Alesis IO Dock Review & Demo | UniqueSquared.com

[ElegyForTheMasses]

Tried a few amp simulation apps, and most did not work with this for guitar input. They all expected the adapter that goes into the headphone/mic jack on the ipad itself.

[Ceeze420]

ahahah anyone notice 4:20 when he plugged the ipad in!

[letronchosier]

I have had mine since september 2011, I haven't had any problem withit. My only complant is, perhaps, that the USB connection doesn't allow external controllers to be attached without a converter. I use it as a slave of my DAW and as a stand alone instrument with several IOS synths. I am happy with it so far

[jloldc]

I just got mine from your eBay store, gonna try it today, so excited..

[mattsynth]

What I hear from everyone is that this thing does not work. I don't own one but everything I have ever purchased from Alesis broke within 1 year. There quality is horrable.

[MrLaurensio]

Does not work! Don't buy this crap...

[Eightball69]

IO dock doesn't work - had enough? Join the Facebook group - Alesis - Refund IO dock owners

[alvamend]

Read reviews

[alvamend]

DOES NOT WORK..

[alvamend]

I just bought this from your website and I get a lot of feedback. Is there a way to fix it?

[Musicalshootings]

Is this compatable with maschine

[DjCalliber]

can you use this with the ipod touch as well!?????? cus I have an Ipod touch with garage band on it and it would be sooo cool if I could use my ipod touch as my recording studio!!!!

[tomsetto]

@Uniquesquared can you link this up to dj decks ?

[EmmasFella]

I'm actually finally getting my hands on an iPad tomorrow (when it is delivered) and I'm absolutely over the moon that a company has come up with a custom-made dock to deal with everything I may need to create and record.

Up to now I've been using my windows laptop with a bunch of programs; Adobe Audition, Adobe Soundbooth and Mixcraft 5 to name a few.

The fact that this can help so much is absolute music to my ears. (Sincere apologies for the bad Pun!)

Thank you Alesis.

[MrRidisc]

what i wanted to know more details about is that usb midi feature... cause if im getting this is just to use apps to create some sounds and textures... not really do my whole music there... so that usb part as you mentioned it could be hooked up with he computers, that intriged me!!

[11Thirtymusic]

Did the Midi note freeze? Lol he had to turn the volume down after he stopped GB. :-0

[TaylorMorken]

@Seppdavidbecker If you are familiar and comfortable doing audio tracking with GarageBand then I would recommend it.

[zetafour66]

What model Vox guitar is that??

[TaylorMorken]

@zetafour66 Its the VOX SSC-33. You can find a great price on the UniqueSquared website.

[jmozzy101]

i have the sudden urge to dance like an indian

[gdfrisco]

I want to rephrase my statements, the alesis IO dock DOES NOT work with the USB midi connector, I was using the Midi OUT connection from my axiom and behringer umx490 which have both connectors (MIDI out and usb midi) to the midi connectors on my IO Dock. my apologies. you were absolutely right. the best bet is to get controllers from behringer either the umx490 or the umx610(both have good keybed response and are battery powered for only $159/195 respectively)

[FonkyLynx]

If you give a monkey a pencil, and give another to Rembrandt, you will get two different drawings...

BR/The Ghost of Elvis &

The Soul Eater Videos

Canada, eh...

[wolfturn]

@TheMarioPianist if your really that afraid, put a cloth or plastic before you put it in?.lol my iPad is scratched up already :p I'm not stressing it! It's a tool lol

[ronkal]

The problem is, when you're using the iO Dock, you can't plug in a USB controller. The usb port on the iO Dock is not for usb midi in.

[TaylorMorken]

@ronkal You are correct. The USB port is not meant for USB controllers in, but rather USB out so you can hook up your IO Dock to your computer.

[gdfrisco]

@TaylorMorken wrong mister, I already bough this unit, it's intented for USB midi use, it does says literally on the label "USB MIDI", I pluggled there my axiom midi controllers are works great controlling my ipad 2(as a sound module)

[TaylorMorken]

@gdfrisco I stand corrected. Thanks for the clarification.

[ronkal]

It does NOT allow you to plug in a USB keyboard or USB guitar controller!

[HarvestHollow]

@ronkal You can already do that without the dock. The keyboard atleast.

[mostmusicisbad]

Why when all this cool music and recording gear is coming out and finding its way into more peoples' hands, does the general standard of music get worse and worse.

[Uniquesquared]

@mostmusicisbad Most commercial stuff is nominal at best, but there is good music out there that has benefited from the technology, it's just difficult to find.

[redghost105]

@Uniquesquared Would it be better for me just to buy a micropohone (shure 57) and a mixing board with a audio interface

or buy the Ipad and this dock? I Want the Ipad for other reasons, But im very serious about recording

what would you recommend?

