IK Multimedia ARC System 4

[christaras]

That was the 2nd question. I believe you mean an xlr input interface to connect the mic? No i dont i can use a friends one to do the measurements for the mic through xlr if there is no other way to connect it with the pc. My set up is lp6v2 with smsl c200 on a desktop, in your opinion is it worth the cost?
I only listen music movies gaming no mixing or work related tasks.

 

[Count Arthur]

That was the 2nd question. I believe you mean an xlr input interface to connect the mic? No i dont i can use a friends one to do the measurements for the mic through xlr if there is no other way to connect it with the pc. My set up is lp6v2 with smsl c200 on a desktop, in your opinion is it worth the cost?
I only listen music movies gaming no mixing or work related tasks.

Yes, you'll need a USB audio interface with XLR input, with 48v phantom power, for the microphone.

This is the one I got: https://focusrite.com/products/scarlett-solo, but you only need it for taking the measurements, so if you can borrow one, that's great. Bear in mind though, that if you change your set-up, or make major changes to your room, you'll need to re-measure.

You'll also need an XLR cable long enough to reach from the audio interface to your listening position and a microphone stand.

I bought a cheap cable and a stand; both are absolutely fine and the microphone stand was surprisingly good for £8.60:

the sssnake SM6BK

Microphone cable XLR 3-pin male - XLR 3-pin female, Length: 6 m, Diameter: 6 mm, Wire cross-section: 2 x 0.22 mm², Colour: Black

www.thomann.de

Fun Generation Mic Stand

Microphone Stand with Boom Arm 5/8" threaded connection, Boom length: approx. 70 cm, Height adjustable from 100 to 150 cm, Weight: 1.6 kg, Colour: Black

www.thomann.de

I'm very pleased with the results I got. Also, consider that the package with the box is only £100.00 more than just the mic and software, and I don't think you can buy just the box later, so make sure you really don't want it: https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/arcstudio/index.php?p=versions

I wrote more about it in a separate thread: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-low-cost-solution-for-room-correction.52418/

 

[christaras]

Thank you for the info.
I don't need the box if i have the same result. Also with the box i need 2 more xlr cables and 2 adaptors trs to xlr for the dac. In my understanding the only purpose of the box is that you plug and forget instead of opening the software every time. please correct me if i am wrong. If that's the case no i don't need the box/cables cost.

 

[Count Arthur]

In my understanding the only purpose of the box is that you plug and forget instead of opening the software every time.

Thinking about it, as far as I know, the software only solution, is a VST plug-in: https://www.lifewire.com/what-are-vst-plugins-4177517.

If I try and start it without the box connected, I see this:

And I just found this in the manual:

https://g1.ikmultimedia.com/html/Manuals/ARC4/ARC_4_User_Manual.pdf

As mentioned in the other thread, I can use the ARC software VST plug-in from within JRiver: https://www.jriver.com/, without the box attached.

Which means that if your music playback software allows VST plug-ins, it'll work, but only from within the playback software. So, unless you can route your other audio: games, Spotify, YouTube videos and sound from your browser, etc. through that playback software, it will be uncorrected.

I believe Foobar can use VST plug-ins: https://appuals.com/how-to-use-vst-plug-ins-in-foobar/, but I've never used Foobar and don't know whether you can route other audio through it.

To be honest, this all a bit outside my area of expertise, but it looks like the correction isn't system wide without the box.

 

[christaras]

They sell it without the box so it should be working.

 

[Count Arthur]

They sell it without the box so it should be working.

Yes, but without the box, it works as a VST plug-in, which in a pro set-up, will typically installed on your DAW: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-daw

As far as I can tell, it doesn't work as a stand alone, system wide app, without the box.

 

[bennybbbx]

As far as I can tell, it doesn't work as a stand alone, system wide app, without the box.

you can use this for system wide https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/ It allow to add vst plugins

arc 4 is really amazing. before that i need always put my speakers at ear height on desktop. now i can put it on desktop on a cheap speaker stand foam(~ 5 cm height) that tilt it 5 degree up. arc can correct it and get much better sound and bass on desktop. before all other speaker corrections i test, it sound bad and boomy on desktop. i have test all my speakers, even the extreme worsest kali now sound good with arc 4 on desktop.the hs5 can correct in arc 4 down to 40 hz - 3 db. the mid boost in hs5 have advantage on desktop because there happen a gap in mid on desktop. see before and after. 7 point measure give also good results. but 21 point is a little better in my room .

I can use sharp correction which is the stronges correction. with speaker at ear height bass was weaker and in music with much bass i get after longer hear strange feeling in ears. with arc 4 not. I use it since longer time in studio one and focusrite usb 8i6o offer a loopback feature. i can choose output 3 and 4 in loopback as a input in the DAW.

so i guess(you can test demo of arc 4) with arc 4 you can put speaker in corner and floor in livingroom and tilt it a little to get most lowest freq . and arc correct it.

uncorrected measure

after correct

. i can choose now and i use the hs5 because it is white and it is small. bass 40 hz is enough for me(5 string bass lowest is 41 hz in standard tune) without sub. it can go loud enough also because in the frequency range 180-500 can the level reduce . I compare always with headphones and i hear that speakers now sound very simular. I also have for verify test with arc 2 and compare to arc 4. arc 2 sound sound worse for me . it get better when enable combined L/R but arc 4 sound best when combined L/R is disable. I never used automatic correction before arc 4 i use a t.racks mini dsp before with sound better as automatic. but arc 4 is much better now, also because more low bass when not at ear height.

here is focal alpha 65 evo have more mid gap uncorrect but still sound great and it get a very low bass ~28 hz

 

[bennybbbx]

here are kali lp6 correction in arc 4. It have larger gap after correction as the others in mid range. correction type is strongest(they called it sharp)

I guess the trick arc 4 do is reduce the level on corrected frequency with larger rt 60. so the rt60 differ not so much. if a speaker have slow woofer which cause longer decay, level is maybe reduce. dirac have for extreme expensive DAC currently this too. they explain as this for active room treatment https://www.dirac.com/live/dirac-live-active-room-treatment/

 

[Paffi]

Yes, you'll need a USB audio interface with XLR input, with 48v phantom power, for the microphone.

