Thanks Bill,

I've tried every configuration available and I did plug it in exactly as you stated, but there was still a noticeable drop off in performance.

For playing VST instruments only, the laptop soundcard with ASIO4all actually seems to sound as good and with less latency than my M-Audio card, even with updated drivers. If I am only using 1 or 2 Vsti tracks, the noise floor issue isn't a big deal. It becomes much more of an issue when you combine 8 or 10 recorded tracks and mix down to stereo from within the computer, because the noise from each track then has a cumulative effect, and it does become quite apparent in a mixdown.

I used to use 2 computers, but really the second computer was strictly an Audio DAW. I find it much more convenient to use the H4 instead. If I were only recording and not using much VST stuff, then I would happily record into my laptop.

Daren,

I'm not sure of the pricing due to my lack of knowledge of the exchage rates, but I paid $299 USd, and really I couldn't find anything that was a better value in that range. The H4 fits inside of a jacket pocket, and even though I mostly use direct line in recording, the built microphones themselves do a pretty good job of recording

Here is a link for one review, and although it isn't from a dedicated audio site, it pretty much mirrors some of the other reviews that I saw online before I purchased mine.
http://homerecording.about.com/od/productreviews/fr/h4_review.htm

Regards,

AJ



[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 04-15-2007).]