Guide Contents

 

Registration

MPC Beats will be made available in your M-Audio account after registering the unit. To register the Oxygen Pro:

1. Go to M-Audio.com.

2. Hover over the Account tab at the top right and select Sign In.

Note: If you are a new customer, select Create Account first and fill in the necessary information. When you're ready, click Create Account.

3. Enter your email address and password. Click Sign In.

4. Your account dashboard will appear. Click on Register Product.

5. Select your Oxygen Pro model from the Product field's drop-down menu.

6. Next, enter the Oxygen Pro's serial number exactly as it appears on the bottom of the unit. The serial number will be located on a barcode sticker and starts with a (21). Be sure to include the (21) when entering the serial number!

7. Enter the date of purchase in the final field.

8. When you're done, click Register My Product.

9. Your Oxygen Pro will be added to the My Products page with download links for all of your included software. You can access this page at any time from your main account page.


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Downloading, and Installing the M-Audio Software Manager

 

After registering your Oxygen Pro, the Software Manager will be made available for download in your M-Audio account. This program is a uni-installer that contains all installers for MPC Beats, the AIR plugins, and Sample Packs.

 

1. Sign in to your M-Audio account and click on My Products. Locate the M-Audio Software Manager section and download the installer for your operating system.

 

2. After the download completes, double-click on the M-Audio Software Manager setup application in your computer's Download folder.

3. The Software Manager will automatically begin to download the latest update. After the installer completes, the Software Manager will prompt you to continue. Click Let's Go!



4. Connect the Oxygen Pro to your computer with the included USB cable. Click Next.

5. The Software Manager will show you all Instruments, Apps, and Sample Packs that are available for download to your computer. Click the respective icon to load it to the installer queue. Click Next after confirming your selections.

      

Note: If you'd like to know more about a specific software, click the Information button for features and details!

 

6. Click Finish.

 

7. The Software Manager will begin to automatically download the selected software and display the installers on one easy-to-access page.

   

The M-Audio Software Manager will be saved as an application in your computer's Application or Programs folder. Just open the Software Manager to access your software and installers at any time!

 

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Installing MPC Beats

 

The MPC Beats software is the heart of the MPC workflow. MPC Beats allows you to create dynamic sequences with your AIR plugins and Sample Packs that can be recorded, arranged, and mixed and into tracks.

 

The MPC Beats installer is located in the M-Audio Software Manager and does not require an authorization code to use. Simply install the software and start making music!

 

1. Open the Software Manager from your Application or Program folder.

 

2. Click on the Software tab to view all your installers.

3. Find the MPC Beats installer under Apps and click the Install button to the right.

4. The MPC Beats Installer will automatically open. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation

    

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Installing the AIR Plugins

The Oxygen Pro series comes with 3 AIR plugins that can be installed directly from the M-Audio Software Manager. These virtual instruments are a great way to expand your melodic ideas.

 

1. Open the Software Manager from your computer's Application or Program folder and click on the Software tab.

2. Click on the Install button to the right.

3. Click Install Now in the window that appears.

4. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation.

    

5. Repeat steps 2-4 for the remaining AIR plugins.

 

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Installing Sample Packs

Sample Packs consist of different sample libraries and premade drum kits that can be triggered from the Oxygen Pro's pads. To install the included Sample Packs:

 

1. Open the Software Manager from your computer's Application or Program folder and click on the Software tab.

2. Click on the Install button to the right of a Sample Pack.

3. The installer will automatically appear. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation.

    

4. Repeat steps 2-3 for the remaining Sample Packs.

 

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Authorizing Hybrid, Velvet, and Mini Grand in iLok

 

Before scanning and opening the AIR plugins in MPC Beats, we'll need to authorize them in iLok.

 

1. If you do not have an Ilok account, make sure to go to ilok.com and click on Create Free Account. Fill out all of the necessary fields in the Free Account Setup page and select Create Account. 

2. Once you have created your account, go back to the home page of the web site, you will find the License Support Installers. Download the appropriate installer for your operating system.

3. After installing the application, find and open the iLok License Manager from your Programs or Applications folder.

 

4. Click on Sign-In in the top left corner. If you have used iLok before with other products and have an account, sign-in to your account.

Please note: We recommend using an iLok account. Signing in is not always necessary to utilize an iLok license, but having and using an account to keep track of your licenses is free and provides additional features and options for managing and moving your licenses when necessary. You can see our Managing Authorization Codes and Licenses  guide for more information.

 

5. Once you are logged in, click on Licenses at the top of the window and choose Redeem Activation Code.

6. A window will appear with space for you to enter an authorization code.

7. The authorization code for your AIR plugins will be located in your M-Audio account under the My Products section. Sign in to your M-audio account at M-audio.com.

 

8. Hover over the Account tab at the top right and select Sign In.

 

9. Enter your login credentials.

 

10. On the left-hand side of your Account page click on My Products.

 

11. Scroll down to the Oxygen Pro section and locate the M-Audio Software Manager section. The AIR license code will be located to the right of the Software downloads.

Note: Keep in mind that this code will license Hybrid, Mini Grand, and Velvet so you only need to redeem it once in iLok to authorize all of your AIR plugins.

 

12. Highlight and copy the authorization code. Back in iLok, paste the code in the left-most box. Click Next.

13. You will be prompted to choose a location for your license. You are free to choose an iLok dongle if you have one, but for most users, just choose your computer (this will be the option with the computer icon on the left) and click Activate.

14. You will be asked to confirm this one more time. Click Activate.

iLok will notify you when the activation is complete!

 

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Configuring your Oxygen Pro in MPC Beats

Now that you have installed the included sound content, let's connect the Oxygen Pro and launch MPC Beats!

