field recorders

If you're going to buy top-quality mics, don't run them into a poor-quality recorder. While I haven't used that model of Fostex before... I would personally say save your money for the Tascam HD-P2. It's well-worth it if you're just getting into field-recording. I didn't read the Fostex too closely, but I bet it isn't capable of timecode jam-sync like the P2, and I bet it can't record in 24p pulldown.
 
I started off using a Korg D12, and now have a Roland 8 track. They make a huge difference over recording to your camera, but not likely as good as a Deva or Tascam with time code. The biggest weakness is, the things aren't portable. I was shooting a concert, and the breakers kept blowing, which meant I kept losing anything that hadn't been saved. I think maybe using an battery back up might help, but you still need an outlet to plug it in.
 
what top of the line hyper and shotgun you have in mind ?
if you have dissent camera i will be staying with mixer/ preamp instead
 
Thanks everyone. Great responses.

Oleg, that was going to be my next question. I think im going to get a mixer instead.,.. cause i can go into the dvx, which has good audio.

Mics are another question.. i have gone back and forth ..... im the type of person that doesnt want to buy again..

at first i was going to get a AKG CK93 for indoor and an Audio Technica 4073a for outside.

But now im thinking i should get a Sennheisser MKH50 (weven though it will be more than both of those put together).. and be done with it.

Granted this is primarily an indoor mic.. but most of our shooting will be indoors. And doesnt the MKH sound decent outdoors too? If not, we could rent a shotgun if we shoot outdoors.

I just hate to buy mics that are mediocre.. knowing someday i will want to get better. Id rather buy one Great one , than two good ones....
 
Exactly what are you shooting? That right there might answer your question for you. Just doing docs and interviews, a mixer is fine. Doing music groups, I like to spread instruments and vocals out on different channels, then adjust and mix down in post.
 
Hi Capt...

right now im shooting short films (24p, not actually film).. and after a few more shorts.. we are going to move on to a feature and hopefully more features after that if all goes well.

The goal being the best audio possible with our limited budget....

Ultimately, i know we need a good mixer like the sound devices, and preferably a seperate audio recorder like the tascam mentioned here... based on what oleg said, and it makes sense.. First the mixer. Then the recorder.Although it looks like we will have to wait on both because I dont want to buy a mediocre audio field recorder or a mediocre mixer.... so i will wait til we can afford something like the p2 or a sound devices mixer..Im thinking along those same lines when it comes to the mic.

Even though we dont have a mixer and field recorder yet (we will be goin directly into the dvx).. i still reason that the MKH50 will still sound better than an AKG CK93 going directly into the camera. Plus, we wont have to sell it when it comes time to do our feature. (i like to buy things once and thats it.)..we can then add a 416 to our arsenal of mics. etc...

Hence my reason for thinking about getting the mkh50 instead of the ck93 and the 4073a together. One GREAT mic, instead of two medicre mics...I just cant stand spending money on "middle of the road" stuff... it seems more logical to purchase less of the better, than more of the not as good. In doing this (getting the mkh50 over the ck93 and 4073a) we would sacrifice the outdoor "shotgun" too, but we can always rent that, although it will be a pain.

So the ultimate goal is short films, commercials, and eventually feature film (s).

So i guess at this point in the post, i guess im not sure what im asking, cause my questions been answered about the field recorder.. but i suppose im just looking for opinions on my logic here... and perhaps opinions about how the mkh50 sounds outdoors...
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