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M-Audio Axiom 49-Key USB Keyboard Controller
Brand | M-Audio |
Number of Keys | 49 |
Connectivity Technology | USB |
Special Feature | Keyboard, Velocity Sensitive Keys, Compact |
Included Components | not included |
About this item
- with Semi-Weighted Keys and Assignable Control Surface
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Product information
Item Weight | 6.9 pounds |
---|---|
Product Dimensions | 31.9 x 11.6 x 3.5 inches |
ASIN | B003V34WKC |
Item model number | Axiom 49 (2nd gen) |
Customer Reviews |
3.8 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #173,507 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #699 in Computer Recording MIDI Controllers |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | August 4, 2006 |
Color Name | Black |
Connector Type | USB |
Hardware Interface | USB |
Musical Style | Electronic |
Number of Keyboard Keys | 49 |
Feedback
What's in the box
Product Description
Advanced 49-Key Semi-Weighted
USB MIDI Controller
The M-Audio Axiom 49 controller from Avid combines all the production power and performance you need to get the most from your music software and MIDI gear. More than just a “data entry” controller, the Axiom 49 features piano-style, semi-weighted keys for a musically satisfying playing experience. Large dynamic trigger pads make it easy to program beats and trigger one-shot samples—while the encoder knobs, faders, and buttons deliver complete real-time control over your software. DirectLink mode provides easy, automatic access to common digital audio workstation (DAW) functions* including transport, mixer, track pan, and virtual instrument parameters—no complicated setup required. Axiom 49 even features a sleek, angled top panel for easy viewing in any environment.
M-AUDIO AXIOM 49 AT A GLANCE
- 49 piano-style, semi-weighted keys make for a musically satisfying playing experience
- 9 mixer-style faders and 8 smooth rotary encoders provide hands-on control over your DAW
- Angled top panel and centrally positioned LCD mean better ergonomics on stage and in the studio
- DirectLink mode automatically maps onboard controls to DAW mixer parameters—no complex setup required
- Axiom Instrument Maps offer instant access to virtual instrument parameters for a hardware synth-like experience
Production Power and Performance—At Your Fingertips
DirectLink: Streamlined Session Control
Building on the best-selling MIDI keyboard controllers of all time**, the updated Axiom series features DirectLink, which automatically maps the onboard controls to common parameters in digital audio workstation* like Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Live, and Reason. Take control over your software studio—directly from the keyboard. Use the faders and encoder knobs to fine-tune the mix. Easily navigate through sessions using the Transport buttons. Interfacing a MIDI controller with your software doesn’t get any easier than this.
Serious Production Power
When inspiration strikes, you need a keyboard controller that can translate ideas into killer tracks. That’s why Axiom 49 is equipped with an ultra-expressive semi-weighted keyboard and eight Trigger Finger pads for programming beats with incredible feel. Automatically map Axiom 49 to your DAW with DirectLink—or delve deeper by assigning the pads, encoder knobs, faders, and buttons to whatever controls you wish. Each controller can map to just about any MIDI message available, along with independent channel addressing for each. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
* For a complete list of compatible DAW applications and a description of how DirectLink mode works, visit www.m-audio.com/directlink.
** The Axiom series is the best-selling MIDI controller line in the U.S. (MI SalesTrak: January 2007 – December 2009).
Axiom Instrument Mode
With other MIDI keyboards, assigning buttons, faders, and rotary encoders to control virtual instruments has never been easy. Now thanks to the Axiom 49 controller’s new Instrument mode, a single button instantly maps the faders, buttons, and encoders to any virtual instrument inside your DirectLink-compatible host*. You get direct access to synthesis parameters such as filter cutoff, LFO rate, and envelope settings—without having to manually configure anything. It’s almost like turning Axiom 49 into a dedicated hardware synth.
