When it comes to ENG type stuff, I don't think the R44 nor the Fostex are really replacements for a decent mixer, and as a FP24 owner (same as mixpre), I can vouch for that being one nice preamp. Quiet, clean, lots o gain, limiters, xlr in/out, a mini return for monitoring (try that with one of the all-in-ones), tape out (mini out), runs on AAs or external battery, responsive meters, and all in a nice small BOMBPROOF package. That thing is field production ready that's for sure. That said, there's nothing quite like running an all-in-one unit for certain things, just so much easier, smaller, and with the R-series, you've got 4 chans, so nice...