Grumbles aside, ARC System 2 lives up to IK's hype: it improves the sound of a studio setup - in some cases radically - and so helps you to create better mixes more easily. IK Product Manager, Lurssen Mastering Console, CSR (Classik Studio Reverb), and acoustic correction system ARC (Advanced Room Correction) System. Speaking of MIDI control, it's a shame you can't use it to switch between Virtual Monitoring profiles, to achieve the gratifyingly instant button-punching speaker-switching of a hardware monitor controller. You can't MIDI map the Correction On/Off button either, which could've at least made it easy to switch off via a MIDI controller. On the downside, there's still no option for automatic bypass during mixdown, so you have to disable ARC System every time. These controls can be mapped via MIDI learn. The latter is housed in the new Monitor section, where you also have Dim/Mute switches and a mid/side solo'in. Gain staging is simpler due to separate Trim and overall Volume knobs. We found it useful whenever we wanted to focus on the central elements in the mix, like the drums. It's always a great idea to try your mixes out on different systems, and this is an ultra-convenient way of doing so.Ī new Combined L/R Correction option gives a tad more definition in the centre pan position (and less at the edges of the stereo field). "New Virtual Monitoring profiles ably mimic a diverse range of speakers"Īlso new are Virtual Monitoring profiles that ably mimic a diverse range of speakers, such as 80's White (Yamaha NS10), Boom Box, Car Stereo, Laptop Speakers, etc. This addition is practical and most welcome, so long as you understand its specific purpose. But what if, for example, you've gotten so used to your speakers/room being overly bassy that you just can't get used to ARC's (technically more accurate) flattened response? With the new custom profile feature, you can create four 'target' EQ curves, so you could use this to dial some of that bottom end back in, for comfort.