Alesis iO Dock Audio Interface for iPad

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List Price: $399.00
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If you are planning to buy IO Dock DO NOT upgrade to iOS 5 it will render the hardware unusable. Until iOS 5 it was really great interface after iOS 5 is is useless you cannot get clean recording with most of the apps Ampkit+, JamUP, GarageBand are all broken. Crackling hiss. Alesis and Apple point fingers at each other no telling when the new firmware update will be here. There is no way to get through to Alesis tech support. I feel like I wasted $200 on yet another interface that will likely become obsolete after iPad3. Very frustrating.

Update 10/29/11 Alesis released firware upgrade 1.07 yesterday I just installed it and first impression is that at least for some apps it made huge difference Garaga Band works again. So does Ampkit+. JamUP lite still not working correctly very low output. I need more testing but I think that the worst may be over.

I am changing rating from 2 stars to 4 (tentatively at least will see if there and long term degradation in performance with 1.07.

Update 11/11/11 I must say that Alesis is playing games with us. There is whole group of very angry consumers out there that bought the hardware and several apps to run on it and are getting no help from Alesis no reply to emails there is no way to get tech support on the phone. At present Alesis (via their representative on the community forum) is claiming that the newest iOS version 5.0.1 has fixes for audio issues and is encouraging people to install that version and "report the results". In other words they are looking for free testers. People that installed 5.0.1 say that it did not make any difference.

At this point I would not advise anybody to buy IO Dock unless you are still running IOS4 and you do not pan to upgrade.

In a view of irresponsible treatment of customers by Alesis I am changing review back to 2 stars.

Please google "Get Satisfaction" ALESIS online forum (or better "Io dock hiss").

for newest developments in IO Dock and iOS5 incompatibility.

Update 03/09/12

after months of promises that iOS5.1 would fix the problem Alesis decided to CENSOR his own online help forum actively removing any post critical of their handling of the problem (lack of any warning about iOS5.0 for months that might contributed to several people being experience hearing loss after IO Dock emitted loud screech into their headphones). T

Update 03/11/12

Alesis closed original thread "Io dock hiss" on "Get Satisfaction" forum and marked it "Solved". Thread contained 1055 messages from 127 people that may give you some idea about the scope of the problem. Couple months ago Alesis try damage control by limiting visible message to most recent 15 and tried to blame it on forum administrators.

Now after old thread is "solved" the new thread "IO dock still hissing after firmware and ios 5.1 updates" emerged and this time Alesis simply deletes any unflattering messages.

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I've heard from enough people now that their orders are arriving with the adapter I'm happy with the product and the adapter.

You should ignore the following as it no longer applies:

The product did not contain the adapter for the iPad 2. Instead you have to fill in an online form and Alesis will ship you one "free of charge" in ** 4 to 6 weeks **. Alesis wanted to get it in your hands quickly so they shipped something you cannot use bad choice guys.

I received the product 3 weeks after ordering an "in-stock" product with 5-day shipping. J&R's fault for selling the in stock version out from underneath my order. Long weekend excuses etc.

It finally arrived 20 days after the estimated delivery and now I cannot use it as it doesn't contain the adapter for the iPad 2.

I would much rather have been told about the incompatibility up front and not paid $200 for something I couldn't use for a couple of months!

Yes, I'm annoyed. Bad behavior from everyone involved.

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Amazing before, yet I am not sure you should buy it. I would not, here's why:

UPDATED 11/22/11: Just changed my review of 3 stars to 2 stars. Alesis says it's apple fault, and it might as well be, however, they continue to sell without letting customers or vendors know of the compatibity issues. On their support forum, they have been deleting the posts that people complains about it. That is just wrong. Sorry Alesis, great product, but terrible support, not compatible with ipad 1 or 2, and worst of all, lack of honesty.

BEFORE iOS 5: If you are willing to use a USB MIDI Keyboard with it, STOP. Don't buyt it. It will not work. The USB port in this unit is just to connect to your computer and basically does nothing but upgrade the firmware. Although ALESIS claims that it's FULLY MIDI COMPATIBLE, it's not, so don't waste your time. Keyboard will only work in MIDI if you use the old 5 pin midi cables from your keyboard to the unit. NO USB AT ALL. But okay, it's still a good product and it works until...

AFTER iOS 5: It will not work. Do a google search for IO DOCK hiss and see the problems. It's crackling/hiss noise all the way and support is not there to help you. ALESIS is now offering a mail in rebate for a free mic and headphones, which I doubt anyone will ever receive, and you can't reach them by phone either... so I guess they just want to get rid of the inventory and screw customers for a new product or because they can't fix it. But one thing is for sure, BAD BAD BAD support, and caring less for the customers.

Make up your own mind, but one thing is for sure, TODAY I WOULD HAVE RETURNED IT IF I COULD. Better products are yet to come, and until then, you can use functional products like the iRig series. As of right now, IO DOCK is my very fancy, $200 ipad charger...

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I bought the iO Dock for my IPad with retinal display and it did not work, even with the 30 pin adaptor. Don't buy this if you have the latest Ipad iteration. Wait for Alesis to develop new hardware that interfaces with it. Some do have success with the 30 pin adaptor... some. But even then, the IPad won't sit right in the dock.

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I was very interested in the product but heard lots of bad things about the updated ios by Apple causing a real problem.

Alesis iO DOCK Docking Station

Before buying, I called Alesis. They answered fairly quickly and assured me that they had fixed the software problem.

I also checked with Guitar Center before buying and they gave me the same answer.

I am writing just to let potential buyers know that I plugged my ipad in running IOS5.1 and the dock worked perfectly. I love this product.