Tentacle Sync, a German company with a focus on how timecode is handled on film & television projects, has a new Slate/TIMEBAR combo that integrates into their popular Timecode Bluetooth system. This isn’t the first slate to hit the market, but it warrants a full review because the Tentacle Sync E MKII Timecode generator has become the go-to for my projects in recent years. The Slate/TIMEBAR has been smartly designed to work as two products in one. Let’s take a look!
The core bit of technology discussed in this article is the TIMEBAR ($379) – an aptly named OLED timecode display. Pair the TIMEBAR with the acrylic Tentacle Slate ($329) and Presto! You now have a slate to indicate classic scene information paired with a display that is wirelessly connected to your Tentacle Timecode generators or Tentacle TRACK E Pocket recorder.
Tentacle Sync also has one of the easiest apps to use in an industry rife with dubious mobile software applications. Of course, the TIMEBAR connects seamlessly to the same app. Okay, let’s back up a moment with a bit about why all of these on-location Tentacle products are important and how they can make your life much easier in post-production.
Why is timecode important?
Go ahead and skip this section if you are already well versed in all things timecode, but for those of us who want a little refresh (no shame in that), then give this section a quick read.
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SMPTE, a trade organization that helps create film & tv standards and other educational endeavors, defines timecode with the following format HH:MM:SS:FF (which equates to hours, minutes, seconds, and frames). You could absolutely use a non-electronic clap slate to give an editor an easy point in the audio waveform to visually sync multiple cameras, but what if you don’t have time for proper slating (perhaps you are waiting for a brief animal sighting or something hard to time out) or perhaps the number of cameras is simply so huge that slating an entire stadium full of cameras would be too onerous for the camera team?
Perhaps you are shooting a show where several cameras don’t need to run 24/7, but they might be used for specific moments at tough-to-judge intervals. Syncing those cameras to the captured audio without timecode is particularly tricky.
Beyond that, into-tape stage shows, documentaries, or reality projects might have a story team dedicated to noting great moments that occur in the capture or performance. How would you best note those great moments in a way that the editor could easily find them again? You guessed it – timecode.
Typically, timecode lands in the province of the audio department, but as part of the camera department, I always try to have a few timecode generators on hand, just in case. In the case of the Tentacle Timecode generators, they are very small and easy to keep around. Worst case, if you are a very small crew that is also running audio, then a timecode system is also useful and easy to implement all around.
The TIMEBAR timecode slate – first impressions
I want to be clear that we aren’t rewriting the book here. Slates or clapperboards have been used in filmmaking since the early 1920s. What Tentacle Sync has done is make a product that is well designed, more affordable compared to the competition, and integrates perfectly with their ecosystem. I remember adding velcro to the back of other slates or using other tape-based solutions previously, and none of that is required with the TIMEBAR slate.
Out of the box, the TIMEBAR Timecode Slate looks and feels solid but not indestructible. If you buy the combo SKU, you won’t have any installation to do, but if you buy the Slate and TIMEBAR separately, you’ll have to mount the TIMEBAR to the Slate – which takes under a minute for installation (two screws). Of course, the reverse is true, too, if you want to quickly separate the Slate and TIMEBAR and mount the TIMEBAR somewhere in your studio for the crew to view.
First, a few banner stats for the TIMEBAR Timecode Slate:
- OLED Screen
- Bluetooth Operation
- Standard 11″ size
- Acrylic Slate (created in collaboration with FilmSticks)
- Every component is user-replaceable
- Promised 24-hour battery runtime off the internal battery
- Timecode Generator with TC in/out
- Message Mode
- Timer and Stopwatch Functionality
- 1.7 lbs / 786g / 27.7 oz weight
There is an additional accessory, a la carte, which I suggest picking up: the $59 handle (available in black or orange and pictured below). The TIMEBAR Timecode Slate includes a built-in plastic handle, but the additional handle fits overtop the TIMEBAR at the rear and also serves as a useful way to rest the TIMEBAR Slate for easy visibility when passing by. The handle also adds a few additional 1/4″-20 and 3/8″-16 mounting points for additional accessories, or it provides an easy way to simply mount the slate to a stand.
Beyond timecode, the fact that the TIMEBAR includes a timer function means it becomes useful for showing talent the remaining time in a live episode. The stopwatch function suggests it is useful for ad-reads or sports applications, too.
Unfortunately, the Slate doesn’t come with a bag for the entire package, so I would suggest picking up something like the CRDBag in XLarge size for added protection during travel. A small hard case with molded foam would also do the trick. I think the TIMEBAR Slate could take a bump here or there, but I could see the acrylic cracking upon heavy impact, so it’s worth investing in a bit of protection during transit.
