M Audio M-Audio - Oxygen 49 USB Midi Keyboard Controller

The M-Audio Oxygen 49 is a highly popular, USB-powered MIDI keyboard controller designed for music production and live performance. It serves as a central hub for home studios, allowing producers to play virtual instruments, sequence drum beats, and mix audio directly from the hardware. [1, 2, 3]

Key Features

• 49 Velocity-Sensitive Keys: Full-size, synth-action keys that capture the dynamics of your playing style.
• 8 Trigger Pads: Two banks of velocity-sensitive pads equipped with Note Repeat for finger drumming and beat production.
• 9 Assignable Faders: Dedicated sliders to control your master track levels, volume, and mixer plugin parameters.
• 8 Assignable Knobs: Smooth-turning knobs for tweaking effects, automation, or virtual instrument filters.
• Smart Controls: Includes Smart Chord and Smart Scale modes to eliminate wrong notes and simplify complex chord progressions.
• Built-in Arpeggiator: Easily creates rhythmic movement with adjustable gate, swing, and octave parameters.
• DAW Auto-Mapping: Pre-mapped integration via DirectLink for major software like Ableton Live, Logic, Pro Tools, and Cubase. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Available Models

The controller has evolved over several generations, and you will typically find two variants on the market: [1]

1. Oxygen 49 MKV: The standard modern iteration featuring smart workflow tools, a bright LCD screen, and robust auto-mapping features.
2. Oxygen Pro 49: A premium upgrade featuring semi-weighted keys with aftertouch, an organic LED screen, and 16 RGB performance pads. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]