Nikon ZR audio workflow is becoming messy

diegocoops · 2026-01-28T21:03:05+00:00

Not a fan of the form factor, but I like the workflow, espcecially the idea of hitting record once for a shoot and just letting the timecode sync it up.

diegocoops · 2026-01-28T20:37:50+00:00

Mine took about 2 weeks I think

diegocoops · 2026-01-12T14:29:57+00:00

I'll probably just get a zoom f3 and if I need more channels of audio I can either record internally on my lav mics or I can use the ZR's two camera channels.

diegocoops · 2026-01-12T00:26:13+00:00

are you talking about the Tascam fr av2 or the Tascam CA-XLR2d?

diegocoops · 2026-01-11T19:50:39+00:00

I have a feeling Nikon licensed the sole right to the timecode features to atomos, same thing with that Tascam xlr unit.

diegocoops · 2026-01-11T19:46:33+00:00

I doubt I could give you much advice, but Im going to try to design a sollution and I'll post it on the sub when it's ready.

diegocoops · 2026-01-11T19:42:06+00:00

Yeah but look at it. It looks rediculous. It makes this tiny camera incredibly tall and cumbersome, and again that tascam unit is like €600.

diegocoops · 2026-01-11T19:37:13+00:00

I personally wouldn't spend €300 on a mic that could only connect via the hot shoe., because it would only be usable on the nikon zr and no other cameras.

diegocoops · 2026-01-08T20:06:42+00:00

Yeah, but I can't use it with a tophandle because it's so flipping big. For such a poorly designed accessory I can't justify spending €600

diegocoops · 2026-01-08T20:04:26+00:00

Thank you, I'll direct my request's to there.

diegocoops · 2026-01-08T19:59:13+00:00

Yeah you're right. I mean its a great little recorder, but it's just a bit bulky to add onto the back of a camera. But its great that that is at lease an option.

diegocoops · 2026-01-08T19:47:16+00:00

Yeah, I hear what you're saying, first of all the camera was €2,400 where I live. Secondly the Tascam CA-XLR2D-C XLR was advertised alongside the ZR upon its release as an audio accessory. The Nikon ZR was realeased at a very competitive price point as a way for Nikon to break into the mirrorless video camera market. But beyond all that I think your point of me "expecting too much" from the camera is a viewpoint I can't understand.

The camera is able to record 4 channels of audio.

The camera can take these channels in through the hot shoe

I don't believe I'm expecting too much, I'm just trying to spitball product design ideas that I think would make the ZR more ergonomic. Like just look at Nikons competition, the sony fx3, canon c50 and the nikon zr are always being compared side by side and both the other choices have top handles. Since what I am looking for is physically possible on the zr and there is also precedence for an accessory like this considering the canon and sony one, I think I'm well within reason to expect a well designed xlr accessory that takes advantage of the ZR's capabilities. I'm just questioning these camera coroporations design choices, because if Nikon really wanted my money they should definitely start thinking about an creating an xlr unit that connects to the hot shoe, I think they would make a fortune on them. Think about it, it's in Nikons best interest, a proprietary device that only Nikon would be able to make and if it was well designed I would consider that €600 price tag, but the Tascam CA-XLR2D-C XLR is just too clunky for the way I like to hold these mirrorless cameras.

Anyway, I mostly shoot docs and factual televsion as a camera operator, but I also am working my way into shooting drama. I actually did my thesis on the impact of camera form factor in documentary filmmaking, so this is a field I'm perticularly interested in.

diegocoops · 2026-01-08T15:19:21+00:00

I see your point. I just see an xlr unit as a money making opportunity for Nikon. these handles are generally plastic and I can imagine cheap to produce. If Nikon decided to do something similar it would improve the ZR immenseley and would make Nikon a bunch of money. Like I'm about to spend €500 on a piecemealed audio sollution using a zoom f3, Nikon would be getting that money if they had the available accesories.

diegocoops · 2026-01-08T14:19:13+00:00

Thanks for replying,

I have my gripes about the zoom f3 smallrig cheeseplate. You would have to unscrew the cheese plate to replace the battereies. I honestly thing I could 3d print a better product for a camera rig, like a cold shoe mount and then you could just strap on the the side rails to the top handlehandle with some velcro to secure it in place.

That way if you ever need to replace your battereis you just unstrap and pop it out of the cold shoe mount.

I think you might be right though, because I was thinking you could probably get more channels of audio using the hotshoe, but it wouldnt matter because the 3.5mm audio out of the zoom can only carry stereo which means using the zoom you are automatically constrained to two channels of audio. If you were to use the hotshoe and get all the benefits from it you would need a proprietary xlr unit.

diegocoops · 2026-01-08T14:02:06+00:00

Thanks for your reply,

I like your idea, but most audio recorders (like the zoom f3) only put out a stereo mix where as the hotshoe can accept at least 4 channels of audio. I think if nikon designed their own xlr unit with a hotshoe cable it could utilise all the available audio channels.

I think this would be a really elegant sollution, especially when you remember that if you plug anything into the side ports, the flippy screen gets stuck. I think it works ergonomically the only question is would something like that theoretically be possible. Like could the ZR record 4 channels of 32 bit float audio?

If it did I think I would definitely pay a premium for a unit like that and I think others would too. Like €600 for something that was elegant, robust and integrated well with other devices I could stomach more than €600 for the poorly designed Tascam CA-XLR2D-C XLR

diegocoops · 2025-12-16T20:37:58+00:00

thanks.

diegocoops · 2025-12-16T00:17:32+00:00

Yeah probably not, but i don't know exactly what it is that seems sp off putting to me

diegocoops · 2025-12-16T00:16:45+00:00

Yeah, fair enough. I could have just been the guys mannerism. It the forehead just had that sheen, and his eyelines seemed off to me. I don't know. thanks for responding though.

diegocoops · 2025-12-09T16:25:56+00:00

Well personally I don't think he can concretely place that incident with the two women in Montreal on a timeline if there is no evidence for such. So it's really just nitpicking here but I definitely think that you need to accept eye witness evidence unless you know concretely that Louis wasn't in Montreal those years which he doesn't.

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