It's all about I/O with the new Alesis iO2 Express recording interface (Mac / Win; $149 MSRP, $99 Street). Ideal for home studio and portable studio recording setups, the compact iO2 Express features two-channels, USB connectivity, and quality recording at up to 24-bit resolution for input into major DAWs and audio recording software.

The iO2 Express sports discrete-design preamplifiers, 48V phantom power for use with nearly all types of microphones and audio sources, and analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. Each of the bus-powered USB interface's two input channels has an XLR microphone input, a 1/4-inch TRS insert for external effects units, and a 1/4-inch TS jack that works with line-level sources.

Dual 1/4-inch balanced outputs let you monitor sessions on any studio monitoring or other loudspeaker system, and for remote tracking and alternative playback, the iO2 Express has a 1/4-inch TRS headphone output. The iO2 Express also includes MIDI In and Out jacks.

Steinberg Cubase LE comes included with the iO2 Express. Alesis expects to ship the iO2 Express sometime during the second quarter of 2010. Learn more at alesis.com.