On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:44:08 +0000, Frederick Smith wrote:

OK ... if it was copy protected media, would I still be able to hear it
through the monitor ?

This is a red herring. DRM and the like are not the same thing as copy
protection that can be applied to S/PDIF.

Long term, if I manage to get it working, I was hoping to record audio
material from either a freeview box, or from a DAB receiver - the CD
audio excursion is just to see if I can get the recorder to work.

The SB card IS the default device - there is no other audio device

On my mAudio card, you can select S/PDIF as a seperate input or select it
in the sound card's own software. I'm not familiar with the sound card
you're using, but I'm sure there must be a setting somewhere. At the
moment is sounds as though the computer is simply listening to the wrong
input when trying to record. You could also try the settings in the
software you're using to try to record. Obviously the S/PDIF input is
working as you say you can monitor it.