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Ahmun Author

Level 1

8 points

Current issues with Alesis IO Dock and updating to iOS 7

Hi Apple Community!

I've been using Garage Band and Alesis IO Dock for live music performance on stage. I'm hoping someone in the community or even Apple might be able to help me with two issues:

MIDI signal "sticking" when using Garage Band for live performance and switching Instruments
Is it safe to update to iOS 7?

Here's my setup:

iPad (3rd Gen) WiFi+4G AT&T
iOS 6.1.3
Alesis IO Dock with firmware 1.0.7
Yamaha S90
MIDI cable from MIDI out of S90 to MIDI in of Alesis IO Dock
1/4" Mono patch cord from IO Dock Left Output to Sound System
1/4" Mono patch cord from S90 Left Output to Sound System
one Sustain Pedal for S90

Question 1: MIDI Sticking

This happened to me during a live stage performance: I primarily use my Yamaha to control Garage Band on the iPad via MIDI. I was playing a synth/pad sound on the keyboard instrument in Garage Band, and while holding a note out with the sustain pedal, I proceeded to switch to the Smart Guitar patch. Rather than do this direct from the current track, I switched over to the Track Editor view, and selected the next track in GB which was already dialed in with the Smart Guitar.

After switching back to the instrument view, I realized that the previous note I was playing held out. It completely screwed up my solo since I couldn't stop the synth pad from playing.

I ended up having to mute my iPad, and improv the solo using a piano sound on the S90. And to solve my stuck synth note, I turned off the IO Dock, exited garage band, undocked the iPad, redocked it, restarted Garage Band, repowered-up IO Dock.

This problem, however, is miniscule compared to some major erratic MIDI fluctuation issues back in iOS 5.0.1 and IO Dock Firmware 1.0.5.

For now, I need to be careful to cease all input to the IO Dock when switching sounds.

Question 2: updating to iOS 7.

Yes! I like the latest and greatest iOS... it's pretty! But I'm willing to ignore updates

Back when I had updated to iOS 5.0.1, there were some serious MIDI fluctuations (as I mentioned in question 1), and now that I've got the firmware on the IO Dock to 1.0.7 and iOS 6.1.3, things are somewhat stable.

I hesitate to update to iOS 7 until someone can assure me that I can continue to use my iPad, the Alesis IO Dock and Garage Band in the manner described above.

Any input will be greatly appreciated!

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iOS 6.1.3, Alesis IO Dock with Firmware 1.0.7

Posted on Sep 25, 2013 10:28 AM

17 replies

Ahmun Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 7, 2014 2:12 PM in response to TonyMixer

I figured it out by the seat of my pants... Look at Alesis' website in their downloads section: http://www.alesis.com/iodock?tt=5

You'll see among the list of downloads an installer for firmware updater, one for Windows, and one for MacOS.

The version 1.07 is the one I used. Don't worry about it saying it's for iOS5. In my experience, I was on iOS 6 when I did the firmware update. Hence the start of this thread to make sure that my upgrade to iOS 7 wouldn't gimp my device. I would assume that if you do a firmware update, it should fix things for you. But keep in mind your path to fixing this problem is a little different since you are already on iOS7.

And of course, you may have to run that utility several times, so don't give up if it fails the first time. I'm not sure how the MAC version of the updater works, but the Windows version didn't have a very helpful feedback when the updater was done. It would report that the update succeeded, but when I docked my iPad and went to Settings > General, it would report that my IO Dock was still on the old firmware.

In Brief:

Run the firmware updater.
Follow on-screen instructions for when to connect your IO Dock to the USB port on your computer
wait for the updater to finish
follow any on-screen instructions for disconnecting
plug in power to the dock
dock the iPad and turn on the dock
Check if the firmware was updated by going to Settings > General... and looking there or a sub-menu there to see what firmware it reports.
Repeat the above steps until the settings page reports the new firmware.

Good Luck!

(DISCLAIMER: I attempted this w/o much research. Just trying one thing to another until it worked)

Jan 23, 2014 2:06 PM in response to TonyMixer

So to update the group - (late reply, back from holidays). I've tried several times using the Updater, I can get as far as dragging the Firmware File into the Updater - however it prompts with:

1st - "Looking for Alesis iO Dock", then

2nd - followed the error msg: "There was an error sending the update file. Please restart the device and try again."

As mentioned, I've tried this several times - restarted the iO Dock several times - no luck.

I downloaded an launched:

* io_dock_mac_updater

* iO Dock Firmware 1.07

* launched the "Alesis iODock Updater"

* kept dragging this file to update: iO Dock FW-1.07.upd

nothing...

I don't know who to hate more Alesis or Apple.

By the way - anyone successfully using the new Gen 4 iPad with Lightning Port with an iO Dock, or is the iO Dock limited to Gen3 and under iPads with the 30-pin port?

Thanks for all the help thus far, cheers..,

Current issues with Alesis IO Dock and updating to iOS 7