RECORDING November 2024 - 30

REVIEW
IK Multimedia
ARC Studio
Two reviewers put this room
correction system to the test
T
he new IK Multimedia ARC Studio adds
an interesting new twist to the softwarebased
room correction landscape as an
affordable standalone hardware alternative.
For this review, IK Multimedia graciously
sent ARC Studio
systems to two of our
reviewers-here are their thoughts.
Hardware-Based Room
Correction Made Accessible
Room correction for the people
REVIEW BY AARON J. TRUMM
The IK Multimedia Advanced Room Correction (ARC)
system has existed for several years in plugin form and
built into the company's iLoud MTM and Precision series
monitors. Reviewer Nick Casares looked at the original
ARC software/mic package in February 2009, and
ARC System 3 was reviewed by Associate Editor Alex
Hawley 11 years later in October 2020.
ARC Studio places the current ARC 4 technology in
a standalone half-rack box that can be used with any
audio system and studio monitor.
Why Hardware?
Why use a hardware-based solution if you can get the IK Multimedia
ARC 4 software version for even less? There are a few reasons:
1. Latency: ARC Studio is an ultra-low latency solution-
meaning you don't have to worry about tracking with it in place.
2. Export: You don't have to remember to turn off the
correction plugin before exporting a mix-a big hassle
even seasoned engineers often forget.
3. Set and Forget: Whether tracking, mixing or listening to
music for fun, the correction is always active on your system
without remembering to re-engage the plugin or a systemwide
app. This is even more handy if you use ARC Studio in a
mixer-based, non-DAW environment or listen to CDs or vinyl.
30 RECORDING November 2024
That last one is big. There's no point in using a correction filter
if you don't calibrate your ears using known references-with the
filter ON.
How ARC Studio Works
Set up is surprisingly easy with ARC Studio:
1. Measure using ARC Analysis Software on your computer
and the included measurement microphone
2. Transfer the profile to ARC Studio with the ARC 4 Software
3. Listen to music
The ARC Analysis software guides you through making
measurements-you can choose a quick version with 7
measurement positions or a full version with 21 positions. Once
you're done, name and save your profile, then connect ARC Studio
via USB and transfer the profile to the box using the ARC 4 app.
You'll want to explore some options here. You can choose from
several target curves, including perfectly flat, a bit of bass lift,
some high-end lift and so on, or you can even make your own
custom curves. These target curves give you some gentle customization
in case you like to hear things a little differently.
You can also choose between linear or natural phase
response- " natural " corrects the room response while
maintaining an ultra-low latency of 1.4 ms, while " linear " also
corrects the system's phase response. The latter introduces 50ms
of latency, but it may sound better in some rooms-if a little less
round and punchy.
Virtual Monitoring
In addition to target curves, phase and trim control, ARC Studio
also introduces Virtual Monitoring-the ability to make your
monitors sound like other common " real world " playback devices.
This lets you test mixes in various systems without having a desk
full of boom boxes, computer speakers and crappy headphones.
RECORDING November 2024

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