See where Reference 3 goes in my Pro Tools Mastering Plug-in Chain.Reference 3 offers the same features but ARC 2 doesn’t offer any further properties to adjust.
Reference 3 displays in real-time the position of the microphone in the room and is very clever as it will not take a measurement until the microphone is in an optimal position.īoth plug-ins add about 500 samples of delay into the chain, however, Reference 3 can increase up to 3559 samples when the clever filter phase is set to linear this is where the two room correction systems start to differ quite dramatically. ARC 2 features a software monitor control interface, the ability to adjust the curve to suit your taste and a virtual monitoring system. In terms of the measurement process, I find Sonarworks Reference 3 to be the better of the two systems as the software walks you through exactly what needs to be done in terms of microphone placement. The plug-in components for both systems are where the measurement/correction files are loaded and it's these plug-ins users monitor through when mixing to achieve the room correction process.
We have yet to try the updated ARC 2.5 software update with new MEMS microphone but we will get a system in over the next few months for review. Below is what IK Multimedia say about the new MEMS Microphone: “The microphone is built around an omnidirectional, high precision MEMS capsule that ensures maximum response accuracy and stability over time In contrast to standard condenser measurement microphones, which are potentially subject to subtle frequency response variations over time, MEMS technology is far more stable.”
IK Multimedia recently announced the update of the ARC system that introduces a new type of MEMS Measurement Microphone. UPDATE: IK Multimedia Announce ARC Update - ARC 2.5 Room Correction System With New MEMS Measurement Microphone
ARC 2 software is available as a bundle that includes a measurement microphone, a small mic clip and hard case. Measuring The Studio With Both Microphonesīoth Sonarworks & IK Multimedia supply their own types of measurement microphones, both are similar in design. I've used Sonarworks Reference 3 room calibration software for a few years, previously using IK Multimedia’s room correction system ARC 2. In this article, I compare the two room correction systems based on my experiences with both in the studio. Room Correction software is a two-step measurement and calibration process that improves the frequency response and performance of studio monitoring.