The latest M-Audio Axiom and Oxygen MIDI keyboard controllers feature DirectLink technology—offering easy, instant mapping to compatible DAW software. 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-, & 88-key models) map to your DAW mixer faders

 

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.

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.

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. 

Click here for a list of audio software currently compatible with DirectLink.