Putting it altogether: The rig

[Foster Kane]

So, I am looking at a T3I. I already have a Rodevideo mic, but from what I understand there is no head phone jack for a T3I. I am looking at the H4N recorder and I wanted to know if there is a rig that you can you can attach to the H4N to the T3I.

What would be idea is an attachment that allows a headphone jack.

Any suggestions?

 

[Phil_UK]

To be honest, it wouldn't make that much sense to buy a H4N, because you do not need XLR inputs...
I think you would be fine with a Zoom H1 which is much cheaper and is reall really awesome.
I dont really get what kind of attachment you mean, but the Zoom H4N, aswell as the H1 both have headphone jacks!

 

[Foster Kane]

To be honest, it wouldn't make that much sense to buy a H4N, because you do not need XLR inputs...
I think you would be fine with a Zoom H1 which is much cheaper and is reall really awesome.
I dont really get what kind of attachment you mean, but the Zoom H4N, aswell as the H1 both have headphone jacks!

Thanks for the heads up.
How would you attach the Zoom H1 to the T3I?

 

[M. Gilden]

If you want audio recording in the camera with headphone monitoring, you need a camera that supports Magic Lantern (currently only the t2i and 5D).

It uses the video out cable to attach to a headphone line (you can either put adapters on the cable that is supplied with the camera, or buy an adapter that goes straight from the camera to a 3.5mm jack). But, if you already bought the t3i, you're out of luck. They'll probably port over ML eventually, but nothing is going on there yet.

Meanwhile, your only other option is to use something like the Zoom H4N or H1 to listen live and record audio SEPARATELY from the camera (just remember to press record on the camera and on the recorder!), then sync in post production. There is software that makes syncing up the sound easier (called pluraleyes), but it is not as convenient as being to record audio directly into the camera.

 

[Foster Kane]

If you want audio recording in the camera with headphone monitoring, you need a camera that supports Magic Lantern (currently only the t2i and 5D).

It uses the video out cable to attach to a headphone line (you can either put adapters on the cable that is supplied with the camera, or buy an adapter that goes straight from the camera to a 3.5mm jack). But, if you already bought the t3i, you're out of luck. They'll probably port over ML eventually, but nothing is going on there yet.

Meanwhile, your only other option is to use something like the Zoom H4N or H1 to listen live and record audio SEPARATELY from the camera (just remember to press record on the camera and on the recorder!), then sync in post production. There is software that makes syncing up the sound easier (called pluraleyes), but it is not as convenient as being to record audio directly into the camera.

I haven't bought the t3I yet. So what you are saying is if I stick with the T2I or 5D, all I have to do is download ML and I will be able to attach my headphones in the video jack?

 

[M. Gilden]

I haven't bought the t3I yet. So what you are saying is if I stick with the T2I or 5D, all I have to do is download ML and I will be able to attach my headphones in the video jack?

Sort of- the t2i doesn't actually have a video jack. It has HDMI, and also an analog video out cable (composite yellow/white/red plug) that goes from the camera's USB port into a standard def screen. If you put an adapter on the audio channels (the red and white ones) to go into headphones, all you have to do is run the Magic Lantern firmware and you can tell it to route all sound to the headphones during recording.
You can also buy an adapter to straight from the camera's USB port to a 3.5mm jack, and avoid having so many wires daisy chained to each other.
The 5D I think has a regular 3.5mm jack for video out, which would make this a very simple setup (still might need an adapter to avoid having the video channel being on one of the audio channels).

Things to know about this setup: When doing this, I'm fairly certain the HDMI out won't work at the same time. So, if you need HDMI to an external monitor during filming, you have to consider that.
Also, the volume is a little low, so some folks recommend an amplifier on the headphone line (Fiio makes one for less than $10).

Magic Lantern is one of the reasons the T2i is still more valuable to a lot of video shooters than the T3i. For now. Its really just a matter of time before someone ports it over, I'm sure.