DIY Video Slate

[HalD]

A slate is a nice thing to have- it identifies clips in your NLE and is useful for doing white balance. Because camcorder audio is recorded along with the video you don't need clap sticks. They are needed when you record audio separate from video. Print the .jpg onto an 8.5 X 11 inch card stock and take it to Kinko's to have it laminated. You can write on it with wipe off markers. Don't leave the marker on for a long time as it will become difficult to remove.
Most of the blocks are obvious. Audio is to ID which tracks you are using and @ what freq. ie. 48mhz Just circle the appropriate one and fill in the freq. There is a gray scale at the bottom black / 45% gray / white.
NR = noise reduction - circle appropriate. TC = time code DF = drop frame NDF = whell you figure it out.
Enjoy
Hal
If you want the .psd file or large .jpg for better resolution, just PM me.

[tcindie]

This is helpful, but...

It's lacking the clappers to be used for a visual guide to sync up sound. That's not only useful if you're recording to an external sound recording unit, but also if you happen to have multiple cameras you're syncing up.

For basic shooting it would be useful..

[HalD]

Basic videography is what I had in mind. I don't think most HV20 users are using separate audio recorders that would need syncing in the NLE.
The purpose of this basic slate is to get people used to using a slate to identify shots. Later they can graduate to a clapper slate.
Cheers,
Hal

[tcindie]

True enough.. but along the same lines the things the majority of HV20 users are shooting probably doesn't require slating at all.. ;)

[HalD]

A non-clap stick slate is useful for identifying shots where sound syncing is not a factor.

[CJDaniels]

you know what I wish i cld find is an electronic thing that flashed and beeped at the same time to attach to this. I need the syncing.

[tcindie]

I understand what it's for, I'm just saying that most people probably don't really need one. In fact I've edited several short films without any slated shots. It wasn't a problem at all because the audio was synced. Unless you're working on a project with a huge amount of footage it's pretty easy to keep track of what's what without a slate.

CJ you may be better off just getting a regular clapboard. They can be had pretty cheaply, just look on ebay. ;)

[threadhanger]

It wouldn't be a bad idea have a slate that also identifies the following information:

frame rate, shutter speed, audio level, and other settings

I change between 60i and 24p quite a bit but sometimes have trouble identifiying which is which when I'm going through my clips in Sony Vegas. I'm always adjusting and docking the windows and,more often than not, the preview screen gets shrunk down to where I can't see what I've shot too well. This is a pain when I have to weed out the 60i clips from the 24p clips for the pulldownexe. program.