Alesis iO Dock Mini Review...
From the original Analog Industries archive. Some links and images from that era no longer resolve.
My Alesis iO Dock showed up in the mail today. One thing I should say right from the start is that it Just Works. There ain’t nothing fancy about it, and this is roughly akin to reviewing a 2 in / 2 out audio interface with MIDI. In fact, that’s exactly what it is.
One reason I hardly ever use the iPad in musical endeavors is that I fucking hate the Camera Connection Kit method. First off, you essentially have to choose between audio and MIDI. Secondly, your iPad slides all over the damn place, and is constantly in danger of getting yanked off the table/shelf/top of the keyboard where it is sitting. Third, the 30-pin connector is a serious weak link in the chain, being both dense and delicate. It is, in short, the ass end of suck.
This solves that problem. It’s cheap. It’s plastic. It’s got “Alesis” written all over the top. These are indisputable factors that make it less than enticing. However, it gives you a pretty good audio / MIDI interface for your iPad that Just Works. It also acts as a MIDI class compliant interface via USB, so you can just jack it in to the USB port of your computer and not have to fuck with MIDI cables at all.
In operation, the mic pres sound like cheap mic pres, because that’s what they are. They work, but I wouldn’t want to do location recording of a string quartet with them. The output is HOT AS FUCK. I’d repeat that if I didn’t already boldface-cap it.
For apps that support CoreMidi, it Just Works. If the app shits MIDI, it comes out the out holes and appears via the USB, no problem. If the app can listen to MIDI (e.g. Korg iElectribe) then it Just Works as well. Nothing to see here.
Anyhow, if you’re expecting some masterpiece of industrial engineering, this will be sure to disappoint. It is the same build quality as any other piece of mass-produced gear from a nameless factory in China. You get what you pay for. Now, that said, it makes the iPad a useful musical instrument, where before it was just sort of a toy. In that respect, it is well worth the price. I bought it here.
Worth noting: as I mentioned in the previous post on this subject, there is at least one similar product I’m aware of that is a couple months away from release. As far as I’m aware, this product has more or less the same feature set, but is significantly cheaper. So you might want to hold off. I will state here and now that it won’t be better, per se. It will, however, be less expensive.
As an aside, the Korg Monotribe has begun shipping. I bought one from these guys. $229, which seems about right. I’ll let you know when I get it, of course.
28 comments
Looking fwd to your review of the Monotribe!
wtf is that in front of your ipad? looks like an 8 track or something.
It looks like what it is.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisrandall/3503027294/in/photostream/
-CR
Thanks for the review. 'It works' is just what I wanted to hear ... I have just ordered one.
- Hugo
It's funny. A lot of apps that I thought were essentially useless toys (in honesty, that's what I think about most iOS music apps) are, in actual fact, quite useful. I've been having a blast all evening with Looptastic HD (iTunes link: http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=sTCd28A32go&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Flooptastic-hd%252Fid363971496%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30 ) which I had, to this point, thought was kind of dumb. If somebody made a hardware box that had MIDI in, audio out, and only did this one thing (and called it "Octatrack") they could charge $1400 for it easy. But the iPad, iO Dock, and this app together are $710 and change.
And you can't watch Netflix on your Octatrack.
-CR
i look at all the tools at our disposal as just different ways of doing the same stuff.. generally.. lot's of different interfaces and idiosyncrasies.
So if you can state anything about the other dock .... USB port(s) for USB only contolers ? That seams to be the main thing missing from the Alesis one .
There are two things that bother me, the first being Alesis badge, the second an external power adapter, which it obviously has.
I do have an original 1st gen Microverb (and the adapter as well) somewhere in my junk crates, and it still works, but judging from the overall quality of their newer products... weeell, let's just say I've seen better. Also, having heard mixed comments concerning iPad2 adapter made me a bit more suspicious.
CR, you probably used iPad1? Also, how much more could you reveal about the "other similar product"? No manufacturers mentioned? ;-)
This may not be the right forum - but I'm curious how others may have found midi sync using the camera connection kit and or the midi mobilizer? I'm talking clock sync here, not just midi notes. Frankly I haven't found it too hot and I understand I may be expecting too much. I'm using Cubase 6 to send out a midi clock and have found that I have to dial in around a -0.20 ms delay in Cubase to get some apps close, and even then it feels kinda sloppy. Don't get me wrong, I can work with this. I guess I'm wondering if the Alesis, by virtue of it's having a USB connection to the computer, has tighter synchronization? I haven't tried using the ipad as the master clock source though....
