ARC 2 Advanced Room Correction System is now available from IK Multimedia

[Kontrast13]

I've followed recent history with IKM and I've got no problem with them They always seem to do a good job working things out, no matter how much people complain about their generosity.

Now on a serious note... do you think one of you guys can visit me so I can get an in-house demo of ARC2?

So any commentary from someone who's already purchased it? I'd like to hear some user testimony about the improvements~

[Hink]

@CompyFox - if you are referring to Black/White T-RackS Singles, then we stated they wouldn't go on sale for a good period of time (I believe Brian and/or Obi stated a time period) and neither the stated time period nor the actual elapsed time were 2-3 months, it was MUCH longer (9 months) and well within the parameters that were stated. AmpliTube 3 went on a time-limited special for ~$99 ...YEARS... after its release.

Edit - In the spirit of the improved communication I've been attempting to accomplish in this thread, I will agree to disagree on this. However, I verified that we had stated what was our official statement on the Black and White Singles and whether they'd go on sale for what period of time. It was stated that they would not go on sale for the remainder of 2011 and we did exactly what we stated and they did NOT go on sale during said period. I hope we can get back to ARC 2 now.

Peter, we're friends and you know I have my ear to the ground here and I have nothing to gain by slamming IK at all as you of all people know. Remember my surprise when I found out who you were so to speak? (it really was a funny moment but if you recall it does add to the point that I would not do anything to hurt IK)

There are quite a few people here who think that having three reps here (who changed their names from who they were originally here) popping up in threads, starting new threads and all is "spammy". Just recently one of those three started a teaser thread on the slash model sim, he couldn't leave at that though after people knew what is was he indeed started a second thread about the release of the slash model and they were side by side several times in the list of threads.

If you notice (check RIP threads) the mods are trying to cut down on duplicate threads and locking them, I mentioned it about the slash thread and one was locked. Do you see where I am going here? Like I said before in this thread, there is a fine line and imo IK is stepping over it. The way the other two on more than one occasion (and I of course was vocal about it ) really did make me feel very ganged up on when they played tag team with me in AT threads. (the fact that one until about a week or so ago didn't even take the time to read the many times I said I was an AT owner does not support better communication)

In the interest of better communication I think you should consider this issue, honestly if I did not own AT already when they played tag team with me I would have likely never even given IK another thought. Whether they changed their names for professional reasons or not it still smells of sock puppets, how many more liberties will IK take with KvR rules and bending them a little to suit their aggressive marketing tactics? The fact it's becoming common place to see them pushing IK products in threads that have the subject line about another company suggests that "fine line" might be harder to see.

Like I said, I have no reason to attack IK and I am not whining for those who want to start that up...it doesn't matter at all to me personally. But I will say I think the model needs addressing, it might not be working as well as IK thinks it is, that's all

BTW about sockpuppets, I picked up a stalker here at KvR, a member from long ago I always thought was a friend. He holds a grudge for something (not sure what) from 2004 and he comes to me in PMs as a sockpuppet so forgive me if I am sensitive to sockpuppets but I think all three of you should have had you original names in your signature for an extended period of time, I'm here a lot and I never knew you changed your name which does show quite clearly such announcements can be missed.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

Hink - I don't see any indication that I haven't considered the issue (and directly handled dupe threads, etc) and I have done what I feel is necessary in my role. It is completely inappropriate for me to go into deep detail in public on how I handle those I manage so all I can do is ask if you could keep noting what you feel is CURRENTLY and going forward being done wrong, not dwell on what has been done in the past, and if you see progress (or the opposite), let me know.

I take from this that I have not expressed well enough that I have full intentions of forward and positive motion and have already been working to this end.

I think ARC 2 is pretty cool, though

[Spitfire31]

I think ARC 2 is pretty cool, though

I think so too.

I bought ARC 1 last winter and it made a remarkable, almost shocking change for the better in my less-than-ideal studio room, where I use 2 x KS C5-Tiny as nearfields. I knew that I had a pesky standing wave around C2 and previously had to use my Sennheiser 600 headphones to judge the bass response. ARC almost got rid of the hump.

Now, having just got ARC 2 and made new measurements, my monitoring is flat ±1.5dB or so, all the way down to the C5's limit of around 60 Hz (it's a 6 1/2" speaker element, after all). The increased resolution of the ARC 2 has managed to straighten out the remaining bass peak that I still had with ARC 1.

I can finally trust my monitoring. So, I'm very happy, even before I've had time to check out all the other goodies in version 2.

I should also add that I've had impressively fast and friendly support from the IK techs and from Orders, who are handling my Jam Point 25% refund.

