M-Audio OXYGEN 61 61-Key USB MIDI Controller 9900-51394-10

by M-Audio

Product Features

• 61-note velocity-sensitive synth-action keyboard with USB MIDI interface
• Class-compliant with Windows XP and Mac OS X
• Compatible with free Enigma librarian/editor for storing and organizing setups
• All controllers fully programmable to MIDI channel
• Includes Ableton Live Lite 4 music production software, so you can make music right away

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 37.8 x 3.5 inches ; 12.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 15 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000EAGBI6
• Item model number: 9900-41394-10
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,811 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

Oxygen 61 gives even the most serious players a 5-octave keyboard they can love, complete with a built-in USB MIDI interface and tons of controls. A total of 35 controllers--including 9 sliders, 8 knobs and 15 buttons--can easily map to any MIDI-assignable parameters in your hardware and software rig. While easy to program, the Oxygen 61's complete MIDI implementation will also allow you to go as deep as you want to go. Store 10 different setups in on-board non-volatile memory, plus manage an infinite number with our free Enigma software for Mac and PC. Bus-powered operation and a weight of just 7 lbs. means that you can use the Oxygen 61 anywhere your computer goes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent MIDI controller for the price, October 31, 2007

By 

E. Lange (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio OXYGEN 61 61-Key USB MIDI Controller 9900-51394-10 (Electronics)

I'd been looking for a MIDI keyboard to control my virtual instruments in Cubase, and this one seemed to have the most features for the price Amazon was offering. I was not disappointed- the keyboard is solidly built and has just the right amount of features. I downloaded a Cubase profile on a third-party site and instantly I could use the 9 faders to control 8 tracks and the master volume. The same went for the faders, and even the transport controls (Loop, Rew, FF, Stop, Play, Rec) worked flawlessly.

The pressure sensitivity on the keys is adequate, but may not be enough for a more accomplished piano player. I just use it to bang out accompaniment for the guitar and bass tracks I'm writing. I also use it to program drum tracks, and am able to get different drum velocities by varying the pressure on the keys.

This keyboard includes pitch and modulation wheels (both excellent), programmable buttons/panners/faders, octave up and down (up to 3 octaves in either direction), extra MIDI in/out ports, and a USB interface.

If this keyboard had motorized faders, it would jump up to the next class of controllers, but would probably weigh and cost a bit more. As it is, I just have to remember to zero out the faders and panners before loading an existing project, then carefully match the project track levels. This could wreak havoc with saved mixes if you don't pay attention.

Also, the keys sometimes don't register a hit when playing very softly- but again, I'm not a piano player so this may be a user problem. In other words, it's likely that below a certain threshold, the keys aren't supposed to activate. I don't feel like it's broken, and I think the sensitivity can be modified but I haven't felt the need to.

Finally, although a wide range of preset profiles were included, I had to find a Cubase profile myself, and Cubase is pretty common recording software. Still, the Internet provides where companies do not.

Overall, I am very pleased with this keyboard and it suits my needs. It didn't break the bank and I can do 90% of the things I wanted to do with it. In the future I may buy a Behringer motorized mixer and let that handle the mixing functions that this keyboard really wasn't intended for anyway.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect addition to your home studio., July 9, 2007

By 

Alexander G. Chamandy "universal stress tester" (US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio OXYGEN 61 61-Key USB MIDI Controller 9900-51394-10 (Electronics)

I've been playing my Oxygen 61-key for a while and I've been very impressed with the quality of the keyboard. The keys are weighted well. Not too stiff and definitely not loose, giving them a realistic feel. The controls are easily mapped to your virtual instrument. The modulation and pitch control wheels allow fine tuning of the sound.

I've used many MIDI controllers, including other M-Audio products and I think this is the most realistic feeling controller I've played.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, all around MIDI controller, May 7, 2008

By 

Russell Dean Vines "music and computer author" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio OXYGEN 61 61-Key USB MIDI Controller 9900-51394-10 (Electronics)

I used many different brands of MIDI controllers, and was given an OXY 61 by M-Audio to review in my new book: Composing Digital Music For Dummies. Composing Digital Music For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

I've found that it works great with almost all software, and has some built-in settings to help interface with programs like Reason and Ableton, which help speed the learning curve. I've found it simple to use, yet it supplies a lot of advanced features, the best combination.