Ok, guys, thanks.
Jim Lad, I just want to record the odd performance, not get involved in anything at all professional.
My Mini-disc is a Aiwa, and doesn't have a digital output, so the audio has to be redigitised from the earphone jack, which isn't anything like ideal.
My Marantz mic's were pretty upmarket 25 years ago, costing half a weeks wage each. They were bought from an audio specialist. Great for recording a vocalist and his guitar. Providing, as I said, they are right in his face. Not so good for two tables back.
Privately I've had a suggestion that I look into an M-box, which is a four-track pre-amp which will go to a laptop, Have to look into that.
TonyA, I once had everything electronic in my home connected together, so that I could record TV on computer, and play CDs through the stereo (this before I had a dedicated CD player.) The sound was pathetic. Potential in the earth circuit, I was told, because everything was plugged into different sockets, and running everything from one wallsocket proved it. Maybe the problem when using the charger? Would have needed some explaining to the insurance co. if I had a lightning strike!
I'm aware of the Zoom H4 and it's brother. It just seemed to me that a laptop has everything that I'd want anyway, considering that I'd be putting the recording into a computer anyway!