IK Multimedia ARC Studio+

The IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ is an advanced hardware room correction system that allows you to correct the acoustic characteristics of your studio and precisely calibrate your studio monitors to the listening room. This new generation of IK Multimedia’s ARC technology combines automatic room correction, integrated subwoofer management, 32-bit audio conversion, and extensive connectivity options in a single compact processor. The result is a more reliable sound image, allowing you to make better decisions while producing, mixing, and mastering.

The ARC Studio+ is placed between your audio source and your studio monitors and performs acoustic correction directly within the hardware. This means you aren’t dependent on a plug-in in your DAW, and the correction remains active for every audio source. Thanks to the included ARC measurement microphone, you can perform a full calibration even without a computer. For more extensive measurements and adjustments, use the included ARC X software. With support for stereo and 2.1 monitor setups, automatic subwoofer integration, USB-C audio, optical S/PDIF connections, and three callable scenes, the ARC Studio+ is suitable for both home studios and professional production environments.

Precise room correction for your studio monitors
Even high-quality studio monitors cannot prevent a room’s acoustics from affecting the sound. Reflections, standing waves, and the dimensions of the listening room cause peaks and dips in the frequency response. As a result, certain frequencies may sound stronger or weaker than they actually are in your mix.Thisdirectly affects your mixing decisions. Excessive low-frequency reproduction can cause you to add too little bass, while a lack of low end in the listening room can actually lead to a bass-heavy mix. The assessment of vocals, stereo image, and instrumental balance is also influenced by the acoustics. The IK Multimedia ARC Studio+, using the included measurement microphone, analyzes the frequency response of your monitors in combination with the listening room. Based on these measurements, a correction profile is calculated to compensate for deviations in the reproduction. The correction covers the entire audible frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. This creates a more neutral listening reference and allows you to more accurately assess how your productions will sound on other playback systems. The ARC Studio+ does not replace acoustic treatment of the room, but rather complements it and helps reduce issues in monitor reproduction.

Calibrate Independently Without a Computer
A key feature of the ARC Studio+ is the ability to perform room correction without using a computer, DAW, or audio interface. Connect the included ARC measurement microphone to the designated calibration input and start the measurement via the front panel. The internal processor then analyzes the connected studio monitors, any subwoofer, and the influence of the listening room. For quick calibration, you can choose between measurements at one or three listening positions. This allows you to tune the monitor response to the primary listening position or to a wider area around your workspace. After the measurement is complete, the correction is applied directly within the hardware. This means you don’t need any active software to use the calibrated monitor response.

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Comprehensive 3D Room Measurements with ARC X
For a morecomprehensive analysis of your listening room, the ARC Studio+ comes with IK Multimedia’s ARCX software. This gives you access to additional measurement options and settings that go beyond the standalone calibration via the device. ARC X supports 3D room measurements at 7 or 21 measurement points. By taking measurements at various positions around the listening spot, a more detailed picture of the room’s acoustic properties is built up. The software then calculates a correction profile based on this measurement data. In addition, you can adjust the desired frequency response using configurable target curves. This allows you to choose between a neutral reference or a sound signature that aligns with your personal preferences and work needs. ARC X also offers the ability to evaluate your mix using virtual speaker profiles. This allows you to check how the balance of your production behaves when played back through different types of playback systems. Once you’re satisfied with the settings, save the correction profile to the ARC Studio+ hardware. You can then close the software or disconnect the computer, and the correction will remain active.

Automatic subwoofer integration for stereo and 2.1 systems
One of the most important enhancements to the ARC Studio+ is its integrated subwoofer management. This not only corrects the sound from your left and right studio monitors but also automatically integrates a connected subwoofer into the monitor system. Tuning a subwoofer to studio monitors typically requires attention to various parameters. The crossover frequency, output level, phase, and time alignment must be coordinated to achieve a balanced low-frequency response. The ARC Studio+ takes care of most of this process for you. During calibration, a connected subwoofer is automatically detected, and the relevant settings are adjusted to match the rest of the monitor system. Among other things, the system handles the adjustment of gain, crossover, phase, and delay. As a result, the studio monitors and subwoofer work together more effectively, and the transition between the two frequency ranges is reproduced more accurately. This is especially important when mixing kick drums, bass guitars, synthesizer basses, and other instruments with a lot of low-end energy. You can better assess the balance between them and reduce the chance of surprises when listening to the mix on other systems. The subwoofer function is not tied to a specific brand. The ARC Studio+ can be used with studio monitors and subwoofers from various manufacturers.

Hardware-based correction, independent of your DAW
With software-based room correction, a plug-in is often placed on the DAW’s master bus. While this can be an effective method, it also presents practical considerations. You must keep the plug-in active while working and ensure that the correction isn’t accidentally included when exporting your mix. The IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ prevents this by performing the entire correction outside your DAW. The processor is located in the signal chain between your audio source and your monitors. This corrects the sound before it reaches the speakers, without requiring you to change any settings in your recording software. As a result, the room correction remains active when you switch, for example, from your DAW to a media player, external synthesizer, mixing console, or other connected audio source. The same calibrated monitor response remains available even when editing video, listening to reference tracks, or playing music.

