Thanks, guys. Scook also posted a link to a working d/l page over at another thread that I started for the YouRock guitar. I've d/l'd and installed MIDI Guitar v0.9.3 and . . . well, let's just say it's been a journey, but I'm glad I've arrived.
 
Once I got MG to make sounds I had some real problems and it all had to do with my overthinking things. I have a sort of complex setup, which is a DAW I built years ago and to which I've added and upgraded things as it's needed them.  Part of my problem was the fact that I have two sound cards installed into my system. Recently, out of simple expediency, I've had most audio activities outputted to an old Sound Blaster card -- an oldie but goodie, it has good specs and actually does a good job. But as I was struggling with things, I got to thinking maybe the SB card was the problem, so I set it aside, figuratively speaking, and centered in on my other sound card, which is the system's main in/out card -- an M-Audio Delta 66 24/96 card. The Delta 66 exhibited mostly the same problems as the SB, though, which was terrible latency and many tracking issues. I should mention here that I was having to use ASIO in order to get to first base with MG -- with either card.
 
So anyway, as I was wrestling with the problem, I noticed down at the bottom of the WDM list in VSIO's settings window an inconspicuous little "io|2" -- which I knew stood for the device I was using to bring my guitar's signal into the computer -- an Alesis iO2 Express:
 
http://www.alesis.com/io2express
 
I bought the iO2 Express originally so I could bring a guitar signal into my laptop via USB. I actually have a 12-channel Mackie mixer and the M-Audio Delta 66 to handle those chores with my DAW. But, yeah, I was avoiding having to get that deep into my DAW at this point, so I just grabbed the Alesis instead and plugged it into a handy USB port. Which actually made things more complicated than they needed to be, but live and learn. Just as an aside, here, the M-Audio M-Track is identical to the Alesis iO2 Express -- the only difference between the two is the Alesis is silver colored with chrome knobs and the M-Audio is black with black knobs. Other than that, they are identical down to the last screw.
 
So anyway, with growing feelings of frustration, I clicked on the io|2 object and saw it was showing an in and out, so I clicked on them and immediately noticed a trace move across "Waveform's" screen. I flicked a string on the guitar, and I heard sound! WTF.
 
I grabbed the guitar and hit a few notes, and hey! Essentially no latency! And most of the artifact problems were gone. I had been struggling with a latency of over one-half second before, trying to bring the sound in through my sound cards. When all MG needed was just the sound converted from analog to digital.  Even though the signal coming from my sound cards was still an unprocessed analog signal at 24/48, I guess the length of the path the signal took was just too much. Anyway, problem solved.
 
I mentioned above that I made things more complicated than they needed to be because if I wouldn't have been so averse to just firing up the ol' DAW, I could have just plugged into one of the channels of the Mackie and that would have been it. No additional device needed.
 
Anyway, I've spent about an hour now playing around with MG, and I gotta say, I'm impressed. It seems to be functionally no different than if I were playing my guitar through my Roland GR-33 guitar synth. Although I don't seem to have quite as many artifact issues with my Roland, to be honest. I gotta say, it's really annoying the way MG plays back many of the notes I hit on the 5th and 6th string a half step sharp. I know why it's happening. If I hit the string with a bit too much force, I can get it to go sharp on me. Problem is, it's unpredictable. Sometimes it takes less force than expected to get the string's tone to go sharp. So I played around with the "Sensitivity" some. I had it cranked up to 98 initially, then I tried turning it down. I noticed when I did so that the artifacts decreased. But not so much the half-step-sharp issue. Maybe a little better. And the Pitch Sensitivity -- I don't know what to make of it. If I crank the sensitivity down on a specific note, will that cause the note to have less volume?  If so, that could be a problem.  But it looks like if I took the trouble to keep track of specific notes I'm having a problem with, it might be of some use. Do y'all use this feature?
 
Okay, I'm done. I'm gonna go play with my YouRock MIDI Guitar some more and see if I can come to some sort of decision.
 
 

Just read over at the KVR thread that Midiguitar has had a minor update, no tracking update but some bugs fixed.  Either Go to the JamOrigins site or the KVR thread to get the download: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=359095&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=975
 
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0.9.4 BETA Released 

We have recently been doing more work on general tracking, including recognizing bass notes, but its not yet ready to go. So meanwhile we are releasing a minor update or two. Version 0.9.4 is ready for download now. There are no changes in tracking compared to 0.9.3, but many minor bugs have been fixed, compatibility issues with some VST plugins and a few new features including: 

* Fixed crash when loading some VST plugins. 
* CPU usage meter and warning about lack of CPU power. 
* Checking for updates is optional. 
* Pitch bend enable/disable parameter. 
* AudioUnit MIDI Output support. Not supported in most DAWS. 
* Fixed issue with instrument and effect programs not being set correctly when 
loading a project. 
 

