Quiet closing of the clapperboard without an audible snap. Used during sound recording when sensitive microphones are in use.
Technical Details
The standard version is based on a conventional acrylic slate (30 x 25 cm), with the clapper edge covered with 3-5 mm thick foam rubber or velour. Professional models from Denecke or Ambient Recording use interchangeable damping strips made of closed-cell foam. The clapper speed is reduced from 180°/second to approximately 120°/second to precisely time the dampened sound. Digital variants generate the sync signal electronically via LED flash instead of a mechanical clap.
History & Development
In 1963, French camera assistant Marcel Dubois developed the first soft stick for Nouvelle Vague productions, which often worked in confined spaces with direct sound. Neher-Werke in Munich brought the first series-produced model to the German market in 1967. With the introduction of Crystal Sync technology in the late 1970s, the soft stick gained importance, as precise synchronization with minimal noise generation became possible. Since 2010, electronic systems with timecode integration have dominated.
Practical Use in Film
In Dardenne brothers productions like "Rosetta" (1999), the soft stick enabled naturalistic handheld direct sound without disturbing interruptions to the acting direction. Dogme 95 films exclusively used dampened slates to maintain authenticity. In music films, it is used during playback scenes to avoid contaminating the original recording. The disadvantage lies in its reduced audibility for larger crews – the signal only reaches a range of 5-8 meters instead of the usual 15 meters.
Comparison & Alternatives
In contrast to the standard slate, the soft version is not suitable for exterior shots with wind noise, as the dampened signal gets lost. Silent sticks work purely optically without sound, while Smart Slates combine electronic timecode with a dampened clap. For low-budget productions, makeshift solutions are often used: tape over the clapper edge or folded fingers in front of the camera. Modern alternatives include Bluetooth sync apps, which turn the smartphone into a silent sync source.