Hello fellow designers/recordists.
I am covering some old ground, but I'm looking to 'upgrade' from the H4n to something a little more semi-professional, without a sound devices pricetag.
For the under $1000 mark, I'm debating getting the H6, for its dual recording/ducking feature and multipleinputs, however rather than getting another handheld device, I'm wanting a slightly larger unit, which is where the Tascam DR-680 and Fostex FR-2LE become options, however t he main reason I have for upgrading is (unsurprisingly) improved pre's with further inputs, and I've heard everything from pre's are fine to terrible on the Tascam and Fostex. And when you have no retailers in town, you can't ask for a demonstration.
FFor the purposes of short film and live event location recording, if you have had experience with any or all of the devices, please let me know your opinion.
To add to the dilemma, the device with better pre's, ducking/back up recording/seperate camera out feed/timecode equipped or connection in that order of preferance (though understandibly not including all) is preferable.
On a final note, I am leaning toward the Tascam, hunowever have heard rumours of recording errors, no back-up recording and in practice, is the level meter difficult to read (with its 1 -12db mark)?
Thoughts, comments, or is there a 'holy budget grail' I have missed?
Thanks in advance...the debate is open...