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SL DigiSlate


I wrote this app at the request of someone using my other app, "On the Level 3".  I know that there are several film slate applications available on the Apple App Store, but it looked like no one has written one for the Android Market.  I looked at what the app store versions had to offer and set out to craft my own version with an eye towards a person using this in an actual film production.  I made sure that this app would be just as functional and easy to use as a real slate.

Please note:  This app is specifically designed for use by film and television camera assistants.  If you don't understand what the different settings are, please do not ask me to explain them to you.  There is plenty of information on the internet.

Important:  An app like this is a constant work in progress.  As you think of features or additions, please let me know so I can try to incorporate them.

I hope that as people use this app, they will let me know what features they would like me to include in future updates.

By popular demand I've added a shot logging feature!  This took a lot longer to implement than I originally thought it would.  Again, I wanted to keep it as simple and functional as I can.  You can scroll both horzontally and vertically through the list (a pain in the butt process from a UI programming perspective!), edit individual shots in the list, backup and restore your information, and email your shot log.

Someone had asked me to add a feature where the timecode display would continue running even after the clapper is closed.  This option can be found in the SETTINGS MENU.

I also added support for tablets, so I'm really interested in hearing how this works for everyone.

I also noted that one of the apps in the App Store had a color bars setting.  This is something that I would have loved to include, but due to the fact that this app can run on a variety of phones and devices, all with unique and differing displays, it didn't seem practical.  In fact using color bars from a phone would most likely result in strange color shifts when your project is color corrected using those color bars as a reference. 

As always, I look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Best,
Stephen Lebed


        Version History:

        v2.5 - Added multi choices for the clapper sound.  Media volume is automatically set to full volume when app is running and is restored to previous volume on exiting app.
                   Added option to invert slate colors for dark shooting situations.
                   Added production title and current date to subject line in email.
                   Added auto increment to take number when clapper is reset.
                   Added a 5 second countdown timer before the clapper is triggered.

                   Thanks to everyone who sent me suggestion for this release!

        v2.1 - Added louder clapper sound file.

        v2.0 - Added shot logging, support for Android tablets like the Dell Streak, and the ability to have the clock continue running when the clapper is down. 

        v1.2 - Added Series label option to Take.

        v1.1 - Added reset buttons for Roll, Scene, and Take (Thanks for the suggestion Freddie!)

        v1.0 - Initial release


IMPORTANT NEWS!!!  You can now purchase SL DigiSlate through PayPal!  If you live in a part of the world where the Android Market isn't available, you now have a new way to get this app.  Just send your payment of $9.99 to srlebed@gmail.com at Paypal, and I'll email the app directly.  I hope this will make it easier for all the people who have been asking to buy this app around the world.

SL DIGISLATE

The main display is designed to look like a traditional film slate.

Touching anywhere on or above the timecode window will close the slate with an audible "clack" 
Touching again will reset the clapper.

NEW in version2.5 - When auto increment take number is check marked in the settings menu, the word 'Take' will be displayed wider to indicate that you are in that mode. 

NEW in version 2.5 - When the 5 second timer mode is check marked in the settings menu, triggering the clapper will display a colored bar across the top of the slate.  This bar will shrink down in size in 5 seconds, and then the clapper will close.

IMPORTANT:  If you set MOS in the Slate setup menu, the clapper will be in the down position.  Touching the timecode area or above will sound off the clack and freeze the timecode.  This mode is made for situations where sync sound is not an issue.



Changing the Roll, Scene, or Take is very easy.  Simply touch the numbers in the Roll, Scene, or Take boxes will open the adjustment window.



Pressing the + or - buttons will increment or decrement the numbers above them.

The scene button has additional buttons.

PREFIX will add a letter in front of the scene number.  Keep pressing the button to cycle through all the available settings.  These prefixes have been used on the film and television productions I've been involved with.  The prefixes are:

R = Retake
S = Special Effect
FX, V, VFX = Visual Effect
GS = Greenscreen
BS = Bluescreen

If there are any prefixes I've missed, please let me know.


The #+ and #- are like the + and - for Roll and Take.  These will increment and decrement the scene number.

New in version 1.2 - Added Series label to Take.  If you now set the take number to less than 1, the word Series will replace the number.  Pressing + will revert Take back to a number again.

