Here's a list of recorders under $5000 that can capture input
from four mics simultaneously. The list is ordered by price,
least expensive first. I found the prices using Google Shopping.
--oryoki
Zoom H2 $160
four internal mic capsules
supports only two external mics
Zoom H4n $290
two XLR inputs, one stereo 3.5mm input
Edirol R-4 $900
four XLR inputs
now discontinued in favor of R44
Edirol R-44 $850
four XLR inputs
control sync allows a second R-44 to be controlled
by the first R-44, for a total of eight channels
Edirol R-4 Pro $2000
four XLR inputs
SMPTE time code, master or slave
AES/EBU digital input and output
primary storage is an 80GB hard drive
Sound Devices 744t $4100
two mic inputs, two line level inputs
One interesting four channel preamp designed for
field use is the Core Sound 4Mic ($900). It includes
a preamp and A/D converter. The 4Mic can multiplex
four digital signals into two channels, allowing you
to record using a less expensive two channel recorder
that has an SPDIF digital input (e.g., M-Audio
Microtrack 2, Sony PCM-D50, Marantz PMD661). Presumably,
Core Sound offers software to de-multiplex the digital
signal into four discrete channels once you transfer the
audio file to a computer.
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