G.A.S. Report — ACQUIRED! Lexicon I-Onix U22 with M-Audio BX5a Monitors

In one of those deals that I "just couldn't pass up", after Xmas, Guitar Center had a massive clearance sale. 60% off on many items. I walked in the day that the Lexicon I-Onix U22 was on for 50% off and the M-Audio BX5a Monitors, store demos, were for 60% off. These were two items I had long wanted to create a nice little desktop recording studio using GarageBand '11 on my iMac but had put off due to regular price cost being way too high.

I appreciate that my wife understood and knows a good deal. I'm also fortunate that we had the money in the budget to splurge so soon after Xmas. I am a lucky man!


The Lexicon I-Onix U22 is a USB interface designed with, I believe, the iMac user in mind. It sits perfectly in front of the computer, almost matching the design.

On the front it includes a wet/dry mix knob, a nice large master volume knob with two LED VU meters for left and right channels, then two input channels both with level control and LED VU meters for each, and finally a volume control for headphones. Along the sides there are 1/4" in's for phones (left) and guitar/instrument (right). On the back there is DC Power, USB Out, MIDI IN and OUT, Main Outputs (two 1/4" TRS), two combi jacks (XLR and 1/4" TS) with phantom power for mics.

Set up was easy, driver installed fine, and once set up in GarageBand, it knows to switch Input/Ouput to the device when it's running but allows me to play iTunes music through my normal speaker/sub setup. Perfect!

The M-Audio BX5a Reference Monitors are a must for any set up like this. Near Field monitoring is really the only kind I'll ever do in a room this small and being able to easily control master output volume from the front panel of the I-Onix yet keep Headphones still doing playback is a boon to recording.

The speakers have great feedback and reviews all over the net, and are very cost friendly at regular price, even better at the price I paid. For the type of "scratch" work I'm going to be doing, I don't need to go that far down the rabbit hole to get what I need.

This set up is perfect for me. And although I have yet to do more than lay down rudimentary tracks using the USB M-Audio 61 Key Keyboard my wife got me for Xmas, I know now that when I'm ready, I have the set up I need!

Next up on G.A.S. Report — Shure SM57 for recording my guitar amp? Is it in my future? We'll see! Stay Tuned!