25Feb More on Adding audio monitoring to your DSLR.
As promised here is the how to video guide, along with a quick demo. Yes My headphones are lime green, I know.
Back on subject, you’ll notice in the video that the Red HDMI cable is plugged in and working at the same time as the usb-composite adapter (Canon AVC-400ST is the proper name). Since both ports stay on while recording (note the flashing red light), you can monitor audio from one port and video from the other. On a Side note, the video output only works on one or the other. So if you’re using the HDMI port you wont get video out of the yellow composite connect, only audio will be output through the Red and White connector. And if you’re using the yellow composite connect for video, then you wont get any video out of your HDMI port.
One other very important thing to remind you all of is that this solution only works if you’re using an external field monitor. The screen on the back of your camera WILL TURN OFF as soon as you plug in the adapter. If you don’t have a field monitor then give my Dirt Cheap monitor project a try or pick yourself up a nice HDMI ready Lilliput 7″ 669gl monitor.
If the Connection demonstration at the beginning of the video isn’t straightforward enough for you to follow let me know and I can post a diagram. There are also a number of other headphone amplifiers available for more and less then the FiiO E5. If you go with one of them, make sure it has a good way to control the volume level. Some of the cheaper models don’t have any controls at all.
I’ve also received a number questions about the usb-composite adapter cable. As far as I know this cable comes with every new Canon DSLR so be sure to check your box before you start tossing things in the trash. A replacement for this cable is $25, so it’s probably not something you want to loose.
Again credits to: freyguyproductions for asking the question that got this project started and Christian Sundsdal for being the first guy to hook the FiiO up to a Rode VideoMic.
So if you haven’t done it yet. Pick yourself up the FiiO E5 headphone amplifier and Female RCA Y to 3.5mm male cable and you’ll be well on your way to better audio on your next DSLR project!
Update: Filips pointed out in the comment section that this fix only works if you are using Magic Lantern. He is absolutely correct. If you have the 5D mark II or t2i you are good to go but if you’re using a 7D then no dice. The 60d is in the works but the Magic Lantern firmware update is still a beta version.
March 1st, 2011 at 9:49 am
Great tip! Just want to double check (although I’m pretty sure you were clear on this).
If you use the USB out for audio, the LCD screen will turn off? Or is that only if both the HDMI and USB are plugged in?
March 1st, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Yes. The screen will shut off as soon as you plug in the USB Cable.
March 20th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Darn, Back to another pre-amp solution. I don’t work with a field monitor, so finding an audio monitor solution is not so cheap. Any Tips? something lightweight and inexpensive preferred. I’d rather not use a H4n or buy a DVX-5a.
March 20th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
Not on my 70D. When i plug the USB, the screen is still on. Although, There was no USB to RCA in the box. So i need to buy that cable as well, right?
March 20th, 2016 at 9:00 pm
Sorry Frank, I’ve never tested this on a 70D.
March 21st, 2011 at 12:41 am
Howdy,
It’s great to get some good feedback on how you set up your 7D. I was wondering if you had looked at the liiliput 869GL-80NP/C/T and if you think this would be an upgrade on your 669. Cheers in advance.
March 21st, 2011 at 12:47 pm
The screen resolution is the same for both monitors. The 869 is an 8 inch model and the 669 is a 7 inch model if I remember right. So the only real difference is the size of the screen. Will an extra inch of monitor space do very much for you? I would say probably not.
March 21st, 2011 at 8:31 am
Most likely this is only working because you have Magic Lantern installed. on my 60D audio through USB is sent out only when playing back the recorded video. no live audio output on standby or recording mode. as far as I’ve read on forums on other canon models it’s the same. So you should add in the text that this is only working for cameras with Magic Lantern software.
March 21st, 2011 at 10:11 am
Thanks for the heads up! I added an update to the bottom of the post. If you see anything else just let me know.
May 26th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Magic Lantern is able to enable USB audio monitoring with out a video monitor. Just select “USB audio monitoring” from the first menu This function will leave the LCD on even when USB is plugged in. FYI It requires you to restart the camera and it didn’t start working for me until I entered the T2i menu (not the ML menu).
