Anatomy of a soundcard crashing:
1) Almighty popping sound sent to cutterhead at full power.
2) Cutting stylus jumps off disc.
3) Cutting stylus lands back on disc in a very wonky fashion indeed.
Damage sustained: one comprehensively blown fuse and a ruined cut. Nothing else, thankfully. It could have been a *whole* lot worse, especially as I’m absolutely screaming flat out right now. I need a stiff drink to calm my nerves. (Yes, any excuse.)