Basically a big, fancy external soundcard... And then some. It'll take, as is, 2 microhpones, 2 line inputs, a stereo SPDIF digital signal and a MIDI device like a keyboard. It is however expandable to take another 8 inputs.

Output wise it has 6 line outs and then a stereo SPDIF digital out.

It works as a virtual mixer too. The routing on it is very flexible... Very, very flexible. For outputting sound from my laptop I have 3 options. An anaolgue audio signal - boring. Digital firewire connection - also pretty boring, or digital fibre optic! Awesome!

Add the fact that it looks pretty sleek with various leads snaking in and out and a speaker sat on top it, it's doing pretty well so far.

Now all I need is for the mic's I ordered to arrive and I'm ready to go record some spoon!