Alesis IO 26

by Alesis

Product Features

• 24Bit/192kHz capability for ultra high-quality recording - pro studio software included
• Flexible, routable Hardware Direct Monitoring with 2 discrete stereo headphone outputs
• 16 channels of ADAT input, 16 Channels of MIDI I/O, stereo S/PDIF digital input, stereo turntable input
• 8-High Definition Mic/Line Preamps with switchable 48V Phantom for each pair - (2 switchable high-imp inputs for direct guitar and bass recording)
• Bus or adapter powered with professional multi-track studio recording software included (Windows and Mac compatible)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 12.2 x 2.9 inches ; 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000M49QS6
• Item model number: IO|26
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,142 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

Alesis IO 26 offers 8 analog mic/line inputs on ""Combo"" connectors with Phantom power and insert jacks. Alesis IO 26 is a FireWire audio / MIDI interface with support for upwards of 26 channels of audio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Re-updated Review of the Alesis IO|26, October 30, 2008

By 

G. W. Schumacher (St. Louis) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alesis IO 26 (Electronics)

I am an avid amateur recordist and musician. When I decided to upgrade from my Garageband/USB microphone setup, I wanted an audio interface around which I could build the rest of my studio. I spent a lot of time reading reviews and discussions of the IO|26 before I bought it, and in the end I decided it was the best value for my money. Here are the main things that attracted me to it:

1. 8 simultaneous inputs. This is handy when recording bands.
2. High-quality mic preamps on all the channels.
3. No-latency monitoring (there is a software app that controls in-the-box monitoring)
4. Portability.

Notes and issues:
- There are apparently some problems with the drivers/software support when using the IO|26 with older computers. Personally, I've never run into any serious software malfunction that could be attributed to the Alesis. But if your computer has nonconformist leanings (like you run Linux or something), it'd be a good idea to take a gander at some online support & discussion forums before you buy. Alesis updates their drivers fairly regularly for Mac OSX and Windows; I use a 2.4 Ghz MacBook with 4Gb of memory and OS 10.5.8, and everything works fine. Also, it helps to read the manual etc.

- Other reviewers have pointed to quality control issues, wires being disconnected, unreliability, etc. Although my unit appeared to work flawlessly for the first 6 months, unfortunately it looks like one of the metering LEDs (track 5) has died. Stuff happens, as the saying goes, but the thought of going through the hassle of a warranty claim/repair makes me grumpy. I have a hunch that Alesis cuts corners in manufacturing/quality control in order to keep prices down. This doesn't make it right, however.

- Cubase LE4 has its charms as a DAW, but at heart it's a glorified demo for Steinberg's more expensive audio software. LE4 has no Rewire connectivity (if you know what this is you will be annoyed), seriously limited VST functionality, basically no technical customer support from Steinberg, and only allows 8 inputs to be recorded simultaneously. All my griping aside, the software is free, it sounds decent, and it's surprisingly easy to use.

- My personal beef about the IO|26 is with the two knobs on the face of the unit that spin forever without stopping (unlike the channel gain knobs, which have a minimum/maximum). It's impossible to tell whether you're turned all the way up or all the way down! Although in practice this never causes problems, since I like to play it safe and zero everything out when I turn my gear on or off, this bothers me.

Conclusion.
Recently I had the chance to use the Alesis IO|26 on a full-band project, and it worked flawlessly. There were no hiccups or dropouts in the sound, and it was as easy as plugging things in and checking the levels. For now, this is exactly what I need for my recording, busted meter LED notwithstanding.

Update, December 2009: The ol' Alesis saw some heavy use over the summer and fall, including its first proper album (Letterist: Under Volcanoes - to be released before the end of the year). I lugged it all over New York to practice spaces, people's houses, piano rooms, etc. and it performed admirably. I probably sweated all over it during the summer but it's still running great - if it keeps it up I may have to bestow that fifth star!

Update, October 2010: I've been continuing to use the unit on recording projects in my hometown of St. Louis and it's still working fine. Over time I have started to get more annoyed with the infinitely-rotating knobs, and whenever I want to run audio out (like to reamp something) I have to spend 20 minutes messing with the outputs, making sure the audio software is happy, etc. However, I have been able to produce a solid new record using this interface, and while my recording habits aren't as nomadic as they use to be, I still work out of several different studios/locations so I appreciate the portability and relative ease of setup. The insert jacks are a particular lifesaver, allowing even more options for using effects while tracking. While the limited inputs (eight practical live inputs is definitely a constraint) and possibly-not-perfect analog-digital conversion might eventually force me to upgrade, for now the Alesis IO|26 does the trick.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Research carefully before buying, July 16, 2007

By 

M. Phillips - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alesis IO 26 (Electronics)

OK, I'm not going to say that this is all true for every interface out there, but when I received my IO, and tried to use it:

Firstly, I had major difficulties with the drivers on both PC, and Mac. The manual doesnt go into much detail about any installation problems, mainly covering stuff that common sense would tell you. Not very helpful if this is your first interface.

The software it comes bundled with (Cubase Le) will only allow you to record 8 tracks simultaneously, even though it can take 24 inputs. Not so bad if you already have your own software, but its something to think about if you are looking at it as a problem solver.

And finally, after about four hours of trying to get the thing to work, the interface seemed to pack up, and only half of its inputs will work. Emailed Alesis about it, and got a reply, but no message boards to help, just a FAQ.

Checked out message boards, and whilst other people didnt seem to be having the same problems as myself, there were a lot of people for whom the communication with Alesis was an issue. Basically, I spent $400 on a paperweight. Shame really. It looked like such a good idea.

*** Update - Took it apart myself, as am an electrical engineer, and found a cable was loose inside (No genius work taken to troubleshoot that one) Reconnected it, and hey presto! All inputs now work, and it even connects to my ADAT. Drivers now work on my pc, but still problems with the mac setup. Would now give the box 5 stars, but the other issues still detract from the buy overall

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding interface, December 12, 2007

By 

ale - Japan (Tokyo, JAPAN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alesis IO 26 (Electronics)

We have been using the Alesis iO|26 with an iMac 24" 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with outstanding results. The system can record multi track with no distortion. As of this writing, the OSX 10.5 driver is still in beta testing but the unit works supurbly with OSX 10.4.11.

We are recording with LOGIC STUDIO (Logic Pro 8).