ARC 4 - Advanced room correction plug-in and measurement microphone.

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DM60

DM60

Well-known member
In my quest to improve my sound, I am going to try some magic pixy dust. I think it will help, but not sure. Anyone try this?

IK MULTIMEDIA. SOUND BETTER.

IK MULTIMEDIA. SOUND BETTER.
www.ikmultimedia.com www.ikmultimedia.com

I will let you know if it works. If it doesn't I will not let you know of my folly ;)
 
I want to throw these out with the bathwater - but they seem to have value - apparently correcting rooms problems so you can mix in a clean room -
but I don’t know how it could do this properly - if it compensates for errant problems - how can the mix ever be accurate? I guess leaving it on the mix buss where ever you go producers the same results in every room - except if you take it into a room that has problems - then you have a different set of problems - I don’t know - would love to see how it works for you.
 
From what I have read, you do the measurements, in one system (with the hardware being between the output and speakers), it creates an EQ to correct the room so that it is flat (or your desire). My Yamaha stereo does this with Arc and I really like listening to music on that system. On this particular system, on the master bus, you take those measurements and it is the last thing in the chain. So that the sound going out is corrected per the room. Then everything in front of that is a part of the mixing process.

Theoretically, room EQ in the last position with compensation (based on the measured results). Then the rest normal and you can better "trust" your ears.

At least that is what I understand. I know on my stereo system (about 15 years old) it shows the measured values and adjusts. When I run my WIIM, and it has a calibration as well, it shows a rather flat measurement and little adjustment since the stereo has already compensated for the room. I know the technology works in HIFI, not sure how it will work in recording.
 
Remember to repeat the test with the measurement mic moved just a little because in 'random' smaller rooms the results vary crazily.
 
From what I have read, they take 7 measurements at a minimum. To your point.
 
At best, you can correct for one point in the room, and no amount of eq will fix a deep null caused by 180⁰ out of phase reflections. Minor nonlinearities in system (i.e. speaker) response seem like valid targets for correction.
 
My smaller studio has a very odd peak around 650Hz - I know it is there and work with it. EQ'ing it out makes the room very strange!
 
I haven't used the standalone ARC but my monitors are IK Multimedia and have the algorithm built-in -- connect the mic to the speaker, press a button, 3 frequency sweeps “swooaiyeeeet” and it's calibrated. Mixing on that system is pretty tonally reliable in my (humble) opinion, and that's in an untreated and very awkwardly set-up room; I'm sure it would be even better if that was fixed.
 
OK, here are my results set. It seems the chart is pretty self explanatory. I did a mix of an older song, but I am not sure I turned off the plugin before I rendered, so I need to verify before I post.

Arc.webp


I only purchased the software and the mic. They have a box that can be used as an outboard EQ between the amp and the speakers. IK sent the mic and failed to provide the SN for the plugin, but they corrected that within an hour of me contacting tech support.

From the looks of it, the lower region of the room/speakers were the biggest improvements. The rest doesn't look horrible. $200 bucks, I can't say if it is a sugar pill or not, but I am going to believe :)

When taking the measurements, it gives you a choice, 7 points to measure or 21. Then it gives you the areas in which to measure, then it is a wizard type interface. After you are done, you bring the plugin into the master bus and have it as the last plugin. Mix your stuff, when done, turn off the plugin and render. If interested I will post a before and after song just as an example. The one nice thing in the plugin, it does give a better idea of the loudness. My original mix was pretty loud and I had to reduce the output.

If nothing else, at least I feel more confident I am hearing my music as good as my crappy room and speakers will allow.
 
DM60 said:
IK sent the mic and failed to provide the SN for the plugin, but they corrected that within an hour of me contacting tech support.
Click to expand...
IK tech support is the best 🤟
DM60 said:
After you are done, you bring the plugin into the master bus and have it as the last plugin. Mix your stuff, when done, turn off the plugin and render.
Click to expand...
Some DAWs -- REAPER for example -- have a "monitor" section where you can put analyzers and correction algos like ARC without them affecting the render output.
DM60 said:
If interested I will post a before and after song just as an example. The one nice thing in the plugin, it does give a better idea of the loudness. My original mix was pretty loud and I had to reduce the output.
Click to expand...
Definitely interested in hearing the difference!
 
Serendipity Records said:
Some DAWs -- REAPER for example -- have a "monitor" section where you can put analyzers and correction algos like ARC without them affecting the render output.
Click to expand...
I have to look this up for Ableton. I have Reaper, but rarely use it since I spent soooo much on Ableton in the early days. If I didn't have 12+ years in Ableton, I would definitely be a Reaper guy. Really love that software. Just can't switch (said like the TV Batman when he was in a pickle or how William Shatner would say it)
 
You could try Equalizer APO, which operates in Windows, outside of your DAW. It apparently integrates with REW, importing correction files. It might not do that in ARC, but you could set the filters manually.

I'm still of the opinion that acoustic issues should be fixed with treatment. Filters are extremely limited in effectiveness after the sound leaves the speakers and starts reflecting off surfaces.
 
bouldersoundguy said:
You could try Equalizer APO, which operates in Windows, outside of your DAW. It apparently integrates with REW, importing correction files. It might not do that in ARC, but you could set the filters manually.

I'm still of the opinion that acoustic issues should be fixed with treatment. Filters are extremely limited in effectiveness after the sound leaves the speakers and starts reflecting off surfaces.
Click to expand...
I don't disagree, but there is a reasonable balance. The room is treated, I think that is why the correction isn't horrible, but it can be better. I think of it as a balance.
 
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