Comments on: How to use the Alesis IO26 with Logic Pro 7 without getting distortion, dropouts, and ultimately having the thing die on you http://jnote.org/1861 Custom-made digital content for musicians Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Torch http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-2#comment-916 Torch Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:23:19 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-916 what service pack? there is no service pack for mac what service pack? there is no service pack for mac

]]> By: Scott http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-2#comment-660 Scott Fri, 06 May 2011 06:50:56 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-660 Hi Guys.. Just got my Macbooks Logic Pro 8 To recognize my IO26 and i can see the sound but i cant hear anything...im a noob with this techie stuff but if theres a setting or something im missing someone please help! Hi Guys..
Just got my Macbooks Logic Pro 8 To recognize my IO26 and i can see the sound but i cant hear anything…im a noob with this techie stuff but if theres a setting or something im missing someone please help!

]]> By: James http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-2#comment-570 James Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:18:56 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-570 Thanks, TJ, that is good advice. Those instructions need to be followed to the word, since they involve cleaning out old drivers and installing the new elements in the correct order. It's also important not to plug the device in before prompted to do so. Glad you got things working, J Thanks, TJ, that is good advice. Those instructions need to be followed to the word, since they involve cleaning out old drivers and installing the new elements in the correct order. It's also important not to plug the device in before prompted to do so. Glad you got things working, J

]]> By: IO26/Logic8 MACsound http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-2#comment-569 IO26/Logic8 MACsound Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:17:29 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-569 I found a SOLUTION for the mac10.6/Alesis io26 / Logic 8 problem! Find the driver for the IO26-io4 for OS 10.6... download the SERVICE pack ..not just the driver..and READ the instructions on how to install.. you have to READ the README PDF and it explains exactly WHAT order to install things... once installed ... THEN connect your IO26 , THEN open logic and to to Logic/ prefernces/audio/ sound care and SELECT the one that says ALESIS FIREWIRE.... NOT the Alesis 13... it worked like a charm and I can record AND listen... so far so good! I hope this helps! PLease pass this on as there are a LOT of people having this problem. Woohooo!! TJ I found a SOLUTION for the mac10.6/Alesis io26 / Logic 8 problem! Find the driver for the IO26-io4 for OS 10.6… download the SERVICE pack ..not just the driver..and READ the instructions on how to install.. you have to READ the README PDF and it explains exactly WHAT order to install things… once installed … THEN connect your IO26 , THEN open logic and to to Logic/ prefernces/audio/ sound care and SELECT the one that says ALESIS FIREWIRE…. NOT the Alesis 13… it worked like a charm and I can record AND listen… so far so good! I hope this helps! PLease pass this on as there are a LOT of people having this problem. Woohooo!!

TJ

]]> By: Torch http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-545 Torch Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:28:34 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-545 I've had The I/O 26 for almost three years now and it's great, when it works.For some reason when I turn my Mac on some times my firewire light doesn't come on.I have to keep experimenting with different things until it wants to work again.Sux. :( I've had The I/O 26 for almost three years now and it's great, when it works.For some reason when I turn my Mac on some times my firewire light doesn't come on.I have to keep experimenting with different things until it wants to work again.Sux. :(

]]> By: James http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-541 James Tue, 30 Mar 2010 07:49:43 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-541 Hi Thomas, thanks for your comments. Are you running any other Midi devices? If you are, you could try manually removing them from the directory that is in the photo above, but keep the IO26 driver. Actually, I think the driver that runs Midi on the IO26 is a generic Alesis Fireweire driver, the same that is used for all Alesis Firewire devices, so you could even install it separately (without clean installing the IO 26 audio drivers, firmware, and other stuff). You could also drag the AlesisFirewire driver to desktop, clean the directory, then drag it back. Sounds like you might have a conflict with another driver or device. Hi Thomas, thanks for your comments. Are you running any other Midi devices? If you are, you could try manually removing them from the directory that is in the photo above, but keep the IO26 driver. Actually, I think the driver that runs Midi on the IO26 is a generic Alesis Fireweire driver, the same that is used for all Alesis Firewire devices, so you could even install it separately (without clean installing the IO 26 audio drivers, firmware, and other stuff). You could also drag the AlesisFirewire driver to desktop, clean the directory, then drag it back. Sounds like you might have a conflict with another driver or device.

