Novation
Launchkey 49 MK4
$279.99Cheaper
Released 2024-08
Best MIDI Keyboards · head-to-head
Launchkey 49 MK4 vs Oxygen Pro 49
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Launchkey 49 MK4 is cheaper at $279.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
M-Audio
Oxygen Pro 49
$299
Released 2021
Which is better: the Launchkey 49 MK4 or Oxygen Pro 49?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Launchkey 49 MK4 is the cheaper at $279.99.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Launchkey 49 MK4 | Oxygen Pro 49 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $279.99 | $299 MSRP / street price |
| Brand | Novation | M-Audio |
| Released | 2024-08 | 2021 |
| Keys | 49 | 49 |
| Key type | semi_weighted | semi_weighted |
| Drum pads | 16 | 16 |
| Knobs | 8 | 8 |
| Faders | 9 | 9 |
| Aftertouch | No | Yes |
| Connection | usb_midi_din | usb_midi_din |
| Bundled software | Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, GForce Oberheim SEM, Klevgrand plugins, NI Komplete Select, Melodics | Ableton Live Lite, Pro Tools First, MPC Beats, AIR Hybrid 3, Mini Grand, Velvet, TubeSynth |
| Release | 2024 | 2021 |
Sources — Launchkey 49 MK4: us.novationmusic.com (verified 2026-06-19). Oxygen Pro 49: m-audio.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Launchkey 49 MK4 and Oxygen Pro 49?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (2 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Aftertouch: Launchkey 49 MK4 false vs Oxygen Pro 49 true
- Bundled software: Launchkey 49 MK4 Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, GForce Oberheim SEM, Klevgrand plugins, NI Komplete Select, Melodics vs Oxygen Pro 49 Ableton Live Lite, Pro Tools First, MPC Beats, AIR Hybrid 3, Mini Grand, Velvet, TubeSynth
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Launchkey 49 MK4
Two whitelisted testers reviewed the Launchkey 49 MK4 hands-on: MusicRadar covering the 49 and 61 together, and Sound on Sound covering the whole MK4 range with 49/61-specific commentary. Both reach a positive verdict. Shared praise centres on the comprehensive control surface and tight Ableton Live / DAW integration. MusicRadar additionally singles out the playable semi-weighted keys and the software bundle; Sound on Sound additionally praises the creative arpeggiator and Chord Map modes. Both flag readability of the small OLED / under-labelled controls and the chunky, heavier build of the larger 49/61. Neither ran measurements, so all findings are qualitative. (2 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Playable, semi-weighted full-size keys; Comprehensive control surface with faders, encoders, pads and central OLED; Tight Ableton Live / DAW integration.
Flagged: Small OLED display and control labels that could be larger or better illuminated; The larger 49/61 are chunky and heavier than the smaller range models; Thin documentation for third-party DAW/plug-in control.
Oxygen Pro 49
Two hands-on reviews of the Oxygen Pro 49 survive verification: Sound on Sound (May 2021) and MusicRadar (27 May 2021). Both recommend it as a feature-rich, competitively priced controller, and both flag the light, springy keybed and the time needed to learn the feature set. Neither outlet published lab measurements. Note that MusicRadar's build-quality passage is a verbatim reprint of Sound on Sound's text under its 'The web says' heading, so chassis assessment rests on one independent source, not two. No claim is made here about coverage by outlets that were not fetched. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Backlit pads are a highlight — responsive to varied playing pressure and triggering reliably across their surface; Smart Chord, Smart Scale and the arpeggiator add real performance value, including for non-keyboardists; Generous bundled software suite for the asking price.
Flagged: Keybed is light and springy — Sound on Sound also calls it noisy, with plasticky clatter at the bottom of the stroke; Steep learning curve, with many features buried behind the Shift button and menu-diving; Documentation for many features and software tie-ins is sparse.