I don't plan on purchasing until at least August, but I may be too tempted to resist doing so. I need help narrowing down my options so my research isn't so broad. I'd be taping 'jam' & bluegrass. My budget is $1000, but I might be able to go a few hundred over (certainly no more than $1500). Ideally the rig should accommodate future upgrades well (swapping parts of the rig out for better equipment, and holding decent resale value).
I'd like to be able to run XY and ORTF. Cardioid microphones are my priority, but if I can, a pair of omni- caps (in addition to the cards-) would be nice, but not necessary.
My checklist is:
*2x microphones (fixed cardioid or ability to switch capsules)
*Depending on the microphones, a set of card caps (and possibly a set of omni caps)
*Preamp
*Recorder
*Cables
*Stand (for running XY and ORTF)
*Battery box
For microphones, I'm thinking of Busman BSC-1s or Church's new CA-14s. If I can get a good deal in the Yard Sale, I'd really like to run AKG 480s. If I go with Church's CA-14s (dedicated cardioid mics), I'd get his 9100 preamp (would run about $350). I'm thinking of an R-09 as a recorder or an iRiver if it'll record 24bit.
I'm very unfamiliar with preamps, cables, battery boxes, and stands, so I need help there too. I have no idea what or how many cables I'd need to run. So I ask you, if you had $1000 (maybe a bit more) to drop for an entire rig, what would you get? Don't feel the need to spend my limit, too; if you can think of a good beginner rig for cheaper, let me know.
Like I said, I don't plan on buying _too_ soon, but I'd like adequate time to research products within my price range so I can get the rig before I move back out to Colorado in August. If there seems to be some general consensus on the sort of gear I should pick up in this price range, I'd love to buy the items sooner and test them out this summer here in MN.
Thanks!
(edit: Page 3 has updates)