http://recording.org/mobile-recording/37895-need-help-recording-a-marching-band.html

That thread is very helpful, so thanks, but I'm somewhat unfamiliar with the audio jargon. I'm guessing I'd set up 4 omni-directional microphones (with wind screens) in the stands and plug them into a 4-channel mixer with lots of extension cords and send it to my laptop for mastering in the DAW. I've never done this before but in theory this should work. Right?

I would probably recommend cardioid and wind screens. Omni can help cut down on bass rumble from the wind but can create some different issues if you're new to outdoor mass ensemble recording.

You're not going to want to put the microphones in the stands. That's just too darn far away. They need to be down on the ground on the sidelines and spaced accordingly. Putting them in the stands will just get you crowd noise and missing the mark on the band.

Having directional microphones can be a plus. But directional microphones are much more susceptible to wind noise than any dynamic Omni directional microphone. Electro-voice 635's are hard to beat, same for the RE 50 (635 with extra shell shock absorption). Condenser microphones can also be used. But those really need to be shotgun condenser microphones with furry or hard case blimps. And you still need a few of those. That's a lot more money. A lot more money. Too much more money.

If you end up with the quintessential SM-57/58's, you're going to need a very large foam pop filter for those and those aren't cheap pop filters. They cost almost as much as that Electro-Voice 635 Omni directional microphone costs. Just for a piece of foam, special open cell foam. You can get away with a Radio Shaft foam pop filter for a 635, no problem.

So if you're using directional microphones on a windy day, you're screwed.
Mx. Remy Ann David