[KnockSquared]

@Uniquesquared and thats when the phrase " seek and ye shall find" comes into play. Indeed there is good music out there... and the best news is that a lot of it is free because those talented artist are a lot of times offering it for free (or pay what you want) so they can get many fans and shows.

[Batmensch]

@mostmusicisbad Most music was always bad.  Look up Sturgeon's Law.

[polishbroadcast]

@mostmusicisbad The quality ratio is still the same, there is just a ton more available at lots of new outlets.

[Mikee535]

This does NOT work with ALL iPad apps. Does not work with some JL Audio by Signal Six Digital, does not work with RTA Lite, does work with FiRe recording software. Seems that the output always works and the inputs do not work correctly with some apps.

[Mikee535]

I am using the iPad 2 BTW and as in previous post some apps do not work

[xomedia]

@mostmusicisbad I think its getting better but the good stuff is never heard. I make music as a hobby, most of one`s work you will never hear becuase that`s just it, a hobby.

[iphonemannyc]

am I the one only one noticing him LOWERING THE VOLUME at the end when the note doesn't STOP??? This guy if FULL OF IT!!!!! and he knows this thing is BUGGY (is he getting one free from ALESIS for promoting this thing????) i want to get one but I have been reading A LOT of complaints of USERS of ALESIS products and their customer service and the MIDI NOTE STICKING ISSUE!!!! is it just me or doesn't ANYONE ELSE NOTICE that the keyboard he's recording gets STUCK at the end of this PROMO VIDEO???

[TaylorMorken]

@iphonemannyc Alesis has posted a firmware update to fix this exact problem. Its only for Mac now but the PC update is coming soon. Hope this helps.

[evilsnakes1]

@iphonemannyc

...ummm, it's because he stopped the sequencer before it received the note off message. seriously kid, you fail bad.

[Floridavid]

only core audio apps work with it.....

[DJK290]

I have heard problems with Amplitude?

[dalasv]

super brown track, dude

[TaylorMorken]

@TheMarioPianist What kind of skin? Is this something that can be removed from the iPad like a case?

[MzFlux]

Terrific video.

We're loving the dock, especially with Garage Band. I just feels like we're at the very beginning of a new recording revolution.

[fimpson]

Yay! It isn't "Madflip"!!!

[gabriel71413]

what remix is tht playing in the background?

[Uniquesquared]

@gabriel71413 Girls(Who Saved The World) - 3LAU

[thecockbusters]

looks badass.

your guitar isn't tuned though :)

[djchrisdubs]

waited to plug it in at 4:20.

[mclaurin10]

Plugging this into your computer defeats the point right? I mean the idea is portability but if your running it through to a computer why not just use logic?

[TaylorMorken]

@mclaurin10 Not necessarily. One of the main advantages is that you can put your project onto your computer after you have done a portable recording.

Users may find the instruments in Garage Band are limited and they want to use instruments from other software. Connecting it to your computer is a nice way to fix that.

This is a brand new way of recording so there are still undiscovered ways of using the IO Dock and other software on your computer to work in conjunction with one another.

[Luger718A1]

if i already had an ipad 2 this looks like a good buy for simple recording but if i didnt have an ipad 2 buying one and this dock looks more of a waste....could get a nice pc for 700-800 bucks youd spend on this all together

[manchoa]

and no stereo audio input ? Too bad. Better buy Camera Kit and USB audio interface. The only advantage of io Dock is, that I can connect alll the instruments at once, but do I really need this ?

[pacomacman]

@manchoa There is a stereo input... it's just split into two mono jack inputs, but they are together treated as a single stereo input. However, I can't recommend this interface as it has too many other problems (i.e. sticking MIDI notes and glitching audio).

[pacomacman]

This dock currently suffers a problem with the MIDI interface in that it looses information making it practically useless. This seems to be a common problem although Alesis are saying nothing!!

[VJFranzK]

4:54 - Please clarify - DC Power Supply - so is it recording functions you can't use, or ALL functions which do not work without external power?

That is a limitation, but otherwise it looks nice.  Let's see it with some "electronica" type apps! (Or maybe I'll do a vid with that if I get one...)

[TaylorMorken]

@VJFranzK The IO Dock will not work without the DC power supply plugged in. So for instance the 1/4 inch jacks, the XLR inputs, and MIDI I/O will not be able to work with the iPad unless you have the DC power supply connected.

When you say ALL functions, do you mean the iPad itself or the IO Dock?

[guitarman123451]

how much is the iodock ??  i might buy one depending on the price

[DjPuzzle73]

just got mine today. stoked to connect it to my midi express 128 and use it as an other piece of midi gear in my studio.

