I need to do some live recording of rehearsals to learn pieces, and my cassette recorder's quality is too poor to be much help. So I was thinking of making the jump to mini disc, unless there are other options I can't think of. DAT is nice, but too expensive -- especially when it hurts my feelings to spend $200 on a Sony MZ-N707 plus another $100-ish on a mic jut to record a practice tape!

I think the best option would be a standard CDR format in a portable recorder, but I can't find one.

Can anyone think of any other options? Mic recommendations? Helpful hints? I've been cruising the info at www.minidisc.org, but so much of it doesn't apply to the US market that it's hard for me to get the real scoop.