Clean signal output from an old and venerable Canon XL1?

[norvan5]

Hi all,

For the fun of it, I’m running video and audio out via RCA from a Canon XL1 (not XL1s or XL2) to an immersion RC Powerplay recorder. I would like to record a clean signal from the cam but I can’t get rid of the date and other info displayed onscreen as pictured below. I’ve been through the menus and don’t see an option to switch off display info. Is it not possible to get a clean signal out like this?

 

[norvan5]

Only clean signal out that I can get so far is in the camcorder’s VCR mode, which does allow you to play back a tape and record it to the powerplay. But that means using tapes.... I was rather hoping for a clean live signal out straight to the recorder....

 

[CharlesPapert]

Too far back for me to remember this, but scrounging around I found intel that you need the remote that came with the camera, pushing the "on screen" button would remove the data. I have vague memories of this...or do I?!

 

[norvan5]

Too far back for me to remember this, but scrounging around I found intel that you need the remote that came with the camera, pushing the "on screen" button would remove the data. I have vague memories of this...or do I?!

Thank you! That’s worth trying for sure and might very well solve the problem. The XL1 I have here was sourced on ebay on the cheap and came without a remote unfortunately . Shouldn’t be too difficult to source one though. I’ll report back here in due course to advise if it works or not.

 

[norvan5]

So, I tested it and I’m delighted to report that the remote control button ‘onscreen’ does deactivate the text overlays to give you a clean signal out to a recorder. It doesn’t remove the overlay from the cam’s own eyepiece monitor, but the signal itself goes out clean. Thanks Charles!

 

[JimGao]

Can i just say how amazing this thread is. I can’t think of the last time i have seen someone follow up on a forum. that is bad ass!

This is also making me want to shoot MiniDV. pretty inspiring!

 

[norvan5]

Can i just say how amazing this thread is. I can’t think of the last time i have seen someone follow up on a forum. that is bad ass!

This is also making me want to shoot MiniDV. pretty inspiring!

Cheers! Mini DV is the way of the future! Well, maybe not. But it sure is fun to play around with. The 4:3 aspect ratio certainly takes a sec to adjust to, as does SD resolution. Hope you do dig out that old mini dv cam again and enjoy! My next experiment will be trying DVCAM which seem to be bigger tapes, longer recording times and (maybe) better quality...

 

[JimGao]

Cheers! Mini DV is the way of the future! Well, maybe not. But it sure is fun to play around with. The 4:3 aspect ratio certainly takes a sec to adjust to, as does SD resolution. Hope you do dig out that old mini dv cam again and enjoy! My next experiment will be trying DVCAM which seem to be bigger tapes, longer recording times and (maybe) better quality...

That sounds cool! I’d imagine the best of their time is always the best. Can’t beat a classic!

 

[CharlesPapert]

Glad to be of service!

Old video cameras are starting to become trendy as a look, unsurprisingly. While the older DV cameras like the XL1 do indeed have their own vibe, I have a fondness for the older school tube-based cameras from the 70's and 80's (probably because that's what I started on). I have a collection of single tube home video cameras plus a fleet of 3-tube industrial cameras (JVC KY1900) that I rent out, with integrated SDI converters and onboard recorders. https://www.zgrents.com/tubecameras

 

[norvan5]

Glad to be of service!

Old video cameras are starting to become trendy as a look, unsurprisingly. While the older DV cameras like the XL1 do indeed have their own vibe, I have a fondness for the older school tube-based cameras from the 70's and 80's (probably because that's what I started on). I have a collection of single tube home video cameras plus a fleet of 3-tube industrial cameras (JVC KY1900) that I rent out, with integrated SDI converters and onboard recorders. https://www.zgrents.com/tubecameras

That is old school! Looks tidy enough rigged up fully with recorders on your website. Heavy cams I expect. My next cam is not quite so vintage - a Sony DSR 250. Has SDI out, I think (I hope). Will find out on delivery. Same vintage as the Pd150 and the like, I believe.

 

[norvan5]

That sounds cool! I’d imagine the best of their time is always the best. Can’t beat a classic!

It’s here and in great condition for its age! The DVCAM Sony DSR 250P. It’s quirky as hell so far. The lcd is in full colour but the evf is in b&w. Challenging to operate on the shoulder all day if relying mostly on the b&w evf, no? Anyhow, I can get a clean signal out via RCA to the powerplay recorder but cannot get any signal at all out via the ‘video out’ which takes a bnc connector to attach to my Blackmagic video assist (but which outputs zero when I do connect it). I’ve tried tweaking menu options, changing from dvcam to sp dv etc and yet, no signal out... Is it me or a defective part, I wonder?

