C500: Mic input - greyed out, no audio (C500 Mk I)

S

Steel

Active member
Trying to diagnose why I'm not getting any audio from the Mic in port.
Have followed what the manual says, and how it's supposed to be the number 1 port, with priority over the XLRs.
To that end I've tried it with a powered shotgun mic, but still nothing (with the top monitor unit unattached).
The option under audio settings, where you can choose 'automatic' or 'manual' for the mic in jack, as well as levels, is greyed out. It's like there's a different setting that is keeping me from being able to select them.
I've tried resetting all the camera settings, but nothing has changed.

Any help is appreciated!
Thanks~
 
Try putting the XLR unit back on the camera and shutting off any XLR settings, including phantom power.

Then double-check that any mic you're plugging into the 3.5mm input has its own power and it's working correctly (I think this camera does not support plug-in power like almost all modern cameras do today).

Then make sure the menu doesn't have any peculiar setting where you have to set an audio source manually or turn on the 3.5mm input (old technology can get weird).

Then try using the mic without the XLR unit attached.

P.S. You are talking about the 3.5mm port on the right side of the body, right? Just not sure what 'number 1 port' has to do with it?

Per usual there might be some discrepancy between the order of settings you choose, but I don't remember if that's the case and most people who have this issue are discovering that their mic wasn't properly powered (like missing a AA battery or the power switch was off).

If you're absolutely sure everything is correct then maybe the port is malfunctioning...used camera?
 
Thanks, Norbro

Unfortunately, none of that worked.
It's interesting because as far as I can tell, there isn't even a way to monitor audio levels without the XLR unit attached. The CH1/CH2 levels only show up when it is attached, and when it is disconnected, there is no single MIC/CH1 level that appears. (Although this may be due to the fact that the MIC terminal could be fried, and would explain why, even with the top handle detached and a powered 3.5mm mic attached to the MIC port, that the menu items pertaining to the MIC terminal remain greyed out). It's like it's not even recognising that something is plugged in, which is a little strange, as the port still seems tight and 'clicky.' I used to use a couple of well-worn 5D3s, and the mic ports on them had been used enough to become somewhat slippy.
And yes, I did buy it used, but hadn't tried the Mic terminal until just recently.

This is what I was referring to in regards to the 'number 1 port' (which admittedly wasn't very clear).
From the C500 manual:
'Selecting the Audio Input from the XLR Terminals
Using the XLR terminals CH1 and CH2, you can record audio independently to the two audio channels from a microphone or analog audio input source. Note that the camera's MIC terminal is given priority over the XLR terminals. To record audio from the XLR terminals, be sure not to connect any microphones to the MIC terminal.'

If anyone has any other ideas, all are appreciated.
Any way to test if a terminal is cooked?

Thanks
 
Hmm, definitely sounds like something's up...just to be clear, the XLRs work though?

Your investigation sounds thorough, but are you sure the 3.5mm plug is all the way in? Sometimes it requires an extra nudge to get the last 5% in.

P.S. Which microphone?
 
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The XLRs work, yes.
The mic is just a cheap Takstar SGC-598 - it works fine on my 1DC and EOS R. It's properly plugged in (and removed, and plugged in, multiple times) and powered on.
It's unfortunate because the C500 doesn't have any other audio inputs on the body, and it's nice to be able to strip off the silly top handle and really pair it down if I don't need 4K and still want a scrub track.

It's strange that the jack would be fried as I can't imagine it got too much use with the previous owner (though who knows). One of my monitor leads has been taped up, so presumably it was a little weakened at one point, so I'd assume the top unit saw more action than the lowly MIC terminal.
 
Hopefully others have some thoughts or it's just a setting that's simply off because other than that this is one of those hopeless situations not many can help you with besides Canon (if the port is fried and they would still even service the camera).

And I know this is the input on the body, but on a related note - and from what I vaguely remember - it seemed like those external attachments/cables were a big headache for people with the original C300s/C500s.

I actually owned the original C500 - brand new - for about a month, but never even took those pieces out of the plastic and used an Atomos for RAW.
 
I hope so, too, NorBro!

It's a real pain not having any kind of audio in on the stripped-down body. Always having to go through the XLRs, even for a simple wireless interview setup, is less than ideal.

Thanks again for your suggestions~
 
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