M-Audio Oxygen

What features motivated my choice was the 49 keys velocity sensitive , the mod wheels , the mixer build-in , the direct link provided with the product itself.

It has both type of connections , midi and pedal.

UTILIZATION

The general configuration and setup is fast , if your daw is compatible with the Direct Link mode provided by the M-audio series , you just connect your midi controller and you'll have it connected due to this great connection type.

The manual is consistent of good information and different types of tips and tricks useful.

The patch selection is very easy and fast.

The general configuration and setup as I mentioned is very easy , this type of product may be even used by children , it's very straight forwarded.

OVERALL OPINION

What I like most about it how cheap this product is , yet however the material which is made of is consistent , looks quite good , I like how the keys feel , I like the full daw support and the Direct Link mode which is such a great feature.

I like the way this midi controller is designed and that it requires a lot of space , so it's quite portable.

My opinion about the value for the price is great , I really think this is probably one of the best deals you could get for such an amount of money , this product combines great features with a cheap pocket , this product can be bought on amazon for just 120 $.

Precision and quality of the sound is very good , everything works as it should be on a pro level.
This product is used world wide even in top studios , the only bad thing about this product is that it doesn't have a drum pad , but no worries you can use the keys as a main drum pad.

Knowing what I know, I would buy this product again.

Some of the features that motivated my choice were the 49 velocity sensitive keys, the DirectLink technology that creates a quick connections to your DAW functions.

There are two type of controls , both midi and pedal based.

UTILIZATION

The general configuration and setup is quite simple , nothing really advanced for the configuration stage , thanks to the technology that comes with this product , you get an instant connection with your working DAW trough the Direct Link feature.

The manual is a saver , very easy to follow starting from the basic to the more complex.

OVERALL OPINION

What I like most about this product , is the great price , the powerful design by M-audio , the eight assignable knobs and nine assignable sliders, the Direct Link mode and may other cool features.

You get also 6 dedicated transport controls , a bend wheel , and some dedicated track up/down buttons which take you away from your qwerty keyboard.

What I don't like about it , is the lack of drum pads , if you would get at least 8 drum pads , this would be a perfect product , also another thing that I found quite disturbing , is the feeling of the keys , they feel like a toy , not really high quality.

However, my opinion about the price is great , this is a very cheap product , and probably one of the best in this quality price range , you can get it for 120$.

Precision and quality of the sound is very good , no issues found in this area.

I've tried several midi controllers , this would be probably the easiest to work it , the faster to setup doe to its Direct Link Mode , and the cheapest , good midi controller for amateurs.

Knowing what I know, I would buy this midi controller.

I actually got this as part of a college program and used it everyday. I know it's plastic, but this thing is durable. The Oxygen 8 V2 is perfect for somebody that wants to make MIDI music on the go. Bring it to your favourite jam space just incase, it will fit easily on almost any desktop, use it to control your DAW or even hook it up to a synth and play on.

Specs:
-25 velocity sensitive keys
-Pitch bend and modulation wheel
-8 MIDI control knobs
-6 MIDI transport buttons
-5 MIDI function buttons
-Octave up/down or transpose up/down button
-3 digit LED screen
-USB
-MIDI output
-Optional DC power jack
-Sustain pedal jack
-On/off switch
-Kensington lock hole
-Ableton Live Lite 4 included


UTILIZATION

The set up for general use was very simple. On my mac I didn't have to install any drivers and I was able to use keys, pitch bend and the octave problem with no problems. Getting it to work with your DAW is another issue. Now I'll be honest, I didn't know much about MIDI keyboard/controllers when I first tried to get it to work. And I may have gotten frustrated and learned to live without the knob control feature. I found that I really didn't use synths in a way that required me to have the midi control so it was no problem to not have. Lets also note that the MIDI knobs are not infinity (you they have a limit to how far they can be turned either way. This means that when you try to adjust one of your on screen settings using the knob, it will automatically snap to where the physical knob is. This is a pain when you can't remember what exact setting you had had on before. When you adjust on screen it will change the value, however once you touch the physical knob again it will snap to wherever the knob is pointed.

I don't remember much about the manual. And unfortunately it's currently unavailable on the m-audio website. It is very similar to other competing MIDI keyboards so if you are familiar with those you won't have a problem. If you are still unsure there are plenty of videos on youtube to help you out!

The buttons are moderately easy to use. There are enough buttons to preform certain functions (sometimes you get units with lots of dual use buttons and things can become a pain when you have to a lot of adjustments). The layout of the keyboard is well thought out. The double stacked midi knobs definitely save some space compared to having them all in one row.

OVERALL OPINION

What I liked the most was the compact design. Granted, things have gotten smaller since the release. But at the time this was a lot more compact than others. I'll confess that I have accidentally dropped it once or twice, but the unit was fine with no noticeable marks. Unless it was a fluke this thing is not going to fall apart on you.

I can't really comment on MSRP because mine was included in a college program. However I've seen used ones online for around $80 and refurbished price of $85. At those prices the M-Audio Oxygen 8 V2 is an excellent choice.

The 25 keys were sensitive to pick up a fine touch and will not buckle if you hammer them. The key response was alright, without weighted keys what can we expect right? It would be nice if the keys were slightly lower to the surface it is sitting on.

This was my first model and was my only choice. I later moved onto a Novation Nocturne 49 but still keep my Oxygen 8 V2 in my work studio. It's one of those pieces of gear that I couldn't bring myself to sell. And it's good that I didn't sell because I end up using it all the time.

Pros:
-Light
-Durable
-LED Display
-Pitch bend and modulation wheels

Cons:
-Keys aren't solid
-Knobs aren't infinity
-No beat pads
-The colour shows marks easily (something darker would be better)
-No DC adapter included

• With what configuration, software and other gear do you use this MIDI controller? In what context and for what musical genre(s)? What are your thoughts on its stability and durability?
Most of the time, I use it with my Macbook pro and cubase artist 8.5 in my home studio.
The keyboard is stable, I’ve had no problem with it. .

• Are its controls and features ergonomically designed? Is MIDI mapping straightforward?
The design is very ergonomical, and most important the knobs are NOT endless ! As far as the mapping is concerned, it’s very easy to do.

• What do you think about the feel and function of its keys and pads? Do they permit you to play with precision? Are they lacking in any way? Why or why not?
Well, I must admit i’m surprised as i fin dit sturdy and well-built, even if it’s only plastic and a real lightweight!
The keys’ quality is average-to-good, and their size allow to play it correctly and precisely – and also allow me to put fluorescent tape on it to mark my settings.
Reading the manual carefully makes it easy to set the keyboard as you like, I can easily keep the settings for my Arturia (and others) virtual synths.

• What are the pros and cons of this MIDI controller?
The price is quite reasonable, and the keyboard’s general quality is correct.