Advice needed--using my laptop as a guitar effect

[Art Simon <simart@gmail.com>]

I don't think this is too off-topic, I am trying to use my laptop for
all my guitar effects including looping with Loopy-Llama and
ElottronixXL. I have a Dell Inspiron with an IndigoIO cardbus
soundcard running EnergyXT.

I bought a cheap amp (a Drive G35 DSP) with an effects send and
return, and plugged in my Indigo IO soundcard of my laptop.  It
sounded horrible. I realize now that the amp is using instrument
levels and the Indigo IO is using line levels. Is there a cheap and
easy way to solve this, or do I need a compeltely different setup?

In the past when I wanted to get my guitar into my computer, I used a
Korg AX10G multi-effects pedal and ran the line-out from the AX10G to
the line in of my laptop and the line-out from my laptop to my home
stereo. It works fine, but I end up with cords running from one side
of the room to the other. I was hoping for a more compact setup.

BTW, I was inspired to ditch the AX10G by an excellent thread on
various (and mostly free) guitar amp VSTs here:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=59469&highlight=cortex+guitar
The free Marshall JCM900 amp simulation is very impressive.
-- 
Art Simon
simart@null.net
http://art.simon.tripod.com
http://artsimon.iuma.com