Inexpensive, Portable, Stereo XLR Rig

[pianogineer]

Hi All,

I'm relatively new to this. My main interests are for recording my band's live shows, etc.

I have an Edirol R-09HR, as well as an old school minidisc recorder. They both have 1/8" stereo Line In's. I want to do most of my recordings using a pair of XLR cardiod mics.

I'm trying to figure out an inexpensive, clean, and relatively portable (battery operated) way to go from the XLR's (obviously balanced) to the 1/8" unbalanced. I've done some searching and haven't really figured out a good solution for this. The best I can figure is either a mixer with built in preamps (like the Behringer 1002B), or a mixer with external preamp. Since I don't really need a mixer so to speak, ideally I'd find a single unit preamp that outputs unbalanced signals, which can then just be cable-adapted into the recorder.

I'm looking to spend <$100 at this point, until I get my feet a little bit wetter and figure out what I really want/need.

[fmaderjr]

Don't waste your money on a Behringer. I guess there are decent options for $100 that someone else can fill you in on, but I'd recommend saving up $250 or so and getting a Naiant Littlebox configured to your specifications.

[pianogineer]

Yeah... I think eventually I'd like to go with something like the Naiant Littlebox or an Edirol UA-5, but we've got a gig on Thursday that I'm thinking of picking something up for (i.e. I'll need to get it at a brick and mortar store if I'm going to have it by then). (Note: I'm using my R-09HR to get a soundboard feed, so I'll be recording the mics on my minidisc, so that may be the limiting factor in terms of quality for this particular gig).

[fmaderjr]

Even non Hi-MD  Mini-disc sounds good enough in SP mode that your mics and their placement will likely be the limiting factor (assuming you don't have to use something noisy to provide phantom power to the mics).

[sunjan]

I'm looking to spend <$100 at this point, until I get my feet a little bit wetter and figure out what I really want/need.

Maybe too late, but I'm curious if you found a solution to your problem?
So you wanted to go: phantom powered mics > > minidisc (legacy model)

As mentioned, the UA-5 goes for more than $100, otherwise that would have been your best bet.

Here are your options with usual street price (for units without pre, go mic-in on your MD)
Samson S-Phantom (AKA OSP PPS-2)  - $37
Art Phantom II (AKA Omnitronic LH-051, AKA Australian Monitor PPA2) - $47
Nady  DMP-2 (AKA Hitec Audio PreMobile 2) - $49
Rolls PB224 - $72
PS-2 - check the YS for any good deals