messages to synchronize playback across hardware, and MIDI Show Control (MSC) commands can even be used to coordinate sound, lighting and pyrotechnics in theatrical productions.

In the narrow sense, most purpose-built musical MIDI controllers feature some prominent interface that the performer presses, touches, strikes or blows to send note information. They are often also equipped with a number of buttons, wheels, knobs, sliders, pedals, or other sensors for sending control change events: