Yup, I can see that it's not "plug and play". My headphones are wireless, but a decent model from Sony. The base unit is an DP IF3000. Are wireless a bad idea? I will say that the audio sounded fine when I listened to the samples that are provided by Cakewalk. The guitar I'm using is a single-coil model, a '99 USA-made G&L ASAT Classic semi-hollow. As far as how many tracks I'll be doing, it won't be more than 1/2 dozen or so. The only reason I got the software was because I've been recording a few songs just using my Samson C03U mic in front of my guitar amp, flanked by a couple of PA speakers, with Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio 8.0 as software. A friend suggested that my recordings would sound more pro if I used software that would allow multiple tracks. So, it'll be maybe a rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, drum track, and vocals, not much other that that. I don't plan on getting too "crazy" with it. I just want to be able to accent certain sounds while dropping back others, etc. Thanks for your help. MrR

Well, I happened to find a link to the 900+ page instructional manual on the cakewalk website. Someone was kind enough to post it in another thread. After I learned how to open up a new "blank" template and made a recording, it was much clearer and louder. I did have to enable the left side input in order to record in stereo. Slowly, but surely, I'll get the hang of it. Thanks for the help provided here.

You really need to get a USB or firewire interface to get any usable performance for recording. The difference in perfromance and quality will amaze you. Most DAW programs <--Cakewalk, are made for professional equipment. I can tell you from experience you're screwing yourself to death trying to stick with the realtek onboard soundcard. They just aren't made to do the job of real time recording and streaming and most DAW platforms do not write their drivers and software to work well with onboard sound cards. Do yourself a favor and get a good interface.

My headphones are wireless, but a decent model from Sony. The base unit is an DP IF3000. Are wireless a bad idea?

Yes, wireless headphones are a bad idea. I had a pair and they sounded terrible.