"Clipping" in PC Recording....

[o0obruceleeo0o]

I am very new to recording music, and even more so with computers, so there may be a very simple solution to this problem. I am using Cakewalk Home Studio 2004, and I have a SB16 sound card (which may be the problem; it was very cheap). Right now, I just run the cable directly from my bass to the sound card with a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter. It sounds ok when I play through the computer while not recording, but when I record and play back it is very choppy . If anyone has any advice I would love to try anything . Also, the adapter I am using is really old, could that cause the problem? Thanks in advance for any replies

[o0obruceleeo0o]

Well... somehow in my messing around with it, I blew my two right speakers (was recording in mono because I guess my sound card cant record in stereo).... I am going to give up on pc recording, and maybe buy the Porta 02 MKII Portastudio or the one just like it, but without the simultanious recording capability....