Hello... You can use this unit as a Windows Sound card... You can have Multi-Sound card devices installed into your MB/USB/Firewire and Windows... just go into Control panel Sound and set your outputs and inputs... and all APPS will use this device.
These offer better driver support from the companies... and a much better Microphone preamp input for broadcasting... also you have the lowest latency.
I have Owned a many Creatives in my life... SB16 was the first and up to the Audigy models... it was awesome at the time... MIDI and 16 bit/44 Sounds.
But they cannot perform in a Profession manner as these others with the faster CPU's and ASIO driver DAWs... ASIO, latency, driver support will be your biggest headache in the future.
And yes you need to start playing with MIDI... it awesome... You can pickup a garage sale midi keyboard, cable; and turn your speakers into a Cathedrel.... B )
Standard MB Software chips perform wonderful with Current CPU's with current Specs. I feel ( hear ) Realtek MB audio is Great and Good enuff these days for Windows APPS and Gaming. And you will Not hear any difference in sound... thus if you are wanting to record then spend your $$$ on hardware designed for that purpose ( ASIO), And you will get better Windows App sound and Hardware performance/CPU resources at the same time. B )