every lighting software or especially VJ software have a midi mapping option, every midi note that recive by the software can be assign to every part of the software, so if i take a midi controller, connect it to the software and start sanding midi notes to the software, the software should recognize the midi notes and can assign theme to any node or function in the interface without any further configuration.
take "Resolume" for example the software receive midi notes and i can assign them to any button in the interface as i like, no macro needed or any other messy configurations for example, every time i press go in my iPhone i sent C4 note to the software, so i put the software in midi mapping and press one of the buttons in the interface and send C4 note again from my iPhone, the software automatically assign the C4 note to the button i press before so now every time i press go in my iPhone this button will be press.
In the Hog3 family, you can use MIDI notes to access any button on the console, as well as to trigger comment macros. See section "28.3 Working with MIDI Notes" of the version 3.2.0 manual.
You can also use MIDI show control to control cues and lists directly.
As Eric said...Midi notes DO exist in the Hog software. The difference is that the software is already mapped. You have to use the notes that are already assigned.
I used TouchOSC and Midi Notes to make a remote focus unit. The only items that are NOT Midi assignable are encoders and faders. I got around the faders using "Fade Master" comment macros. I didn't not get around the encoders.