A lot of aftermarket recording sound devices don't have the cool "Stereo Mix" or "What U Hear" feature that allows for recording that which the computer is playing back without leaving the digital domain, Matt. Resorting to jacking the Analog Audio Out into the Analog Audio Inputs is the only way they can do that, and then you suffer the added - and not necessary - conversions, first the D to A for the output, then the immediate A to D at the input, which means you won't get a true digital copy of the thing, plus you will likely introduce needless jitter.

The "Stereo Mix" option keeps it all in the digital domain.


--Mac