Established
over twenty years ago, Alesis manufactures a full line of professional audio
and musical instrument products which utilize their renowned strengths in
digital/analog recording, semiconductor and transducer technologies – many of
these technologies can be seen in their keyboards, synthesizers, hard disk
recorders, electronic drums, mixers, signal processors, effects units, speakers
and even microphones. With their expertise in forward-thinking technology,
Alesis has often developed revolutionary product solutions in the music and
audio production industries. Alesis has ensured that even entry-level musicians
and studio engineers can afford some of the best studio recording equipment
available by being the first company to introduce the 16 bit effects processor
which cost under $1,000 and an ADAT digital tape recording unit which cost
roughly $4,000.
Compared
to countless other microphone manufacturers, Alesis is a relative newcomer to
the scene; however unlike the others, they’ve become one of the first to
primarily develop and produce microphones and microphone sets exclusively for
podcasting. Alesis microphones include the USB Podcasting Kit, which comes with a dynamic USB microphone, headphones,
other accessories and a multi-channel USB mixer that allows you to record up
to 2 tracks (with 8 channels of input) of audio directly towards your computer.
And with the enclosed Cubase LE software you can easily edit, mix and record
podcasts before uploading them. The Firewire Podcasting kit, an update of the
USB Podcasting kit, offers an 8 channel firewire mixer which allows you to
discretely record, edit, mix and upload audio, a dynamic microphone, headset
and other accessories. Because of their USB capabilities, these podcasting kits
don’t require downloading or installing several complicated drivers and
programs in order to use them.
Alesis isn't a large microphone supplier. Actually, the only microphones the company currently manufactures are the ones included in their podcasting kits. Although
the individual consumer can’t currently purchase Alesis products from their website, Alesis does offer links to information on how to contact local
dealers throughout the United
States. At the moment there are several
hundred authorized dealers of Alesis products located in and around many of the
country’s largest metropolitan areas.
