I have used this unit now for a few weeks with my Kali LP8 and i'm super happy with it! It brings a whole new life to the monitors for sure and i would not mix anymore without it. For the price and the functionality, it's a no-brainer.
Barry, I'm glad you have taken the time to give your thoughts on Arc 4. Like many, my room is far from ideal. I personally have found this system, initially Arc 3 and now an upgrade to Arc 4 money well spent. It provides a pretty good idea of what your music sounds like for not too much outlay cost wise. We spend money on getting good gear and at times forget the room. Your monitors may be first class but if the room is less than ideal it's a complete waste of your time and money. This really is worth purchasing especially given the cost. We'll done YOU for reviewing this and IK Multimedia for continuing to grow this product especially for Home Studios.
I'm using Arc Studio 4 in my treated room with my HEDD Audio Type 30's (very close sibling to your Adam Audio speakers) and I gotta say - I'm very pleased with Arc Studio 4. Having it work with an external box, for this price, is a big game changer for me!
Just received and installed the Arc 4. I can totally hear the difference in the 50-200hz range. My studio space is totally untreated, and the correction from Arc 4 was substantial. Thanks Barry, I had no idea this existed till I watched your video.
Just ordered it using your link. I also watched Mitch Gallegher’s video on Sweetwater. I’ve tried other room correction software before, and absolutely hated having that extra plugin on the master chain. Having a dedicated hardware seems to make more sense. I’ve also got the VSX, but only use that occasionally…same thing it’s plugin-based. Looking forward to seeing and hearing the difference.
Please do tell! I went with the ARC system $299 vs the VSX $299...I wonder if VSX would be something I can buy down the road as a tool. Since my room is a spare room with very little treatment at the moment.
I have used the ARC 4 since the end of Feb In a treated room it also helped balance the listening space and helped me find anomalies with my studio I was masking . I have used the DBX PA-2 for years. I purchased Sound ID Reference last year. Great system however, it’s a plugin and can’t be used in all configurations in all apps with all devices. With the ARC 4 it’s patron of the speaker system. What ever i feed I feed it with will give me an accurate response. I use this as a calibration or checksum for the studio.
When I got my MTM Precisions running the built in ARC 3, it was dramatic what a difference it made. I had thrown all the acoustic panels I could on the walls, and the ARC 3 took it over the finish line fixing those pesky low end oddities that are so difficult to tame. I remember thinking, man... I wish they would put this technology in a separate box so I could use these on my other monitors. Poof, here we are. Now my Trident HG-3's are rocking in the room with ARC4.
Be careful, he is a Sweetwater shill now just like Colt and Andrew Masters. He hated on them for soooooo long for being affiliated with Sweetwater, and now he’s one of them.
I need this Barry, as well as your advice on what's the best way to record vocals when you are alone in the vocal booth, is there a controller for such a task?
I wished you would have give a comment on did the Arc system help your treated room ? Did the Arc improve the sound of your Adams ? Even treated rooms still have frequency problems
thank you. best video in TH-cam about this topic.subscribed. question .i have a untreated room . if i mix 5.1 surround .,should i need to buy more than one arc 4? pleas let me know
added the ARC4 to my home setup about a month ago, and literally I can't suggest it more for a low to mid level studio that has not been acoustically treated well.
I've watched a few videos but can't figure out if both channels of my 2 channel SSL 2 interface are connected to the arc studio box how do I record in audio ? Do you recommend I buy only the arc 4 and mic without the box ?
How would it work with a monitor controller? Out from the box into the monitor controller and then change speaker profiles in the software and on the controller? Onerous? What do you say
quick question: doesn´t your main adam monitor speaker have Sonarworks Sound Reference integrated in their dsp or are those the older models? and if so, do you have any experience with it or could compare it to the arc system? thx and cheers!
I am currently using Sonarworks, i have also tried ARC. Honestly, both give a good result. ARC sounds a little warmer to me, Sonarworks adds more tops in some way. I honestly don't know which one I prefer. I think both are good, with small differences. Please give me your opinion...tnx:))
I think you’ve pretty much already answered your own question. Both are going to give you great results that said, sonar works offers more beyond that. So only you can choose what’s best for you and your situation.