Three Programmable Scenes for Different Listening Situations
The front panel of the ARC Studio+ features three programmable Scene buttons. These allow you to save and instantly recall different monitor configurations without opening the software. Each scene can include its own correction profile, speaker routing, input selection, and subwoofer setting. For example, you can use one scene for the listening position behind your studio desk, a second for a different listening position in the room, and a third for checking your mix with a different target curve. You can also use scenes to quickly switch between a monitor configuration with or without a subwoofer. You can manage the settings for the various scenes via ARC X. This allows you to quickly switch between different listening references during a production session and assess how your mix behaves under different conditions.

32-bit Audio Conversion and High Sound Quality
In a room correction system, it’s not just the accuracy of the acoustic correction that matters. The audio quality of the processor itself also plays a major role, since the entire monitor signal passes through the device. The ARC Studio+ features 32-bit audio conversion and supports sample rates up to 192 kHz. Its high-quality internal clock and signal processing are designed to perform the correction with minimal distortion while preserving the original audio details. With a dynamic range of 120 dB(A), a THD of 0.00011%, and a channel separation of -134 dB, the processor offers specifications that meet the requirements of professional studio equipment. When using Natural Phase mode, latency is only 1.4 ms. This makes this mode suitable for tasks where direct monitor response is important, such as recording and playback. In addition, a Linear Phase mode is available, with a latency of 42 ms. This can be used when phase behavior is a key part of the desired correction and the additional delay is not an issue.

Analog and Digital Connections The ARC Studio+ features connections for various types of studio equipment and monitor configurations. Balanced XLR/TRS combo inputs are provided for analog audio sources. The corrected audio signals are sent to the studio monitors via balanced XLR outputs. A separate output is also available for a subwoofer. The built-in USB-C audio port allows you to send digital audio directly from a computer to the monitor system. The ARC Studio+ also features optical S/PDIF inputs and outputs. This allows the processor to be integrated into a digital signal chain without requiring additional analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog conversion for room correction. These connectivity options make the ARC Studio+ suitable for traditional recording studios, fully digital production systems, and hybrid studios that combine hardware and software.

Suitable for production, mixing, and mastering
The IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ is designed for anyone who needs a reliable listening reference when working with audio.Forproducers, the system provides a better foundation for evaluating instrument balance, timbre, and bass response. During mixing, the correction helps with decisions regarding EQ, compression, stereo placement, and frequency distribution. In mastering, a neutral monitor response is essential for evaluating subtle differences in tone and dynamics. The ARC Studio+ helps with this by reducing the influence of the listening room on the frequency response. A calibrated monitor system can also be valuable for sound engineers, videographers, sound designers, and content creators. Thanks to its standalone hardware operation, the ARC Studio+ is also suitable for studios where users frequently switch between different audio sources, computers, or DAW systems.

Compact Design and Easy Integration
Measuring19.7 x 12.2 x 4.4 cm, the ARC Studio+ takes up very little space on a studio desk. The device weighs 625 grams and can be placed near your audio interface, monitor controller, or other studio equipment. Front-panelcontrolsallow you to start calibrations and recall saved scenes without having to use the computer every time. The correction profiles are stored internally, so the settings are retained even when the ARC X software is not running.Thismakes the ARC Studio+ a central link between your audio sources and your monitors, integrating room correction into your permanent monitor setup.

IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ features:

• hardware room correction system for studio monitors and subwoofers
• Standalone calibration without a computer or DAW
• includes ARC MEMS measurement microphone
• Support for stereo and 2.1 monitor systems
• Automatic detection and integration of connected subwoofers
• Automatic adjustment of gain, crossover, phase, and delay
• Room correction across the frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Standalone measurements at 1 or 3 measurement points
• Comprehensive 3D room measurements at 7 or 21 measurement points via ARC X
• Includes ARC X software for advanced room correction
• Adjustable target curves and correction profiles
• Virtual speaker profiles for monitoring mix translation
• 3 programmable scenes with direct control via the front panel
• Internal storage of calibration profiles and monitor settings
• Hardware-based audio correction independent of DAW and operating system
• 32-bit audio conversion
• Supported sample rates: 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 178.4 / 192 kHz
• Frequency range: 2 Hz – 87 kHz (-2 dB)
• Dynamic range: 120 dB(A)
• THD at 1 kHz and -1 dBFS: 0.00011% (-119.4 dB)
• THD+N at 1 kHz and -1 dBFS: 0.00023% (-112.7 dB)
• Latency in Natural Phase mode: 1.4 ms
• Latency in Linear Phase mode: 42 ms
• Balanced analog XLR/TRS combo inputs
• Balanced analog XLR monitor outputs
• Separate subwoofer output
• USB-C port for digital audio
• Optical S/PDIF input and output
• Digital signal processing without additional A/D or D/A conversion when used in digital mode
• Maximum input level: +18 dBu
• Maximum output level: +18 dBu
• Power supply: 5V DC, 2.5A, center-positive
• Dimensions: 19.7 x 12.2 x 4.4 cm
• Weight: 625 grams

IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ comes with:

• ARC Studio+ hardware processor
• ARC MEMS measurement microphone
• Microphone mount for measurement microphone
• Storage pouch for measurement microphone
• USB cable
• power adapter
• ARC X software (download)