The L+ and L- will add a letter after the scene number.  As you cycle through the letters you may notice that the letter i and o are skipped over.  This is on purpose and done in film production to avoid an issue where the letter i might be mistaken for the number 1, and the letter o is mistaken for the number zero.  If you cycle past the letter Z, then letter sequence continues as AA, BB, ect.

NEW in version 2.0 - Added Shot List in the menu.

NEW in version 1.1 - RESET ROLL, RESET SCENE, and RESET TAKE are buttons that will reset the associated number back to 1.



Pressing the menu button will display the menu above.

Slate setup will allow you to enter the rest of the information on the slate.

About this app is just that.

Pressing Exit will close the application down cleanly.  All your settings will be retained when you restart the app again.

SL DIGISLATE SETTINGS

This is the settings menu for SL DigiSlate 2.5.



PRODUCTION TITLE - This is where you will enter the name of your movie
DIRECTOR'S NAME - The name of the director.  The name will auto capitalize the first letter of each word for your convenience.
DP/Cameraman's Name - The name of the person responsible for cinematography.
TIMECODE - The default mode for SL DigiSlate is to display the current time in the timecode window.  The mode will display MODE:Current time.  If you wish to use another timecode setting, simply adjust it using the + and - buttons.  You will see the mode change to MODE:User time.

In order to make things easier, you can press the RESET TIME TO ZERO button to zero out all the timecode numbers.

If you want to return to using the current time, just press the USE CURRENT TIME button.  The  mode with change to MODE:Current time.
TIME CODE DISPLAY FRAME RATE - Select how you would like the timecode windows number to be updated.  This mode is completely functional, but not very practical without some way to sync with the sound guy on set.  If anyone can figure out a workable system, I'll find a way to implement it.  Perhaps bluetooth syncing...
SET INT/EXT/NITE/MOS - Used to indicate an interior shot (INT), exterior (EXT), night(NITE), or shooting without sound (MOS) as in "Mit Out Sound"

IMPORTANT:  If you set MOS in the Slate setup menu, the clapper will be in the down position.  Touching the timecode area or above will sound off the clack and freeze the timecode.  This mode is made for situations where sync sound is not an issue.
CAMERA SPEED - Click the button to display a list of common film production shooting speeds.  These have nothing to do with the timecode display and instead represent the frame rate of the camera that this slate is identifying.
CAMERA ID or TYPE - Enter the name of the shooting unit, ie. 'C' camera, or the name of the camera shooting the slate, ie. Red One

RESET ALL DATA will restore the slate to its intial settings, ready for your next production.

NEW in version 2.5 - This button has been moved the the menu.




SL DIGISLATE SHOT LIST

This is the new shot logging feature added to v2.0




The Shot List will record an entry every time the clapper is triggered.  Any information on the slate at that time will be logged in the list.

The list can be scrolled horizontally and vertically to show you the information that is logged.
Single tap on a log entry will open up the shot editor.

You can also Long Press on the entry to bring up a shot menu as show below.


EMAIL LIST - Pressing this button will open your email client on your device.  If you don't have one, a message will be displayed informing you.  You will not be able to use this function without an email client.

An email will be generated using an email address that you entered in DIGISLATE SETTINGS.  The shot list is added to the body of the email, with columns spaced by tabs.  The formatting may need to be adjusted based on your screen size.

Sending or cancelling the email will return you to the shot list screen.

BACKUP and RESTORE - This pressing Backup will save a copy of the current shot list to the external store of your device, such as the SD Card.  Only one copy is stored, so pressing Backup will overwrite any previously saved shot list.
Restore will load any previously saved shot list into the log.  A warning will appear if there is any logs in the list, giving you the chance to cancel the restore.  Restore will overwrite any information currently in the list.  There is no way to undo this once a backup or restore is made.

DELETE ALL - This will display a confirmation dialog.  Pressing Yes will erase all the entries in the shot list.





SHOT EDITOR

This is the shot information editor.



APPLY - Pressing apply will write all the information here back to the shot list and return you to the shot list

UNDO CHANGES - This will return all the setting back to the values they held when you first enter this page.

CLEAR FIELDS - This will erase all the information for this shot.  Pressing undo will restore will the information again.