Editing MIDI (section)

===Controllers===
{{Main|MIDI controller}}
[[File:Remote 25.jpg|thumb|alt=A Novation Remote 25 two-octave MIDI controller|Smaller MIDI controllers are popular due to their portability. This two-[[octave]] unit provides a variety of controls for manipulating various sound design parameters of computer-based or standalone hardware instruments, effects, mixers and recording devices.]]
There are two types of MIDI controllers: performance controllers that generate notes and are used to perform music,<ref>"[http://www.rolandmusiced.com/spotlight/article.php?ArticleId=1040 MIDI Performance Instruments]". {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118195443/http://www.rolandmusiced.com/spotlight/article.php?ArticleId=1040 |date=18 November 2012 }}. ''Instruments of Change''. Vol. 3, No. 1 (Winter 1999). Roland Corporation, U.S.</ref> and controllers that may not send notes, but transmit other types of real-time events. Many devices are a combination of the two types.

[[MIDI keyboard|Keyboard]]s are by far the most common type of MIDI controller.<ref name="Cakewalk" /> MIDI was designed with keyboards in mind and any controller that is not a keyboard is considered an "alternative" controller.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.midi.org/aboutmidi/products.php |title=MIDI Products |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716225141/http://www.midi.org/aboutmidi/products.php |archive-date=16 July 2012 |publisher=MIDI Manufacturers Association |date=1 August 1012}}</ref> This was seen as a limitation by composers who were not interested in keyboard-based music, but the standard proved flexible, and MIDI compatibility was introduced to other types of controllers, including guitars, and other stringed instruments and [[drum controller]]s and [[wind controller]]s, which emulate the playing of [[drum kit]] and wind instruments, respectively and specialized and experimental controllers.<ref name="Holmes3" />{{rp|23|date=November 2012}} Nevertheless, some features of the keyboard playing for which MIDI was designed do not fully capture other instruments' capabilities; [[Jaron Lanier]] cites the standard as an example of technological "lock-in" that unexpectedly limited what was possible to express.<ref name="You Are Not a Gadget">{{Cite book |title=You Are Not a Gadget |last=Lanier |first=Jaron |publisher=Vintage |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-307-38997-8 |location=New York |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780307269645 }}</ref> Some of these shortcomings have been addressed in [[#Extensions|extensions]] to the protocol.

Software synthesizers offer great power and versatility, but some players feel that division of attention between a MIDI keyboard and a computer keyboard and mouse robs some of the immediacy from the playing experience.<ref>Preve, Francis. "Dave Smith", in "The 1st Annual ''Keyboard'' Hall of Fame". ''Keyboard'' (US). NewBay Media, LLC. Sep 2012. Print. p.18</ref> Devices dedicated to real-time MIDI control provide an ergonomic benefit and can provide a greater sense of connection with the instrument than an interface that is accessed through a computer. Controllers may be general-purpose devices that are designed to work with a variety of equipment, or they may be designed to work with a specific piece of software. Examples of the latter include Akai's APC40 controller for [[Ableton Live]], and Korg's MS-20ic controller, a reproduction of the control panel on their [[MS-20]] analog synthesizer. The MS-20ic controller includes [[patch cables]] that can be used to control signal routing in their virtual reproduction of the MS-20 synthesizer and can also control third-party devices.<ref>"[http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/legacy.php Korg Legacy Collection]". {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916101912/http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/legacy.php |date=16 September 2012 }}. ''Vintage Synth Explorer''. Accessed 21 August 2012.</ref>