iPad Music Software: The Alesis iO Dock for iPad is now available.
The Alesis iO Dock is compatible with the iPad and iPad 2, and adds connectivity options for music and audio recording.
- Audio Inputs
- 2x XLR-1/4?
- Individual gain controls
- Phantom power, switchable
- Guitar (high-impedance) switch on Input 2
- Audio Outputs
- 2x 1/4? Main
- 1/4? TRS Headphone
- Individual level controls
- Video Output
- RCA Composite (requires compatible apps)
- Control I/O
- MIDI In (DIN)
- MIDI Out (DIN)
- USB MIDI
- 1/4? Footswitch (function assigned by apps)
The Alesis iO Audio Dock for iPad retails for around $200.
Details below.
If you’ve used the Alesis iO Dock, leave a comment and let us know what you think of it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_NSKpbBVc
Features:
- The world’s first pro audio dock for iPad and iPad 2
- Connect microphones and instruments including guitar, studio monitors, PA speakers, headphones, and MIDI controllers
- Universal device works with virtually every audio and MIDI app in the App Store; Core MIDI compliant
- Perform, craft, create and play back music in virtually any conceivable manner or location
- Video output for connection to TVs and projectors
- Inputs: two combo XLR-1/4? for use with audio gear, instruments, and computer audio
- Input channel gain controls and switchable phantom power for use with condenser microphones
- Guitar-direct switch for use with amplifier- and effects-modeling app
- Outputs: pair 1/4? and 1/4? headphone with separate volume controls
- Control: MIDI In, MIDI Out, USB MIDI, and assignable 1/4-inch footswitch input
finally!
I’m holding out and saving up for the Livid Block Station. It’s completely ridiculous and probably a bit overboard, but I can’t stop thinking about it. And if they make it more ridiculous and cover it in titanium or something I’ll probably laugh at first. But then, slowly, ill realize that encasing an iPad in titanium and walnut for a thousand bucks is completely reasonable and, in fact necessary!
Goddamn Livid, making everything so beautiful and awesome.
I basically work to buy their products.
Most places are reporting that it is available immediately from retailers when in fact if you go to most places to buy it they're all saying it will not be in stock at the earliest until August 5 or later. Same with the Akai Synthstation49 although it's release date keeps being pushed back to early September. Both from the same conglomerate. I would like to buy both and have been watching for them since NAMM 2011. To me Akai in particular are pissing away sales by farting around trying to get as many people to buy the Synthstation25 before they release the 49.
The Studio Dock looks and specs great from all accounts and videos.
This is going to be "the" piece of gear of the year, if they can manufacture them fast enough. Funny, I only just now noticed that there is a composite video out. Why even bother with composite, especially when the iPad itself can natively output higher quality video. Would anyone here actually use composite video out of this device?
I checked this out at GearFest and the build quality seemed very good. Combined with the iPad, it seems very solid.
i totally agree with Xtopher (but you never know when some video creativity app might pop along and add some glitter to the process) and will most definitely be getting this pad bay sometime soon enough.
Core midi support for Pc bassed studios and generally mac haters is a real nag so this totally settles the score as i am both the above but just cant resist a good groove made with any Electribe.
Happy Happy 🙂
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My existing laptop works just fine, and runs Reason, Live, etc.. I don't need another one.
But I find the iPad to be a wonderful device for a variety of reasons: multitouch display, no bulky keyboard, and lots of interesting new software, musical and otherwise.
Musical instruments (and computers) *are* the world's greatest toys! Don't we "play" music, after all?
"this will bring your total investment in the toy noise makers and rudimentary music station market to +$1000! "
Your statement suggests that you are not very knowledgeable about the range of apps that are currently available for the iPad, the cost of the iPad and the limitations of kludging together alternatives.
Arguably, an iPad with the current software that's available, is going to be more powerful than most keyboards that you can get under $1,000.
To each his own, though!