Incidentally (and this isn't really clear from the pre sales documentation): ARC 2 can handle old version 1.x measurement files just fine. But, of course, you don't get the advantage of the increased resolution if you don't make new measurements.

All in all, a confidence inspiring experience. So much so, that I bought the Ampeg on sale later the same day…

Best,

Joachim

[Hink]

Hink - I don't see any indication that I haven't considered the issue (and directly handled dupe threads, etc) and I have done what I feel is necessary in my role. It is completely inappropriate for me to go into deep detail in public on how I handle those I manage so all I can do is ask if you could keep noting what you feel is CURRENTLY and going forward being done wrong, not dwell on what has been done in the past, and if you see progress (or the opposite), let me know.

I take from this that I have not expressed well enough that I have full intentions of forward and positive motion and have already been working to this end.

I'm sorry you feel that way because I never said anything close to that, in fact until this thread I never tought of you in charge of the the reps (do you recall when my sending you a pm when Brian arrived on the scene asking if everything was all right because I thought you lost your job? ). There is no way you go into deep detail in public about how you handle it.

My post was not about you at all, you're one person with one perspective and you surely cannot be everywhere all of the time. It's about IK and constructive criticism from my perspective that I see repeated by others, please feel free to completely ignore it if you fell it's bogus

As for the past and future...how long ago was the slash model released? Quite frankly I prefer to see customers excited about the release of a new product and beating the developer/rep to the punch when posting a thread about something being released. This thread started and a few days later I got an email about it which is fine, but other times with other products I have received an email and wanted to come right to KvR to see if anything has been posted about it. If I see that users couldn't wait to post about it and people are excited about it, it carries more weight with me...take from that what you will but keep in mind that I fed and housed my family working in music retail. In order to do so I had to keep my customers coming back

About ARC, given my set up it would seem to be perfect for me. Right now with my wife out of work because of an injury and her company fighting workman's comp I cannot go for it now but it his pretty close to the center of my radar...however until that time I will leave this thread and any thread IK related that does not have to do with AT as I can read the handwriting on the wall.

[LGK_Dude]

I know it's the weekend and all, but any word on the possibility of a ARC2 demo for ARC1 owners?

[musikmachine]

I think ARC 2 is pretty cool, though

I think so too.

I bought ARC 1 last winter and it made a remarkable, almost shocking change for the better in my less-than-ideal studio room, where I use 2 x KS C5-Tiny as nearfields. I knew that I had a pesky standing wave around C2 and previously had to use my Sennheiser 600 headphones to judge the bass response. ARC almost got rid of the hump.

Now, having just got ARC 2 and made new measurements, my monitoring is flat ±1.5dB or so, all the way down to the C5's limit of around 60 Hz (it's a 6 1/2" speaker element, after all). The increased resolution of the ARC 2 has managed to straighten out the remaining bass peak that I still had with ARC 1.

I can finally trust my monitoring. So, I'm very happy, even before I've had time to check out all the other goodies in version 2.

I should also add that I've had impressively fast and friendly support from the IK techs and from Orders, who are handling my Jam Point 25% refund.

Incidentally (and this isn't really clear from the pre sales documentation): ARC 2 can handle old version 1.x measurement files just fine. But, of course, you don't get the advantage of the increased resolution if you don't make new measurements.

All in all, a confidence inspiring experience. So much so, that I bought the Ampeg on sale later the same day…

Best,

Joachim

How do the improvements translate on the mids and highs and how many steps fewer did you take?

Also to Peter how will Arc 2 help in larger less than ideal rooms?

Fwiw i too think the upgrade price is a little on the steep side and is why i want to try a demo prior to upgrading. The jam points will definitely help soften the blow though.

But yes, a demo would definitely help. Cheers!

[Compyfox]

@CompyFox - if you are referring to Black/White T-RackS Singles, then we stated they wouldn't go on sale for a good period of time (I believe Brian and/or Obi stated a time period) and neither the stated time period nor the actual elapsed time were 2-3 months, it was MUCH longer (9 months) and well within the parameters that were stated. AmpliTube 3 went on a time-limited special for ~$99 ...YEARS... after its release.

I remember something different actually - then again, if you're keeping an eye on your family, you pretty much loose the sense of time.

Still, I had the the impression from Brian's and Obi's post, that Black/White will never be reduced in price, and I slowly accepted that I can't upgrade(!, aka: reduced price since I have deluxe) either. Then IKM did the T-Racks "deal" again with either Black or White.

Also, AT3 "deals" were on several time (freebies, reduced packs, etc), also since AT3's release. so it's definitely not years after it's release - maybe years after AT2 though. I'd still love to see a complete (price reduced) pack for both mics and cabinets. And the other thing I wrote you a PM about. But then again, this is just me.

I hope we can get back to ARC 2 now.