hmmm i updated to MG 9.4 and redid everything....  noticing that (even on the previous version) that MG was only showing up in the VSTi section after being scanned in Sonar instead of the audio effects section.  which means i can't use it as an effect, i can insert in an audio track as a vsti but no way to enable midi output.  not sure what's going on there and why it's not showing in the effects section... ideas?

well if i have it set right i'm back to the problem of not being able to enable the midi output of MG when it's in the FX box.  being able to manipulate the midi in it's own track is one of the reasons i got this.  i know i had it before.  is this a Sonar issue with the enable function?
 

yeah i checked the registry entry and it's correct, but i when i right click on MG to enable nothing happens... that's what's got be befuddled
 

if you're talking about when i right click to enable, yes, i get the pop up box with the enable function listed but nothing happens when clicked.  
 
maybe this will help ?  i went back to my template i made  when it was working and the MG shows being enabled there... but not getting any synth sounds out of the synth selected.  BUT the MG shows that the signal is getting to it (via tuner and waveform) so thats working but no sound or midi being recorded.  i've double checked the routing in Sonar...(audio track with MG  set to L channel, out to master (that correct?) , on the synth track connected to audio track, the in is set to MG omni and output to master.  i'm still using X2a.  
 

yes, that's what it shows.... on the template
 

a follow up on my problem..  since re-trying MG in X2 i've been using the 32x version..  originally when it was working i was using the 64x version.  so gave the 64 a go and it it works.. i am able to enable midi out and record midi.  i have both versions set up exactly the same.. not sure what the difference is but i have at least one version going.   SCook.. i appreciate the time you put into my problem...

no... i have both 64 and 32 versions of X2 installed and use the corresponding version of MG in each. not sure why the 64 bit version is working... i have the proper vst version scanned in each version and the regedit changes made.  all i know is one works and the other doesn't.

Just saw that there is a new minor update.  Here is what JamOrigin says about it:
 
0.9.5 BETA Released 
Here is another small update. A clever little MIDI Machine can load Scala files and adds Microtonal support (to get it go into "Create MIDI Machines"). Weird issues with Ableton Live 9 were fixed. 
 WHATS NEW: 
* New "Microtonal" MIDI Machine for playing microtonal music. 
* Improved built-in help with index pages. 
* Fixed plugin GUI issues in Ableton Live 9. 
* Fixed missing warning labels for samplerate and buffer size. 
* Fixed a crash bug in MIDI Machine.

Try a rescan http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/kb/reader.aspx/2007013315
Starting with X3 there is no need to configure MIDI Guitar as a synth, instead try configuring MIDI Guitar as a tempo-based effect. After inserting MIDI Guitar into the audio track, click the VST2 drop down in the plug-in header and select "Enable MIDI Output"

Does it work in a new project? Not sure what purpose the plug-in serves in an existing project once the MIDI track is recorded.
 
Is it a 32/64bit mix-up? I believe you have been using both in the past. I only use the 64bit version.

As of X3, it should not be in soft synths at all. With X3 effects can now send and receive MIDI data. Using the "Default All Plug-ins" layouts, MIDI Guitar should be an audio effect in VST2 Folder in the browser and the FX bin menu just like any other VST2 effect. In my case, when I reset and rescanned, MIDI Guitar was properly configured as an effect and shows up everywhere one would expect an effect to appear.
 
It would get more interesting switching between X3 and older versions of SONAR. Then configuring effects as synths would be an issue.

jma
Instructions for using this with Sonar (from their website):
 
1. Copy VST pluging to your VST folder.
 
2. Launch Sonar. It should automatically recognize the new plug-in and create needed registry entries (ie you should see the plug-in as an effect in Audio FX menu). If not, use Plug-in Manager to scan new plug-ins.
 
3. Use Cakewalk Plug-in Manager, find MIDI Guitar in Effects section and open "Plug-in Properties". Enable "Configure as synth" option.
 
4. Close Sonar and use Regedit to change generateEvents key from "0" to "1" in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST X64\Inventory\ -> MIDI Guitar
 
5. Launch Sonar. Add new audio track. Insert MIDI Guitar (now found in Soft Synths menu) to FX bin.
 
6. Go to Synth rack view. Right click grey area of the MIDI Guitar synth block and click "Enable MIDI Output".
 
That's it. Add your favourite synth to a new track and route MIDI input from MIDI Guitar, which should be visible in MIDI input menu.

the part in last line - could I bother you to illustrate routing the midi input ? I'm stuck w/only piano sounds from MG...sorry