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DirectLink Mode

The latest M-Audio Axiom and Oxygen MIDI keyboard controllers feature DirectLink technology—offering easy, instant mapping to your DAW software (see list of supported DAWs below). With DirectLink enabled, the keyboard's faders, knobs, and transport buttons are automatically mapped to software controls in DirectLink-compatible DAWs, giving you intuitive, hands-on control over your sessions.

DirectLink provides slightly different functionality depending on if you are using the Axiom or Oxygen controllers. This page will help you understand the differences.

Oxygen DirectLink

With the Oxygen series, DirectLink gives you easy hands-on control over your mix without any user configuration.

  • Knobs are automatically mapped to pan controls
  • Transport buttons map to your DAW transport
  • Sliders (49-, 61-, and 88-key models) map to your DAW mixer faders
DirectLink


Axiom DirectLink

With the Axiom series, DirectLink gives you the same basic mixer control as Oxygen—plus hands-on control over Virtual Instruments. This lets you tweak your mix and your VI sounds directly from the keyboard without any tricky set up or manual configuration. With the Axiom’s new Instrument Mode, the encoder knobs, faders, and fader buttons (49- and 61-key models) instantly map to common virtual instrument parameters such as filter cutoff, resonance, envelope settings, and more. This makes the experience of working with an Axiom keyboard feel more like working with a dedicated hardware synth.

Direct Link


Axiom DirectLink also provides feedback to the Axiom’s LCD showing track name and active parameter for the selected track. The fader buttons (49- and 61-key models) provide LED feedback so you can visually identify the state of the assigned function (Track Select/Mute/Solo/Rec Enable) for the currently selected group of tracks. Additional controls allow you to mute and solo the currently selected track, and scroll through virtual instrument patches on supported plug-ins.

Direct Link


The Axiom features dedicated group buttons that allow you to disengage DirectLink for individual controller groups (faders, fader buttons, encoder knobs, and pads), enabling you to use the MIDI learn functionality of your DAW or 3rd party plug-ins alongside DirectLink-mapped controls. This combination provides endless possibilities giving you the ultimate in performance and flexibility. 




See below for a list of audio software currently compatible with DirectLink.

Oxygen 25, Oxygen 49, Oxygen 61 DirectLink Supported DAWs

  • Ableton Live 8.0.9 and later
  • Apple GarageBand  '08 & '09
  • Apple Logic Pro 8.x and later*
  • Pro Tools M-Powered 8.0.1 and higher
  • Pro Tools LE 8.0.1 and higher
  • Pro Tools SE 8.0.3
  • Propellerhead Reason 4.x**
  • Steinberg Cubase 4.5.2
  • Steinberg Cubase 5.x***

Download Oxygen DirectLink drivers from our drivers/updates page
Note: Please check back for updates on additional DAW compatibility.

* Logic Pro 9.1 is only supported when launched in 32-bit mode; 64-bit mode is not currently supported.  Logic Express does not go through the qualification process.
** Reason 5 & Record are not currently supported.
*** Only the full version of Cubase is supported; other versions such as Cubase Studio, Essential, LE, and Nuendo do not go through the qualification process. Windows Users

Oxygen 88 DirectLink Supported DAWs

  • Ableton Live 8.1.5 and later
  • Apple GarageBand ‘09
  • Apple Logic Pro 9.x*
  • Pro Tools M-Powered 8.0.4 and higher
  • Pro Tools LE 8.0.4 and higher
  • Pro Tools SE 8.0.3
  • Propellerhead Reason 4**
  • Propellerhead Record 1**
  • Steinberg Cubase 5.5.1***

Download Oxygen DirectLink drivers from our drivers/updates page
Note: Please check back for updates on additional DAW compatibility.

* Logic Pro 9.1 is only supported when launched in 32-bit mode; 64-bit mode is not currently supported.  Logic Express does not go through the qualification process.
** Reason 5 & Record 1.5 are not currently supported.
*** Only the full version of Cubase is supported; other versions such as Cubase Studio, Essential, LE, and Nuendo do not go through the qualification process. Windows Users

Axiom DirectLink Supported DAWs

  • Ableton Live 8.1.4+
  • Apple GarageBand ‘09
  • Logic Pro 9.1*
  • Pro Tools M-Powered 8.0.4 and higher
  • Pro Tools LE 8.0.4 and higher
  • Propellerhead Reason 4
  • Propellerhead Record 1.x**
  • Steinberg Cubase 5.5***

Download Axiom DirectLink drivers and Instrument Maps in our drivers/updates page
Note: Please check back for updates on additional DAW compatibility.

* Logic Pro 9.1 is only supported when launched in 32-bit mode; 64-bit mode is not currently supported. Logic Express does not go through the qualification process.
** Reason 5 and Record 1.5 are not currently supported.
*** Only the full version of Cubase is supported; other versions such as Cubase Studio, Essential, LE, and Nuendo do not go through the qualification process.

DirectLink Configuration Guides

Oxygen

Axiom