M-Audio · Updated June 2026
M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49: price, specs & release date
M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49, released 2021. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: m-audio.com verified STALE · 2026-06-19 ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
- Best for 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.
- Skip if Keybed is light and springy — Sound on Sound also calls it noisy, with plasticky clatter at the bottom of the stroke is a dealbreaker.
Is the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 a good buy?
At $299, the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 is #11 cheapest of the 12 MIDI keyboards we track, where the median is $149. On the spec sheet, its drum pads of 16 is the highest of the 12, its faders of 9 is the highest of the 12, and its release of 2021 is above the median of the 12.
Evidence of Record
Our dataNo independent lab has measured this product yet. 2 outlets have it on record by mention only, with no hands-on measurements published to weigh its claims against — a gap in the evidence, not a verdict on the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the M-Audio 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.
Based on 2 reviews · 2 lab-tested · 2021-05–2021-05-27
Tested by Sound on Sound, MusicRadar
Consistently praised
- Backlit pads are a highlight — responsive to varied playing pressure and triggering reliably across their surface · 2 sources
- Smart Chord, Smart Scale and the arpeggiator add real performance value, including for non-keyboardists · 2 sources
- Generous bundled software suite for the asking price · 2 sources
- Broad DAW and plug-in control mapping — Sound on Sound calls it a better implementation than many competitors in the same market sector · 2 sources
- Solid, non-flexing plastic chassis with firmly mounted controls and a clear OLED screen
Commonly flagged
- Keybed is light and springy — Sound on Sound also calls it noisy, with plasticky clatter at the bottom of the stroke · 2 sources
- Steep learning curve, with many features buried behind the Shift button and menu-diving · 2 sources
- Documentation for many features and software tie-ins is sparse
- DAW control lacks soft takeover when a project first opens, so slider moves can torpedo existing mix levels
Where reviewers disagree The two split hardest on DAW integration. MusicRadar headlines 'Deep DAW integration for all leading DAWs' as a pro. Sound on Sound, testing in PreSonus Studio One and Ableton Live, was 'pleasantly surprised at the breadth of control' but concluded the fader takeover system is 'workable, but far from ideal', and reported knob and button behaviour misfiring in Live which it describes only as 'apparently known issues' — no vendor acknowledgement is documented on the page.
The sources (2)
The chassis is all plastic but inspires confidence. It’s light but not too light, and doesn’t flex at all in normal use.
you need pretty strong fingers to get black key aftertouch going at all.
So the system is workable, but far from ideal.
The pads, however, are excellent – they respond musically to varied playing pressure, with the display updating to provide the most recent velocity setting when tapped.
The keyboard is both velocity and aftertouch sensitive and feels pretty good; a little too springy for our taste, but perfectly playable.
The Oxygen Pro's feature-set is rich and you'll need time to recognise just how deeply it can integrate with your DAW.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $299 MSRP / street price |
|---|---|
| Brand | M-Audio |
| Released | 2021 |
| Keys | 49 |
| Key type | semi_weighted |
| Drum pads | 16 |
| Knobs | 8 |
| Faders | 9 |
| Aftertouch | Yes |
| Connection | usb_midi_din |
| Bundled software | Ableton Live Lite, Pro Tools First, MPC Beats, AIR Hybrid 3, Mini Grand, Velvet, TubeSynth |
Source: m-audio.com (read 2026-06-19) STALE · 2026-06-19 · corroborated by soundonsound.com (read 2026-06-19). Verified: Sweetwater and B&H confirm 49 aftertouch-sensitive semi-weighted keys (aftertouch:true is correct), 16 RGB pads, 8 knobs, 9 faders, 5-pin MIDI out, ~$299. Sound on Sound review confirms 2021 release. All draft values confirmed.
Is the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 worth it vs cheaper MIDI keyboards?
M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 against its closest cheaper and pricier MIDI keyboards on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 12 ranked
| Product | Price | Keys | Key type | Drum pads | Knobs | Faders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 this | $299 | 49 | semi_weighted | 16 | 8 | 9 |
| Novation Launchkey 49 MK4 | $279.99 | 49 | semi_weighted | 16 | 8 | 9 |
| Akai Professional MPK249 | $399 | 49 | semi_weighted | 16 | 8 | 8 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the M-Audio 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. 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; Broad DAW and plug-in control mapping — Sound on Sound calls it a better implementation than many competitors in the same market sector; Solid, non-flexing plastic chassis with firmly mounted controls and a clear OLED screen; Deep on-board programmability: four keyboard zones, custom CC mapping, DIN MIDI Out source selection. 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; DAW control lacks soft takeover when a project first opens, so slider moves can torpedo existing mix levels; No parameter labelling on the display, even for factory control maps; Aftertouch inconsistent between white and black keys, and absent on the pads. (From 2 tester reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
How much does the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 cost?
The M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 has a US price of $299 (MSRP / street price), as of 2026-06-19.
How does the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 compare on price?
At $299, the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 is #11 cheapest of the 12 MIDI keyboards we track, where the median is $149.
When was the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 released?
The M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 was released 2021.
What are the M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49's key specs?
M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 (M-Audio): keys 49, key type semi_weighted, drum pads 16, knobs 8, faders 9. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-19.
Price of record: $299 at m-audio.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar MIDI keyboards
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- M-Audio Oxygen Pro 49 vs Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3
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Cheaper MIDI keyboards
- Novation Launchkey 49 MK4 $279.99
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- Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32 $129
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