Competitors
At $699 for both the Tentacle TIMEBAR Slate, this combination sits at the more affordable side of the spectrum when compared to other competitors like Deity ($999), Denecke ($1,410) and Ambient Recording ($2,100).
Deity’s wooden slate, while heavier and pricier, offers a few more digital display options that are programmable and work well with their Deity-branded wireless generators. For Denecke, their entire slate glows from a built-in backlight, but it requires 6 AA batteries. Ambient Recording’s AA-powered solution is significantly more expensive and is only 2.4 lbs lighter than the Tentacle TIMEBAR slate.
I don’t mind including an internal lithium battery in the TIMEBAR (charged over USB-C). That internal battery is typical of Tentacle Sync’s other products. Of course, lithium-ion has a certain number of charging cycles, and you might have to change this out in the future – something the user can do without shipping the whole TIMEBAR Slate to a service center.
Deity’s slate uses dual NP-F550 batteries that are hot-swappable, but of course, those add weight. You might have a different take, but I prefer the smaller weight of the TIMEBAR Slate. I also don’t use NP-F550 batteries regularly outside of the Deity slate, so cutting down on battery types optimizes my travel kit.
In practice, I truthfully don’t miss the backlit display (found in Denecke’s slate) because most ACs usually have a phone with a flashlight. I’ll happily lose that feature for a $1100 savings.
If you are already heavily invested in the Tentacle Sync universe of products, which I am, purchasing the TIMEBAR slate is a bit of a no-brainer. If you are just introducing timecode into your workflow for the first time, then the TIMEBAR slate is easy to get started with, and it is also a great solution given the low entry price compared to competitors.
Operation
Like everything in the Tentacle Sync ecosystem, you can control the TIMEBAR within the ‘Tentacle Setup’ app available for iOS or Android. Download HERE.
True to form – the app is easy to use, and the TIMEBAR pops right up next to your other Tentacle Sync devices. However, it will take some time to define a few different timebar modes available to change in the app:
- Timecode Mode – This turns off the slate function and timecode is visible 24/7.
- Timer Mode – A timer that counts down! Useful for many scenarios.
- Stopwatch Mode – Great for seeing overall running time and keeping a segment from running long.
- Message Mode – Fun for adding in a client message or perhaps a short message for post.
- Slate Mode – The ‘classic mode’, timecode displays for a few seconds and disappears.
You can also change the brightness in the settings and select other options like “auto power off time” or flip the screen orientation. It is all very straightforward and easy to use, which I find to be a consistent feature of the brand.
The Tentacle Sync TRACK E Pocket Recorder
Perhaps off-topic, but I want to feature another of my favorite Tentacle devices: the TRACK E Pocket Recorder. At $349, this Pocket Recorder has 32-bit floating and 24-bit recording. It also helps sync timecode over Bluetooth wirelessly to another TRACK E, a generator (attached to a mixer or camera), or the TIMEBAR.
On a project I worked on for VICE about cults, we used TRACK E to record audio in a subtle (read covert) way. Maybe not the most common use case, but it worked pretty darn well for this purpose. It also works in scenarios where, in the past, we would have “dropped the bag” or left the audio mixer device without someone to manage audio levels. (Don’t hate me, audio friends!) Typically, you see this in unscripted work, where there’s a scene in a car or perhaps a small boat. In these instances, crew size must be minimal because there just isn’t room for everyone. Plus, as much as I hate to say it, producers love to cut crew wherever they can, which seems to be happening quite a lot lately.
Final thoughts on the Tentacle Sync TIMEBAR Slate
Do you need an easy way to display timecode to a control room or video village? The TIMEBAR is the right tool. Are you already using a variety of Tentacle Sync timecode generators or TRACK E recorders on your set? Consider going with the TIMEBAR + Slate for added flexibility.
It doesn’t come with a great carrying case, but the TIMEBAR slate is stylish, well-built, portable, and charges easily with cables you likely already have. The control app is a home run and displays all the information and control you need without extraneous details cluttering up the UI.
Tentacle Sync has done a great job bringing timecode and all its benefits to the post and story departments. The price makes this coordination accessible to more filmmakers. I can’t wait to see what the Tentacle Sync team comes up with next, but in the meantime, I’ll be using their timecode generators, TRACK E recorders, and the TIMEBAR slate on every single project.
What do you think? Will you be adding the Tentacle Sync TIMEBAR Timecode Slate to your kit? Let us know in the comments below!
