Alesis IO14 14-Channel FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface

The ultimate 14-channel digital audio computer interface.

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customer reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

39 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 6 out of 10

3 People wrote reviews

* * * * * * * * * * 3 out of 10

"Will it ever communicate?"

Quality:
It looks to be fairly well constructed. If it could only talk to the host.

Sound:
I have NO idea how it sounds. With the current driver, the Mac won't talk to it.

Ease of Use:
Three months and I've yet to use this thing. It does not communicate with my Mac's FireWire. It gets power, but NO communications.

Support:
They returned my email request quickly enough, sending an application which is supposedly better at removing the old driver. I can only hope that removing and completely re-installing the software solves the communcation problem. How much time must I waste before the unit either works or is proven to be defective?

Overall:
I'll reserve judgement until the thing actually works.

Submitted: 3/28/2008

* * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

"Really nice unit, well worth the money, works as advertised"

Feature:
The inserts are a great feature, as is the dual XLR/TRS plug-ins for the channel inputs. Some features seem illogical at first (the main volume), but once you've worked with it, they make sense, and they are what you want it to do, not what you wanted at first. This is perfect for two musicians with vocals and instruments. Also great for multi-mic podcasts--isolate each mic channel into your PC for excellent post processing--and the free Cubase included will let you do a great job with that too.

Quality:
Solid, low noise, everything works as advertised. My platform is a laptop PC running Windows XP.

Value:
Really great, outstanding value, just what I wanted, and under $200.

Desirability:
Small form factor, doesn't need a lot of room. Decent looking I guess.

Sound:
Great fidelity, records at twice CD sample rate. Good quality, low noise. The pre-amps are weaker than I expected, but can equalize with Cubase and then do the usual compression and loudness maximizing to get the right signal level at finish. I fyou use dynamic mics, you may want a separate preamp.

Ease of Use:
Surprisingly easy for my first firewire interface. No real problems. Have to unplug the Ethernet and disable my (laptop) PC's wireless network card--otherwise the interrupt handler (I think) interferes with recording. Disconnected from the network will record 4 channel audio without any problems directly to Cubase.

Support:
Boy they need some help. I couldn't get inserts to work due to bad cables and bad advice from their e-mail help desk. Would still be going without my compressor if I hadn't found a good guy in a user forum who put me on to one of the Alesis engineers. Alesis engineering is fine, but the help desk, at least my interaction, was weak.

Overall:
Good quality, great sound, excellent features, solidly built. A go-to device for must-work events with clients, and the most important device I have, next to my PC, for audio work.

Submitted: 3/6/2008

Style of Music: podcaster

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About This Product!
Description
From Our Catalog
The ultimate 14-channel digital audio computer interface.

Compatible with PC and Macintosh computers, the new Alesis IO|14 is a FireWire audio / MIDI interface with support for upwards of 14 channels of audio, S/PDIF and ADAT digital inputs, plus a built-in 16-channel MIDI interface. Sporting a compact, elegant tabletop form factor, the IO|14 offers 4 analog mic/line inputs on "combo" connectors with phantom power and insert jacks, supports a wide array of sample rates, and provides a switchable high impedance input for integrating guitars and basses -- everything today's desktop recording musician requires.

Featuring DICEII FireWire audio design for the ultimate in digital audio connectivity, the IO|14 is the perfect companion to desktop recording/MIDI sequencing applications for the home studio environment. The package even includes Steinberg's Cubase LE DAW software to help you get started.

The Alesis IO|14 is the perfect computer interface for any project that incorporates digital audio and/or MIDI, including:
-- Songwriters/musicians who require a fast, effective interface for recording vocals and musical instruments

-- Musicians looking for a MIDI interface for sequencing that also supports audio capability

-- Audio professionals who add audio (dialog or music) to presentations or other visually oriented materials

-- Composers scoring for picture, computer games, and other multimedia content

Features
4 analog mic/line inputs on "combo" connectors with Phantom power and insert jacks

Insert points to patch signal processing equipment directly into the signal path of each channel

ADAT optical input capability, with support for as many as 8 channels of ADAT digital audio

16 channel MIDI interface

8 ADAT channels at 44.1 and 48 kHz; 4 ADAT SMUX channels at 88.2 and 96 kHz

Stereo digital, 24-bit S/PDIF connector

Switchable high impedance input on channels 1 and 2 for recording guitars and basses

2 balanced line outputs (quarter-inch TRS)

S/PDIF output

All I/O is balanced / 24-bit -- with support for 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz sample rates

Five-segment signal/clip LED ladders on each input

Two headphone outputs -- with individual level control

Dual FireWire ports facilitate cascading of additional FireWire devices

Can be powered by the computer's FireWire bus or via an included AC adapter

Steinberg's Cubase LE DAW software for a complete recording system

Technical Info

System Hardware Requirements

PC:
• Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 2.0 Ghz or faster
• 1 Gig RAM or more
• Windows Vista / XP Service Pack 2 or higher (Windows XP Media Center Edition is untested)

Mac:
• Power Mac G4 Dual 867MHz or faster, all Intel Mac models
• 1 Gig RAM or more
• Mac OSX 10.4 or higher
With 4 x 2 analog I/O and 8 channels of ADAT input.

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