http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2011/speedlite_tip_pt2_article.shtml
Excerpt from the above link:
”The focal-plane shutter in a D-SLR has two curtains, one of which covers the sensor. At exposures above the camera’s maximum flash synchronization speed (let’s use 1/500 second for example) the first curtain moves across the sensor, followed a few milliseconds later by the second curtain. This creates a gap between the two curtains. It is this gap traveling across the sensor that exposes the sensor to light.
When the shutter is at or slower than its maximum sync speed, however, the first curtain will travel completely across the sensor before the second curtain closes behind it. The instant between when the sensor is completely uncovered but before the second curtain starts to close is when the camera triggers the flash unit.”
Check the Canon Digital Learning Center for more articles. From the above, I would conclude that the first curtain shutter is definitely used in normal mode. In lieu of better infor, only testing can confirm or deny this for silent mode.
[EDIT]. I never take photos in LV mode. I use it to manually focus, but shut it down to take a photo using the viewfinder.
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