]]> By: Thomas http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-539 Thomas Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:27:38 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-539 Hi James, Firstly, thank you for all of your tips and tutorials, they're always helpful.I have a question for you. In a different tutorial you helped to fix Core MIDI problems on OSX. I have IO26 too, but can't get the MIDI working on my brand new Mac Pro OSX 10.6.2 with the latest Alesis drivers. Your fix Core MIDI problem tutorial helped a lot to use my IO26 with Logic - no more long freeze with alert: "Logic Pro has detected a MIDI timeout. Please restart..." Also Audio MIDI Setup is working now without The MIDI Server can't be opened alert. But the trouble is - I want to use MIDI on my IO26 and the problems are back after every clean install. Alesis support is unable to help and you've been a great help here. Are you having the same problems with your IO26? Do you know how to fix this? Thank you very much for any help. Hi James,
Firstly, thank you for all of your tips and tutorials, they're always helpful.I have a question for you. In a different tutorial you helped to fix Core MIDI problems on OSX. I have IO26 too, but can't get the MIDI working on my brand new Mac Pro OSX 10.6.2 with the latest Alesis drivers. Your fix Core MIDI problem tutorial helped a lot to use my IO26 with Logic – no more long freeze with alert: "Logic Pro has detected a MIDI timeout. Please restart…" Also Audio MIDI Setup is working now without The MIDI Server can't be opened alert. But the trouble is – I want to use MIDI on my IO26 and the problems are back after every clean install. Alesis support is unable to help and you've been a great help here. Are you having the same problems with your IO26? Do you know how to fix this?
Thank you very much for any help.

]]> By: Herbie van Tetering http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-535 Herbie van Tetering Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:24:12 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-535 The Alesis iO24 is a good machine for the price. There is some cold-noise on the upper registration end that you need to get into balance with using the right microphones. One usually figures that out after releasing a number of recordings with the Alesis. I used M-audio before and could get a better sound quality for even a lower price, with simple overhead mikes, and the registration-projection of the sound is also nice and warm. Especially for trumpet players like myself, who already have enough work to put into re-creating a good sound; compression and dynamic balancing from the XLR phantom-power and volume-control could be of great assistance to create the tracks you want. The Alesis iO24 is a good machine for the price. There is some cold-noise on the upper registration end that you need to get into balance with using the right microphones. One usually figures that out after releasing a number of recordings with the Alesis. I used M-audio before and could get a better sound quality for even a lower price, with simple overhead mikes, and the registration-projection of the sound is also nice and warm. Especially for trumpet players like myself, who already have enough work to put into re-creating a good sound; compression and dynamic balancing from the XLR phantom-power and volume-control could be of great assistance to create the tracks you want.

]]> By: James http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-534 James Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:03:04 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-534 Hi Lewis, Whoa, I would want to test the IO 26 in a completely new environment. That is: different computer, different firewire cable, with a clean install system if possible, hell I'd even change the lighting in your studio. It sounds like it may be a software conflict located in some strange unheard of place that no tech support can access or has heard of. I'd try to change as many variables as possible to force the IO 26 to work, then begin reverse engineering your system to find the problem. Good luck! -J Hi Lewis,

Whoa, I would want to test the IO 26 in a completely new environment. That is: different computer, different firewire cable, with a clean install system if possible, hell I'd even change the lighting in your studio. It sounds like it may be a software conflict located in some strange unheard of place that no tech support can access or has heard of. I'd try to change as many variables as possible to force the IO 26 to work, then begin reverse engineering your system to find the problem.
Good luck!
-J