Please Note: Before following the steps below, make sure you have the latest version of your Oxygen Pro firmware installed. This can be found in your account after registering your keyboard, or on the product page for your Oxygen Pro.

1. First, connect the Oxygen Pro to your computer with the provided USB cable.

2. Press and hold the DAW button (#5) on your Oxygen Pro keyboard.

Note: On the Oxygen Pro Mini, and Oxygen Pro 25, press the Preset/DAW button when in DAW mode (button lit).

3. Using the Encoder directly below the OLED screen (#8), scroll to “MPC” and then press the Encoder to select it.

4. Press and hold the Shift button, and press the Global button.

5. Using the Encoder directly below the OLED screen, scroll to PC, and the press the Encoder to enter into selecting your OS.

6. Use the Encoder select Mac if you are using a macOS or Win if you are using a Windows OS.

Note: This setting is not available on the Oxygen Pro Mini, so this step can be ignored.

Your transport controls, faders, knobs, and DAW shortcuts will now have messages mapped for MPC Beats.

To provide the most versatile controller, the Oxygen Pro series has 2 modes, Preset and DAW mode. When in DAW mode all of the controls will be used for controlling DAW functions and controls. When in Preset mode all of the controls will be used for controlling Virtual Instrument parameters and controls.

 

7. Open MPC Beats from your computer's Application or Program folder.

  8. MPC Beats will list a selection of project templates and demos to get you up and running with the software. If you prefer to start with a clean slate click on Empty Project.


9. If you're new to MPC and would like to find out more about its features and functions, click on the Open Help or Watch Videos buttons at the right!

10. Let's open the MIDI/Sync Preferences to ensure that the Oxygen is enabled as an active MIDI input device. Navigate to the Preferences menu and click on the MIDI/Sync tab.

 

  • MAC: Select MPC Beats > Preferences
  • PC: Select EDIT > Preferences

 

11. The Input Ports section in MIDI/Sync Preferences will display all available MIDI input ports in a list. Devices will automatically appear in the list when connected provided that Enable MIDI ports when discovered is set to ON.

Enable Track for the following Input Ports:

  • Oxygen Pro
  • MIDIIN3 (Oxygen Pro)

Enable Track for the following Output Ports:

  • Oxygen Pro
  • MIDIIN3 (Oxygen Pro)

By default, the Oxygen Pro's Input Port will be set to Track. Let's take a look at the different input modes and how they can be used:

 

  • When Master is enabled, MIDI data from this port will always go to the currently selected program in your project.
  • When Control is enabled, MIDI data from this port will be sent to MIDI Learn.
  • When Track is enabled, this MIDI port will appear in the list of available MIDI Inputs that can be selected in your track's Channel Strip or in Track View.

 

12. If you plan on using MPC Beats as an external clock with the Oxygen Pro's Arp or Note Repeat functions, you'll need to enable Sync next to the Oxygen Pro Output Port. Additionally, activate Sync Send. Click on the Sync Output field and select MIDI Clock.

Now that your hardware is set up, let's take a look at how to access your included sound content!

 

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Scanning the AIR Plugins into MPC Beats

 

Before using your AIR plugins in MPC Beats, we'll need to scan them into the software.

 

1. Navigate to the Preferences menu:

 

  • MAC: Select MPC Beats > Preferences
  • PC: Select EDIT > Preferences

 

2. Choose the Plugins tab.

 

3. Add a check to the first available box on the left, then click on the browse box at the end of that row to navigate to your plugin installation location.

4. To scan for the plugins, click on the drop-down menu at the right to browse and then select your plugin folder's pathway.

 

  • Mac: Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST
  • PC: C:/Program Files/Steinberg/VstPlugins

Double-click the folders to load them into the Plugin Manager pathway. Select the last folder with one click and choose Open.

 

5. Select Rescan All. After the process is finished the Plugin Manager will notify you. Press OK.

Now, all included plugins will be accessible in the MPC Beats Software! You can load your new plugins by creating a Plugin Program and clicking the Plugin field. A Browser will appear with your MPC plugins and AIR plugins.

Can't see the plugin GUI? Just click on the Explode icon to the right!

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Loading a Sample Pack to a Drum Program

 

MPC Sample Packs will be automatically loaded into MPC Beats after installation. To access your Sample Packs, click on the Media Browser icon on the bottom right of the software, or press the "B" key on your QWERTY keyboard.

All Sample Packs will be shown as an icon under the Expansion tab. Click on the Sample Pack icon to view its samples and pre-configured drum kits.

Note: If you do not see any icons under the Expansions tab, it's likely that the Sample Packs have not been installed yet. In this case, open the M-Audio Software Manager from your computer's Application or Program folder. Click on the Software tab to view your downloads. Click the Install button to the right of a Sample Pack to install the sound content.

 

You can load a sample or drum kit by clicking and dragging the file from the Browser directly to the pads.

      

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Using Standalone Plugins

 

The AIR team has released standalone software versions of the Hybrid, Mini Grand, and Velvet plugins. These apps will install on your computer when you run the plugin installers from the M-Audio Software Manager. These standalone programs are great to play with if you're not looking to use a DAW and just want to plug in the Oxygen Pro and make some noise!

 

1. Connect the Oxygen Pro to an available USB port on your computer.

 

2. Open your Application or Program folder and click on Hybrid, Mini Grand, or Velvet.

    


3. The software interface will open and connect to your Oxygen Pro.

Note: If the software is not responding to the Oxygen Pro's keys, click on the Settings gear icon and enable the Oxygen Pro under Active MIDI Inputs.

4. You can access different sounds by clicking on the preset field. A drop-down menu will appear with all available presets. Click on a name to load the patch into the software.

    

Fine-tune and customize your sound by moving the virtual knobs and parameters with your mouse. Click the Save button to save your changes as a User preset.

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