It was part of a sidetracked discussion. I thought we are pretty much on ARC by now.

Deal until August 31st as previous customer... I'll have to see if I can use up "all" my JamPoints (haha! 9 Points! What a joke!!!) and scratch together the remaining funds. I have to pay 20% VAT after all (so I pay 118,8USD - 9 Jampoints, then I'm at 109,8 USD , and I don't have a credit card anymore...) - but I just find the regular 150USD (plus VAT) upgrade too expensive if the retail is 299USD, including microphone.

IKM should definitely rethink the pricing:
One with mic, one without mic. Even if that piece of metal is only like 50bucks.

[evertonfan]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for listening to all the feedback wrt ARC 2 upgrade from IKM's customers......doing the Jam Points up to 25% discount was a great gesture & as soon as I saw that it then made the purchase happen as far as I was concerned. So again thanks!

I have been a huge fan of ARC......so I am particularly looking forward to seeing the improvements in ARC 2 with low end response.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

@CompyFox - feel free to look it up. I didn't find any instance saying never, that would just be a bad choice to use and though we all have bad judgment at times, I'm pretty sure Brian never made that poor a statement. We said it wouldn't go on sale for a long time, and 9 months was the reality. I feel that is extremely fair and is correct information. I'm not protecting anybody. I'm sorry you feel slighted, but I'm going to officially disagree that you were slighted by this statement as we were 100% up front and also stuck to our word.

Edit - as far as I've heard the mics and cabs deal idea has only been you, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea. I've put that one forward, as we've leaned toward very amp-heavy Custom Shop deals but I don't see an issue with changing that up if it would work out for more than just one user. I don't think you are the only one to want it, you might be one of the few to KNOW you want it at this point

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

I know it's the weekend and all, but any word on the possibility of a ARC2 demo for ARC1 owners?

I know it has been in discussion very high in the company but there's no decision at the moment.

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

Also to Peter how will Arc 2 help in larger less than ideal rooms?

Fwiw i too think the upgrade price is a little on the steep side and is why i want to try a demo prior to upgrading. The jam points will definitely help soften the blow though.

But yes, a demo would definitely help. Cheers!

It should work well in a larger room. I suppose I should have you qualify how large... I'm not sure a HUGE arena would be easy to tame, but a large control room should be fine. I believe the largest I'm hearing about success with now is 14'x16'with 10' ceilings, just a couple of diffusors not really treated.

[Compyfox]

I'm sorry you feel slighted, but I'm going to officially disagree that you were slighted by this statement as we were 100% up front and also stuck to our word.

Still 9 months is a bit short considering the output of IKM tools at that time, and the hint that there were more TR3 modules to follow (which didn't happen since).

Edit - as far as I've heard the mics and cabs deal idea has only been you, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea. I've put that one forward, as we've leaned toward very amp-heavy Custom Shop deals but I don't see an issue with changing that up if it would work out for more than just one user. I don't think you are the only one to want it, you might be one of the few to KNOW you want it at this point

Yes, so far I'd be the only one it seems. But who knows who might benefit of such packs for AR3... But this is still about ARC, not AT3.



Regarding a possible ARC "no mic/download only" deal.

What about this? As I've said, there are tons of measurement microphones out there, and apparently, the ARC one seems to be on a similar (I say that with caution, but on purpose) ballpark, considering the price of both the software and hardware.

The thing is still the steep upgrade price for the software without the microphone, but plus VAT (where it applies, and it applies a lot). I think there won't be any room, but I can at least ask for a possible solution? The only problem I'd see is with the users that bought it until 31st at 99USD (plus VAT) and the price drops from 150USD to 129-99USD for upgrading on a regular level.


Just saying.

[andiw]

Apart from the fact that some people never seem to be content ...

The ARC mic and a ECM8000 are totally different mics. The ARC mic is actually quite good for recording whereas the ECM8000 has lots of noise and 'unnatural' hi frequencies.

Just sayin'

[Peter - IK Multimedia]

Regarding a possible ARC "no mic/download only" deal.

What about this? As I've said, there are tons of measurement microphones out there, and apparently, the ARC one seems to be on a similar (I say that with caution, but on purpose) ballpark, considering the price of both the software and hardware.

The thing is still the steep upgrade price for the software without the microphone, but plus VAT (where it applies, and it applies a lot). I think there won't be any room, but I can at least ask for a possible solution? The only problem I'd see is with the users that bought it until 31st at 99USD (plus VAT) and the price drops from 150USD to 129-99USD for upgrading on a regular level.


Just saying.

In the interest of full transparency, I'll say as clearly and eloquently as possible: While a demo for those with the ARC mic is possible and in discussion, chances of a software-only version to use with other mics can be classified as slim to none.