ARC system is $299 and VSX starts at $299. I spoke with my sweetwater rep and went with ARC system. I already bought a pair of Senheisser 600hds so maybe I'll try with VSX down the road...
Great tool. But what it can't do is....dealing with reverberant rooms. Whatever the internal eq and delays of the ARC system do, the room will still be too reverberant I guess.
Get some MTMs - you get the microphone free and a discounted copy of ARC (don't bother with the hardware box as its limited). Its a great bit of software, much better than Sonarworks. The EQ adjust,ents is all you need. The MTMs are a great monitor for most home studios anyway. Its so much better to just have this. The fact its on version 4 means very little, its the EQ curve that makes the difference. The MTMs use some trick with the dual speakers, so you get that benefit. Then you can use the software on your mains (Amphions in my case). You'll get a mastering system for a great price. PS not a Slate VSX fan, its a bit of a Gimmick. Some better free alternatives.
System techs on live gigs use SIA Smaart (there are a few others like the old Meyer Sim but Smaart is by far the most used) which can handle multiple microphone inputs and integrates with system processors for not only eq but time aligning multiple sources.
I highly recommend using a live digital console instead of a traditional interface in the studio. Having the ability to eq and delay every output is game changing. It also eliminates the need for any dsp for tracking, since you can use the desk. Room EQ wizard is a more advanced option. It takes some time to wrap your head around the interface, but it’s s free!! In combination with even a cheap measurement mic you’ll have a lot more data to work with than this software. This should be a LAST RESORT!! You should use the data from the measurements to improve the acoustics of your room. Moving the speakers, furniture, and adding acoustic treatment will take you 98% of the way. Correction is for that last 2%
I have used this unit now for a few weeks with my Kali LP8 and i'm super happy with it!
It brings a whole new life to the monitors for sure and i would not mix anymore without it.
For the price and the functionality, it's a no-brainer.
Barry, I'm glad you have taken the time to give your thoughts on Arc 4. Like many, my room is far from ideal. I personally have found this system, initially Arc 3 and now an upgrade to Arc 4 money well spent. It provides a pretty good idea of what your music sounds like for not too much outlay cost wise. We spend money on getting good gear and at times forget the room. Your monitors may be first class but if the room is less than ideal it's a complete waste of your time and money. This really is worth purchasing especially given the cost. We'll done YOU for reviewing this and IK Multimedia for continuing to grow this product especially for Home Studios.
I'm using Arc Studio 4 in my treated room with my HEDD Audio Type 30's (very close sibling to your Adam Audio speakers) and I gotta say - I'm very pleased with Arc Studio 4. Having it work with an external box, for this price, is a big game changer for me!
Just received and installed the Arc 4. I can totally hear the difference in the 50-200hz range. My studio space is totally untreated, and the correction from Arc 4 was substantial. Thanks Barry, I had no idea this existed till I watched your video.
Just ordered it using your link. I also watched Mitch Gallegher’s video on Sweetwater. I’ve tried other room correction software before, and absolutely hated having that extra plugin on the master chain. Having a dedicated hardware seems to make more sense. I’ve also got the VSX, but only use that occasionally…same thing it’s plugin-based. Looking forward to seeing and hearing the difference.
🙏
Please do tell! I went with the ARC system $299 vs the VSX $299...I wonder if VSX would be something I can buy down the road as a tool. Since my room is a spare room with very little treatment at the moment.
I have used the ARC 4 since the end of Feb In a treated room it also helped balance the listening space and helped me find anomalies with my studio I was masking . I have used the DBX PA-2 for years. I purchased Sound ID Reference last year. Great system however, it’s a plugin and can’t be used in all configurations in all apps with all devices. With the ARC 4 it’s patron of the speaker system. What ever i feed I feed it with will give me an accurate response. I use this as a calibration or checksum for the studio.
When I got my MTM Precisions running the built in ARC 3, it was dramatic what a difference it made. I had thrown all the acoustic panels I could on the walls, and the ARC 3 took it over the finish line fixing those pesky low end oddities that are so difficult to tame. I remember thinking, man... I wish they would put this technology in a separate box so I could use these on my other monitors. Poof, here we are. Now my Trident HG-3's are rocking in the room with ARC4.
