"...a tough small handheld portable..."
This leaves out all the HHB/Zaxcom/Cantar gear, which can be called "transportable"
only because they have a handle to help you lug them in from the car.
"i will be travelling on horseback and collecting additional audio..."
This makes me think that timecode sync with video camera footage is
not an important criterion.
"...an audio recorder that is hand-held...and i can put batteries in..."
That requirement makes me think the Microtrack 2496 plus external AA battery box
would not be a good solution. Better to have the battery compartment
an integral part of the recorder.
Three alternatives come to mind: Sony Hi-MD minidisc, Edirol R-1, and
Marantz PMD660. All are small enough to operate while holding in one hand,
run on standard batteries, and can record uncompressed PCM.
The R-1 and PMD660 use Compactflash as the recording medium. Given the
cost of Compactflash, it's likely that each day's recordings will have to be
transferred to a computer or storage device like the Hyperdrive
http://www.hyperdrive.com). This adds to the cost and complexity of
the trip. I'm also unsure if a laptop can survive bouncing around for several
days on horseback.
All this leads me to recommend the Sony Hi-MD recorder. Hi-MD offers a
unique set of features that are a good fit with the requirements of this project.
Hi-MD records uncompressed at 16/44.1, which is CD-quality audio. That's the
same quality as most camcorders, so it shouldn't be a problem matching the
audio to audio captured with the camcorder.
The Hi-MD recorder is cheap enough that the group could take several.
The Sony MZ-NH910 costs only $175. This gives a backup in case a recorder
is accidentally sat on, dropped into a stream or stepped on by a horse
(there's nothing more frustrating than broken equipment on location).
Hi-MD recorders will record for about 3 hours on a single AA alkaline battery.
Double that time (and cut the number of batteries you need) by using
lithium AAs.
The Hi-MD machine is small enough (4 inches square, and 6 ounces with AA
battery) to carry in a pocket, protected from the elements, but still at
hand, ready to quickly record.
The Hi-MD discs are inexpensive (about $6.50 each, with capacity to hold
94 minutes of stereo recordings). Minidiscs have proven to be reliable in dusty
and humid conditions. The discs are plenty durable enough to bounce around
in a saddlebag for weeks. Just keep them dry.
Hi-MDs have a couple of limitations. First, the small size of the recorder means
tiny control buttons and a small LCD display. The control buttons are relatively
fragile and will start giving trouble after a couple of years of use. And many
controls are accessed through the recorder's menus, rather than by dedicated
switches or knobs on the outside of the recorder. This can be a pain, but
you get used to it.
Hi-MD provides voltage for "plug-in power" mics, not the higher voltage "phantom
power" many pro mics require. There are plenty of good mics that can run
on "plug-in power," or you can select a mic that has its own battery.
Flintstone