Thanks Mac for all generous suggestions. Regarding the checkbox, it's just for the thru channel, and you can't fool it by labeling the 'output chords' channel the same as thru. Regardin VSC3, though I've never used it, it seems like a step back, but the KETRON intrigues me. I haven't used a hardware synth since the Roland U220, but praises of the Stan Getz tenor makes me curious. I'll go on their site, and listen to samples. Coincidentally I've been looking at the samplemodeling tenor and trumpet...and even the $500 Chris Hein horns...perhaps the $400 Ketron might be something to look at.

Speaking of which...when using hardware synths for recording these days, do most folks trigger the part with midi , THEN record it as an audio track into RB so the final mix can be all done 'on board' ........or leave the parts fed thru midi till the very end?
Thanks again Mac-
Dan