OK if your happy with MIDI probably the best investment at a low price would be the Forte DXi. $49.00 and it sounds very good.
If your rendered sound is different then what your "live" sound is you may be rendering through something different then what your listening to. Been awhile since using 2008. May be some issue I don't remember.
How much $$$$$$$$ can you spend until it hurts?


John
ESI Gigaport HD+
Lenovo Turion II /4 Gig Ram/ Win7x64 be
15.6" Monitor
"The only Band is a Real Band"
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