Simple location recording setup

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I have had good results recently recording my wife's vocal group with a
Hi-MD recorder attached to their Mackie mixer. Now my wife--with her
fresh composition degree--asked me if I could record performances of
some of her music. It's generally a handful of acoustic instruments - a
3 to 5 woodwinds or strings plus a piano for the most part.

In the interests of simplicity--no mixer for one--I think a stereo mic
and a 2-channel preamp hooked to the Hi-MD gadget might do what I want.
These recordings are meant to be more documentary than
professional/commercial.

If I'm not way off base, can someone recommend a decent stereo mic. I
can spend some hundreds, but not thousands, of dollars...

TIA

Jason