M-Audio Oxygen Pro 61 MIDI Review: Keys, Pads and NKS Depth

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The M-Audio Oxygen Pro 61 MIDI is a 61 key USB MIDI controller built around a semi weighted, velocity sensitive keybed with aftertouch and assignable playing zones. Alongside the keys, the listing describes 16 RGB backlit drum pads, 8 assignable knobs and buttons, and 9 assignable faders, giving the unit a genuinely large control surface.

The standout feature is Native Kontrol Standard integration, developed through a partnership between M-Audio and Native Instruments. The listing states this lets a player control Native Instruments presets and sound libraries directly from the Oxygen keyboard, and it includes a choice of one of three curated Komplete 15 Select bundles at no extra cost.

Beyond that NKS tie in, auto mapping for DAW controls, Smart Chord and Smart Scale modes, and a built in arpeggiator round out a feature list aimed at both performance and production work. This review treats those claims as published fact where the listing states them clearly, and flags anything left unconfirmed.

Keys, Pads and Feel

The keybed spans 61 keys, described in the listing as velocity sensitive and semi weighted with aftertouch. Assignable zones are also mentioned, allowing a player to split the keybed across different virtual instruments or sampler layers rather than treating it as a single continuous range.

16 RGB backlit pads sit alongside the keys, and the listing calls them velocity sensitive and MIDI assignable, with Note Repeat built in for fast rhythmic patterns. That combination of pad count and lighting makes the unit well suited to both beat production and clip launching style work.

The listing does not specify whether the aftertouch implementation is channel wide or fully polyphonic per key, so players who need that exact distinction should confirm it separately. On paper, the keybed and pad section together give this controller a broad playing surface for melodic, chordal and rhythmic work alike.

Knobs, Faders and DAW Integration

Eight assignable knobs and buttons sit next to nine assignable faders, giving a player a substantial amount of tactile control for mixing, plugin parameters or virtual instrument tweaking. The listing describes effortless auto mapping for DAW controls and plugin parameters, suggesting the faders and knobs adjust their function automatically based on what software is active.

Native Kontrol Standard integration is the deepest DAW related feature here, letting Native Instruments presets and libraries be browsed and controlled directly from the keyboard rather than through a mouse. Combined with the included choice of Komplete 15 Select content, this gives the knob and fader section a clear, specific use case beyond generic MIDI control.

Smart Chord and Smart Scale modes add musical assistance on top of the raw control surface, and an arpeggiator is also included according to the listing. None of these features are detailed with exact parameter ranges, so players who want to know precisely how far Smart Scale constrains playing should test that behavior directly.

Software, Sounds and Features

The bundled software list is substantial. MPC Beats and Ableton Live Lite are both included, giving a player two different production environments to start with, alongside virtual instruments from AIR Music Tech and Akai Professional MPC Expansion packs for additional sound sources.

The Komplete 15 Select bundle choice is the most distinctive part of the software package, since the listing states a buyer can pick between Beats, Band or Electronic themed content from Native Instruments. That flexibility lets a producer tailor the included sounds toward their preferred genre rather than receiving a fixed, one size fits all pack.

Access to all of this software and any firmware updates runs through a download card, according to the listing, which directs buyers to the manufacturer's site rather than shipping discs or preloaded content. That is a common approach for modern controllers, though it does mean an internet connection is needed to claim the included titles.

• MPC Beats
• Ableton Live Lite
• AIR Music Tech virtual instruments
• Akai Professional MPC Expansion packs
• Choice of Komplete 15 Select Beats, Band or Electronic
• Smart Chord, Smart Scale and arpeggiator

Build, Design and Portability

Build details are limited in the listing, which does not state a chassis material, exact dimensions or weight for the Oxygen Pro 61 MIDI. With 61 keys, 16 pads, 8 knobs and 9 faders all on one surface, the unit is clearly a full size controller rather than a compact travel piece.

The RGB backlighting on the pads suggests at least some attention to visual design beyond a purely functional layout, giving a player clear feedback during low light performance situations. No further detail on the housing material or button feel is given beyond this.

Because dimensions and weight are not published, buyers planning a specific desk layout or travel case should look for that information outside the listing itself. Committing to a purchase based on footprint alone is not advisable without those numbers confirmed.

