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Custom Slate for TC Buddy


Sound Art Film

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For all you timecode buddy users out there, I have made my own custom TC

slate to use with MovieSlate or your other favorite slate app. I

started by customizing a cheap Ikan slate. I removed the clappers,

bought new light weight, yet durable black board and cut it to size.

Then I drilled new holes, fastened the clapper sticks via screws to the

board, did some other mysterious modifications to improve the quality of

the clappers and made the new slate customizable. I am using the

survivor military case for the ipad, along with additional screen

protection that is replaceable. There is a half inch border of board to

help additionaly protect the ipad. The neat thing here is that you can swap

between the Ipad and the original slate anytime you want. Check out the

photos and video and let me know what y'all think. :-)

 

http://youtu.be/7sNs7vQJMmI

post-7271-0-93627700-1361339473_thumb.jp

post-7271-0-36986200-1361339493_thumb.jp

post-7271-0-69142600-1361339514_thumb.jp

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Thanks Steve! 

 

And Pete, here are the Specs for Survivor case from their website:

 

Features   

  • Independently tested and certified to meet conditions outlined in US Department of Defense MIL-STD-810
  • Integral Display shield deflects wind and rain (Test: up to 200 mm/hr for 1 hour)
  • Rigid internal frame protects against shocks and drops (Test: drop on flat concrete surface from 6'/1.8 m)
  • Sealed ports block blown sand and dust (Test: up to 18 m/sec for 1 hour)
  • Silicone cladding blocks vibration (Test: 18 hrs at 20 to 2000 Hz)

As for glare, I plan on buying something like a layer of tint for the screen. 

 

If you have TC buddy, and an Ipad, why not spend the $100 more (survivor case, slate, materials ) and get a TC Slate.  I know its probably not as durable as a traditional TC slate (Though, I would like to see the test drop of a Denecke or Ambient slate from 6ft onto concreate as well ) and relies on WIFI, but for someone who can not justify buying a TC slate when almost all my jobs dont use one, this is a great piece of kit. 

 

And besides, who can resist slate CAM?  :blink:  hehe. 

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 (Though, I would like to see the test drop of a Denecke or Ambient slate from 6ft onto concreate as well ) 

 

Sadly I have seen my TS-C Slates take many many nasty spills and still work flawlessly. I even had one slate get driven over and the inside was cracked  paid for service on it but it was still working just fine despite that. I would never use a Ipad as a slate no matter what case it is in. A slate is a one time purchase it will never go obsolete 

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Thanks Steve! 

 

And Pete, here are the Specs for Survivor case from their website:

 

Features   

  • Independently tested and certified to meet conditions outlined in US Department of Defense MIL-STD-810
  • Integral Display shield deflects wind and rain (Test: up to 200 mm/hr for 1 hour)
  • Rigid internal frame protects against shocks and drops (Test: drop on flat concrete surface from 6'/1.8 m)
  • Sealed ports block blown sand and dust (Test: up to 18 m/sec for 1 hour)
  • Silicone cladding blocks vibration (Test: 18 hrs at 20 to 2000 Hz)

As for glare, I plan on buying something like a layer of tint for the screen. 

 

If you have TC buddy, and an Ipad, why not spend the $100 more (survivor case, slate, materials ) and get a TC Slate.  I know its probably not as durable as a traditional TC slate (Though, I would like to see the test drop of a Denecke or Ambient slate from 6ft onto concreate as well ) and relies on WIFI, but for someone who can not justify buying a TC slate when almost all my jobs dont use one, this is a great piece of kit. 

 

And besides, who can resist slate CAM?  :blink:  hehe. 

No need for the Denecke test--I have decades of hard use on them already.

You've done a nice job, but someone who can't justify buying a real TC slate should rent one.

 

phil p

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Absolutely Phil.

If I was hired onto a proper production, with an adequate budget, I'd probably rent a TC slate mainly because of its added durability and possible stability ([wifi with pad], though it lets you know if ur wireless sync is out and will automatically update and re jam to tc buddy master).

However, for these dslr shoots that I work, this will do just fine. I get a little extra rental and will pay off my investment in two jobs more or less. This IPad slate was never meant as a replacement for the tried and true options, but I think it gives ALOT of bang for the buck given you already own a tc buddy and iPad.

Btw, where would one rent a TC slate in the SF bay area?

Cheers and thanks for the compliment!

Paul

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