OT Portable Recording Studio Purchasing Advice Sought

[Rick Walker <looppool@cruzio.com>]

Hi everyone,    Rick Walker here.

Happy New Years to you all!

I have a production client right now who wants to invest in a really good
traveling recording studio.

He wants to be able to record on both Windows and Mac OSX

Right now we are deciding  about the purchase of items for a suitcase 
recording studio
that is really high quality  and
I wondered if anyone can advise me on what to advise him.

Firstly,    We are looking at the RME Firewire 400 and the 800
*1st Question:     Do you think the RME firewire 800 is too bulky for 
international travel.

2nd Question:    Is there another firewire (or USB2)  breakout box that 
you particularly
like as an alternative?   Anything less expensive than the RME that is 
comparable in quality?
*

His HP Pavillion DV5000 laptop doesn't have a Firewire interface but
there is a firewire card that he and purchase for to connect this.

*3rd Question:   Is there any down size to using a firewire interface 
for this particular computer?

********
********
*Next,  we are looking at getting a pencil condenser microphone that 
would be the equivalent
of the Neumann KM184  or the KM150.

These are very pricey mics.     

*4th Question:  Are there any screaming deals in high quality pencil 
condenser microphones
that you know of that are not so pricey?     *I know that there are now 
a plethora of good quality
condensers on the market including a lot of really inexpensive ones made 
in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Lastly,   we have looked at this unit for a lighweight and compact 
headphone distribution amplifier


  Sound Devices HX-3 - 3 Channel Portable Headphone Amplifier     
  price  $379.00

*5th Question:    Does anyone know of an alternate to this headphone 
amplifier that might be less expensive
but do the trick?   It needs to be very portable and run on batteries.

*Thanks so very much for your advice.  I sooo appreciate the level of 
expertise on this list.

yours,   in the loop,

Rick Walker
www.y2kloopfest.com