Thanks for the input, to clarify:
I’ll be using two cameras 90% of the time, with a 3rd and 4th camera as necessary.
As for the ‘wildly varying’ environments, I’ll be working in many different people’s homes, and for the larger groups (4+) we will obviously try to find the best location we can, but with very limited time and options.
I like the idea of using 1-2 boom mics, but I’m concerned about sound quality from a boom mic in varying indoor settings, I just don’t have experience with that because when I’ve worked indoors I’ve encountered too much echo / background noise and used lavalieres instead. (never worked with more than two subjects.)
Is a single, more cardioid microphone like a (Blue Yeti price range) an option for useable sound from a group? (I’m thinking of hanging it above and in front of them) I just have no concept for how that would compare to the room noise / echo from a shotgun microphone on a boom.
And one last little question: The Tascam has 2 balanced inputs and a single, stereo 3.5mm input. To record from 4 sources can I use a simple splitter on the 3.5mm jack?
Thanks again for the help!
– Max