Alesis iO Dock Mini Review...

My Alesis iO Dock showed up in the mail today. One thing I should say right from the start is that it Just Works. There ain’t nothing fancy about it, and this is roughly akin to reviewing a 2 in / 2 out audio interface with MIDI. In fact, that’s exactly what it is.

One reason I hardly ever use the iPad in musical endeavors is that I fucking hate the Camera Connection Kit method. First off, you essentially have to choose between audio and MIDI. Secondly, your iPad slides all over the damn place, and is constantly in danger of getting yanked off the table/shelf/top of the keyboard where it is sitting. Third, the 30-pin connector is a serious weak link in the chain, being both dense and delicate. It is, in short, the ass end of suck.

This solves that problem. It’s cheap. It’s plastic. It’s got “Alesis” written all over the top. These are indisputable factors that make it less than enticing. However, it gives you a pretty good audio / MIDI interface for your iPad that Just Works. It also acts as a MIDI class compliant interface via USB, so you can just jack it in to the USB port of your computer and not have to fuck with MIDI cables at all.

In operation, the mic pres sound like cheap mic pres, because that’s what they are. They work, but I wouldn’t want to do location recording of a string quartet with them. The output is HOT AS FUCK. I’d repeat that if I didn’t already boldface-cap it.

For apps that support CoreMidi, it Just Works. If the app shits MIDI, it comes out the out holes and appears via the USB, no problem. If the app can listen to MIDI (e.g. Korg iElectribe) then it Just Works as well. Nothing to see here.

Anyhow, if you’re expecting some masterpiece of industrial engineering, this will be sure to disappoint. It is the same build quality as any other piece of mass-produced gear from a nameless factory in China. You get what you pay for. Now, that said, it makes the iPad a useful musical instrument, where before it was just sort of a toy. In that respect, it is well worth the price. I bought it here.

Worth noting: as I mentioned in the previous post on this subject, there is at least one similar product I’m aware of that is a couple months away from release. As far as I’m aware, this product has more or less the same feature set, but is significantly cheaper. So you might want to hold off. I will state here and now that it won’t be better, per se. It will, however, be less expensive.

As an aside, the Korg Monotribe has begun shipping. I bought one from these guys. $229, which seems about right. I’ll let you know when I get it, of course.