May 26th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Very good point.
August 12th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
So, sorry for being dense, would this mean that this guide would then work without the need for an external field monitor?
Thanks.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:42 am
You can monitor audio without an external monitor as long as you have the proper cable, camera, and magic lantern firmware.
July 14th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Will it work with the sony a55?
July 14th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Not sure, I’ve never used the Sony a55.
August 11th, 2011 at 4:08 am
Thanks for posting all this valuable information. I am wondering if there’s a way of connecting headphones to a canon 7D without loosing the image from the camera’s little screen.
September 13th, 2011 at 8:33 am
How do I monitor the audio on the camera T3i / 600D? The magic lantern does not enable the audio output functions.
February 13th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Just got burned by a malfunctioning mic on my Canon 5D. This is a great monitoring solution!!! Wish there was a simpler way to do this without so many cords.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
is this Match sony hanydcam ( hdr-cx-160)
i have pluge cabel, if i’ll buy the adapter will it work with my cammera?
March 5th, 2012 at 9:36 am
Hi,
if got a question, i want to plug a wired external presentation microfoon. And than I wanna hear everything my host is saying trough my headset. Is the product your describing what i need for this idea?
March 23rd, 2012 at 8:23 pm
[…] to install Magic Lantern firmware on your camera you can enjoy the same feature. I’ve posted more elaborate ways to monitor audio while recording audio with your DSLR, but there is a more elegant solution. Meet […]
April 15th, 2012 at 12:01 am
I came across this FiiO E3, it runs on external battery and you can change the battery any time, for some it may be a better choice than FiiO E5 which needs to be charged.
May 7th, 2012 at 1:35 am
I would like to ask if i do not use FiiO E5 and just plug the female RCA to 3.5mm adapter from camera to my headphone, would it still work and audio could still be heard? Thanks.
June 26th, 2012 at 4:58 am
Hi!
thanks for the important information. do you know if it’s also works with 550D?
i have the magiclantern installed in my camera.
thanks!
Sara
July 31st, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Has anyone tried this with a GH2? Is there a magiclantern hack that will allow the GH2 to monitor audio like the Canon? Thanks!
August 21st, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Thank you for this informative video. I, however, am having problems hearing anything out of my headphones. I have done/purchased everything you’ve mentioned in the video.
I am not getting any sound coming into my headphones, yet it recording just fine.
I will add that I have incorporated my Sennheiser Lavalier wireless mics into the mix. Could this be the problem?
Do the settings or connections change because of this? I have the canon 600d t3i and a lilliput field monitor. Would really love some help. Thank you
January 23rd, 2014 at 12:41 am
Hi,
Great video: I have a 600D: please confirm that it works with this model: I have also the latest Magic Lantern installed.
One thing though: I have the monitor via the HDMI and for audio the conversion cord: the only thing I do not have is the Fio. And for the moment, I have no sound monitoring: does that make sense? For information, I am using a set of wireless clip on Senheiser mics.
Thx.
January 23rd, 2014 at 7:12 am
This feature is not available on 600D/T3i.
January 23rd, 2014 at 11:55 am
Hi Deejay,
Thx for your reply, but in your demo movie, you mention 600D/T3i. I build that set up from your advice to get audio monitoring: any advice what should I do now?
January 23rd, 2014 at 12:57 pm
If you want to monitor audio in that manner, get another camera. Or get a box that allows you to monitor the audio before it hits the camera. This video and posted before the release of the t3i, no one knew that Canon would change the audio controller chip in the camera to disable ML audio out support. That’s part of the reason why used t2i bodies hold their value and t3i bodies do not.
February 18th, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Great tips and solution…thanks! Do you happen to know if this configuration works with the new 70D?
Thx,
Mike
February 18th, 2014 at 4:28 pm
You’ll have to check magic lantern’s list of supported cameras. Not sure how far along they are with the 70D.
September 24th, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Hi, your system works for the canon 70D ? What can we have to do to get the audio ?
(Magic Lantern doesn’t work)