]]> By: Lewis http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-530 Lewis Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:42:25 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-530 Hi, I'm using the IO 26 with Snow Leopard (recently upgraded from leopard) and on both operating systems I have am am still having regular firewire drop outs (the firewire light will blink out for two or three seconds approx every 15 - 30 minutes and will hence loose contact with whatever application is using the audio). The firewire dropouts happen whether or not the interface is in use with an audio-based application. This is my second IO 26 as I, after a long troubleshooting conversation with alesis support figured the unit was faulty, I have had the mac itself serviced and the firewire card tested but they found no problems at all. I have all the latest drivers and have tried reinstalling these in numerous combinations. Has anyone experienced this problem? Any suggestions or help would be great as I'm running dry on ideas on how to sort this out. Thanks! Hi, I'm using the IO 26 with Snow Leopard (recently upgraded from leopard) and on both operating systems I have am am still having regular firewire drop outs (the firewire light will blink out for two or three seconds approx every 15 – 30 minutes and will hence loose contact with whatever application is using the audio). The firewire dropouts happen whether or not the interface is in use with an audio-based application. This is my second IO 26 as I, after a long troubleshooting conversation with alesis support figured the unit was faulty, I have had the mac itself serviced and the firewire card tested but they found no problems at all. I have all the latest drivers and have tried reinstalling these in numerous combinations. Has anyone experienced this problem? Any suggestions or help would be great as I'm running dry on ideas on how to sort this out. Thanks!

]]> By: James http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-522 James Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:41:24 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-522 Det går fint! Jeg kan ikke se nogen problemer i det du skriver! Ellers er dansk altid en mulighed... ;) But seriously...I think the problem is not through the HDM software, and when I referred to direct monitoring, I was talking more about the actual hardware - the knob on the Alesis device that can switch between hardware output (the sound that you get from the device itself, even if no computer is connected) and software output (sound that is coming out of your computer). The Alesis will give sound in both modes, and this knob will mix between both modes. The knob is called "Mix Belnd" and is located to the lower left. However, I don't think even that is the problem. I think that you might be sending phantom power to a line level device, or vice versa. Unless your mics have XLR cable and require phantom power, you should change the switch to "Guitar" and turn the phantom power off. That's the only thing that I think would give the overcooked result you describe. Det går fint! Jeg kan ikke se nogen problemer i det du skriver! Ellers er dansk altid en mulighed… ;)

But seriously…I think the problem is not through the HDM software, and when I referred to direct monitoring, I was talking more about the actual hardware – the knob on the Alesis device that can switch between hardware output (the sound that you get from the device itself, even if no computer is connected) and software output (sound that is coming out of your computer). The Alesis will give sound in both modes, and this knob will mix between both modes. The knob is called "Mix Belnd" and is located to the lower left. However, I don't think even that is the problem. I think that you might be sending phantom power to a line level device, or vice versa. Unless your mics have XLR cable and require phantom power, you should change the switch to "Guitar" and turn the phantom power off. That's the only thing that I think would give the overcooked result you describe.

]]> By: Rasmus Andersen http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-521 Rasmus Andersen Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:09:31 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-521 Unfortunately, I don't think this fixes my problem. When I run Alesis HDM software, and run a mic through the first channel when recording a snare, for example, then eventhough I'v turned the gain knob all the way down, it is still detecting some audio. Actually so much audio that it sometimes clips. I don't know what to do with this problem, and in this weekend I tried to turn "direct monitoring" all the way down, like you said, but it didn't help. I hope you get what I'm saying, as I'm from Denmark and my english isn't superior :-) Kindly, Rasmus A. Unfortunately, I don't think this fixes my problem. When I run Alesis HDM software, and run a mic through the first channel when recording a snare, for example, then eventhough I'v turned the gain knob all the way down, it is still detecting some audio. Actually so much audio that it sometimes clips.

I don't know what to do with this problem, and in this weekend I tried to turn "direct monitoring" all the way down, like you said, but it didn't help.

I hope you get what I'm saying, as I'm from Denmark and my english isn't superior :-)

Kindly,
Rasmus A.

]]> By: Rasmus Andersen http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-520 Rasmus Andersen Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:26:23 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-520 I'll try this later today, and post if this is fixes my problem. :-) Thanks for the reply. Kindly Rasmus A. I'll try this later today, and post if this is fixes my problem. :-)
Thanks for the reply.

Kindly
Rasmus A.

