External sound cards for laptops

Can someone edumacate me on these? Or point me to some sort of learnding tool?

I think i need one.

Why?

Well, ive been through this on here before.
I cant seem to record anything onto my laptop without it sounding like shit. I go from the booth output on the mixer to the only input on my laptop, and it sounds tinny and has a nasty background hiss.

The only solution anyone has come up with is an external soundcard.

But ill be quite happy if you prove me wrong, suggest an easy fixit and make me look like a fool.

Well no, your right - the inbuilt soundcard on computers is shit.

You either record it into the comp. quiet, and have high noise floor (that hiss) or record it hot, and get to hear what crap conversion sounds like clipping.

So, yeah, your right - you simply need a higher quality soundcard for it, which is going to mean an external one.

Is it just for recording DJ mixes, or are you looking to do some production on it? Additionally, do you think you might get into a Timecode based digital system at some point, because some of those systems come with a soundcard that will do the job as well...

Cool. So, where can i get one from? And how much do they go for? Do they work through a USB port or some other port?

At the moment its more for recording mixes. I am trying my hand at production, but im still in the early stages. Would like to get serrato, but its not that high on my list at this time....

Any of the many fantastic retail stores in New Zealand.

Something like this would do the job...

http://dmcworld.co.nz/production/lexicon-alpha.html

Sweet. Thanks. Looks a little expensive. Maybe ill just have to fork out.....

Pardon?

Damn. I thought I had found the cheapest one possible...

Expensive as in 'im a pauper'. Its probably very reasonable.

Thanks for your help.

Yeah - I would only suggest, much lower than that, and you might find it wont do much of a better job than the one already in there.