M-Audio Oxygen 49 (MKV) review

Oxygen 49 (MKV) is the middle size of M-Audio’s USB-focused Oxygen V controller family. It pairs 49 full-size, velocity-sensitive keys with eight physical pads in two banks, eight knobs and nine faders. The extra faders distinguish it from the 25-key MKV, but the documented computer-first MIDI route does not add direct DIN connectivity.

Four octaves, with an actual space cost

A 49-key bed offers more simultaneous notes than the 25-key Oxygen V: it is less dependent on octave shifts when a part moves between a lower accompaniment and a higher line. It still is not a full 61- or 88-key span, so decide from the passages you need to play rather than treating the number as a skill rating. M-Audio calls the keys full-size and velocity-sensitive. The inspected MKV sources do not define the key mechanism as weighted, specify an action curve, or document aftertouch, so the maker’s wording should not be turned into a feel guarantee.

The product page lists a 32-inch body, 9.6 inches deep and 3.7 inches high, and a weight of 6.4 pounds. The family guide repeats the measurements in millimeters but labels this model’s second axis “Length” rather than “Depth”; its first dimension is 32 inches/814 mm, the value used here as the published body width. That is a tight fit if 32 inches is your actual desk limit: it leaves no nominal margin at all for connectors or hands. The keyboard still needs enough support across its base, and the guide does not specify a stand or desk overhang requirement.

Nine faders change the control layout

All three MKV sizes have the documented eight-knob and eight-pad layout, with the pads selectable in two banks. The 49-key and 61-key models have nine assignable faders; the 25-key version has only one. The wider surface therefore favors a routine where several levels, pans or mapped parameters are adjusted together, while the compact model saves room at the cost of that bank of faders. The pads are eight physical controls, not sixteen simultaneous surfaces, and their velocity response is documented while pressure response is not.

M-Audio describes DAW and preset modes, transport buttons, a display, pitch and modulation wheels, Smart Chord and Smart Scale functions, an arpeggiator and pad Note Repeat. Those functions can shorten trips to a mouse, but a DAW still has to see the correct controller port and use a compatible control-surface mapping. M-Audio’s support FAQ calls the MKV family class-compliant; that supports a straightforward USB MIDI connection, not an assurance that every software version maps every knob or fader automatically.

USB control, not direct DIN hardware

The exact manual describes a USB 2.0 port that carries MIDI to a computer and powers the keyboard. M-Audio recommends an onboard powered USB port or a powered hub. The manufacturer’s rear image shows a USB Type-B receptacle; the quickstart’s full rear-panel list contains USB, sustain, a power switch and a Kensington lock. It does not list a five-pin MIDI In or Out. If a DIN-only synth is central to the setup, do not assume a USB cable can connect it directly; the reviewed Oxygen Pro 49 is a separate configuration that documents direct DIN output.

This controller does not have a documented onboard sound engine or audio output. Its keys and controls send MIDI to a computer; an instrument plug-in or another suitable sound source supplies the audio and monitoring route. A sustain-pedal input is present, but the manufacturer’s box list does not include the pedal.

Package and generation checks

Check the full name and suffix: Oxygen 49 (MKV) / Mk V is not Oxygen 49 MK IV and is not Oxygen Pro 49. The Pro model has a different documented feature set, so “Oxygen 49” alone is not enough for a hardware comparison. M-Audio lists the MKV package as the keyboard, USB cable, software download card, quickstart guide and safety/warranty manual. For a used or open-box offer, verify that the USB lead is present and find out whether the software card has already been redeemed; its inclusion does not prove the registration can be transferred.

The Oxygen 49 MKV is a sensible candidate when the four-octave range and nine-fader surface suit the routine and a USB-connected computer is part of the plan. It is less compelling when the desk is shorter than its published 32-inch body, direct DIN MIDI is essential, pad pressure is required, or the playing part calls for more simultaneous keys. Check the exact model, seller package, return terms and connected host requirements before choosing. This is a source-based assessment, not a hands-on test, and it makes no claim about present stock or price.