laptop audio too for practice

[pfschim]

I am a bass player and want to initially set up a laptop as a practice tool. I may be interested in doing digital recording and musical arrangement at some point as well.

So, I am looking for advice on ways to go about this. What I have done so far is:

I bought a laptop (Toshiba A305D with a 2.0Ghz CPU and 250gb HD) and Band In A Box (BIAB) software.

I installed the BIAB and loaded some "song" files. It worked ok, but the MS general midi sounds produced by the system were, predictably, pretty bad.

Initially what I'd like to be able to do is set up a tune in BIAB .. just a chord progression, and then be able to play along with it to improve my comping and soloing.

I looked through this forum and found the free download of the E-Mu Proteus VX VSTi software. I also have an original Proteus 1 external device. Is it possible to use the E-Mu software to make the audio output of the BIAB software sound better ? .. i.e. more like real instruments. If this is not possible, what options might I have to at least make the sound of the instrument voices sound a bit better (I know that's subjective, but just about anything should soudn better than the native MS midi sounds, I think)

So, any ideas or helpful tips ?

Thanks

[Reegs]

Plop the VX into VSTHost: http://www.hermannseib.com/english/vsthost.htm

Then route the MIDI output from BIAB into VSTHost, using a set of virtual midi cables. I like Maple: http://www.hurchalla.com/Maple_driver.html

[Bops2000]

Ditto on reegs, also you can go with an inexpensive turtle beach audio out via usb for about 40 bucks.

It's clunky, but hey, it's all clunky...

Kudos on the Toshiba choice, we still have 3 Tecras running and no complaints after 2 years now, knock on wood.