Intuitive Design
Whether you’re on stage or in the studio, your keyboard controller should fuel your creativity—providing all the right information and controls at your fingertips. That’s why we designed Axiom 49 with a sleek angled top panel for easier viewing of the display and improved ergonomics. Smooth rotary encoder knobs deliver precise, continuously variable parameter changes while low profile 40 mm faders give you a hands-on feel for the mix. The centrally positioned LCD screen provides informative feedback from DAW hosts, including on-screen display of parameters and settings. It all adds up to intuitive control over your MIDI software and hardware.
Mobile Operation
The Axiom series is extremely compact and lightweight and all models are powered directly from your computer’s USB bus. Choose the size that’s best for your needs, then take your music anywhere you want to go.
M-Audio Axiom 49—Feature Recap
- 49-key velocity-sensitive semi-weighted-action keyboard with assignable aftertouch
- DirectLink mode automatically maps faders, buttons, and encoder knobs to common DAW and virtual instrument parameters
- Dedicated Instrument mode button lets you instantly switch between controlling mixer and virtual instrument parameters*
- Intuitive custom LCD display, centered on keyboard for optimum visibility
- Angled top panel for easy viewing in any environment
- 4 zone buttons for stacking and splitting sounds on up to 4 MIDI channels
- 8 assignable trigger pads
- 8 assignable rotary encoder knobs
- 9 assignable faders
- 9 assignable buttons with LED lights for DAW feedback
- 6 dedicated transport controls with LED lights for DAW feedback
- 6 edit buttons
- Dedicated track up/down, bank , mute, and solo buttons
- Dedicated patch +/– buttons
- Assignable pitch bend and modulation wheels
- Octave up/down; transpose up/down
* For a complete list of compatible DAW applications and a description of how DirectLink mode works, visit www.m-audio.com/directlink.
- Factory presets map controls to popular music software:
- Xpand!2
- Hybrid
- Velvet
- Strike
- Oddity
- ImpOSCar
- Minimonsta
- 20 non-volatile memory locations
- Memory dump via SysEx
- 4 keybed velocity curves and 3 fixed velocity settings
- 4 pad velocity curves, 3 fixed settings, and unique ‘step’ velocity curves
- 2 assignable pedal inputs
- Class-compliant with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OS X
- Powered via USB or optional power supply
- Built-in USB MIDI interface including standard MIDI In and Out jacks
- All controllers fully programmable to MIDI controller number and channel
- Controller Mute function mutes controller output to avoid parameter jumps
- Snapshot function transmits all current controller settings
- On/off rocker switch
We're Avid
From the most prestigious, award-winning productions, to music and movies made at home, Avid creates the technology that people use to make the most listening to, most watched, and most loved media in the world. The shows, commercials, and news programs you watch on TV. The entertaining video and film stories you see on the web and on the big screen. The personal audio and video treasures that people make at home to preserve their favorite moments in life. Our innovative digital audio and video solutions continue to revolutionize the art of creative storytelling, and have earned us hundreds of awards, including two Oscar statuettes, a Grammy, and 14 Emmys.
Minimum System Requirements
Windows XP (SP3)*
- 800 MHz Intel or AMD**
- 256 MB RAM
Windows Vista 32 , 64bit (SP1) / Win7 32, 64bit
- 1 GHz Intel or AMD**
- 1 GB RAM
- DirectX 10 or higher
Windows 7
- 1 GHz Intel or AMD**
- 1 GB RAM
- DirectX 10 or higher
Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.6.1
- Intel Core Duo
- 1 GB RAM
* Home and Professional Edition only. Windows Media Center Edition is not supported.
** CPU may be higher for laptops.
Please check the minimum system requirements for your software, as they may be greater than the above.
Specifications
Size/Weight:
- 18.8 x 11.6 x 3.5 (inches) 6.9lb; 47.7 x 29.5 x 90 (cm) 3.15Kg
What’s in the Package?
