sonic surrounds

Microphone FAQ includes information on how to create a cardioid pattern.
A paper on Advanced Microphone Technology (pdf).
A series of Technical Bulletins.

Some medium size studio cardioid capsules:
Audio Technica AT4051a-EL capsule element sold separately or as AT4051a microphone (with phantom power and bias circuit)
DPA 4021 capsule
Behringer B-5 microphone.

From Sennheiser’s Installed Sound / Contractor Mic series:
Sennheiser ME 34
A very small Sennheiser cardioid lavalier microphone:
Sennheiser ME4.

The following results are from a useful searchable microphone database, http://www.microphone-data.com:
AKG CK 97-C.
AKG CK 55L.
Audio Technica AT831b.
Audio Technica AT831R.
Audio Technica Pro 70.
Audio Technica Pro 7a.

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/

One likely option:
Sennheiser ME-104 lavalier capsule:
http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/04227#

see my
B&H Photo wishlist
for necessary accessories.

check out the Edirol R-4 4track harddisk recorder:

http://www.edirol.com/products/info/r4.html

US$1595 at B&H Photo (not yet available)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=356881&is=REG

at US$1595 is cheaper than any other 4track or more recorder I’ve come across.
In fact at this price it competes with the laptop+multichannel audio interface solution to portable multichannel field recording.
(eg Metric Halo Mobile I/O 2882 or RME Fireface at ~A$3000 or RME HDSP + QuadMic at a similar price)

Others include Sound Devices 744T at US$3950 retail:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=325631&is=REG

Need to make a comprehensive list at some stage and publish here in the blog.

All of these are from the fantastic B$H photo video web store:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=5691
listed under the category:
Home < Professional Audio < Field & Broadcast Audio < Recorders