Buy an extrernal soundcard like this one
www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/42277-tascam-us122-mk2-usb-2-0-audio-interface.html

or this one

www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/14453-tascam-us-144.html
(Bazongaloid, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:13, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

my drummer has the first one I think
to connect all his recording gear to his computer

what I really want is one of these:

www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/h4n/
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:18, Reply)

Careful...
the trouble with external soundcards is they're all USB. Whilst USB is generally agreed to be the absolute zenith of awesome as far as devices go, it will slow your soundcard down no end as all the information has to go from the soundcard to the motherboard via the USB controller. Better to get an internal one that connects directly to the motherboard.

Everything's better when it's internal.
(LongJohnBaldry, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:20, Reply)

Obviously yes this is true
but what if you have a laptop? If you're just recording one or two mic feeds with a couple of other tracks being played back then the slight latency involved with the USB controller is not noticeable.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:23, Reply)

I'd assumed he was referring to a desktop PC
But yes, a laptop would merit getting an external one.
(LongJohnBaldry, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:32, Reply)

I have one of those really small desktop PCs that has bugger all room for new internal stuff

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:33, Reply)

Well, I guess that settles that one then

(LongJohnBaldry, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:36, Reply)

Well, yes
but I've been using an external (albeit Firewire) interface for years with no problem. Will record 10 channels at 48k/24 bit without even getting out of breath.

Firewire is better than USB in this regard.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:23, Reply)

Yes, if you have a Mac with bus powered firewire slots
but for those of us in the real world with PCs, sadly firewire isn't so good. Although I do currently use a firewire extrernal soundcard, but it's a cheap Beringer one and I want something better.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:26, Reply)

You don't need
bus power if the interface comes with a power supply. Mine's an Edirol FA-101, and while I always use it on the Mac with FW bus power, it does have an external adaptor. The power switch slides one way for bus power and the other for external power, with the centre position being off. It does mean you can't record without access to a mains supply, but I'd never do that anyway.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:34, Reply)

I know you don't need it
but it's just less cable running power and therefore less chance for hum (like that's going to make a difference to my music anyway but I'm a perfectionist).

My main issue is that the firewire port on my laptop is the little 4 pin firewire one, which can physically fall out quite easily and therefore is a pain in the bum.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:41, Reply)

you're not supposed to put the other end in your bum

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:44, Reply)

Oh dear...
Suddenly it all makes sense...
( Cawl, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 10:44, Reply)

I don't know
why PC manufacturers insist on using the 4-pin variant. The 6 pin one is much more robust and useful and I'm sure it would only cost pennies to fit.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 11:19, Reply)