Click to expand...

Thats not necessarily true. Most major films , DV , HDV, etc. always shoot double system sound. The preamps and the recording quality are better in a dedicated sound recorder as well having the ability to not being tethered to the sound man all the time.

A clapper in those instances would be necesaary no matter what format you shoot in.
 
I worked on a HD shoot where the footage got corupted and the sound went out of synch. Happens 1 in 1000 times, but it DOES happen. The slate saved our Butts.
 
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