The VBStrFromAnsiPtr function should do the trick, something like this...
Dim preset As String
preset = VBStrFromAnsiPtr(BASS_MIDI_FontGetPreset(...))
I didn't read it, it was in your bassmidi.txt file though:
For the BASS functions that return strings (char*), VB users should use the VBStrFromAnsiPtr function to convert the returned pointer into a VB string.
Shame on me

!
Thanks again Ian, you're always there to help, even in VB ! congratulations!
Best regards from France
Art.