Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

I thought that this Alesis io2 would be a good way to add two tracks and send it via USB to multi-track recording software. It's made so that two separate tracks and multi channels are possible. That's a step up from the lower end products still out there. At first, I liked the basic features yet, most plug in powered USB mixers have many more than this USB powered IO device. It worked o.k. at first yet, the phantom power seems too weak of a boost for my preference. The phantom power that it comes with, is only enough to activate a condenser microphone and make the signal register and function. You could tweak the signal once it's in the software but, I have seen phantom power that was much more intense, warmer and fuller. What broke mine is when I connected my effects processor and my guitar to one track/channel, and then my microphone and tube pre-amp, to the second track/channel. That was the last time it ever worked. I do not think that should have blown it out, its normal activity for musicians and engineers to need to chain things together and make circuits. I tried to fix it, by adjusting and checking the software settings, sample rate, buffers, sound card, and drivers. But, this thing is toast; and I only had it for a year. This device would be a fair/good deal, if it was at a much lower price, came with a 10 year warranty and if it was durable; able to handle both ordinary and more complicated applications, and also if it came with improved phantom power. They really need to improve this thing and drop the price. Otherwise, you pay a spiked price for junk that they will not back up past 45 days, or whatever the policy and warranty. I highly recommend, that if you can plug into a power source, buy a real mixer with USB instead. A wall plug in powered USB mixer with phantom power is usually always higher quality, has more features, greater value for a comparably better price. Check those out instead of this toy, and if you need a USB powered IO device, maybe try something else and put a warranty on it.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

I thought that this Alesis io2 would be a good way to add two tracks and send it via USB to multi-track recording software. At first, I was impressed by the basic features, and the fact that it made two separate tracks/channels possible. It worked great at first yet, the phantom power seems too weak of a boost for my preference. The phantom power it is comes with, is only enough to activate a condenser microphone and make the signal register and function. I connected one channel/track to an effects processor with my guitar, and then my microphone track/channel up to a tube pre-amp, and that was the last time it ever worked. I do not think that should have blown it out, it's normal for musicians and engineers to need to chain things together and make circuits. I even tried adjusting the software and changing settings, checking the sample rate, buffers and drivers. But, this thing is toast; I only had it for a year and paid about $75.00. At some places these things are up to $99.00! This device would be a fair/good deal, if it was at a much lower price, if it came with a 10 year warranty, if it was durable; able to handle both ordinary and more complicated applications, and if it came with improved phantom power. They really need to improve this thing and drop the price. Otherwise, they are just spiking the price for junk that they will not back up past 45 days*. I recommend, that if you can plug in to a power source, buy a real USB mixer instead, they are so much better for the price.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

I thought that this Alesis io2 would be a good way to add two tracks and send it via USB to multi-track recording software. At first, I was impressed by all the features, and that it made two separate tracks/channels possible. It worked great at first yet, the phantom power seems too weak of a boost for my preference. I connected one channel to an effects processor and my microphone track up to a tube pre-amp, and that was the last time it ever worked. I do not think that should have blown it out, I even tried adjusting the software and changing settings and drivers. This thing is toast; I had it for a year and paid about $75.00. At some places these things are up to $99.00! This device would be a fair/good deal, if it was at a much lower price, if it came with a 10 year warranty, if it was durable; able to handle both ordinary and more complicated applications, and if it came with improved phantom power. They really need to improve this thing and drop the price. Otherwise, they are just spiking the price for junk that they will not back up.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

This audio interface works great . Just plug in your mic and guitar start up audacity or whatever multi-track and start recording. You can mix your channels even plug in a piano or drum set into the midi. It does everything I need and was very affordable.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

The Alesis Io2 is a simple to use product. Specially when used with an ipad2 using Garageband.
When connected to Roland GI 20 midi guitar you can use the ipad to compose, improvise, record and just have fun using a Godin Guitar as a controller. You need an external USB power Hub to have the right power to get the signal into the ipad.
What a dream come true.

