M-Audio Oxygen 49 USB Midi Controller Keyboard Review

The M-Audio Oxygen 49 USB Midi Keyboard is a midi controller that interfaces with any computer via a USB cable. As its name suggests it has 49 piano keys, covering 4 whole scales, including the 8th note on the top scale. In addition to the piano keys it has a pitch bend wheel, modulation wheel, 22 assignable push keys, 9 sliders, and 8 knobs.  This midi controller falls into the lowest possible price range for any usb midi device, and can often be obtained for ~$130 USD.

I originally purchased this item as a midi keyboard to use with my DAW (Ableton Live 8).  I decided to go with this device for the low price and because it supported the basic midi-keyboard function I was looking for, since my previous keyboard recently died on me.  At this point I have owned the device for a little over a year.  My usage has been light, but consistent.  Most of my usage has been with the keyboard keys in order to create midi sequences for tracks, although I occasionally use the knobs and sliders.

The Oxygen 49 is fully powered by the USB cable used to plug it into your computer.  For a $130 USD the M-Audio Oxygen 49 has fit my need perfectly. The piano keys aren't very heavy, like a normal piano, but they have a good response.  They are also velocity sensitive, and have octave and semitone up and down buttons to allow you to adjust the key octaves, and even the semi-tone for each key you use. The sliders are relatively solid, and are fully assignable in Live 8. For my uses they have worked great. They also have an assignable button beneath each slider, which I have used for the record button for the associated track, which lets me switch between tracks easily when using the oxygen 49. The knobs are great too. They are not endless, but function perfectly when required.

The keyboard itself is made of plastic, which isn't a surprise when you consider the price point. It also has a LED display which shows you the midi value currently set on the control you are modifying (0-127). I haven't seen much use for this, since I tend to modify the range for my controls to be outside of 0-127.  It also has a sustain pedal input, which I have yet to use, so I cannot comment.

The pitch bend and modulation wheels on my controller are both sticking pretty badly, even though I don't use either for much at all. The plastic controller feels cheap, but has held together pretty well. This keyboard is a midi keyboard only, so you can't play it as a standalone device.  This means that the device can only play audio through your computer, and has no output itself on it.  No freestyle piano playing!

For a cheap midi keyboard this thing has worked great.  It has performed all the functions I need it for flawlessly.  Despite its cheap construction, and its faulty mod/pitch wheels I would suggest this device to anybody who needs a midi-keyboard, but cannot afford the $500+ keyboards on the market today.  It is a great product for the price!

If you have any more specific questions regarding this product, please post them to the comments section below, or send me a private e-mail.

Cheers!