Any thoughts on Fostex MR8 HD as dialog recorder?

Yes for low budget work, it will be sufficient - I personally would not use it because of its low quality characteristics.

What Exile pointed out, is a mixer that has fantastic pre-amps, runs on AC power like the Fostex but also has a firewire card that you can then record 12 channels of audio to a laptop or desktop computer (special deal on the firewire expansion card that jrrshop.com is running). Cost wise, if you have a laptop that you can use, this would be much better.

Also, if you go with a laptop, there are several laptop PCMCIA or USB powered audio interfaces (sound cards) that can record 4 channels of audio simultaneously.

Depending on your project, rental can sometimes be a better option - depends on how long you need the recorder.
 
this mixer could be converted working directly with dc source , but it would cost twice much the mixer :-).
while converting the ac the mixer pull around 3.5 amp per hour , with inverter which have efficiency of 85% the best, its around 4+ amp - so you need at least 2 33amp battery to stay alive all day work without ac .( the battery real amperage quit depends on how much you pull out - dont use small ones since it wouldn't work the same time as big per amper, ) - with the modification , the current consumption going be half from what i heard ,about 2 amp .
Dave from Coffey can point these who like it where they can make it in LA aria
for these who really thinking about large mixer, the 1620 is more then satisfied option ( about 2000 with dc conversion)
 
effective yes -quality wise , i doubt
the outboard recording will be better if you use better equip and easier on the set if you need more mobility with the camera , but frankly i was not impressed by what the fostex give you ( and that have nothing with the price issue) , better spend the money on good analog mixer and feed the camera with proper level. ,
if you have soundman which know how to mix ,2 channels is what you need in 95% of your work ( some people grew up with nagra 4.2 and know how to do it to 1 channel only:-))
you can pick up the ONYX and sell the card then add few drachmas and buy microtrack to run 2 additional channels if you like or run separately with slate all the time
 
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