Connectivity and Power

Connectivity is comparatively modest next to the size of the control surface. The listing confirms a 5 pin MIDI output for connecting to hardware synths or modules, along with a sustain pedal input for expressive playing, and USB connectivity is implied by the listing title itself.

No CV, gate, or multiple expression pedal inputs are mentioned, which puts this controller behind units in this profile that specifically target modular synth owners. For most DAW centered producers, though, 5 pin MIDI and a sustain pedal input cover the common connectivity needs.

Power requirements are not published in the listing, so whether the unit draws power entirely over USB or needs anything additional is not confirmed here. Buyers with specific power setup questions should verify that detail before purchase.

Setup and Daily Use

Daily use would likely center on moving between the keybed for melodic work, the pad section for beats and clip triggering, and the knob and fader bank for mixing or plugin tweaking, all within whatever DAW the auto mapping feature targets. NKS integration adds a distinct extra step for anyone working primarily inside Native Instruments software.

Smart Chord and Smart Scale would most likely come into play during songwriting or improvisation, locking the keybed to musically safe choices while a player experiments with new ideas. The arpeggiator gives another layer of hands off musical generation on top of whatever is already playing.

Because the download card model requires visiting the manufacturer's site to claim software, first time setup involves an extra step compared to a controller that ships with everything preloaded. Beyond that initial download, daily use should feel similar to any full size keyboard and pad controller.

Who Should Buy It

The strongest fit is a producer who wants deep Native Instruments integration without buying a dedicated NKS only controller, especially given the free choice of Komplete 15 Select content included here. Beat makers who want a large pad section alongside a full keybed will also find real value in the 16 pad layout.

Players who like musical assistance features such as Smart Chord, Smart Scale and a built in arpeggiator will get practical use from this controller beyond raw note input. Anyone who wants a sizable knob and fader bank for mixing, without buying a separate control surface, benefits from the 8 knob, 9 fader layout as well.

This is a weaker fit for anyone who specifically needs CV or gate outputs for modular gear. It is also not ideal for buyers who need exact published weight and power figures before purchase, since neither is addressed in the listing.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Buyers who want a smaller footprint with a similar NKS focus should look at the 49 key version in the same Oxygen Pro family, which trades some keybed length for a more compact size while keeping the same pad, knob and fader layout. That tradeoff suits a smaller desk or more frequent travel.

Players who do not need NKS integration at all and instead want deeper Ableton Live specific mapping should compare this against a Novation Launchkey series controller, which focuses its software ties differently. The right pick ultimately depends on which software ecosystem a producer already relies on.

Anyone who wants CV and gate connectivity for modular synths should look at a controller built specifically around that feature, since the Oxygen Pro 61 MIDI does not include it. That kind of connectivity is a meaningful differentiator worth comparing directly across listings.

Verdict

The M-Audio Oxygen Pro 61 MIDI packs a 61 key semi weighted keybed, 16 velocity sensitive RGB pads, 8 knobs and 9 faders into one controller, and backs that hardware with genuine Native Kontrol Standard integration plus a free choice of Komplete 15 Select content. Auto mapping for DAW controls, Smart Chord and Smart Scale modes, and an onboard arpeggiator round out a feature set that reads as well equipped for the price tier.

The listing leaves weight and power requirements unpublished, and connectivity stays limited to 5 pin MIDI and a single sustain pedal input rather than anything more exotic. For a producer who wants deep Native Instruments ties and a large tactile control surface, this is a strong, well rounded choice.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Yamaha Montage M6 61-Key

Professional synth players and producers who want a flagship 61-key instrument with massive polyphony, analog style synthesis and a matching software plugin.

Read the Yamaha Montage M6 61-Key review →

Roland JD-XA 49-Key

Synthesists who want genuine discrete analog voices and a digital engine in one 49-key crossover instrument with deep real time filter control.

Read the Roland JD-XA 49-Key review →

Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX10 4-Channel

Mobile and open-format DJs who want a 4-channel club style controller with live stem separation and lighting control from one unit.

Read the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX10 4-Channel review →

Questions Buyers Ask