The only thing I know other than what I've said is the name of the company, and that I can't say.
-CR
iPad cool etc., allow me to hijack the thread for a moment.
I'm just now getting into Killing Joke thanks to CR's namedrop cf. his industrial jones. Just got the 2003 self-titled, really digging it (ASTEROID!!!!). Also going to pick up Absolute Dissent based on liking the samples I've heard.
What's the best next KJ album after those?
Killing Joke? You'd have a hard time going wrong with any of the records. Even that one from 5 or 6 years ago that had Dave Grohl on drums had a few classic KJ songs.
As for the Alesis. Everything you say about the CCK is true. And while I don't hate Alesis gear --I find for cheap Chinese gear it is at least reliable and well designed-- I still am hesitating even though It seems almost perfect for what I'm doing with sampler/synth setup. But being that I almost dumped my Pad the other night I'm not sure How long I'll wait on this.
Oh, that is the self-titled you're speaking of. Buy the first two albums. I don't think anyone would disagree that they're the best. First album is one of those 'change your life' records, at least it was for me. 'Wait, this is punk, too? More of this please.'
Yeah, I couldn't really come up with a bad one. They are, IMO, one of the two greatest rock bands playing today.
That said, in addition to the S/T mentioned (which is, in fact, the second KJ S/T, leading to all sorts of iTunes confusion), I recommend "Laugh? I Nearly Bought One" as a good overview of the "early years," and "Extremities, Dirt, & Various Repressed Emotions" (sometimes seen with "Mixed" in place of "Repressed" but it's the same album) as the best album of that group.
-CR
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the "other" company in question was Audio Damage. You know, considering the last hardware announcement. This Alesis unit would certainly make for some great R&D if that was the case.
re: Killing Joke. Puffer has the truth of it...You'll do good with whatever. To get a range of what they've done with the original members, you couldn't go wrong starting with:
1. Democracy
2. Absolute Dissent
3. Pandemonium
@xmodz: If that were the case, I would have never said a peep about the Alesis product, other than to disparage it. Something like this is beyond our means.
-CR
Damn, I thought I was close!
Cool, thanks for the album recs.
@CR: What's the other band?
behringer/akai/tascam is my bet.
dont press kill if i was right please !
@Peppe: as CR said, okay, understood. I don't like wall warts either. So-called line lumps--where there's an external supply with an AC cable on one side and a smaller cable for the device on the other--are better, but you're right, internal supplies are preferable.
But since you mentioned the Virus TI: it has a line-lump adapter, so I guess it's hobby stuff? :-)
--Adam
It's gotta be Tascam.
I believe that if you make something that runs off line voltage and want to sell it in Europe you have to get it CE tested and certified, and that is expensive. If you use a wall wart you can buy an oem one which is already CE tested and save a lot of cost. That may be why a lot of lower budget gear uses wall warts rather then internal supplies.
@studio nebula: My TI seems to have a razor cable only (European version)... hmm, probably geopolitic differences, I assume. But it's a wee bit hobby, yes. :-)
@DGillespie: ...that makes sense. Didn't came to think about the testing aspect at all.
Well, seriously speaking I'm only waiting for the iPad version of Mainstage until I buy an IODock. That or any other really good excuse. :-D
pah? Mid 80's?..mate i was into them from the second album in 81...Follow The Leader!
Tascam .... Would make obvious sense how C.R. Might have the pre-scoop
I bought an IO Dock, and will complete a video review of it soon on YT (same username)
I am semi-satisfied... outputs are much better of course.
The build quality does feel cheaper than one would want.
Plastic-y. It's definitely light.
The audio inputs are not working AT ALL for me? (perhaps this is a defective unit)
What apps have you gotten to work with it's audio in?
Does I Electribe send MIDI sync out? or does it only recieve?
So far the only app I've gotten to send MIDI out from is TNRi, and it's somewhat glitchy.
I am contemplating returning it, but will continue to test another couple days?
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