- Axiom 49 keyboard controller
- USB cable
- Printed quick start guide
- PDF user guide
- Installer CD-ROM
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Price | — | $259.00$259.00 | $149.00$149.00 | $179.00$179.00 | $269.00$269.00 | $119.00$119.00 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Portability | — | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
For beginners | — | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
Value for money | — | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.0 | — | 4.2 |
Tech Support | — | 3.5 | 4.7 | 3.6 | 4.7 | — |
Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Focus Camera LLC | Amazon.com |
number of keys | 49 | 49 | 49 | 1 | 61 | 49 |
hardware interface | usb | usb | usb2.0 | usb | usb | usb |
connectivity tech | USB | USB | USB | USB | USB | USB |
weight | 6.9 pounds | 9.3 pounds | 3520 grams | 2900 grams | 3.08 kilograms | 4.85 pounds |
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, ease of use, value, and responsiveness of the audio midi controller. For example, they mention it works well, the keys feel great, and it's worth the money. Opinions are mixed on the size.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the audio midi controller. They mention it's phenomenal, well built, and solid. The curated mappings are thoughtfully done and pretty nice. The product works well and is much nicer in every way. The design is excellent and the weighted keys add definite quality.
"...These "curated mappings" are thoughtfully done and pretty nice, but I wonder how much trouble it'll be to re-map when I want a one-to-one mapping..." Read more
"...Other than that, works great, responsive, pads are built well inside the keyboard, faders work nicely and smoothly and they keys, mod, and pitch..." Read more
"...I love playing virtual instruments through ProTools - the quality of the sounds is great just using the instruments that came for free with PT8..." Read more
"The product works well, using it with Mac Pro 15" and Logic Studio, however the size of the product is incorrectly displayed...." Read more
Customers find the audio midi controller easy to use and set up. They say the integration was a breeze, and the mapping to Logic was unbelievably seamless. Customers also say the keyboard is awesome, great to learn on, and great for their workflow.
"...Directlink software puts Novation's Automap to shame in terms of ease of use -- the mapping to Logic was unbelievably seamless and powerful...." Read more
"...download the drivers off the M-Audio website and install in Logic quickly and easily and everything works as advertised...." Read more
"...but at least using the faders for channels and the knobs for instruments is super easy...." Read more
"...(especially Kong) are rather strange, but it's easy enough to reconfigure controls in whatever way you like...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the value of the audio midi controller. They mention that it is a great product for the price, has a nice feature set, and is of professional quality at a consumer price. Some say that the keyboard functions reasonably well for the money.
"...All in all, I give this four stars. For the price it is really great. The feel is WAY better than a $200 music room keyboard...." Read more
"...Build quality is great, and it certainly has a nice feature set for the price...." Read more
"This keyboard is most definitely worth the money. The keys feel great. Much better than the squishy feeling of my old Microkorg...." Read more
"Overall the controller has enough features and functions reasonably well for the price. Some newer breands are more feature rich but more pricey." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the keys of the audio midi controller. They mention that the keys feel great and are better than a $200 music room keyboard.
"...So while playing in the key of C, the keys feel really nice - a little bit of resistance, but light enough to be very fast, and a solid but maybe..." Read more
"...The keys feel nice and everything is extremely configurable. Build quality is great, and it certainly has a nice feature set for the price...." Read more
"...But it does not feel horrible, and the keys definitely have some weight to them.Overall, this is a good buy...." Read more
"This keyboard is most definitely worth the money. The keys feel great. Much better than the squishy feeling of my old Microkorg...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the responsiveness of the audio midi controller. They mention that the drum pad is especially responsive, and the keys feel great. Overall, customers are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...Other than that, works great, responsive, pads are built well inside the keyboard, faders work nicely and smoothly and they keys, mod, and pitch..." Read more
"...The drum pad is especially responsive and wonderful. You just drum with your fingers and it sounds awesome." Read more
"...The Setup Everythings Working.....So With This Device Makes My Production Very Smoothly...." Read more
"...FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW ITS GREAT KEYS FEEL GREAT AND ARE RESPONSIVE OVERALL WONDERFUL CONTROLLER JUST WISH DIRECTLINK WORKED WITH SONAR BUT I KNEW..." Read more
Customers like the customization of the audio midi controller. They say it has enough features and functions reasonably well for the price. They also appreciate the extremely configurable keys and drum pads. The product has controls for automation and playback control of recording software, as well as various other features like aftertouch.
