Keyboard M Audio Explained: Features, Types and Tips

M-Audio has been part of the music technology landscape for decades, producing keyboards and MIDI controllers that sit in studios, bedrooms, and classrooms around the world. If you are considering one for the first time, understanding what the brand offers — and where each product sits — makes the decision considerably simpler.

What the Brand Makes

The M-Audio keyboard range divides broadly into two categories: MIDI controllers and digital pianos or arranger keyboards. The distinction matters. A MIDI controller has no sounds of its own; it sends data to a computer, synthesiser, or sound module, which generates the actual audio. A digital piano or stage piano from M-Audio has internal sounds and can be played standalone.

Most of M-Audio's popular products are MIDI controllers — the Keystation and Oxygen series in particular. These are designed to work with music production software (DAWs) and instrument plugins, making them most at home in a production or recording setup. For someone wanting to sit at a keyboard and play without a computer, this matters: you will need something generating sound on the other end.

Key Product Lines

The Keystation series is a semi-weighted keyboard controller range from the brand. Available in 49, 61, and 88-key versions, these are popular with producers who want a natural piano feel without the full weight of a hammer-action keyboard. They are clean, well-built, and work immediately with most DAWs.

The Oxygen Pro series targets producers who want pads, knobs, and faders alongside the keys. These are more focused on electronic music production than on traditional piano playing, and come in smaller key counts (25, 49, 61 keys).

The Code series sits between the two — semi-weighted keys with an expressive aftertouch feature and a set of pads and controls for production tasks.

What the Specs Mean

When evaluating any keyboard controller in this range, a few specifications matter most:

• Key count — 25 keys for compact production setups; 49 for a useful playing range; 61 for most applications; 88 for a full piano range
• Key action — unweighted (light, responsive, no resistance), semi-weighted (light spring resistance, natural feel), or hammer-action (mimics acoustic piano resistance)
• Aftertouch — pressure sensitivity after the key is pressed; useful for expressive playing and pitch manipulation
• Connectivity — USB-MIDI is standard; some units also include 5-pin MIDI DIN for hardware synths
• Pads and controls — drum pads, knobs, faders, and transport buttons vary by model and are most useful if you produce electronic music

Software Included

M-Audio bundles software with its keyboards, typically including Ableton Live Lite and a selection of virtual instruments. The included software is limited in its full versions but provides a complete enough starting environment for beginners. If you already have a DAW, the bundled software is irrelevant — the keyboard will integrate with any standard MIDI setup.

For buying recommendations, the complete buyer's guide covers what to prioritise at each price level. For first-time buyers, the beginner's guide gives a more accessible starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions