M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads Review: The Ultimate Mid-Range Powerhouse for Modern Producers

I remember the early days of my home studio journey, staring at a computer screen for hours, clicking notes into a piano roll with a mouse. It was tedious, uninspiring, and frankly, it felt more like data entry than art. The moment I realized I needed a dedicated controller was when I tried to record a simple synth lead and realized I couldn’t capture the “soul” of the performance without tactile keys and real-time knobs. However, the market is flooded with plastic toys that feel like they might snap under a heavy hand. Choosing a controller that balances professional features with an affordable price point is a common struggle. If you pick something too basic, you outgrow it in months; if you go too high-end, you’re paying for features you might never use. This is where the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads enters the conversation, promising a “Pro” experience without the professional price tag. Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, you might want to see its full feature set and user reviews to get a baseline for what this beast can do.

What to Consider Before Buying a Computer Recording MIDI Controllers

A Computer Recording MIDI Controller is more than just an item; it’s the nerve center of your creative environment. It bridges the gap between your musical ideas and the digital realm of your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Without a solid controller, you are limited to the rigid grid of your software. A good controller provides expression through velocity sensitivity, automation through faders and knobs, and rhythmic precision through drum pads. It essentially transforms your computer into a fully playable instrument, allowing for a level of nuance that a mouse and keyboard simply cannot replicate.

The ideal customer for this type of product is the intermediate producer or composer who has moved past the “beginner” phase and needs more than 25 mini-keys. If you are scoring films, producing electronic music, or playing virtual instruments live, 61 keys provide the necessary range to play two-handed parts. However, it might not be suitable for those with extremely limited desk space, who might prefer a 25 or 32-key variant, or for “purist” concert pianists who demand the heavy, graded hammer action of a digital piano. For the hybrid producer who needs a bit of everything, the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads is often the sweet spot.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A 61-key controller takes up significant real estate, typically around 37 to 44 inches in width. You need to ensure your studio desk can accommodate the footprint of the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads while still leaving room for your computer keyboard and monitors.
• Capacity/Performance: Look beyond the keys. Consider the “control surface” capabilities. How many faders and knobs do you need for mixing? Are the pads velocity-sensitive with note-repeat? For a 61-key model, having at least 8 or 9 faders is standard for controlling a DAW mixer.
• Materials & Durability: While most controllers in this price range are plastic, the quality of that plastic matters. You want a chassis that doesn’t flex and keys that don’t click loudly or feel “mushy.” Semi-weighted keys offer a nice middle ground between synth-action and weighted piano keys.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Software integration is the biggest hurdle. A controller that requires hours of manual MIDI mapping is a productivity killer. Look for “Auto-mapping” features that allow the hardware to recognize your software (Ableton, Logic, Cubase) instantly.

While the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads

When the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads first arrived at our studio, the first thing we noticed was the build. It feels substantial. Weighing in at just over 10 pounds, it’s portable enough for gigging but heavy enough to stay put on a stand. The matte black finish looks professional, and the RGB backlit pads give it a modern, high-tech aesthetic. Setup was remarkably straightforward; we plugged the USB cable into our workstation, and the OLED screen sprang to life, asking which DAW we were using. This initial “handshake” between hardware and software is often where cheaper controllers fail, but M-Audio seems to have polished this experience significantly compared to the older Oxygen MKIV series.

Deep Dive: Performance and Hands-On Experience with the Oxygen Pro 61

The Keybed: Semi-Weighted Action and the Magic of Aftertouch

We spent dozens of hours testing the playability of the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads, and the standout feature is undeniably the keybed. In this price bracket, you often find “synth-action” keys that feel like springy plastic. M-Audio has opted for a semi-weighted feel that provides just enough resistance to make playing virtual pianos feel natural, while remaining light enough for fast lead lines and organ smears. But the real “pro” feature here is Channel Aftertouch. For the uninitiated, aftertouch allows you to press down harder on a key after it’s already been struck to trigger a secondary MIDI command—like adding vibrato to a violin or opening a filter on a synth pad. It’s a feature usually reserved for controllers twice this price, and we found it incredibly responsive during our sessions. You can check the latest price and availability to see how much value this adds to your setup.

We compared the feel to several other mid-range controllers and found that the Oxygen Pro strikes a unique balance. While some users (as noted in our feedback analysis) found the keys a bit “stiff” initially, we found that they break in beautifully after a few days of use. The velocity curves are customizable, so if you have a light touch or a heavy hand, you can calibrate the keyboard to respond exactly how you want. This level of customization is crucial for getting a realistic performance out of orchestral libraries.

Workflow Integration: The Power of Auto-Mapping and the OLED Screen

One of the biggest pain points in music production is the “technology tax”—the time spent configuring gear instead of making music. The M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads aims to eliminate this with its “DAW” mode. We tested it with Ableton Live and Logic Pro, and the results were impressive. By simply selecting the DAW on the keyboard’s OLED screen, the 9 faders automatically mapped to the channel volumes, and the 8 knobs mapped to pan and send controls. It felt like we were working on a physical mixing console rather than just a MIDI keyboard.

The OLED screen is small but mighty. It provides real-time feedback on parameter values, so you don’t have to keep glancing at your computer monitor to see where your filter cutoff is set. However, we did notice that the menu system can be a bit deep. If you want to change specific internal MIDI settings, you’ll be doing a lot of “push and turn” with the main encoder. While some users find this “far too difficult” as mentioned in some reports, we found that once you have your “User Presets” saved, you rarely need to dive back into the menus. The integration with NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) is another massive plus, allowing you to browse and control Native Instruments’ vast library of sounds directly from the hardware.

