Whether youre a professional musician or a hobbyist with a love of music, there are a ton of tools for creating entire songs with nothing but your laptop. Using a mouse to draw patterns isnt the most inspiring thing, though. A MIDI controller lets you control virtual instruments with real keys or drum pads, making the experience more tactile. Some are meant to emulate the feel of a physical piano, while others feel like synths or even drum machines. With a USB MIDI interface, you dont even need any other equipment.