"budget-wise, i'm not really restricted"
Hmmm...this one will be fun.
Of the top of my head...(This format is only for a stereo pair matched with the sbd)...
Source 1&2: DPA 4041 (LR) > Grace 201 > Fostex d2424lv(ch1&2)
Source 3&4: DPA 4011 (LR) > Grace 201 > Fostex d2424lv(ch3&4)
Source 5&6: SBD(mains or subs) > Fostex d2424lv(ch5&6)
Source 7&8: SBD(aux for backup) > Fostex d2424lv(ch7&
This system is designed for redundancy. You don't ever want to be caught with your pants down when one of your audience sources fails or one of the sbds feeds burps, cracks, drops, etc. 12K plus I assume you're probably running a digital FOH mixer with array, don't fool with the delay, you can snip edit this directly onto the hard disk recorder. All you have to do is snap to the front of the wav, find the delay and re-set the matrix - all in post and it should only take you a few minutes into post. If you lose the 4041 source, you have the 4011 source. If the 4041 source sounds better than the 4011 use it, and vice versa. In addition, if you lose the main due to some type of anomolie, you have the aux sends, but need to make sure that the aux is getting full mixdown. Of all the people doing this out there, there isn't enough emphasis on redundancy of the system. The Fostex will accept 8 channels at 24/96 and it sounds crisp. 12K venues? Jesus, find yourself a roadie to run a tension line somewhere near fob but flying them 30 feet above everyone's heads...you did say "budget-wise, i'm not really restricted" right?