If you got Dell to build a custom pc for music production there really should be a 1/4" jack in on your soundcard... if not you can either get a 1/4" to 1/8" conversion jack and plug in that way but the sound quality will be pretty terrible. My suggestion is to keep away from Creative Labs for recording and go for something like M-Audio or Echo etc. Make sure it has an absolute minimum of one 1/4" in and one 1/4" out, an XLR in and midi in and out plus as close to zero latency as possible. Also, if you are operating an x64 bit pc then be 100% sure the soundcard is compatable!