 

[NorBro]

Maybe the SDI is burnt, IDK. One note about the B&W viewfinder: Although I personally never used one, there have been guys on here over the years who preferred nothing else and some said they had trouble transitioning to color when it was time. Probably partly due to the brain getting used to processing exposure and focus in a monochrome environment.

 

[norvan5]

Maybe the SDI is burnt, IDK. One note about the B&W viewfinder: Although I personally never used one, there have been guys on here over the years who preferred nothing else and some said they had trouble transitioning to color when it was time. Probably partly due to the brain getting used to processing exposure and focus in a monochrome environment.

That’s interesting. You do have exposure tools (zebras), I suppose, and a faint white peaking outline (white in a b&w display though), but I’d have to keep checking the lcd to get a better idea of my overall shot if I was using this for a job today. That would be ok if it was locked down on a tripod but not run’n’gun. Will try it out, maybe my brain will adjust and the b&w will work a treat!

 

[JimGao]

That’s interesting. You do have exposure tools (zebras), I suppose, and a faint white peaking outline (white in a b&w display though), but I’d have to keep checking the lcd to get a better idea of my overall shot if I was using this for a job today. That would be ok if it was locked down on a tripod but not run’n’gun. Will try it out, maybe my brain will adjust and the b&w will work a treat!

The basics of composition and lighting are in many ways a shading thing, especially lighting. Thinkingnin black and white can help remove some distractions. Personally i prefer color but i’ll occasionally still jump over to black and white for lighting.

But a big reason for B&W viewfinders early on was for the resolution and focus. BW was sharper.

 

[JimGao]

It’s here and in great condition for its age! The DVCAM Sony DSR 250P. It’s quirky as hell so far. The lcd is in full colour but the evf is in b&w. Challenging to operate on the shoulder all day if relying mostly on the b&w evf, no? Anyhow, I can get a clean signal out via RCA to the powerplay recorder but cannot get any signal at all out via the ‘video out’ which takes a bnc connector to attach to my Blackmagic video assist (but which outputs zero when I do connect it). I’ve tried tweaking menu options, changing from dvcam to sp dv etc and yet, no signal out... Is it me or a defective part, I wonder?

Sometimes there is a conflict between analog signal and the recorder only accepting digital. check your camera and recorder and make sure they are communicating in the same realm. Monitor or MON out should work too, if the camera has it. might help with problem solving

 

[JimGao]

It’s here and in great condition for its age! The DVCAM Sony DSR 250P.

BTw, beautiful looking machine! Nice find!

 

[norvan5]

Sometimes there is a conflict between analog signal and the recorder only accepting digital. check your camera and recorder and make sure they are communicating in the same realm. Monitor or MON out should work too, if the camera has it. might help with problem solving

No monitor out or MON option. I have tried every conceivable menu option (a nice learning experience actually) but I think I have a dud bnc connector. I asked the seller too but no success in getting the technical problem solved (we have worked out a partial refund though, so fair play to him). All in all, a nice addition to my old cam collection.

 

[JimGao]

No monitor out or MON option. I have tried every conceivable menu option (a nice learning experience actually) but I think I have a dud bnc connector. I asked the seller too but no success in getting the technical problem solved (we have worked out a partial refund though, so fair play to him). All in all, a nice addition to my old cam collection.

Sorry to hear that. And you are sure that the Blackmagic Video assist accepts analog video signals?

 

[norvan5]

BTw, beautiful looking machine! Nice find!

Cheers. Build quality on these older cams is great. This one seems to be from a time when they were transitioning from those very heavy cams made with loads of metal parts to almost fully plastic made cams. It’s heavy but not too heavy, a good mix of metal and plastic. But here’s the thing, stick a vlock battery on the back and plop it on your shoulder and it has great balance and hardly weighs anything at all.

 

[JimGao]

…or that the DSR is able to output digital video


i seem to recall needing to get an AJA kipro mini so that i could record analog video, because the Blackmagic Video Assist does not record or display analog. Just going from my memory, i could be wrong.

If you have a BNC to RCA adapter plug (cheap) you could possibly send video to your other recorder or an old TV