How FireWire Technology Makes Alesis iO26 A Winner

A FireWire computer interface is very fast, and can handle data of up to 400 megabites per second. To get an idea of how much data that involves, imagine 10 large dictionaries, or over 23,000 pages of plain unformatted text.

This is the reason why manufacturers of products that need high-speed connection rely on FireWire technology. These include external FireWire hard drives, FireWire webcams which are needed for videoconferencing, and external DVD Burners with the FireWire interface.

Digital video cameras owe their supreme picture quality to professional video capabilities made available by FireWire technology. Thanks to this technology, digital video camcorders are available in the market for almost an identical price one would have paid for an analog or SVHS camcorder.

Computer mice, keyboards, and other lower-bandwidth input devices use USB ports, which cannot compare for speed, with FireWire, for external devices such as DV camcorders, hard drives, and 4X and up DVD burners/writers. Computer and consumer electronics industries use both the Firewire and USB technologies.

Alesis has pioneered the manufacture of a complete range of professional musical instrument and audio products and is well established in the analog, semiconductor, digital, and transducer technologies. Synthesizers, keyboards, hard disk recorders, mixers, signal processors, electronic drums, amplifiers, effects units, and speakers are among the company's many products. The audio production industries have relied for long on Alesis to deliver revolutionary product solutions.

Alesis iO26, a FireWire computer interface manufactured by the company, is renowned for its professional level features such as Cirrus audiophile converters, High Definition Microphone Preamps, and jitter elimination technology, with high quality 24-bit/192kHz audio input for PC or Mac. The system has 2 headphone outputs, line-level inserts on the mic preamps, 48V phantom power, 5-segment signal/clip meters, and full MIDI and S/PDIF I/O all in a convenient, portable tabletop design.

Inputs include 8 Alesis High Definition Mic/Line Preamplifiers built in 2 switchable high-impedance inputs for direct guitar and bass recording, Switchable Phantom Power for each channel pair, Inserts on every analog channel, 16 channels of ADAT input, 16 Channels of MIDI I/O, Stereo S/PDIF digital input, and Stereo turntable input.

Outputs include 8 line-level outputs, 2 discrete stereo headphone outputs, Stereo S/PDIF digital output. The interface works well with Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 2.0 Ghz or faster, 1 Gig RAM or more, Windows XP Home or Professional Service Pack 2 or higher (Windows XP Media Center Edition is untested) if it is a PC. In case of Mac, you need Power Mac G4 Dual 867MHz or faster, all Intel Mac models 1 Gig RAM or more, Nac OSX 10.4 or higher.

Richard J. Runion is the President of Geostar Publishing & Services LLC. Rich loves net research & blogging. His new blog on Alesis i026 Firewire Interface is fast becoming popular, as it is comprehensive and well-researched. Read his blog at: http://www.alesisio26review.com