Well after that Mike the least expensive way to go directly into the XLR (Phantom)on the Fostex, the Zoom doesn't have an XLR input for the Phantom switch required by stuido quality recording Mics it seems

My Mackie has the Phantom switch, but if it is causing some of the noise it's useless.
I definitely need to get a mic that will pick up the sounds coming from the many places on my sax and yet delete the extra noise. I also need the sound card.

Is the sound blaster the only card that will work with my dinosaur computer?

I have to get a brick job. Playing at the coffe house isn't going to pay for any of this stuff.

I'm gonna start off with a sound card and work with Audacity a bit more and if it gets me peaved again, I doing what Terry said and get the stand alone.

Thanks to everyone,
Boo