You might want to look at the Tascam UH 7000. They are down to $400 I understand from a $700 list. Stereo only, superior conversion and great preamps. Portable. High latency, but that shouldn't be a problem w/ in the box only. Some people (not me!) have compared them to upper price range units. They are a step (or half-a-step anyway) better than anything else at $1000. And you won't find anything a half step above them for several thousand $s. You won't outgrow them, which is something you can't say about most -$500 music products.