NAMM 2006 Winter Show: M-Audio announced the new Axiom line of USB mobile MIDI controllers—the Axiom 61, Axiom 49 and Axiom 25. This new line offers all of the features of M-Audio’s recently introduced Oxygen line of controllers and adds premium features.

“Our new Axiom line delivers the most comprehensive control package for musicians who live in the software world,” says Adam Castillo, marketing director for M-Audio. “The combination of semi-weighted action, assignable aftertouch, trigger pads, dozens of assignable MIDI controllers, front-panel programming, 20 memories and Enigma editor/librarian support distinguish these models as flagships in our lines and in the industry.”

The Axiom 61, Axiom 49 and Axiom 25 offer 61, 49 and 25 keys, respectively, all with semi-weighted action with assignable aftertouch and keyboard zones. Each also features eight rubberized trigger pads borrowed from M-Audio’s popular Trigger Finger for easy creation of expressive drum tracks or firing audio/visual samples.

Eight endless rotary encoders assign to mixer controls like panning and effects sends, or to any synth parameters users want to control. The Axiom 61 and Axiom 49 have 9 sliders that can map to software mixer faders or the drawbars of virtual organs. All models feature MIDI-assignable pitch wheel, mod wheel, sustain pedal jack and expression pedal jack, as well as six transport controls that can alternately be assigned to any applicable MIDI parameter. The Axiom 61 and 49 also sport an additional 9 MIDI-assignable buttons.

All three Axiom models offer a backlit LCD screen for intuitive visual feedback. The Axiom 61 and Axiom 49 feature a 10-key pad and 15 dedicated function buttons for easy front-panel access to all programming functions. (The Axiom 25 uses a combination of 9 front-panel buttons and keybed functions for programming as employed on M-Audio Oxygen controllers.)

All three models feature 20 memory locations for storage of setups. They also support SysEx and compatibility with M-Audio’s free Enigma editor/librarian for unlimited patch storage and management via Mac and PC.

The Axiom line can derive power from the USB bus or an optional power supply. The built-in USB MIDI interface has both a USB 1.1 upstream port (Type B) and standard MIDI In and Out jacks for total MIDI connectivity.

Users can freely assign all on-board hardware controllers to any applicable MIDI parameters, including independent, zone or global MIDI channel assignment. All models transmit a full complement of MIDI data from variable controllers including MIDI Controller Number, RPN/NRPN, Program, Bank LSB, Bank MSB, Pitch Bend and GM/GM2/XG SysEx messages. All buttons and switches transmit Note On, Note On/Off toggle, MIDI CC On/Off toggle plus value increment and decrement, Program Change, Bank LSB, Bank MSB, MIDI Machine Control functions and GM/GM2/XG SysEx messages.

The Axiom series is class-compliant under Windows XP and Mac OS X. On a PC, minimum system requirements include a Pentium 3 800MHz (CPU may be higher for laptops) with 256 MB RAM and DirectX 9.0b or higher and Windows XP (SP2) or higher (Windows 98, Me, NT, or 2000 not supported). On a Mac, minimum system requirements include a Macintosh G3 800/G4 733 MHz or higher (CPU may be higher for laptops) running OS X 10.3.9 with 256 MB RAM, or OS X 10.4.2 or greater with 512 MB RAM (native USB port required; G3/G4 accelerator cards are not supported).

The Axiom 61 is $379.95; the Axiom 49 is $329.95; and the Axiom 25 is $239.95.

More information is available at the M-Audio site.