First, don't use mic input. Always use line in when recording. Go to the soundcard's control panel and make sure the line input in recording options is checked, not mic input. Make sure your fx is connected to the line inputs.
What kind of fx are you using? If it's like the usual digital multifx, it will usually have line outputs and it will usually be in stereo. You can connect that directly to the sound card line inputs usually using a stereo 1/8" to 1/4" Y-cable commonly available in most electronics stores.
For instrument level signals such as from Boss stompboxes, you will need a preamp to bring the signal up to line level. Alternatively, most guitar amps have line outputs - use that to connect directly to the line inputs. Remember, always line out to line in, make a mistake somewhere and you can burn out a component.
As for VSC, I checked CW's site and just found out GT Pro doesn't come with that synth. I can't recommend using the MS Synth because it has a fixed latency of around 350ms. It's only good for midi playback; you can't track live to that. You might have to use an external synth, or, if you're using a 'blaster, it already has a soundfont synth built in. Just load an appropriate SF2 file (if you google around, you can find GM soundfonts as large as 128 megs).