The Cubase is a oem product with ZERO support. It is very complicated to use. It is almost useless when you compare to the new generation software such as GarageBand on an ipad2. It is made for programmers and not reagular musicians.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

Bought this to replace a Tascam interface that used 20% of CPU even when it was idle. The Alesis was recognized as soon as I plugged it into my Windows XP laptop, did everything well right out of the box. Uses hardly any CPU even when it's playing/recording. I'm not using the mic inputs because I use a real mixer in my studio, but everything else on it works just like it should.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

I use for webcasting with New Generation Streaming Live service. It is easy to connect and you get full control of the audio is entering the computer.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

I was kind of doubtful that this could make such a big improvement. Everybody made such a big deal about sound cards though so i looked into it. It makes a big difference even on iTunes and other prerecorded stuff, not just for recording. I listened to a song i recorded before i got this and the improvement was comparable to upgrading mics. I was in need of an xlr input on my computer so this knocked out 2 birds with one stone. Great deal for that reason. The headphone and main out both have different volume knobs, i really liked that. You also have a knob that mixes the usb computers noise with the direct in, so the mics and what not, so if the mics overpower your computer playback you can keep your mic gain at the sweet spot and just adjust the monitor mix(is what its called). the mic/line and guitar switch could be really handy for somebody without a good mic, i didn't use it much but it sounded good to me. Having 2 channels is great, but it records them as stereo. mic input 1 is left and 2 is right. i just record them mono and it doesn't do that. double it up if you want it stereo and make one left and one right. There's a mono switch on the io2 that makes the sound mono so you don't just listen with one ear if only using one mic (doesn't make computer playback mono) it still records stereo when that's on, but that should be easy to fix on your recording program. The phantom power switch applies to both channels so you shouldn't mix a dynamic and condenser mic, but you can if your brave, some dynamics aren't hurt by phantom power I've heard. The main out is 1/4" and there is one for left and right, but I've been using the headphone out for my stereo, which also is 1/4". My last problem is that it wont record 44.1 hz properly. it does one track and then the rest it plays at a different hz which makes them play fast and high pitched. so Ive had to record 48 which is fine, better in the end even, and better sounding, that's just to high for a cd or youtube, but when you export a song i found out it can be done in 44.1 hz, so you have the opportunity to listen to your recording at a particularly high quality. cd quality is also 16 bit, this records 24, you just should export the song at cd quality. that just helps hear the song better for mixing it and what not. Ive loved this thing, i highly recommend it, everything sounds much more defined then the old sound card. But cubase was bad, to confusing, probably good when you get used to it though. I just stuck with audacity.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

No problems with install on windows XP.
Low latency with ASIO for all drivers.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

My first foray into computer based recording using Cakewalk included the need for an audio interface. Chose this one based on positive reviews and price point and its simplicity/small size. Glad I made this choice, super easy to install and intuitive interface and best of all under $100. Have purchased many items from B&H with excellent results as well so this was a no brainer.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

I bought this for a cheap option to use a balanced output to my studio monitors. I got no sound using the Windows 7 drivers (no drivers are provided) or the ASIO driver downloaded from Alesis. I can get a low-volume test tone in Ableton Live using their generic ASIO driver, nothing else. Bundled software is not working - Steinberg offers no support and their registration process is horrible. They won't send out an email to finish creating an account, and no support until your account is created. Alesis has not responded to my email support requests. During a 45-minute phone call I was told to uninstall and reinstall software - same results.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

Easy to hook up, but the included Cubase software is a total pain to activate--so I downloaded Audacity for free online which works fine. The bit rates the maunual tells you to assign for Windows 7 arent available, but I picked the closest one and the unit worked fine. You do have to modulate the gain/volume quite a bit to get the best results. I use the unit with a Korg M50 Keyboard and was shocked at how good the WAV file sounded with better than CD quality.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

This is a great product for voice over work without breaking the budget.

Comments about Alesis iO2 Express USB Audio Interface:

Having trouble with IO 2 express connecting with most of my audio programs. Cubase works well of course. Could be compatiblity with windows XP64 pro. Nice unit built very solid a good value for price.