Thanks again Taper Doctors. I'm truly on my way and will record with AUDIO IN and with a working battery on the mic!
On the stereo vs. mono question though, I'm sorry I'm struggling to see this as a necessity. When I'm recording I'm typically positioning myself in front of one of two PA stacks - which itself is mixed to mono as far as I can reason. I don't see how having two of the same mic positioned the width of my head apart is any different sonically. If two channel is the goal, I could even duplicate the single channel and fake stereo. Wouldn't that be the same really? I guess what I'm saying in stealth mode does stereo really make a difference of the mics are just the width of my glasses apart?
Please just tell me that the difference is noticeable. If that's the case is it better by a large degree would you say?
And finally last question if you're using the Senn's do you use the caps that were provided? I can't get a read on whether those are beneficial or not in a rock club environment. Why put something over the mic if there's no wind?
EDITED TO ADD - I just ordered another Sennheiser MKE 2EW Gold so I will be going true stereo. Chris at Sound Pros said "Well, a good stereo recoding has more depth than a mono recoding. TO your point, the width of your head is not much separation. However, if you place the mics on either side of your head, so that your head is between the mics, you will get a very realistic recording, with excellent separation - very close to a true binaural recoding."