"...The keys feel nice and everything is extremely configurable. Build quality is great, and it certainly has a nice feature set for the price...." Read more
"...It also has controls for automation and playback control of your recording software, some of which are configured by plug-and-play, and some of..." Read more
"Overall the controller has enough features and functions reasonably well for the price. Some newer breands are more feature rich but more pricey." Read more
"...recommend this any day, much better build quality, and various other features like aftertouch." Read more
Customers like the weight of the audio midi controller. They say the keys have some weight to them, it's very light, and has semi-weighted keys. Some mention that the product has a bit of resistance, but is light enough to be very fast.
"...the keys feel really nice - a little bit of resistance, but light enough to be very fast, and a solid but maybe slightly clicky feel at the bottom...." Read more
"...The reason for choosing this over the Oxygen series: semi-weighted keys, drum pads, and some additional capability (which may be beyond your needs)..." Read more
"...should try the smaller version, because it's more mobile but this is very light and works well within my current workflow...." Read more
"...The semi-weighted keys on this are nice, but don't be fooled. It is not the same as hammer action keys...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the size of the audio midi controller. Some mention that the size is not limiting for them, while others say that it's much larger than reported. Some customers also say that the product size is incorrectly displayed. Overall, the opinions are mixed and the size can be difficult to set up.
"...The size is not limiting for me, but someone along the lines of a pianist might want to consider the 61 key...." Read more
"...it with Mac Pro 15" and Logic Studio, however the size of the product is incorrectly displayed...." Read more
"Great addition to any home studio with its size and versatility. Have not found a program it doesnt integrate into seamlessly." Read more
"...The product itself seems of good quality, but it's gigantic! It elevates above the table quite a bit...." Read more
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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The downside is that it does make some arbitrary, if interesting, mappings. In the ES2 synth, for instance, twiddling one knob often tweaks a handful of parameters at once. These "curated mappings" are thoughtfully done and pretty nice, but I wonder how much trouble it'll be to re-map when I want a one-to-one mapping between a hardware knob and a synth param, and don't want to throw out all the other Directlink mapping.
I absolutely love the way it brings the instrument GUI up on the screen when you switch to instrument-edit mode on the keyboard.
Hardware-wise, there are pros and cons vs. the Impulse:
Cons:
- The LCD screen on the Axiom is literally impossible to read at less than 45 degrees of viewing angle. So if you're sitting at a desk with the screen more than a couple feet away, you won't be able to read it (it just looks like all LCD segments are blacked-in). The Impulse, by comparison, has a very readable screen.
- The aftertouch isn't quite as nice. On the Impulse, you get a nice deep aftertouch, for fine control. By comparison, the Axiom is stiff. And overall, the keyboard does feel needlessly stiff (their definition of semi-weighted), which maybe some people will like.
Pros:
- The button UI seems more natural and effective here than on the Impulse
- Not paying for all the useless gimmicks that Novation built in to their drum/control pad section
To justify spending 50% more for the Impulse, you need to really want those Ableton control features in the drum pads or really believe you can put Automap to better use than Directlink.
I do have doubts about the long-term reliability of M-Audio hardware. I've been burned more than once in the past and swore never to buy their stuff again. But that was 10 years ago, and the great job they did on the software here gives me hope. Will update review if I run into trouble.
The part I *am* interested in is using this controller as a keyboard. I want to play music for fun, and then record it. So I was looking for something that is a pleasure to play. And this is! I love playing virtual instruments through ProTools - the quality of the sounds is great just using the instruments that came for free with PT8 (Structure and Xpand in particular), and for far less money than you'd have to pay for a standalone synth. There is a tiny bit of lag sometimes, which is the downside of this type of setup, but it's weird - my brain compensates after a few seconds and I don't even notice it anymore.
