MIDI is just a protocol, it specifies how to encode the inputs from a controller, but doesn't say anything about how to model/synthesize/sample sounds. control

MIDI is just a protocol, it specifies how to encode the inputs from a controller, but doesn't say anything about how to model/synthesize/sample sounds. controller --[midi messages]--> synth --[real audio signals]--> speakers I'm not aware of any alternatives to MIDI, so if you want to make live synth music with any controller, you'll probably have to deal with it :-). MIDI is so pervasive that working with it is pretty much transparent, in the same vein you don't have to do anything special to use your computer keyboard or mouse.