Help with 1DC Line Level Recording at DVinfo.net

Casey Preston · April 22nd, 2014, 10:52 AM

I am trying to track down info on the 1DC line level recording. I just bought a 1DC with the line level upgraded firmware and I can't get the line level recording to work. I am able to set the camera to line level and I am able to set levels for line level recording and monitor the sound through the headphones and see the levels on the display. As soon as I start recording, however, I lose all sound through the headphones and the levels drop to zero and sound is not recorded. If I stop recording, I need to make an adjustment to the sound level before I can monitor sound again. In manual and auto mic modes, I can record sound through the mic input and everything operates normally. The fact that the sound only cuts out when the camera starts recording indicates to me that this is a firmware issue and not a mechanical issue. It might be that the software is resetting the sound levels or switching to a different mode when recording is started. If it was a mechanical issue, I would assume that I would not ever be able to monitor or adjust the line level signal. Has anybody on this forum managed to get line level recording to work on the 1DC?

Chris Norman · April 23rd, 2014, 02:27 AM

Just checked with my 1Dc.. exactly the same issue. Disappointing, perhaps Canon forgot to check if the line-in function with the 1.3.4 firmware update actually works!

Casey Preston · April 23rd, 2014, 09:14 AM

Yes. So far I haven't found anybody that can confirm that line level recording works. Canon Cinema Support reports that they have no precedent for people contacting them with my problem, but as far as I can tell nobody has ever tried to use the line level recording feature.

Chris Norman · April 23rd, 2014, 10:33 AM

A bit annoying a camera as expensive as the 1Dc has this problem. Canon made quite a bit of noise about it being an important update feature last year. Maybe it doesn't affect all the 1Dcs out there or perhaps people are not bothering to use the line level option. Hopefully will be addressed in a future firmware update.

Casey Preston · April 25th, 2014, 01:47 PM

Chris, I've sorted out the issue with Canon tech support. It is a firmware issue. As soon as recording is started, the line level signal cuts out. It isn't a problem with the camera. There is a way around the problem. Once recording is started, you can go into the q menu, select sound level, and reset the sound level so that the line level signal will actually be recorded. It's a ridiculous solution to the problem and I'm sure that Canon messed up the firmware, but that is all Canon could offer. It made me lose faith in them as a reliable company.

Chris Norman · April 25th, 2014, 11:22 PM

Ridiculous indeed! Seems like very sloppy management of firmware development. Canon don't seem to be very interested in looking after customers who bought the 1Dc.

Casey Preston · June 1st, 2014, 10:54 AM

While it hasn't been listed on the Canon web site, I heard that Canon has finally released an update of their firmware that includes a fix for the line level issue.

April 22nd, 2014, 10:52 AM	#1
Casey Preston New Boot Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5	Help with 1DC Line Level Recording I am trying to track down info on the 1DC line level recording. I just bought a 1DC with the line level upgraded firmware and I can't get the line level recording to work. I am able to set the camera to line level and I am able to set levels for line level recording and monitor the sound through the headphones and see the levels on the display. As soon as I start recording, however, I lose all sound through the headphones and the levels drop to zero and sound is not recorded. If I stop recording, I need to make an adjustment to the sound level before I can monitor sound again. In manual and auto mic modes, I can record sound through the mic input and everything operates normally. The fact that the sound only cuts out when the camera starts recording indicates to me that this is a firmware issue and not a mechanical issue. It might be that the software is resetting the sound levels or switching to a different mode when recording is started. If it was a mechanical issue, I would assume that I would not ever be able to monitor or adjust the line level signal. Has anybody on this forum managed to get line level recording to work on the 1DC?

April 23rd, 2014, 02:27 AM	#2
Chris Norman Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 70	Re: Help with 1DC Line Level Recording Just checked with my 1Dc.. exactly the same issue. Disappointing, perhaps Canon forgot to check if the line-in function with the 1.3.4 firmware update actually works!

April 23rd, 2014, 09:14 AM	#3
Casey Preston New Boot Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5	Re: Help with 1DC Line Level Recording Yes. So far I haven't found anybody that can confirm that line level recording works. Canon Cinema Support reports that they have no precedent for people contacting them with my problem, but as far as I can tell nobody has ever tried to use the line level recording feature.

April 23rd, 2014, 10:33 AM	#4
Chris Norman Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 70	Re: Help with 1DC Line Level Recording A bit annoying a camera as expensive as the 1Dc has this problem. Canon made quite a bit of noise about it being an important update feature last year. Maybe it doesn't affect all the 1Dcs out there or perhaps people are not bothering to use the line level option. Hopefully will be addressed in a future firmware update.

April 25th, 2014, 01:47 PM	#5
Casey Preston New Boot Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5	Re: Help with 1DC Line Level Recording Chris, I've sorted out the issue with Canon tech support. It is a firmware issue. As soon as recording is started, the line level signal cuts out. It isn't a problem with the camera. There is a way around the problem. Once recording is started, you can go into the q menu, select sound level, and reset the sound level so that the line level signal will actually be recorded. It's a ridiculous solution to the problem and I'm sure that Canon messed up the firmware, but that is all Canon could offer. It made me lose faith in them as a reliable company.

April 25th, 2014, 11:22 PM	#6
Chris Norman Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 70	Re: Help with 1DC Line Level Recording Ridiculous indeed! Seems like very sloppy management of firmware development. Canon don't seem to be very interested in looking after customers who bought the 1Dc.

June 1st, 2014, 10:54 AM	#7
Casey Preston New Boot Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 5	Re: Help with 1DC Line Level Recording While it hasn't been listed on the Canon web site, I heard that Canon has finally released an update of their firmware that includes a fix for the line level issue.