Blah can't wait for iPad threads so he can tell everyone how stupid they are for actually using and enjoying one…
"No bulky keyboard"? Is clawing away at some screen really better than using keyboard shortcuts? I don't think so.
anyone know if these can be powered from the ipad to for working on the go? or do they have to be plugged in?
Well It's not really a totally new investment of iPad+device, as this is really targeted at people who already own an iPad. So this $1000 figure being bandied about isn't really realistic. I doubt that many people will be buying an iPad specifically to use this device.
It'll be a cold day in hell when an article about the latest iPad accessory or app doesn't bring out the commenters who cannot wait to throw out the word 'toy'.
Honestly, that sentiment is almost as played out as "really?" It is a tool – that's it.
changing it from what?
serious studio work to mobile entertainment?
you really think professional artists would consider such a change?
if anything it's a gimmick or a gadget to play around with. it's far from changing anything, when it hasn't even provided an equal to something already existing.
it's clumsy touchscreen and mobility have nothing to provide a detail based profession. it only provides things that most musicians don't really need to make real music.
for that kind of money there are so many more options that would benefit a person who was truly serious about music. and not just dabbling in a hobby or playing around with an idea.
It may be a point of entry for some budding musician. I learned how to play on a $19 guitar and graduated from college with a degree in music composition. Never under-rate what someone can do with a tool.
And those old uprights…they too can create a wonderful aesthetic…I doubt most Jazzers in the 30s and 40s were playing on Steinways but their overwhelming talent is without doubt.
It's just an insert, because the iPad 2 is slightly smaller than the first generation iPad. In particular, the new one is thinner (8.8 mm vs. 13.4 mm), so I assume that an iPad 2 without the insert would feel loose inside the iO Dock. The insert fills the gap. The dock connector is the same.
Alesis send the insert for free if you give them the product/warranty information of your iO Dock. Also, in the future they want to include the iPad 2 insert in the box.
of course you're assuming there was another reason to buy an ipad first.
also an interace, and the countless applets that never quite do enough. so your total investment would be $1000+
or they could buy a $249 android and download a couple of free open source applets and do the same thing. might have to wait a few years for the university students to catch up.
so it must be about……. the gadgetness… the toyness… the wireless coolness… but to some of us, it's all pointless…… this year in time…
No, the iO Dock doesn't work without external power (tested with Midi and headphone outputs).
More of this type of hardware please 😀
I wonder why they didn't implement USB Host. With CoreMidi support it would be possible to connect USB midi keyboards directly to IOdock similar to CCK. There the Alesis engineers slept. Unfortunately..
"blah" is really enjoying trolling this thread.
Right.__Get a Dave Smith Mopho w/ Keyboard for $800…. THEN get a Tenori-On, THEN get a Korg MonoTribe, THEN get …. a clue!___
Right. You have guys like Scott Walker using a wooden plank, a side of beef, a toy piano…
An the keyboardist for Justin Bieber using an $85,000 Steinway…. Creating the glossiest crap ever regurgitated!!
He's just mad because he spent $120,000 on a pro audio setup, and his stuff still sounds like early-80's Lee Ritenour.
Right… and you end up w/ Bob Ross stragglers, instead of Paul Klee geniuses!
Scott Walker uses a toy piano…. a wooden plank…. hell, even a side of beef in the studio. His work is compelling, abstract and elegant.
Justin Bieber's music features a session guy playing an $85,000 Steinway.
Capable, clean and FORGOTTEN.
yep.. just got it, and i can not make my keybord and nano kontrol work with the usb. i guess it only goes to a computer. the midi hangs in all programs like ims-20 and garageband and addictive synth so its been a step backwards from the cck way to do it.
i have written my complaints directly to alessis…hoping for a solution like firmwareupgrade or something. its a nice functional ? dock and has good sound in out though..
Has anyone tryed the footswitch funtion, and if so which type??