Thanks for all of your comments. Of course I'm looking for the 'best acceptable performance at the lowest price'.

Since I want to play my softsynths on my laptop, per the JamOrigins documentation, you need a low latency (e.g. ASIO) AUDIO interface to your laptop - internal soundcards will NOT work (per JamOrigins website, if you are using a mini-plug, you are on the wrong path).

So that leaves
1.) if I use JamOrigins, I must buy a low-latency external laptop audio interface that uses ASIO

2.) if I do NOT use JamOrigins, I can use a Guitar-MIDI device - I currently have a GI-20, but I'd prefer something cheaper, smaller, and easier to transport.

Thanks for introducing me to some new products I didn't think of using Mario - I will check them out.