My greatly loved (and will be missed) 1212m is just not going to cut it with my new desktop, so its going the way of Ebay. Im planning on upgrading to a firewire solution, but most are out of my price range, or they are seriously lacking in features. Audiomidi.com has a good deal on the Alesis io|14 @$195 -10% off interfaces, bring it to about $175. I have been thinking about getting a nive lappie for a while now and cant seem to pull the trigger, hopefully with a good mobile interface I can be more confident about it.Im looking around but havent found a review on it, and am not sure about its sound, build quality, et c. Anyone have one, can give me some feedback on your experience?
What I'm liking, on paper at least, is:
- dual headphone monitoring
- balanced ins/outs
- hardware master volume control (none of that software bullshit!)
- 4 sets of ins w/ LED segement meters
- software mixer looks full and robust
- doesnt look too huge, can possibly be portable in real world situations
- firewire means I can take it with me or work at home with my desktop studio
As far as options go, the EMu 0404 USB is nice, but isnt as robust featurewise as I'd like. I love the idea of my 1212m's multitrack recording, recording 8, or 12, or 18 tracks at once is nice indeed, the 0404 doesnt bring that to the table. But i did love the 1212m's sound, incredible for the price, and the 0404 USB does do that, I've read.
MOTU's Ultralite is awesome, but, alas, pricey.
Focusrite's Saffire looks hot too, lots of outs and nice software suite but still out of my price range, which is upwards of $200.
Ive neva been a fan of M-audio, though many will say its the better solution, possibly due to its ubiquitousness, but since my old 24/96, I've always felt the sound was thin, amatuer.
So whats the vote fellas?
Alesis io|14, any good?
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- KVRian
- 620 posts since 18 Nov, 2004 from Orlando, Bitches!
Why cry about your own desires, when I could have them and leave you standing in the sadness of your own....
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 620 posts since 18 Nov, 2004 from Orlando, Bitches!
Nobody?
Why cry about your own desires, when I could have them and leave you standing in the sadness of your own....
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- KVRAF
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Save a little more and go for the Focusrite Sapphire Pro 10. Its fantastic. Worth that little extra saving. Will never change cards again since I got mine 
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 620 posts since 18 Nov, 2004 from Orlando, Bitches!
Um, no, thank you.
Why cry about your own desires, when I could have them and leave you standing in the sadness of your own....
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- KVRAF
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Um, sorry, but why bother asking then? You put the saffire on your possibility list???!!
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 620 posts since 18 Nov, 2004 from Orlando, Bitches!
The Saffire is a 4 in/10 out external audio interface. A less featured version of it is the Saffire LE. The version you speak of, the Saffire 10 Pro is a HUGE not-exactly-portable 8 in, 8 preamps, rack mount that twice the price. Not even close to the category. Sorry. Check the credentials.
Why cry about your own desires, when I could have them and leave you standing in the sadness of your own....
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- KVRian
- 623 posts since 28 Jan, 2005 from hollywood
i like the io14 a lot - it sounds very good.
the software mixer is a little retarded as it doesn't really offer any matrix routing -- just the obvious monitor mix type stuff
the presonus firebox sounds just a good and beats it for portability.
it is cool that the io14 has lightpipe IN, but then annoying that it doesn't have lightpipe out -- need the io26 for this, but the io26 is gigantic
i like the ruggedness of the io14 -- one of the few interfaces i would feel comfortable gigging with without putting it it a rack.
sounds better than any m-audio stuff hands down -- no golden ears required, it's obvious. the focusrite interfaces i've heard were good but not great. i wouldn't buy one. i like the higher end MOTU stuff a lot but haven't heard the ultralite.
i think the pres on the firebox are a little cleaner but haven't critically compared the two.
io14 only has stereo outs but one could use the headphone 2 as "3+4" out.
if you have more specific io14 questions go ahead and PM me
the software mixer is a little retarded as it doesn't really offer any matrix routing -- just the obvious monitor mix type stuff
the presonus firebox sounds just a good and beats it for portability.
it is cool that the io14 has lightpipe IN, but then annoying that it doesn't have lightpipe out -- need the io26 for this, but the io26 is gigantic
i like the ruggedness of the io14 -- one of the few interfaces i would feel comfortable gigging with without putting it it a rack.
sounds better than any m-audio stuff hands down -- no golden ears required, it's obvious. the focusrite interfaces i've heard were good but not great. i wouldn't buy one. i like the higher end MOTU stuff a lot but haven't heard the ultralite.
i think the pres on the firebox are a little cleaner but haven't critically compared the two.
io14 only has stereo outs but one could use the headphone 2 as "3+4" out.
if you have more specific io14 questions go ahead and PM me