TEAC Corporation is proud to announce the development of the TASCAM CA-XLR2d professional audio XLR microphone adapter for mirrorless cameras. This product is targeted for worldwide release by the end of 2021.
The CA-XLR2d lineup is a collaboration between TEAC Corporation working independently with Canon Inc., FUJIFILM Corporation, and Nikon Corporation. The strategy is to combine the leading camera manufacturers' know-how, and the high-quality audio capturing technology from TASCAM.
Key Features
- Microphone adapter to add a professional audio XLR input to mirrorless cameras
- Direct digital audio transmission via a digitized accessory shoe with a built-in AD converter (only compatible for products from Canon and Fujifilm)
- Power is supplied by the Camera using the data transmission shoe (only compatible with products from Canon and Fujifilm)
- Build-in high-performance TASCAM HDDA (High Definition Discrete Architecture) mic-preamplifier achieves high-quality audio, low noise, wide dynamic range (Mic/Line level switchable, +48V Phantom power supply)
- 2 modes on analog output camera mode for audio transfer to camera's mic-in
Headphone mode: for direct headphone monitoring
The video and movie streaming market has been quickly expanding, and it is widely known that audio quality is one of the essential elements to influence viewers' engagement. Because of this, the number of video creators and producers who are exploring better audio quality as well as better image quality has been increasing.
Since mirrorless cameras typically used for high-quality video shooting do not accommodate an XLR input for professional microphones or a high-quality preamplifier, there are very limited options to upgrade your audio quality within the capability of the camera itself. Currently, when you need high-quality XLR microphones to capture professional audio, a digital audio recorder is required to capture audio separately from the camera. However, extra time is needed to synchronize your audio and video manually when editing.
To solve this issue, the CA-XLR2d was planned as an XLR input expansion adapter for mirrorless cameras that enables filmmakers and videographers to capture high-quality audio directly into cameras. The result is the audio from the XLR input is directly recorded into the camera along with the video. Filmmakers and videographers no longer need extra time to synchronize audio and movie when editing.
What is more remarkable is with a digitized accessory shoe from Canon and hot shoe from Fujifilm, the built-in high-performance AD converter will enable filmmakers to transfer crystal clear digitalized audio directly into cameras without any audio degradation.
CA-XLR2d is the perfect solution to meet the needs of professional users who demand the best audio quality to amateur users who are discovering a higher level of audio quality as part of video content.
Canon Kit “CA-XLR2d-C”
Thanks to co-design and evaluation of a digital hot shoe connection with Canon Inc., compliant with their Multi-function shoe, digital audio transmission directly into the camera and buss power supply from the camera is available for a cable-free system with high mobility. In addition, the CA-XLR2d is also planned to be compatible with the multi-function shoe of the Canon XF605 Professional Camcorder. This combination will provide a maximum of 4 XLR input channels in addition to the built-in 2 XLR channels on the camcorder.
Preliminary product compatibility includes: Mirrorless camera [EOS R3], Professional Camcorder [XF605]
With the included 2 x AA battery box and cold shoe mount adapter, CA-XLR2d also works with existing cameras that don't have the Multi-function hot shoe by connecting an analog audio cable between CA-XLR2d's analog out and camera's mic-in. Read the full Press Release
"Power is supplied by the Camera using the data transmission shoe (only compatible with products from Canon and Fujifilm)"
Maybe all of the Fuji compatible audio accessories will work
Added bonus: it works even with cameras who need the mic in port. Definitely going to the top of my list for equipment at my day job, since we use R series cameras on a gimbal and this could definitely come in handy for when we need an audio solution for the R series cameras.
On top of that, I'll definitely be getting one for my R5, and it adds a bonus that future cameras like the R3 will power it and accept additional channels through it.
Very exciting time to be working in video.
So put batteries in it and use the included cold shoe mount adapter, then connect a cable.
Of course it does mean people who like cages for their video rigs need to have hotshoe access for the R3, it will be interesting to see how the third party cage manufacturers allow for this. Smallrig already do this for their 1DX series cage.
There was a time when this would have been interesting but now that I have tried 32bit float I don't want to live with out it. What would be interesting is some thing like the tentacle sync that would sit on the hot shoe and send time code to the audio channel. If I am really going crazy, if some thing like this that did 32 bit float and time code so a Tentacle Sync E with just one XLR that sat on and fed audio through the hot shoe would be the bomb. Then again why doesn't Canon stick real time code in their high end hybrids. If BMD can do it with the BMPCC at half the price of an R5 then I don't see why Canon can't do it.
Development of new TASCAM XLR audio adapter allows mirrorless cameras in collaboration with Canon, Fujifilm, and Nikon to capture professional audio. | News Details | TASCAM - United States
Same with Atomos and the V+. Makes you wonder what a high mp R1 with an Atomos V+ and a TEAC XLR adapter will be capable of....
But the R5 doesn't have the "Data transmission shoe" that is one of the updates on the R3 - So I'm thinking it's unlikely this new Tascam adapter would work directly. There are however other Mic pre-amps available, but they input via the Mic In connection which is analogue, not digital.
Or, READ THE PRESS RELEASE! Or if you can’t be bothered to do that read the one paragraph from the press release I pasted above....