IK Multimedia Releases ARC Studio Hardware

Made in Italy, ARC Studio is a unique out-of-the-box hardware acoustic room correction system.

All top studios include active room correction these days, as it vastly enhances the performance of the room and the monitors to ensure efficient accuracy.

ARC Studio is the latest product to enter the market and is designed to “massively boost” performance and accuracy to any monitor in every studio.

The system includes a standalone hardware processor; new ARC 4 software (also available separately) for analyzing and correcting the listening environment with additional controls; and a precision MEMS measurement microphone. For the first time in the recording industry, an affordable hardware processor can be used as a correction and calibration system for any studio without the limitations of a software-only system.

Main Features

Improves Mixing Accuracy

ARC 4’s all-new algorithm analyzes and corrects issues that size, shape, material, and furniture can have in your studio environment. There is an increased focus on more controlled low-end, tighter transients and pinpoint stereo imaging.

Installs in Minutes

With the included mic connected to an audio interface, ARC 4 software guides the user through a rapid process of measuring acoustical responses within their listening position. IK’s award-winning ARC technology uses this 3D snapshot to identify and completely correct all the problematic issues degrading a monitor’s performance.

ARC 4 stores the correction profile and loads it to the ARC Studio processor, sitting invisibly between the interface and monitors to apply to all incoming signals. The standalone processor corrects studio monitors in any studio, including hardware- and console-based setups.

Corrects Any Studio

For pro studios, whether DAW-based or console-based, ARC Studio with ARC 4 offers sonically transparent correction and custom-tuning for any monitoring setup from nearfields to mains, preserving the inherent system’s sonic quality.

For DAW-based studios, ARC Studio eliminates the need to insert the ARC 4 plug-in on the master bus of a project and preserves zero-latency monitoring setups. And it allows users to listen to their preferred streaming service with acoustically corrected monitoring without tweaking system drivers.

Using ARC 4, profiles can be created and stored for every configuration, listening position or even monitor pair and quickly recalled or loaded to the processor unit at any time.

Audiophile Performance

ARC Studio features a 120 dB(A) analog input to analog output dynamic range, 0.5 Hz to 40 kHz frequency response, and ultra-stable clocking for vanishing low jitter, offering total sonic transparency and accuracy only found in mastering-grade audio converters.

The processor unit connects to the studio and monitors via balanced XLRs with a power-safe relay-based hard bypass — so when bypassed everything is protected from sudden power-related pops.

Includes Monitor Emulations

ARC Studio can be reloaded instantly with new settings using ARC 4 software. ARC 4 now features a monitor emulation function that turns any monitor system into iconic studio monitors, plus popular hi-fi speakers and mobile devices, reproducing the frequency and phase response of the originals.

With over 20 profiles included in ARC 4, a single pair of monitors now lets users test a mix on different reference systems quickly, without ever having to head to the car or buy additional pairs of monitors.

System Customization

ARC 4 now comes with 9 factory-tailored target curves suitable for most situations. The default curve offers optimally balanced results with Flat and other specific curves for different needs or setups. By default, ARC corrects the entire frequency spectrum, but users can define limits to both upper and lower correction ranges separately. This is useful to preserve monitors’ unique voicing or correct a certain frequency range.

There’s also a control to adjust the resolution of the correction filter to use more or fewer frequency bands. Depending on the room’s unique sound, this can achieve a more surgical correction or a broader, smoother balance.

Selectable Natural and Linear phase modes ensure precise stereo imaging. Natural mode improves the phase response, while linear phase maintains the original inter-channel phase response, which may be preferable in certain rooms and conditions.

Pricing and Availability

ARC Studio and ARC 4 software are shipping now and available from the IK Multimedia online store and IK authorized dealers worldwide:

• ARC Studio $/€299.99* – Includes processor unit, ARC 4 software, and measurement mic.
• ARC Studio Upgrade $/€249.99 – For registered users of ARC (any version with mic), iLoud MTM, or iLoud Precision. Includes processor unit + ARC 4 software. Measurement mic not included.
• ARC 4 Software and Mic $/€199.99 – Advanced room correction plug-in, and measurement mic.
• ARC 4 Software Only $/€149.99 – Advanced room correction plug-in. Measurement mic not included.

Find out more www.ikmultimedia.com/arcstudio.

*Pricing excludes taxes.

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