First Band Recording Session With Alesis io26
Ok so I have used it for the first time!!! I was worried as I have had certain instability with the Alesis IO26 but it seems to have ironed itself out? Strange, perhaps I ran a registry cleaner that sorted it out or something?
I have to say it performed very well, I love the Hardware Monitoring software! Very simple and easy to use (this put me off going for the Focusrite Saphire Pro 40 even though it had better routing it looked over complex and heard complaints of rubbish drivers). The best thing about the Alesis HDM (monitoring) software is that it does not forget your set up very easily, you may have spent hours getting everyone's headphone mixes right then closed the software by accident! "OH NO I LOST EVERYTHING!...... But no, you haven't, even if you did not save you configuration everything remains the same and when you re-open the HDM software it all looks the same. I think the names of the channels go back to default but the settings (the important thing) stay rock solid! Even if you turn off our PC it will remember the last setting used so all the mixes remain intact!
I was really impressed with this as I was very worried about the stability of the Alesis IO26, it would be very embarrassing to start a session and keep crashing and having to fiddle with stuff on screen.
As for the sound quality I think it sounds how it looks, subtle, sleek and clean... The pre's don't seem to add much colouration yet bring out a little definition to what ever you running through them, they do not have much gain only 50 db instead of the standard 60. But when do you ever have our gain turned up full on a normal 60 dB gain pot? I know I never do, the chances are you will just be boosting any inherent noise of the mic or sound source connected. I've found that for some of the quieter instruments I've nearly had the gain on max on the Alesis but so what? Its still only 50 dB and they are really quiet sounding pre's (no noise). You can pretty much turn them up max with nothing plugged in and hear no hiss.. (maybe a little)..
The main level knob and mix blend are confusing in that they are digital endless pots, they just keep turning so without having the HDM window open all the time you have no idea of what the main volume is at, this could be seen a big flaw at first but to be honest I have not found it much of a problem.. First off you hear with you ears and feel with you fingers, you don't always need a visual reference, and second you do nearly always have the HDM panel open! You kinda need it there to monitor inputs and adjust headphone mixes for people.. It would have been nice if they had kept to analogue style pots but it obviously was of some technical advantage when designing it so fair enough because it looks and works very nicely indeed..
I have had no use for the blend knob and don't really understand the benefits but I'm sure it will become clear (for over dubs)....
All in all it is the only unit on the market that has the xlr's and faders on top (like a traditional mixer) which is another major reason why I chose it over its competition, for me having a rack mounted interface would be very frustrating not having easy access to the inputs, I use everything on my desk top project studio style. It is very well built I know some minor drops will not damage it its like a small tank.. And for the price the quality is a step up from anything I've used..
Very happy ...