Aidan Gault Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Hey everyone, I recently purchased a new acrylic slate and also a set of resin sticks from panavision. The sticks sound amazing and sharp when independent. But it seems that when I mounted the sticks to the slate, using super glue, the clap has now deteriorated. It now sounds cheap and plastic, almost maybe a vibration issue? Any loaders have any insight into this? Any fixes or solutions? Cheers! A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Aidan, you may be over thinking this issue. No-one cares what the clap sounds like, as long as there is one. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Gault Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 I care Stuart! :) I've worked with a good few people who can appreciate a nice sounding clap. Gotta take pride in what you do, even the little things :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregg MacPherson Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 What do the editors think? They are the ones using that sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Editors want a clearly audible clap with a sharp attack. That's all. They also want clearly audible scene and take numbers to be called, but that happens very rarely these days, as usually the cast is still chatting and the Director still giving notes when the 1st AD calls 'Roll Sound'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dunn Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Superglue might not be the best medium. A good solid bead of mastic-type adhesive or epoxy might be better. But as everyone says, as long as it's an unmistakeable single clap, it's not too important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Phil Rhodes Posted December 6, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted December 6, 2014 I assume the sticks have magnets in them? P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Sunshine Saliba Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 (edited) I wish more people had the attitude of taking pride in all aspects of their work. I agree with a good bead of epoxy instead of superglue. I also can't help but think the acrylic face is acting like a dampener for the sticks than an amplifier (even though my acrylic slate is super loud). Maybe a slate made out thin hardwood could work for you better? Edited December 6, 2014 by Dylan Sunshine Saliba 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Gault Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 The sticks do have magnets yea P. Thanks for understanding Dylan! When I apply pressure to the slate, and hit the clap, it sounds much better. Problem is I've already glued them on. So not sure if I can undo that without damaging the board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Gault Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 Thought maybe some images of the board might help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Sunshine Saliba Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Nice! I LOVE your labels! But I think there is a crap ton of stuff on there. I noticed on mine that when I mounted a grey card on the back it got heavy and softer sounding, so I just took it off to solve that issue. Maybe the black strip (of gaff tape?) up top near the connection on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 I know you guys like to have places for your labels and grey cards and all that, but the reason the slate is made of translucent plastic is that when it's backlit, it's still legible... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Gault Posted December 6, 2014 Author Share Posted December 6, 2014 Thanks for the tip Dylan. But alas, after stripping it down, velcro and all. The problem still exists.... Truly is an enigma! Might add something to the sticks, to make it sound better. You have a good point Stuart. But I always front light my board with my magllite in dark/back-lit environments, it's been working grand so far! Knock wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregg MacPherson Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 On an objective level, there are two things. One is the pactical usefulnsess (more or less usefull) of the sound. Those syncing up can answer that one. Maybe it doesn't matter much, but that's up to them to tell us. The second thing is to do with the mythology of the slate and the sound. Maybe we need it to sound a certain way. That is the proper way. It wouldn't be the only functional principal of that mythic kind existant on a set. For the editor syncing up, perhaps meaningless. For the loader looking for work, perhaps very meaningfull. I don't know digital. I remember syncing 16mm sepmag. The exact sound of the slate would not make much difference, but it needs to be consistent, and be clearly different running forwards vs backwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Satsuki Murashige Posted December 7, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted December 7, 2014 Does the slate really need glue to attach to the clapper? In my experience, they usually stay in with tension and nothing else. I'm sure your slate sounds fine. You rarely need to clap it that loud anyway, a nice little 'snick' is all that is required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Satsuki Murashige Posted December 7, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted December 7, 2014 Also, why do you guys in the UK have your sticks on backwards? First you drive on the wrong side of the road, now this! :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 Also, why do you guys in the UK have your sticks on backwards? First you drive on the wrong side of the road, now this! :) Admittedly, it been a long time since I clapped the sticks, but when I did it for a living, I used to switch the sticks around depending on which side of camera I was slating from, or whether I was using one hand or two. I see a lot of ACs these days slating one handed, and throwing the slate in there as if they really can't be bothered with the whole thing. I was always taught to use both hands unless I needed to hold flashlight with the other hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Gault Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 Yea, my baby slate fitted together nicely without adhesives. But was not the case for the medium. I wish it did and mate I wouldn't have te issue! Oh and the sticks, it's just a preference thing because I'm right handed :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dunn Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 If you didn't use too much superglue it will probably snap off alright. Just hold it over the edge of a table, hold the slate down with a ruler and give it a good whack. Incidentally, the chevrons are easier to see if they're opposed, like a V shape. Too late now, but next time, perhaps if you break it after following my advice, haha. https://www.google.com/search?q=slate&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=MD6EVLfVE4bB7AaKtIC4DA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1600&bih=774#tbm=isch&q=movie+slate&revid=25269254 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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