A MIDI Controller is a device that can be played by a musician and puts out MIDI signals to control synthesizers or sound modules. Typically, it will be a keyboard, although they may also be strap-on style for guitar-style slinging, or a breath controller.

Regardless of the type, MIDI controllers do not have their own sound banks. They require an external device to provide sounds, such as a synth module or computer-based sampler.