If you want a keyboard with the feel of a piano combined with the power and functionality of of a MIDI controller, check out the new M-Audio Oxygen 88 USB MIDI keyboard / controller.

More like a full digital piano than a keyboard controller, the Oxygen 88 offers an 88-note graded hammer-action keybed; DirectLink mode for instant controller mapping to common DAW functions; compatibility with Avid Pro Tools, Apple GarageBand, Apple Logic, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, and other DAWs; dedicated transport and track select buttons; and 32 assignable knobs, faders, and buttons.

Its assignable buttons, knobs, and faders provide complete control over music software, while DirectLink mode automatically maps these onboard controls to common DAW functions such as transport, mixer, track pan, and plugin parameters. Furthermore, the Oxygen 88's built-in presets offer support for many virtual instruments, with no setup required. The new controller is ideal for use onstage or in the studio.

Oxygen 88's main features:

• 88-Note graded hammer-action keybed with 4 selectable Velocity curves
• 8 MIDI-assignable knobs
• 9 MIDI-assignable 60 mm faders
• 9 MIDI-assignable buttons
• 6 Dedicated transport controls
• 4 Zones and dedicated zone buttons for layering and splitting sounds on the keyboard
• Dedicated track up / down buttons
• Dedicated octave up / down buttons
• Assignable pitch bend and modulation wheels
• 2 Dedicated snapshot buttons (advance and mute)
• 3 Select buttons for quick step-through of presets, program changes, and MIDI channels
• 3-Digit LED
• DirectLink mode automatically maps controls to common DAW parameters
• Factory presets map controllers to music software such as Xpand!2, Hybrid, Velvet, Strike, Oddity, impOSCar, and Minimonsta
• Compatible with Avid Pro Tools and other DAWs
• 4 Velocity curves
• 3 Pedal inputs: 2 sustain pedal inputs, expression pedal input
• MIDI out port
• USB port for computer connection and bus-powered operation
• 9V DC power jack
• Class-compliant with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OS X
• Relatively ightweight and compact: 46.7 lbs. and 53.3" (L) x 14" (W) x 5.5" (H)

M-Audio's new Oxygen 88 is priced at $749.95 (MSRP). For more details, please visit m-audio.com.