Thanks Jay / Mac,

I came across the site you referenced in my searching and found a couple of others, too. But, I learned something that got me 3/4's the way there (though, I may still consider the SD2).

What I learned was that I can switch from the Apple DLS synth to BIAB's output in the midi panel and play BIAB through GarageBand - real simple and much better sounding midi instruments as it uses the EXS sounds in GarageBand.

So, now I have some questions (including a few for Mac re SD2, if you're still checking this post...)

1. The better the EXS sounds, the better... thus, any recommendations on where to get the EXS sounds for GarageBand that are worth the time, effort and money (or freebies's). I see lot's of them on the net but figure others have done a lot of the footwork - no sense in re-inventing that wheel... ?

2 [Question for Mac/others who've used something like the SD2] I'd rather be playing the guitar than messing for hours with tweaking sounds and automation - I wouldn't mind spending fifteen, or so, minutes making midi sounds sound real so, my questions are:
A. What is the approach for doing this, let's say with a horn sound (seems to me a guy's got to look at nearly every phrase or long note ending and ramp down the volume or other) - is that what's done or, do the good sounds in the SD2 naturally sound like someone playing?

B. About how long/how much time do you spend on massaging a tune's midi stuff ?

Thanks again