My laptop has USB ports and Firewire ports. All of the audio and video specific ports are output only.

What sort of [b]SMALL external box[/] that is known to work with linux makes sense so that I might connect audio sources and video sources to the laptop and make recordings while on the go?

I would prefer to use the Firewire port since much of the audio-video gadgets use firewire and so many other gadgets are already USB.

Merry Christmas. and God Bless us, Everyone!
~~~ 0;-Dan

For a start...

What is the make and model of your laptop and what procedure have you tried to configure your sound? What results do you get when you use the command "alsamixer"?

http://linux.die.net/man/1/alsamixer

Try to see if alsa is or can be configured to record using a USB or Firewire connection.

http://www.alsa-project.org/main/ind...undcardTesting

http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...Ask_a_Question

More information about which devices you have in mind to connect to your laptop would help get you more qualified answers from members who have working setups.

My laptop is an EmperoroLinux Raven Tablet (Lenovo Thinkpad X61).
There are zero audio input and zero video input ports. The only available inputs are USB and Firewire as stated previously. Audio and Video playback work fine for files I download or transfer on media.

I'll certainly do this once I find suitable mechanical means to connect audio and video sources.

Over here there are audio and video players of all sorts. Most use a mixture of RCA connectors to move audio and video around. Digital audio has an optical connection option. Video players add BNC connectors, DVI connectors and HDMI connectors to the mixture. My laptop has none of these so I need some sort of external box that will accept these real world connectors. This external box then needs either Firewire (preferred) or USB connection to my laptop. My primary interest is in a small but competent box suitable for laptop carry-around. I'm also interested in a bigger badder box for use when working at home.


This question seeks recommendations for such an external box.
I think my OP asks just that, and I regret any confusion caused by my original language.

~~~ 0;-Dan