Setting Canon Cameras to 23.976

If a cannon camera is in 24p in the “system frequency” setting it literally thinks it’s in film mode, and will only do true 24p. Not 23.98p. It’s confusing because 99.999% of the time someone says “24p” they actually mean “23.98p” if you want to get really nerdy 23.98 is technically 23.976. True “24p” is literally only used on film sets. 

So 23.98p is actually what people mean when they say 24p. It’s very confusing.

So the cannon camera has to be in the “system frequency” setting of 59.94. Once it’s there, you have the ability to select the record format frame rate of “23.98”.Then 1080p23.98 is the true setting for both the camera and the switcher.

There is also the option to clock the system in 59.94 and use a “VFR” function that’s in the custom buttons page. It has arrows that look like “59.94 -> 24”. of course in that instance it’s using a 3.2 pulldown in real time to “show” “24” when the actual system is 59.94. Canon is not great at this but they at least have it. 

Short answer, system frequency 59.94. Record format 23.98. Switcher setting 1080p23.98 = what everyone means when they say they want true 24 in broadcast with a c200 or 300.