M-Audio Oxygen 49

The third-generation M-Audio Oxygen 49 ($189.95 list) is a solid 49-key MIDI keyboard controller that works with PCs and Macs. It's actually part of a four-product lineup, which consists of the Oxygen 25, the Oxygen 49, the Oxygen 61, and the Oxygen 88, with each number reflecting the corresponding key bed size. It turns out that regardless of which one you choose, the M-Audio Oxygen is an easy Editors' Choice. It offers excellent value as a day-to-day controller for Apple GarageBand ($14.99, 4.5 stars), as well as pro-level digital audio workstations, virtual synthesizer plug-ins, and music instruction software.

Design and Controls
The Oxygen 49 measures 29 by 9.4 by 3.7 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.4 pounds. The keyboard is made entirely of plastic, with a smooth, expensive-looking gray finish, and full size ivory-like keys. It looks bluish in photos, but in person it appears gray, and it feels solid and well made.

One of the reasons why the M-Audio Oxygen line has been successful for so long is its vast array of MIDI control features, and here the Oxygen 49 doesn't disappoint. Starting at the top left, there are two plastic pitch bend and modulation wheels, each one with a sizable finger indent. Four rubber keys to the right handle Track Select and transposition. To the right of those keys, a 3-digit red LED display shows the currently selected parameter?usually with a range of 0 to 127, although it also shows octave and preset info. This is one place that even a slightly larger LED display would be helpful, though I suppose M-Audio has to save something for its more expensive Axiom line (which also features higher quality, semi-weighted keys and eight drum sample pads, among other upgrades).

The Oxygen 49's back panel, meanwhile, features a standard-size USB port, a sustain pedal jack, and a power switch, with a Kensington-style lock opening on the right side for security purposes in student and educational settings. The Oxygen 49 comes with a six-foot USB cable, but no AC adapter. In fact, there's no DC power jack, either. That's not a problem with today's PCs, but it hampers compatibility with an iPhone or iPad, since third-party MIDI adapters like the IK Multimedia iRig MIDI ($69.99, 3.5 stars) assume AC power for the keyboard. I wouldn't have minded if the AC adapter was optional, but to remove the jack with it seems a bit excessive.

Programming, Performance, and Conclusions
A long row of rectangular keys just above the keyboard let you program controller information. These work in conjunction with the MIDI keyboard itself, which when placed in Edit mode handles various functions according to the labels behind the keys (such as for bank switching, velocity curves, and drawbar programming). More prominently, there are nine assignable sliders in the center of the keyboard, plus eight assignable knobs on the right side. Dedicated transport keys sit on the right beneath the knobs. All of the controls feel good to the touch and move with precision.

I tested the M-Audio Oxygen 49 with a custom-built Core i7 PC running Avid Pro Tools 10 ($699.99, 4.5 stars), Steinberg Cubase 6.5 ($499.95, 4 stars), and Cakewalk SONAR X1 ($499.99, 3 stars), as well as with a 15-inch MacBook Pro running Apple Logic Pro 9 ($199.99, 4.5 stars). The Oxygen 49 worked flawlessly in all cases. Key feel is on the light side, but felt precise enough that I wasn't constantly reminded I was playing a budget-priced controller, and the vast array of knobs and sliders made controlling on-screen parameters a breeze.

If you're looking for something that feels more like an actual piano, you'll want semi-weighted or fully weighted, piano-style keys with solid front ends. The new Oxygen 88 looks like a good alternative, although I haven't tested it yet; there are of course many other 88-key controllers out there. On the smaller side, the Alesis Q25 ($179.95, 3.5 stars) is a slightly lower-cost alternative that omits most of the controls. The Q25 features a two-inch shallower depth that makes it easier to place on a small desk, although it's a bit wider, as the pitch bend and modulation wheels are on the left of the key bed. If you're planning on using your controller with an iPad, the Samson Carbon 49 ($89, 3.5 stars) offers a built-in slot to sit the tablet neatly in front of you and at an angle, although it lacks the Oxygen 49's copious array of assignable sliders, knobs, and transport controls and doesn't feel quite as robust.

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??? M-Audio Oxygen 49
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??? Samson Carbon 49 USB MIDI Controller
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stan van gundy