I wanted a compact midi keyboard to use on the go, and on a budget. Having been a long time fan of AudioPilz's series "Bad Gear", I saw him use the M-Audio Oxygen8 V2 to control many different pieces of old gear, which is exactly what I needed it to do. I looked into it, and these units are cheap and plentiful, having been very popular in their day. Back in 2008, they received near universal praise from critics and were sold at a reasonable price. I was able to hunt one down for only $5, and actually paid more for shipping. I tried the little keyboard with my Behringer K-2, and it was plug and play. It also had no trouble running into the Jupiter-X or the DX21. I was very pleased to say the least, but there was one problem: the ugly silver-painted plastic enclosure. I am not a fan of the faux silver-clad look that was ubiquitous in the 2000s. It was used both on the cheapest bargain bin electronics and by well-respected brands like Nintendo, Sony, and Panasonic. To me, it was never convincing to begin with, and sooner or later wears away, revealing the cheap white plastic it is attempting to dress up. Thankfully, this problem has an accessible solution: spray paint. I disassembled the keyboard, cleaned the shell with alcohol for good adhesion, and sprayed on some primer. Wanting to go for something eye-catching, I picked out this creamy purple color. After a couple coats of purple, followed by a few coats of matte clear, I had a custom keyboard! I believe that I am more inclined to use something if I love the way it looks. In the case of this midi keyboard, it is absolutely true. It's become an integral part of my mobile setups and in places where space is limited. It's been a great companion, and I can see why M-Audio is still one of the top brands today.