23Mar Sescom DSLR-550D-HOCF Headphone Monitoring Cable
One of the things that makes the Canon 5d Mark III an attractive prospect is the headphone monitoring jack. If you’re willing 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 the Sescom DSLR-550D-HOCF headphone monitoring cable.
This cable is basically just a Canon AVC-DC400ST cable that has been cut down to a smaller size, with a 3.5mm stereo female plug soldered on the other end. This gives you a USB like connector (proprietary Canon changes have been made) on one side of the cable and a place to plug your headphones in on the other. The price of the cable, as with most Sescom cables, is kind of expensive. With shipping this cable will set you back almost $50. Part of the reason for the price is that Sescom actually has to buy the DC400ST cable which runs around $25 directly from Canon then cut and modify it before send it out.
Even though the cable is very expensive it is one of the cleanest ways to get audio directly from the Canon t2i, or 60d running Magic lantern firmware. Regardless, full video review to follow.
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Thank you for sharing! This is great!
I’m not sure if I get right. This works only if you have Magic Lantern right ?
What about on the 5DMKII ?
March 24th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Sescom makes a $22 cable that provides the same function for the 5d mark II. Here’s the link.
March 24th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Awesome! Thank you so much Deejay!
I know is expensive, but having monitoring audio in my 60D and 5DMKII is priceless.
March 23rd, 2012 at 11:54 pm
A bit too expensive, yeah… but oh well, at least it exists!
Thanks for sharing! For now, Magic Lantern meters will have to do.
Only thing I’m still struggling with is to make it work with Eye-fi card…
March 24th, 2012 at 9:43 am
I’ll post some info on a DIY version of this cable today. Should save you a few dollars.
January 12th, 2015 at 11:09 pm
Hi Deejay,
Was wondering if you already put up a link for the DIY of this cable?
Can you possibly share the link?
Thanks and all the best.
January 13th, 2015 at 6:49 am
You can find the DIY build for this cable here.
March 24th, 2012 at 7:59 am
I assume this won’t work on a 7d?
March 24th, 2012 at 9:41 am
You are correct sir.
March 24th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Just to clarify my stupidity, does this allow one to monitor audio as it enters the camera, or does this confirm the audio has been recorded on the camera?
March 24th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
It allows you to hear the audio that is being recorded by the camera as it’s being recorded.
March 24th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
[…] I mentioned before, the Sescom USB to 3.5mm cable isn’t the cheapest method, but it […]
March 25th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Thx for this post.
I believe you mentioned your plans to cover all of the ML functions / capabilities / settings and deposit them on a separate page linked on your site.
I think that would be a tremendous resource … and at the same time, drive many people to your website.
If you were to put that much time and effort into it, your site would be the #1 resource of ML info. It would pay off for us and you.
Thanks so much and here is hoping you can accomplish such a task.
March 25th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Jake I’m working on it right now. I have to more posts to write and i’ll have the basic guide finished. Once that’s done there will be a new tab added to the site. Should be finished by the beginning of next month.
March 25th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Something driving me crazy and cannot find the answer to … in movie mode on my t2i (just downloaded the latest ML), my shutter speed fluctuates.
I guess I need a video tutorial on F stop, Shutter Speed and ISO controls for ML on a t2i.
July 19th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
I tried this cable and I could not hear any audio coming out of it. I am running magic lantern. What could I be doing wrong?
July 19th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
What Camera are you using?
August 7th, 2012 at 1:40 am
You mentioned that this will not work on the 7D.
I was wondering if it would work with the 7D’s new firmware update, now that you can manually set audio levels.
August 7th, 2012 at 5:22 am
It does work on the 7d with version 1.2.5 firmware. It was just hard to get the program to sync up with the camera. As I mentioned in the video, this probably due to switching between cameras. I will test it with the new firmware once I have a chance install it and test it out.
August 7th, 2012 at 10:29 am
Awesome!
I kind of figured that it would, I just wanted to make sure before I spent $45.00 on a cable.
Definitely let us know when you have tested it with firmware 2.0.0.
Thanks!
October 14th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Is there any way to monitor audio on the Canon 650/T4i? I use a Rode Videomic Pro connect to the mic jack so something to see or head audio would be great.
Your video are always great btw.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Cheers Michael
November 10th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Michael, Magic lantern is working on the t4i, but as of right now the only way to monitor audio recorded into the t4i is before the camera. Hope that helps.
November 10th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
thanks for the confirmation deejay. i’ll stay tuned..
November 12th, 2012 at 1:58 am
Really? Everything I have read on Magic Lantern shows that it not yet working on the 650d/T4i. Or has someone test this?
November 12th, 2012 at 8:42 am
As far as I know you can still adjust the audio input levels and change sources with magic lantern, you just can’t monitor audio from the camera. I could be wrong as I’m not a t4i owner.
November 5th, 2012 at 9:59 am
@michael mccoy, right there with you. I’m in the middle of purchasing audio equipment to my canon t4i and have been looking all over the web for info on audio monitoring but have yet to find a solid response.
I did just get the rode mic pro, but will probably use it on a boom hooked up to my future zoom h4n in called-for setups. i’m basically going to follow this guy’s setup..read the comments too..i’ll let you know if i find any more info on this..
http://vimeo.com/18109551
November 10th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
You could monitor the audio before it goes into the camera using a Y jack and amplifier, but you wont know how it turned out until you play it back.
January 9th, 2014 at 1:52 am
Deejay…been trying to find a way to monitor audio. I just bought my first DSRL-Nikon D5200, can see and adjust audio levels in camera.
Where do I get the amplifier (name-model) and cable-Toronto Canada
THX dan
January 9th, 2014 at 6:02 am
On the Nikon D5200 I believe your best option is to use a HDMI monitor with a headphone jack. The D5200 puts out clean HDMI with audio and you can use the monitor for both video and audio monitoring. If you’re working on a small budget, you might want to look at the Viltrox DC-50 for this option.
November 9th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Cheers apache. Although I’m wondering if anyone replies to message on here anymore. Think we are on our own for this one.
November 10th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Sorry Michael, old comment threads sometimes get pushed to the bottom and I miss the updates. Wondering if I should add a forum to the site.
November 12th, 2012 at 1:59 am
All good Deejay. Yes a forum may be great. Could also end up being another possible revenue stream for you if you can get the traffic.
Thanks for the reply. Cheers Michael
March 26th, 2013 at 7:43 am
can I use this cable for nikon D7000
March 26th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Not that I know of.
September 16th, 2013 at 8:52 am
this cable serves in canon 6d?
September 16th, 2013 at 10:46 am
Not sure if magic lantern has headphone output working via USB on the 6d. I would say probably not, unless someone has heard otherwise.
September 16th, 2013 at 10:57 pm
Will this cable work for Canon 70D?
December 17th, 2014 at 11:57 am
Hello there!
will this cable work with canon 650D?
Another thing is, I’m residing in BANGLADESH. If i order one of these cables, how is it going to reach me? and totally how much will it cost as well!
Thanks in Advance.
🙂
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:56 am
Is there still no solution for this cable to work on the canon 6D ?
November 3rd, 2015 at 8:50 pm
None that I know of.
December 9th, 2017 at 6:21 am
Hello, my profile canon 77D Is this adapter compatible with this camera?
January 10th, 2018 at 10:32 am
I have not tested it, so I don’t know. Sorry.