What is this?

James Steven Beverly · February 21, 2014

Anybody know what the Hell this thing is?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141194692196?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D141194692196%26_rdc%3D1

At first I thought it was a cue punch for projection but I'm not sure.

Zac Fettig · February 21, 2014

Maybe a punch for syncing audio?

Phil Rhodes · February 21, 2014

Is that for doing the sync marks for conductors while recording scores, or for while dubbing audio?

John Holland · February 21, 2014

I think it could be something to do with printing ,control strip to vary amount of light on scene to scene .

James Steven Beverly · February 22, 2014

One of the answers I got elsewhere on Konvas.org is that it was used for lining up A-B rolls for VFX work but there is no definitive proof that's what is was at this point nor any confirmation of that being the function from someone in the know.

Simon Wyss · February 22, 2014

John is right.

You select the proper hole size punch to prepare an exposure control band for a printer. The difficulty (or joy) for the timer/grader is to evaluate aperture (hole) filter density combinations. Yellow, Magenta, and Cyan gel filters are used with the subtractive colour method here. Commonly filter packs were stapled onto the cardboard or Leatheroid band.

Arri had built step contact printers like the Matipo (machine à tirer les positifs) but unlike Debrie who, after an initial push-button preselection system, had punch cards for miniature switching for varying lamp tension, Arri and Agfa moved a filter band horizontally across the exposure aperture by a sprocket drum in conjunction with a Maltese cross drive in steps of 6 perforations, if I remember correctly. I’ve worked a little with an Arri KM (Kopiermaschine) 35 back in 1988. In the GDR there was once a metal hole chain for an Agfa printer (Arri relative) with the advantage that the gels could be sandwiched in nesting chain links and thus were reusable. Staples damage filters.

Subtractive filters afford a different approach to grading since they have bandwiths. A modern RGB cannon, especially in the case of L. A. S. E. R., emits light of one wavelength each. But that’s a bit off the subject.