[Arpeggio2007]

The iPad 2 requires an insert, which Alesis will send to you IF you provide the serial number of your device. Their site says they wanted these things in people's hands, but the iPad 2 came out during it's production. The insert is free.

[GalileioRecords]

But, theres something i dont understand, is this like an ipad sound card??

[zuogolpon]

how about the delay of your guitar play?

Will there be any possibility of converting the guitar input into midi, so I can play those synths with my guitar. That'd be so awesome. I know we have to wait for Apple or someone else to do that^^

[yikesboy13]

No worries mate- nicely played actually and interesting modal-y kind of stuff you're playing.  Tuning is the only issue!

[schragemusik]

Does anyone know if this will allow apps to sync with (say) Cubase via USB or MIDI? That would be all the excuses I need to get one.

[yikesboy13]

Perhaps tuning the guitar might have made the demo a tad easier to listen to...just sayin' is all ;-)

[TaylorMorken]

@yikesboy13 Agreed. If you watch the video on the Samson Meteor Mic I explain how I am not a guitar player. I just play one on TV. Rest assured I will make sure it is tuned for the next demonstration. Don't let my fun and gun demo stop you from getting the Alesis IO Dock because it is AMAZING!!!

[aldutton12]

Is there any noticeable latency when playing a guitar through garageband and then out through the mains or headphone jack? Basically could I use it for live modeling without any delay issues?

[TaylorMorken]

@aldutton12 I did not find any latency issues when recording the guitar into Garageband. Everything recorded and monitored had no delay issues.

[SplurtySplurt]

Ok great, big question. I use camera connection kit to plug my Korg nanokey into iPad to trigger midi, I have lots of controllers and none have traditional midi. So how will they interface with iodock

[franksfender]

Not that we know what an iPad 3 would look like but do you think it would fit an even thinner iPad? Or would it swim and be unstable?

[DJK290]

I have the iPad 2. Since it's a third thinner than the last generation of ipad, will it be as stable in that slot or will or torque and not provide a stable surface i.e. ipad being too thin for the slot.

[PorkPie5000]

Does anyone know if there are holes in the bottom of this thing for a Module Mount?

[christwagon1980]

I have Ableton and I'm interested in TouchOSC app for Ipad. I'm not interested in using wifi for gigs. USB sounds so much more reliable and more Jazzmutant like. Is this the only solution for USB midi in/out for Ipad?

[Dogboy73]

Does the ipad 2 fit into this thing?

[Uniquesquared]

@Dogboy73 Yes, it does.

[Dogboy73]

@Uniquesquared Groovy. Sold to me then ........ well, it will be after I get an ipad 2 ;-)

[Uniquesquared]

@Dogboy73 Brilliant! Cheers!

[exkeyboardplaya504]

@Dogboy73 Ditto



[PaulofCthulhu]

Thanks for the review.

The original promo videos on YouTube suggested the IO Dock would also be able to run off internal battery power - looks like it's not the case. A pity, it makes it rather less useful.

[TaylorMorken]

@PaulofCthulhu Yes it is a bit limiting but you can buy a battery pack to compliment the IO Dock. One thing I really like is that the IO Dock charges your iPad.

The IO dock is really meant to be stationary so that you can record in a controlled environment. This should not limit you from coming up with ideas on the go with your iPad, then bring those ideas home when you want to record your instruments or vocal.

[PaulofCthulhu]

@TaylorMorken Thanks for the reply.

Does anyone have any suggestions for "battery packs" that might work with the Alesis ioDock?

[freesoulvw]

How was the keyboard sound input in the io dock? I saw the USB was not connected does that USB on the io dock allow core midi use of midi controllers? Or did you have to run input from a vst on another computer. That would suck if the io dock won't allow direct connection of midi keyboards to control the keys in GB.

[TaylorMorken]

@freesoulvw The MIDI in works great and is able to function with all of the virtual instruments in GarageBand. I have not used the USB out but here is what Alesis says about it on their website : "Users can also connect the iO Dock to their Mac or PC using the USB port to send MIDI back and forth for creative, new applications of the iPad and computer used in tandem."

[billtvmacon]

Did you use an iPad2 with the dock? Any concern on the new OS coming in the fall still allowing all the functionality to still exist on this dock? Great review!

[TaylorMorken]

@billtvmacon The IO Dock does work with the iPad 2.

Cheers.

[umpqua42]

I wish it was a USB audio device as well... That would make it the only thing I'd need in my bag.

[bud3111]

I ... W.a.n.t.....one!

[Slavetskiy]

Nice! Thanks Taylor. It wold be grate if battery pack was internal)) Sorry 4 eng..

[reidbetts]

iPads clock displayed 4:20!

[Cityj0hn]

All this new technology makes music production so easy these days, the only thing missing from all this is my actual skill at playing either the guitar or key's :)

[scottmadflip]

Brilliant!