1.4 MIDI Components 17 particular configuration, making it a flexible archiving system for the MIDI settings of the devices. I dis- cuss the details of this technique in Chapter 4, which is dedicated to advanced sequencing techniques. As I mentioned earlier, SysEx messages lost most of their relevancy with the introduction of software synthe- sizers. Since these synthesizers are closely linked and interleaved with their host running on the computer, all the editing can be done directly through their graphic user interfaces. In addition, all their parameters are automatically saved inside the sequence, making the use of SysEx MIDI Dump unnecessary. 1.4 MIDI COMPOnentS: COntrOllerS, hArDWAre SYntheSIzerS/ SOunD MODuleS, SOFtWAre SYntheSIzerS AnD SequenCerS It is very important to choose the right MIDI devices and instruments to use in your studio. Remember that they are the virtual musicians that will be featured in your music productions, so it is essential to have the right type of equipment, the right variety of instruments, and a very flexible and versatile pal- ette of sonorities to choose from in order to be an all-round composer. MIDI devices can be divided into four main categories: MIDI keyboard synthesizers (or MIDI synthesizers), MIDI sound modules (or sound expanders), keyboard controllers, and software synthesizers (hosted inside your computer by your sequencer or host). The main difference between the first three is based on the presence or lack of a built-in sound generator and keyboard. Keep in mind that, as underlined earlier in this chapter, all the devices that are going to be part of your MIDI network must be equipped with a MIDI interface.