"Tom" wrote in message

Hi Folks,

I'm conscious of the fact that recording via my microphone through my
existing on board sound (SoundStorm NVIDIA) is of poor quality.

Are there any USB/1394 devices which have break-out boxes, enabling
recording through mic/line in, spdif etc which don't utilise a sound
card or the onboard facilities?

Like a ton of them.

http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/USBaudio.php

http://messe.harmony-central.com/Mus.../PR/UA-3D.html

http://www.motu.com/english/motuaudio/896/body.html

http://www.djmart.com/tausbauin.html

etc., etc.

Try google with usb audio interface, as well as 1394 audio interface .