So the one thing left is the feel of the keys. Here's where I have mixed feelings. I like these a lot more than standard synth keys, but also less than piano keys (being a piano player first). You might say, "Well, that's semi-weighted!" and you'd be right, but there's more to it than that. These keys are hinged right at the top where the keys meet the console. So while playing in the key of C, the keys feel really nice - a little bit of resistance, but light enough to be very fast, and a solid but maybe slightly clicky feel at the bottom. I think that's what "semi-weighted" is supposed to feel like. But the key of Ab is different. If you're playing up on the keys (near the hinge) as you often would be when playing in "black keys" keys, it can be surprisingly more difficult to strike the note. If you do hit it hard enough, it's harder to control the force. The physics buffs out there can see why this would be - a short lever arm means more force is required but over a smaller distance.
For folks who are interested in a comparison, I also tried the Axiom Pro 49. I didn't play it for as long (because I ended up not buying it), but I think the feel was ever so slightly mushier yet didn't display this short lever arm issue that this does. So I think I'd give the Pro a slight edge there. But it's also about $100 more, so take that into consideration.
All in all, I give this four stars. For the price it is really great. The feel is WAY better than a $200 music room keyboard. But it's also not good enough to keep me from looking for something better. I think when I want to play with new synth or sampled instrument sounds, and definitely when I'm recording, this will be great. But when I have a little more space and money I'll be looking for something with a more consistent feel up and down the keys for my normal playing.
Top reviews from other countries
The fact that its USB powered is great! It had some trouble working completely with Abletlon Live 8.3, but after some research it became apparent that the makers had managed to screw up the Directlink for m-audio products, so I had to download 8.1.4 specifically for it to work correctly. (unfortunately this is the only DAW I have tried it with) It now works like a treat!
The wheels are very nicely weighted as are the keys considering its an entry level product. The keys do stick sometimes on the first push if they have been left for a while, and they can be a little loud (clunky) when released.
The encoders are a little annoying to use, but work fine. Instead of going from 1 to 10, in a seven o'clock to five o'clock position, they will turn indefinitely because it takes more than one complete revolution to get from 0-max. This can be fixed by acceleration, but it removes the finer details. Not a massive problem, but it will annoy some people.
All the buttons are back-lit nicely, apart from the transport buttons which is a little weird... that would have been nice. The pads are very sensitive, perhaps a little too much (there's some unintentional double striking, and occasionally a miss strike when the pad has been properly hit.), but with some learning i'm sure i could get to grips with them.
The LCD back-lit display is clear and bright, though its difficult to see at an angle, if the keyboard is flat on a desk in front of you for example. Not a big deal. Cant fault the faders.
It has a very handy pair of octave buttons for changing up and down octaves on the keys which can also be used to transpose (The buttons also feels very nice when depressed.). Handy.
The build quality is excellent, (not to mention it looks the part!) I could see this keyboard gigging if I needed it to, it feels very sturdy.
Recommended, especially at this price! :)
I hope this review helps!
Integrates well with Pro Tools; for each track the fader and pan controls are automatically mapped to controls on the keyboard. Transport controls are mapped as well.
Haven't used all the features yet but what I have used works flawlessly.
Now about the keyboard... I'm using Ableton on Windows 8.1 (62-bit) and I've tried different versions. Ableton 6 to 7 Axiom was not recognized by MIDI cable, but using USB works perfectly. Versions Ableton 8 and 9 for me had no problems with both USB and MIDI cables. As for me keyboar is handy, great looking, no complains, and to work with this controller is a pleasure. Maybe a bit too heavy if you want this one for live performance, but for me it's not a problem. I point five stars for controller itself and quick delivery, and minus 2 stars because of not finding expected USB cable.