]]> By: James http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-519 James Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:58:26 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-519 Hi Rasmus, thanks for your comments. Sounds like you might be getting direct sound from the device. The IO26 can route in put to your heeadphones without any computer connected. There is a mix knob to adjust how much direct feedback you get. It's kind of an annoying endless fader so you got to twiddle it a bit to one side until the direct feedback goes away. The docs should specify which side because I can't remember off the top of my head. Best, J Hi Rasmus, thanks for your comments. Sounds like you might be getting direct sound from the device. The IO26 can route in put to your heeadphones without any computer connected. There is a mix knob to adjust how much direct feedback you get. It's kind of an annoying endless fader so you got to twiddle it a bit to one side until the direct feedback goes away. The docs should specify which side because I can't remember off the top of my head. Best, J

]]> By: Rasmus Andersen http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-518 Rasmus Andersen Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:11:02 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-518 Hi, and thanks for the great review. I had those nasty issues that we'v all heart about - but I just downloaded the update that support Leopard. Now it works terrific! Well, thats not my problem. Here we go: When I'm using a particular channel, and turns the knob ALL the way down, there is still sound running through the channel? I can't figure out why, and since the metering in the interface is pre-fader, this doesn't affect the sound. So I'm getting audio through the channels, even though they are turned all the way down! I'm using several mics at a time; by the way. Kindly, Rasmus A. Hi, and thanks for the great review. I had those nasty issues that we'v all heart about – but I just downloaded the update that support Leopard. Now it works terrific!

Well, thats not my problem. Here we go:
When I'm using a particular channel, and turns the knob ALL the way down, there is still sound running through the channel? I can't figure out why, and since the metering in the interface is pre-fader, this doesn't affect the sound.

So I'm getting audio through the channels, even though they are turned all the way down!
I'm using several mics at a time; by the way.

Kindly,
Rasmus A.

]]> By: Jaems http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-506 Jaems Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:31:04 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-506 Hmm I'd check Logic Pro with built-in speaker output and see if you get sound out. If no then the problem is somewhere in Logic's output chain. If yes, then the problem is with your Core Audio settings in Logic, since you have confirmed that the IO 26 works. Hmm I'd check Logic Pro with built-in speaker output and see if you get sound out. If no then the problem is somewhere in Logic's output chain. If yes, then the problem is with your Core Audio settings in Logic, since you have confirmed that the IO 26 works.

]]> By: Buddy Green http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-505 Buddy Green Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:28:01 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-505 oh, wait sorry. Now it works on garageband! i reinstalled the newest driver and it seems to work fine. logic still is unresponsive though. oh, wait sorry. Now it works on garageband! i reinstalled the newest driver and it seems to work fine. logic still is unresponsive though.

]]> By: Buddy Green http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-504 Buddy Green Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:09:04 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-504 you're right, I'm not getting any sound when i record into garageband either. Its definitely not dead air, the waveshape shows up, and the masterfader's even move in logic when i play it back. There's just no sound through the headphones. Could it be that the Alesis just doesn't work with OS 10.6? I uploaded the new drivers, though... you're right, I'm not getting any sound when i record into garageband either. Its definitely not dead air, the waveshape shows up, and the masterfader's even move in logic when i play it back. There's just no sound through the headphones. Could it be that the Alesis just doesn't work with OS 10.6? I uploaded the new drivers, though…

]]> By: Jaems http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-499 Jaems Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:21:05 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-499 Hmm sounds like the output settings of your audio device may be incorrect. I'd check to see if I get sound out for other applications then I would duplicate those settings in Logic. First I'd check the overview of your recorded audio file (the waveshape - to make sure the recorded portion isn't just dead air) and make sure the meters move on the output side. Also check that you don't have a master fader track that is turned down all the way. Or any plugins that are defeating output gain. Hmm sounds like the output settings of your audio device may be incorrect. I'd check to see if I get sound out for other applications then I would duplicate those settings in Logic. First I'd check the overview of your recorded audio file (the waveshape – to make sure the recorded portion isn't just dead air) and make sure the meters move on the output side. Also check that you don't have a master fader track that is turned down all the way. Or any plugins that are defeating output gain.

]]> By: Buddy Green http://jnote.org/1861/comment-page-1#comment-497 Buddy Green Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:35:40 +0000 http://jnote.org/?p=1861#comment-497 Hey, my new logic 9 runs fine with my Alesis, except for one problem: I can't get it to make any sound when I play back anything I have recorded. I've checked my headphones, downloaded every new software I can find, but I still can't make it play back my recorded material. Can you help? Hey, my new logic 9 runs fine with my Alesis, except for one problem: I can't get it to make any sound when I play back anything I have recorded. I've checked my headphones, downloaded every new software I can find, but I still can't make it play back my recorded material. Can you help?

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