IK Multimedia ARC 2

The configuration of this app is special nature, since the preamble to its use, you must calibrate the "physically" at a stage much easier than it looks because the user is perfectly guided through the process.

The microphone (stereo) is provided, which puts into perspective a little more soft prices, already modest in terms of its influence on the final sound result.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

ARC2 is not resource intensive; no worries on my powerbook or my old iMac.
I have also never seen a crash at launch plug.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about 3 years, with the first version that already worked very well. There is also, in my view, a fundamental difference between the two, except that the monitoring section is expanded.
ARC has literally changed the way I work. I can finally trust my tracks completely; mix stage becomes easier, and the results are concrete.

I join the choir enamored of this plug users. It effectively addresses a fundamental need to correct that the room in which we work.

We all know that the vast majority of the music does not occur nor mix pro studio. This is unfortunate, but it is like that, there's more dough. ARC and ARC2 respond very appropriately to the situation. I am surprised at the lack of reaction from the competition.

Easy installation.
Attention must register the product online, otherwise after a few days / weeks, the software begins to make a white noise every 5-10 seconds.
The manual is very clear.

Make a bag limit is always better. I advise you to use a meter to be exact and make measurements easier (just drag along the bottom of the micro meter placed on the ground ...). Be careful to mutter in the virtual table mix your sound card mic monitoring during measurements

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

On a I7 2Ghz (8gigas RAM) with Logic 9, the software does not seem to eat much.
It is stable, no worries.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about 6 months. It changes lives, it's really great as a tool.

I repeated measures by engaging correction and indeed, it tells me that my sound was partially corrected. This is of course not a correction to 100% but it's huge, you can not live without it when they tried.

Also now I even use it while listening to iTunes or Spotify, Safari, Mozilla ... etc. Just use the CRA 2 plugin in Audio Hijack Pro, it works very well.

With the experience I would do this choice, although even earlier. This is in my opinion one of the most important parts of my studio 4 tools with good headphones, speakers and sound card.

installation without concern

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Classic config: PC - AMD Quad 3GHz - 4G DDR3 - sound card RME babyface - ADAM A7X monitors
no stability problem

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 4 days and I am very happy with the result, can be a bit too early for perfect control because I think it takes some time to get used to his new very linear.

I like most:
- Stunning the sound that is once it has disabled the app.
- The preset to have a laptop or car etc ... emulation, which allows you to adjust the sound very quickly without having to listen to in the car the next day to realize that lack this or that, for example, increase 130Hz a kick without fear of abuse or too down a can drive low as fashion means much excess serious.

I like least:
- It lacks management preset, yet I have not found a way to delete or rename it'll have to uninstall and reinstall because I'm measures (window closed / open position pro / semi pro more or less close to the corner ... etc.
- The fact of not being able to use stand alone to understand and appreciate the mix of favorite artists, forced open a DAW to swing the track in

the price / quality ratio is unbeatable for me it despite my tight budget, I assure you I am not paid by IK lol, I struggled for years to ask me the question: why my kick and my bass are not perfect phase? why my master is not quite as I want?
well because simply opening the CRA my previous mix I realized it was yucky, volumes completely incoherent.

I not only do it again this choice with his eyes closed, but shame me not having done so for a long time, knowing that I've heard from at least 2 years.
to me the sound that sounds pro now

Installation without worries for those who are used to allow soft online challenge / response (software authorization via the soft IK and IK management via its user account).
The implementation of the measures is quite simple guide step but to calm and conscientiously.
Compatible with all current formats AU/VST/RTAS/AAX/AAX2 plugs (used with PT10/11 on mac, not tested on PC).
Be careful though to calibrate the volume and does not overload its D / A converters for if ARC2 should boost frequencies the overall volume increases:
- Check that the peak meter never exceeds 0dBFS (it is apparently "True Peak" so nothing should protrude)
- Be certain to have the same volume with ARC2 mode on and off (different from bypass) => cf. manual for details (setting = trim button).

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

It takes qq CPU resources but largely manageable with generation and C2D + (no worries here with @ MacMini Core i7 2.3GHz / 16GB RAM and MBP Core2Duo 2.4 GHz).
The software does the job very well and avoids time-consuming measurements. But that does not make miracle to extend the spectrum of small monitors. Similarly, a correction "electronic" should normally be complementary to an acoustic correction. Except that this correction is more efficient and simple as its measures to the spectrum analyzer 31 band EQ + (and any errors that go with from beginners).
I have small tracks CMS40, the correction is effective and straightens all the top end which makes listening less dull and harder:
=> It is less pleasant to listen to but it is not the purpose of a good monitoring system (on the other hand, it should naturally get used to this new curve and be careful not to mix too "soft" ).
=> By against the side "box" of CMS40 has completely disappeared and we see / hear that he is no longer of "roller coaster" in the med low (= more accurate).
=> CMS40 the cut at 60Hz, ARC2 is nothing more to change it (NB: I do not have a subwoofer therefore tested the sub mode)
Short in the end it is more accurate and I bcp less error correction stamp in my mix.

OVERALL OPINION

I for 1 year, I had a KRK Ergo in the past. The bp KRK is that we do not know what we measure and what is correct, that there is only one curve in memory and no additional compensation to meet certain standardized EQ ( ISO X in particular).
Positives:
- Setting out simple enough
- Net overall improvement of listening (even without acoustic correction thrust)
- Several memories (for different speakers / place / converters)
- Indication of the measures and correction curves (with presets to simulate other speakers or soften the correction + definitions of custom curves to meet standards such as ISO X)
- Monitoring function (with MIDI Learn to control via MIDI CC)
- Fairly accurate meter peak (True Peak)
Negatives:
- No standalone version to correct any soft (because it is difficult to listen to CDs or trade the output of iTunes corrected by ARC2) or simply leave active correction permanently.
- Also, do not forget to turn it off for headphones (so get a headphone designed in its routing STAN / DAW).
- Management of the stereo (+ Sub) but not multichannel (5.1, etc.)
- Does not replace an acoustic treatment or a pro mixer and not made for you either (it sucks, plus I think it's not mastered either ) but this is my tool indispensable.