Yep, a 1.8 celeron with one gig will likely struggle with the realtime FX.
Have you got the most recent ASIO drivers for your card?

The problem with the Creative effects would be using them on only one input, unless you have a second card available. If so you could assign all other tracks to the other soundcard.. but this would require a mixer to combine the signals before the PA if used live.

May be time to pickup an effects processor for the mic input. Or a mixer with built in effects. The mixer may fill many uses along the way. You will want a better preamp than the one on the soundcard for recording and playing live. Generally speaking the preamps on soundcards are not too well spec'd. Maybe a mixer with built in effects will serve for this. I have heard varying comments on the FX built into Behringer brand (cheapest). Yamaha seems to have a little better reviews on the effects side.

Small mixer with effects would run 100-200 bucks for a good one.


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!