creative nomad jukebox
http://www.nomadworld.com/products/Jukebox3/
http://www6.tomshardware.com/mobile/20020419/jukeboxiii-05.html
dismantled here:
http://www4.tomshardware.com/mobile/20001110/mp3-14.html
does not play 96kHz files:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nomadjukebox/page2.asp
20GB for AU$400 here:
http://www.mp3direct.com.au/webstore/pdinfoadv.asp?productID=81
analog mic pres to digital spdif output
http://www.core-sound.com/inbox.html
JNC has “voice recording”
http://www.jnc-digital.com.au/products.php
Neuros records to HD from fm, line in or internal mic
http://www.neurosaudio.com/store/prod_neuros.asp
digital format converters incl spdif adat etc, but nothing to combine spdif to a single adat
http://64.213.162.194/catalog/ws2001/converters.html
cantar-x crazy mutha.
http://www.aaton.com/products/sound/cantar/
Boss BR-532 records to smart media. can be battery powered.
http://www.rolandus.com/products/details.asp?catid=12&subcatid=48&prodid=BR-532
maybe some of these portable 4-track recorders would be useful:
http://www.bizrate.com/buy/products__att278376–275668-,cat_id–521908.html
m-audio firewire 410 does 2 mic preamps and 4 ins for b/w $700 - $1000 AU.
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWire410-focus.html
… and even the more expensive 1814 only has dual preamps.
Sound Devices 744T does portable 4ch recording for US$4250
http://www.sounddevices.com/products/7.htm
Maybe can hire gear in Sydney?
At Metroscreen, even for portable dat, hire costs over $100 a day.
http://www.metroscreen.com.au/facilities.html#sound
Zaxcom has portable multichannel hd recording gear (with soundfield conversion options) at $10,000
http://www.zaxcom.com/audio/deva4.shtml
Some other solutions here (with shocking web design!):
http://www.sonicstudios.com/