Secret menus, functions and the like at DVinfo.net

Ignacio Rodriguez · September 30th, 2003, 09:27 AM

Last night I was fooling around with my PDX10, trying to see if any special key combination would produce any unexpected results, and I discovered this:

If I turn the camera on the camera while pressing the stop button, the LCD displays [1]C:31:23 where the time code would usually go. Pressing the TC/User Bits button has no effect. This works starting the camera to both 'camera' and 'VTR' modes, and the [1]C:31:23 message persists if I rapidly toggle modes. Powering down and then turning the camera back on returns the TC display to normal.

Has anybody else discovered any undocumented things like this? I seem to recall a few years back somebody hacked a way of generating color bars on a Sony camera that was not documented to have this feature.

Imagine accessing a secret menu where you can set the camera to PAL, change to a different gamma setting, turn on locked audio for DV-SP, play Pacman... you never know what might be hidden in there!

Steve Nunez · September 30th, 2003, 03:36 PM

I believe the non S model Canon XL1 had something like this as well- where you could get it to generate color bars if you performed a few steps.....nice find Ignacio.

Boyd Ostroff · September 30th, 2003, 11:04 PM

How do you know that the "secret code" wasn't related to an error condition you created by "abusing" your camera this way? ;-)

If you're a fan of secret codes though, check out this link which tells you how to go into service mode with your Sony TV... some pretty interesting stuff is in there...

http://209.145.176.7/~090/awh/sonyadj.html

Shawn Mielke · October 1st, 2003, 01:04 AM

Sir,
please put the camera down and peacefully leave the store. Everyone, go back to your shopping, nothing to see here. The LAPDX10PD HAVE GOT EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL. :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Margus Kivilaan · October 1st, 2003, 07:05 AM

heh,
c:31:23 is an error message "S reel fault"
"correction: load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning"
camera found that it cannot perform the task, and returned error code.
You can access maintenance menus of camera if you use RM-95 remote controller, but better to not touch these.

regards, Margus

John Jay · October 1st, 2003, 08:54 PM

when yr cam goes to sleep in record standby mode - just gently press the photo button and it will spring back to life :)

Barry Green · October 1st, 2003, 11:31 PM

Several cameras have undocumented features. The XL1 and the VX1000 could both generate color bars, but neither feature was advertised or documented in the manual. The bars weren't particularly useful, they weren't SMPTE bars, but hey, it was better than nothin'. The DVX100 has a service menu you can get at, but it's pretty scary looking so I don't think anybody's had the guts to fiddle with it and see if they could change anything. And the European PAL DV cameras had DV-input disabled, but some enterprising entrepreneurs figured out how to go in through the RM-95 service remote and enable those features. So, the PDX10 may very well have some hidden features, but as someone else already said, the C:31:23 message is just an error code, it happens to me on my old TRV8 when the tape jams.

September 30th, 2003, 09:27 AM	#1
Ignacio Rodriguez Contributor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santiago, Chile Posts: 932	Secret menus, functions and the like Last night I was fooling around with my PDX10, trying to see if any special key combination would produce any unexpected results, and I discovered this: If I turn the camera on the camera while pressing the stop button, the LCD displays [1]C:31:23 where the time code would usually go. Pressing the TC/User Bits button has no effect. This works starting the camera to both 'camera' and 'VTR' modes, and the [1]C:31:23 message persists if I rapidly toggle modes. Powering down and then turning the camera back on returns the TC display to normal. Has anybody else discovered any undocumented things like this? I seem to recall a few years back somebody hacked a way of generating color bars on a Sony camera that was not documented to have this feature. Imagine accessing a secret menu where you can set the camera to PAL, change to a different gamma setting, turn on locked audio for DV-SP, play Pacman... you never know what might be hidden in there! __________________ Ignacio Rodríguez in the third world. @micronauta on Twitter. Main hardware: brain, eyes, hands.

September 30th, 2003, 03:36 PM	#2
Steve Nunez Trustee Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 1,418	I believe the non S model Canon XL1 had something like this as well- where you could get it to generate color bars if you performed a few steps.....nice find Ignacio. __________________ Steve Nunez-New York City www.stevenunez.com

October 1st, 2003, 01:04 AM	#4
Shawn Mielke Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 745	Sir, please put the camera down and peacefully leave the store. Everyone, go back to your shopping, nothing to see here. The LAPDX10PD HAVE GOT EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL. :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) __________________ Breakthrough In Grey Room

October 1st, 2003, 08:54 PM	#6
John Jay Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: US & THEM Posts: 827	when yr cam goes to sleep in record standby mode - just gently press the photo button and it will spring back to life :) __________________ John Jay Beware *PLUGGER-BYTES*

September 30th, 2003, 11:04 PM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	How do you know that the "secret code" wasn't related to an error condition you created by "abusing" your camera this way? ;-) If you're a fan of secret codes though, check out this link which tells you how to go into service mode with your Sony TV... some pretty interesting stuff is in there... http://209.145.176.7/~090/awh/sonyadj.html

October 1st, 2003, 07:05 AM	#5
Margus Kivilaan Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 123	heh, c:31:23 is an error message "S reel fault" "correction: load the tape again, and perform operations from the beginning" camera found that it cannot perform the task, and returned error code. You can access maintenance menus of camera if you use RM-95 remote controller, but better to not touch these. regards, Margus

October 1st, 2003, 11:31 PM	#7
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	Several cameras have undocumented features. The XL1 and the VX1000 could both generate color bars, but neither feature was advertised or documented in the manual. The bars weren't particularly useful, they weren't SMPTE bars, but hey, it was better than nothin'. The DVX100 has a service menu you can get at, but it's pretty scary looking so I don't think anybody's had the guts to fiddle with it and see if they could change anything. And the European PAL DV cameras had DV-input disabled, but some enterprising entrepreneurs figured out how to go in through the RM-95 service remote and enable those features. So, the PDX10 may very well have some hidden features, but as someone else already said, the C:31:23 message is just an error code, it happens to me on my old TRV8 when the tape jams.