Mukus

I have a Fostex VF160. I have just bought an optical cable. What are my advantages? Do I get better sound quality? I plugged the cable into my Fostex (optical out) and plugged the other end into my PC (optical in). But when I hit play on the Fostex I head nothing through my sound card or anything. Am I doing something wrong?

First of all; hello! Nice to be here, my name is Mark, or Mukus...... I started out in a band last year called Ten green Bottles, we recorded a few songs......for lots of reasons we split, and now I have started back up again under the name of 'The Meeting'. Last week I bought a Fostex VF160. Great little machine. Just wondering if there are any sites out there that have some tutorials on it? I mean I have figured out the main things like recording each track and saving them etc etc. But I need to know the little things too (which I think are quite important). Like editing the tracks....copying and pasting....deleting after certain positions, and using the effects. I have the manual but I find it so bloody hard to read and understand. I also have an external PC sound card, Creative Audigy, cant remember the exact model. At the minute, to get my songs across to the PC I am simple using 1/4" jack to jack connecting to the input on my sound card to the headphone jack on my Fostex and using playback on the Fostex and recording on my PC (if that makes sense). Am I doing this a stupid way around? Will I lose quality? Should I be using the Midi connections to get my sound across or the optical out? Man all this is confusing....theres so much I need to learn. Maybe someone can just point out the basics to me before I get too deep into anything. Also one other question before I go....has anyone had any experience with installing the optional CD-1A to a Fostex VF160? Im pretty sure they are the same connections as a laptop CDRW, but am wondering if this will work if I do install one? The CD-1A go for about £180, but I can pick a laptop cd drive up for £5!! Anyways, sorry to bombard you on my first post.... Thanks for your help guys. -Mark