Remember....if you are using a laptop, you are going to need the external sound card. (PCMCIA or USB) Lots of noise sometimes using the sound card on the motherboard.
Also....remember to use the Ground Loop Isolation device (you can search the Radio Shack website or go into the store and ask for one
). This is used because a laptop can produce a lot of internal noise. You will not hear the noise using headphones......but the min you run it into your amp and out the speakers.....BAM! Lots of noise that sounds like aliens, everytime the hard drive operates.