Creative Tools: Smart Modes and the 16 RGB Pads

For those who aren’t classically trained pianists, the “Smart Chord” and “Smart Scale” features are absolute game-changers. With Smart Chord activated, pressing a single key plays a full, rich chord. You can even set it to “Custom” mode to program your own complex jazz voicings. Smart Scale is equally impressive; it locks the keyboard to a specific scale (like C-Minor or G-Dorian), making it impossible to play a “wrong” note. We used this feature to quickly sketch out melodies, and it significantly lowered the barrier to creativity. This is a feature that really sets it apart from more traditional, “dumb” controllers.

The 16 RGB pads are another highlight. They aren’t just for drums; they are velocity-sensitive and include a “Note Repeat” function which is essential for modern trap and electronic production. We found the pads to be firm yet sensitive, similar to the quality you’d find on a dedicated Akai MPC. Whether we were finger-drumming or launching clips in Ableton, the tactile feedback was excellent. The fact that you get 16 pads—while many competitors only offer 8—gives you much more flexibility for mapping complex drum kits or triggering a wide array of samples in a live setting.

Software Bundle: A Complete Studio in a Box

It’s hard to talk about the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads Review without mentioning the massive software package included. You get Ableton Live Lite and MPC Beats, which are fantastic entry points into production. Furthermore, the virtual instruments from AIR Music Tech (like the Hybrid 3 synth and Mini Grand piano) are high-quality tools that we’ve used in professional projects. For a producer starting from scratch, the value of the software alone nearly covers the cost of the hardware. We found that the NKS integration made using these instruments feel like playing a dedicated hardware synth. Many users find that once they explore the native integration options, the workflow becomes seamless, justifying the investment for the software suite alone.

What Other Users Are Saying

The general sentiment among the user community for the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads is overwhelmingly positive, though it is not without its critics. Many users praise the “premium feel” of the keys and pads, with one producer stating, “the keys fulfill expectations… they don’t feel cheap.” Another user noted that it works “great as a controller for my Cubase DAW,” reinforcing our findings on auto-mapping. The inclusion of 16 pads is frequently cited as a major “pro” compared to the competition.

On the flip side, some users have expressed frustration with the setup process, calling the user interface “too difficult” for those who aren’t tech-savvy. There is also a recurring concern regarding the OLED screen; one user mentioned that their screen “flaked out” and suffered from burn-in after moderate use. Another user received a unit that appeared used, though this is likely a shipping or handling issue rather than a reflection of the product design itself. Overall, the consensus is that for the price, the feature set is nearly unbeatable, provided you are willing to spend an hour or two reading the manual to master the interface. While comparing models, make sure to view the current discount offers for the 61-key version to see if it fits your budget.

Comparing the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 to Top Alternatives

1. Akai Professional MPD218 USB MIDI Controller with MPC Pads

If your primary focus is finger drumming and you already have a keyboard (or don’t need one), the Akai MPD218 is a specialized alternative. It lacks the 61 keys and faders of the M-Audio, but it offers the legendary Akai MPC pad feel in a ultra-portable format. We recommend this for the “beatmaker” who works primarily with samples and doesn’t care about playing melodic parts or controlling a complex DAW mixer. It’s a dedicated tool rather than an all-in-one solution like the Oxygen Pro 61.

2. M-AUDIO Oxygen 49 (MKV) USB MIDI Keyboard with Beat Pads

The Oxygen 49 MKV is the “little brother” to the Pro series. While it shares the M-Audio DNA, it lacks the semi-weighted keys, Aftertouch, and the sophisticated OLED screen of the Pro 61. It only has 8 pads instead of 16. However, it is significantly more affordable and has a smaller footprint. This is the ideal choice for a beginner on a strict budget or someone with very limited desk space who can live without the “Pro” expressive features like aftertouch.

3. Akai Professional MPK Mini Plus MIDI Keyboard Controller with Pads & Sequencer

The MPK Mini Plus is a fascinating alternative because it packs a lot of features—including a built-in sequencer and CV/Gate outputs—into a much smaller package with 37 mini-keys. While the keys are too small for serious piano playing, the inclusion of a sequencer makes it a powerhouse for electronic music production and connecting to external analog synths. If you travel frequently or work in a “dawless” setup with modular gear, this might be a better fit than the larger Oxygen Pro 61.

Final Verdict: Is the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 Right for Your Studio?

After weeks of testing, our conclusion is clear: the M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro 61 USB MIDI Keyboard Controller with Beat Pads is currently one of the best value-for-money controllers on the market. It successfully bridges the gap between entry-level plastic keyboards and high-end professional workstations. The combination of semi-weighted keys with aftertouch, 16 excellent pads, and deep DAW integration makes it a formidable tool for any producer. While the menu system has a slight learning curve and the screen durability is something to keep an eye on, these are minor trade-offs for a device that offers so much creative power. It’s a robust, beautiful, and highly functional instrument that will grow with you as your production skills evolve.

Whether you are scoring your first indie film or just want to stop clicking notes with a mouse, this controller provides the tactile connection to your music that you’ve been missing. We highly recommend you pick up the Oxygen Pro 61 today to revolutionize your studio workflow and unlock a new level of musical expression.