Thank you barry J APPRECIATE YOU
Luv your channel and trust your commentary
Be careful, he is a Sweetwater shill now just like Colt and Andrew Masters. He hated on them for soooooo long for being affiliated with Sweetwater, and now he’s one of them.
Treated room but low end (
I need this Barry, as well as your advice on what's the best way to record vocals when you are alone in the vocal booth, is there a controller for such a task?
I wished you would have give a comment on did the Arc system help your treated room ? Did the Arc improve the sound of your Adams ? Even treated rooms still have frequency problems
thank you. best video in TH-cam about this topic.subscribed. question .i have a untreated room . if i mix 5.1 surround .,should i need to buy more than one arc 4? pleas let me know
I thought you were going to stop making content? (I am happy you are continuing).
added the ARC4 to my home setup about a month ago, and literally I can't suggest it more for a low to mid level studio that has not been acoustically treated well.
I've watched a few videos but can't figure out if both channels of my 2 channel SSL 2 interface are connected to the arc studio box how do I record in audio ? Do you recommend I buy only the arc 4 and mic without the box ?
How would it work with a monitor controller? Out from the box into the monitor controller and then change speaker profiles in the software and on the controller? Onerous? What do you say
What camera did u use to record this video? 😅
Little inside information, it’s not the camera they get you the quality of the image, it’s the lens and the lighting.
Does it take REW analysis files?
quick question: doesn´t your main adam monitor speaker have Sonarworks Sound Reference integrated in their dsp or are those the older models? and if so, do you have any experience with it or could compare it to the arc system? thx and cheers!
Yes they do, I tested this in an untreated space with Kali Monitors
Do you have any other correction in your working studio Barry?
Nothing other than treatment.
Arc4 also helped me set my sub volume.
I am currently using Sonarworks, i have also tried ARC. Honestly, both give a good result. ARC sounds a little warmer to me, Sonarworks adds more tops
in some way. I honestly don't know which one I prefer. I think both are good, with small differences. Please give me your opinion...tnx:))
.
I think you’ve pretty much already answered your own question. Both are going to give you great results that said, sonar works offers more beyond that. So only you can choose what’s best for you and your situation.
Тhank you for your reply. Think you can't go wrong with both if properly set:)
Sonarworks Sound Reference and Sound ID does this
ARC system is $299 and VSX starts at $299. I spoke with my sweetwater rep and went with ARC system. I already bought a pair of Senheisser 600hds so maybe I'll try with VSX down the road...
Great tool. But what it can't do is....dealing with reverberant rooms. Whatever the internal eq and delays of the ARC system do, the room will still be too reverberant I guess.
I was thinking about the living room from the very beginning
Get some MTMs - you get the microphone free and a discounted copy of ARC (don't bother with the hardware box as its limited). Its a great bit of software, much better than Sonarworks. The EQ adjust,ents is all you need. The MTMs are a great monitor for most home studios anyway.
Its so much better to just have this. The fact its on version 4 means very little, its the EQ curve that makes the difference. The MTMs use some trick with the dual speakers, so you get that benefit. Then you can use the software on your mains (Amphions in my case). You'll get a mastering system for a great price.
PS not a Slate VSX fan, its a bit of a Gimmick. Some better free alternatives.
Why wouldn't this work on a live gig with a PA? Those are certainly untreated rooms.
People in the room.
System techs on live gigs use SIA Smaart (there are a few others like the old Meyer Sim but Smaart is by far the most used) which can handle multiple microphone inputs and integrates with system processors for not only eq but time aligning multiple sources.
I highly recommend using a live digital console instead of a traditional interface in the studio. Having the ability to eq and delay every output is game changing. It also eliminates the need for any dsp for tracking, since you can use the desk.
Room EQ wizard is a more advanced option. It takes some time to wrap your head around the interface, but it’s s free!! In combination with even a cheap measurement mic you’ll have a lot more data to work with than this software.
This should be a LAST RESORT!! You should use the data from the measurements to improve the acoustics of your room. Moving the speakers, furniture, and adding acoustic treatment will take you 98% of the way. Correction is for that last 2%
Barry Barry bo Barry banana fanna fo Ferrry... etc.
If you say so.
@@BarryJohnsi am happy also luv your channel and trust it