This is the one I got: https://focusrite.com/products/scarlett-solo, but you only need it for taking the measurements, so if you can borrow one, that's great. Bear in mind though, that if you change your set-up, or make major changes to your room, you'll need to re-measure.

Is there also a good and cheaper option then the scarlett? Something like the Behringer UM2?

 

[Count Arthur]

Is there also a good and cheaper option then the scarlett? Something like the Behringer UM2?

When I looked there were plenty of audio interfaces that were cheaper than the Scarlett, but I couldn't find out much about them.

This was another one I considered, that has similar features to the Scarlett: https://www.thomann.co.uk/swissonic_audio_1.htm

In reality, unless an interface is truly awful, with really terrible performance, it will probably be perfectly adequate for taking measurements.

Maybe checkout Julian Krause's video:

 

[Illtrick]

you can use this for system wide https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/ It allow to add vst plugins

arc 4 is really amazing. before that i need always put my speakers at ear height on desktop. now i can put it on desktop on a cheap speaker stand foam(~ 5 cm height) that tilt it 5 degree up. arc can correct it and get much better sound and bass on desktop. before all other speaker corrections i test, it sound bad and boomy on desktop. i have test all my speakers, even the extreme worsest kali now sound good with arc 4 on desktop.the hs5 can correct in arc 4 down to 40 hz - 3 db. the mid boost in hs5 have advantage on desktop because there happen a gap in mid on desktop. see before and after. 7 point measure give also good results. but 21 point is a little better in my room .

I can use sharp correction which is the stronges correction. with speaker at ear height bass was weaker and in music with much bass i get after longer hear strange feeling in ears. with arc 4 not. I use it since longer time in studio one and focusrite usb 8i6o offer a loopback feature. i can choose output 3 and 4 in loopback as a input in the DAW.

I don't follow how you're able to apply a correction using just the software, can you share the signal flow? I just purchased the ARC 4 system (stand alone box) for my main system and am trying to figure out if I can use the software to measure and perform a correction on a second system without the box. It's a windows machine where I can use something like Eq APO. Do you export some file that EQ APO uses?

 

[Ktacos]

EQ APO IME doesn't really play well with most VST plugins. IK provides a work around for systemwide using pedalboard2 but it's annoying to setup and use. Only suite I've used that does systemwide right, which is to say it just works and stays out of the way is Dirac. Of course I can't afford it so I stick with my own generated filters in EQ APO.

 

[Illtrick]

EQ APO IME doesn't really play well with most VST plugins. IK provides a work around for systemwide using pedalboard2 but it's annoying to setup and use. Only suite I've used that does systemwide right, which is to say it just works and stays out of the way is Dirac. Of course I can't afford it so I stick with my own generated filters in EQ APO.

Thanks for the reply. There are too few economical and elegant bridges between the hifi / pro worlds. I forked out a lot of extra clams to go with the Neuman KH80's for my desk setup because correction is done in hardware, got lucky and picked up the Arc 4 system on sale for $200 for my main system. I guess I'm just getting greedy to try and solve the same problem for my PC / media setup for "free".

 

[bennybbbx]

I don't follow how you're able to apply a correction using just the software, can you share the signal flow? I just purchased the ARC 4 system (stand alone box) for my main system and am trying to figure out if I can use the software to measure and perform a correction on a second system without the box. It's a windows machine where I can use something like Eq APO. Do you export some file that EQ APO uses?

sorry for late answer. I use the DAW and loopback feature in the scarlet 8i6o interface. see the screenshots. you need enable for windows in focusrite menu "expose or hide windows channels" output channels playback 5+6. this is in focusrite control route to loopback 1/2 input. this loopback 1/2 input you need choose in DAW or a free VST host. as output in DAW is then playback 1/2. Playback 3/4 i use for headphone .it is on the scarlet the most right headphone plug. with this way you can easy set level of headphones same as speaker fpr compare because volume control is independent and you can use in DAW or VST host a headphone correction in output 3/4

In the DAW i use ASIO. this routing work ok also with 4 ms buffer in win 11
if you have no card with more outputs and loopback you can try for windows voice meter potatoe or other if it work for you without crackles.

this is the expose or hide windows channels chooser

 

[Illtrick]

Clever solution. Thanks for posting it, I'm sure others will find this helpful as well.

sorry for late answer. I use the DAW and loopback feature in the scarlet 8i6o interface. see the screenshots. you need enable for windows in focusrite menu "expose or hide windows channels" output channels playback 5+6. this is in focusrite control route to loopback 1/2 input. this loopback 1/2 input you need choose in DAW or a free VST host. as output in DAW is then playback 1/2. Playback 3/4 i use for headphone .it is on the scarlet the most right headphone plug. with this way you can easy set level of headphones same as speaker fpr compare because volume control is independent and you can use in DAW or VST host a headphone correction in output 3/4

In the DAW i use ASIO. this routing work ok also with 4 ms buffer in win 11
if you have no card with more outputs and loopback you can try for windows voice meter potatoe or other if it work for you without crackles.

View attachment 411226

this is the expose or hide windows channels chooser


View attachment 411227