Bought an Alsesis io26 Firewire Interface - HELP

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Nov 2007 3:18 am

I picked up the Alesis yesterday at Guitar Center during their two hour "specials". I was also looking at some Presonus units but they are rack mount types where the Alesis is a "desktop" unit and will work better for my application. The Alesis also uses Burr Brown IC's on the input (The OPA2604 op amp mods for the Peavey amps are Burr Brown chips).

Now if someone will tell me how to run Cubase LE or point me to a book for "dummies".

The help file for Cubase LE is only 576 pages and the "Quick Start" is JUST 72

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 26 Nov 2007 4:27 pm

Jack, if it had been packaged with Sonar I could have been some help but I haven't used Cubase much. A long time ago I did use Cubase that was bundled with my Roland VM-3100 pro but I quickly changed to Sonar. I didn't have anything again st Cubase but Sonar was more to my liking.

I do know that Cubase is a very capable DAW and I'm sure you'll figure it out in no time but in the mean time if you're stuck go to youtube and search for Cubase videos and you'll more than likely find plenty of quick start videos. I know Sonar has all of their learning videos at youtube and I believe I've ran across a few Cubase videos too.

Good luck! and let us know how it turns out.

Bob

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 27 Nov 2007 3:22 am

Bob, I've found some stuff on Cubase, but the LE version is a stripped down version and trying to figure out what is or isn't in the LE version is a hassle. I guess I'm looking for a manual specifically on the LE version so I don't have to print out the 576 page manual that's in the help files.

I was able to do a test recording of two channels with the info in the Alesis manual but it's not very clear either.

I've also got Cakewalk "Music Creator 4", and I'll have to try to work on that one and see if it's a little more user friendly.

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 27 Nov 2007 1:20 pm

Hey Jack, I can promise you that cakewalk music creator is much easier to use than cubase is. Cakewalk stuff especially on that level just lays things out kind of like wysiwyg. There are a lot of deep menu editing in Cubase as well as Sonar but the music creator stuff is based on more of a simplistic interface.

Bob

Jamie Howze · Post by **Jamie Howze** » 8 Dec 2007 12:48 pm

Jack,
There is a lot of information available over on the Pro Review Forum at Harmony Central. I was thinking of getting one of these myself, but need a better computer first

Hopefully there is something in there that will help.
Jamie

Randy Phelps · Post by **Randy Phelps** » 8 Dec 2007 2:44 pm

Jack are you using a mac or a pc?

If you are on the mac, I'd use garageband and just skip the cubase part...if that is the case, let me know and I'll be happy to help you.

if you are on a pc, download a free program called 'reaper' if you have installed the driver for your alesis, you should be able to connect right up to reaper.. it is very easy and very powerful and very free.

the cubase le is kind of an 'add on'....

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 8 Dec 2007 4:46 pm

Randy, I have a Vista PC (Dual Core processor, 4GB Ram (but 32 OS systems cannot utilize the full 4GB), 400GB hard drive, etc.

I'll check out the "reaper". But, I've been working with Cubase LE when I have time and I've been able to at least record tracks and mixdown the two tracks I recorded. I'm working on a CD project for a local singer that I have on my Fostex VF160 and as soon as I'm finished with that project it will full bore into the PC recording world.

Randy Phelps · Post by **Randy Phelps** » 8 Dec 2007 6:29 pm

http://www.pcmag.co.uk/vnunet/downloads ... d_articles

Here is the correct link for reaper. I know a couple of guys who used it to record their cds. and really like it.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 9 Dec 2007 3:36 am

Randy, thanks. I found it by doing a google search. But, it is "shareware" and I don't know that I'll keep it since I have the Cubase LE, which is not shareware, and the Cakewalk Music Creator 4 which was a Retail program, not a "freebie" or shareware. I probably should concentrate on the Cakewalk software rather than the Cubase as Sonar may be a better upgrade path once I get the "basics" down.. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 16 Dec 2007 10:34 am

If you can get your hands on Adone Audition, it works great with Alesis firewire mixer.

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 25 Dec 2007 7:10 pm

Jack- I'm going through the learning curve too. I just got a Presonus with Cubase LE. It's a lot to absorb all at one time.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 26 Dec 2007 3:24 am

Roger, yes it is a lot to learn. It would have been nice if they would have included a tutorial video with it rather than have to dig for info. But, I find all of the recording programs such as the Cubase are not user friendly, just because of the huge amout of options available.

They should have a "simple" mode where you can record tracks and mixdown, void of all the extras and then the regular mode with all the goodies.

It's going to be March before I can really get into my setup. January and February will be busy months with a lot of "road" picking jobs.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 27 Dec 2007 3:33 pm

I found alot of em to be hard to learn and unintuitive. Tracktion 3 however was the exception...it also came with 3 hours of quicktime tutorial videos