New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements?

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sharke
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2014/07/26 00:26:14 (permalink)

New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements?

I decided to forgo basic nutrition for a few weeks and upgraded to an RME Babyface. Very impressed with the sound so far. In fact I wasn't expecting it to sound that much different to my old Fast Track....lol.....it sure does though.
 
First thing on my mind - does this mean my original ARC2 measurements will be slightly off because of the difference in sound? Is it worth redoing them? Luckily I was too lazy to remove the little pieces of tape I stuck on the floor to mark out the positions...so it's not that much of a big deal if I have to 

James
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    dubdisciple
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 00:34:31 (permalink)
    Should that make a difference? Good question. I genuinely don't know
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    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 01:04:03 (permalink)
    I haven't lived with the Babyface long enough to make any kind of definitive statement about the sound other than it sounds better - more focused, more open with sharper sounding transients. But do kick drums sound a little heavier through it? Maybe - I'm also open to that being a placebo effect though. I read reviews of some interfaces and hear people say things about the highs and the lows....wish I could be bothered to rig up both interfaces for an A/B test....

    James
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    DeeringAmps
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 07:42:52 (permalink)
    I love my UFX, but did it make a "huge" difference?
    I would think/hope more so on recorded tracks; so a cumulative effect.
    A few guitar tracks and vocals like I do, probably not as big; but "Total Mix" is worth the price of admission.
    I think I would recalibrate, probably just because I can.
    Enjoy!
    T

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    #4
    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 13:18:07 (permalink)
    Yeah think I'll pick a nice free rainy afternoon and do it...

    James
    Windows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
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    mixmkr
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 13:29:50 (permalink)
    I hate these posts.  The only way I can know for sure if an audio interface upgrade is worth it or not, is to spend some nutrition money, and find out.  The ARC system doesn't seem as costly as a RME upgrade, so that's probably first.

    Dang these forums.

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    #6
    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 14:54:04 (permalink)
    mixmkr
    I hate these posts.  The only way I can know for sure if an audio interface upgrade is worth it or not, is to spend some nutrition money, and find out.  The ARC system doesn't seem as costly as a RME upgrade, so that's probably first.

    Dang these forums.




    ARC is going to make by far and away the most difference. I can barely stand to listen to anything now unless it's through ARC, including videos. 

    James
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    bitflipper
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 15:11:05 (permalink)
    I wouldn't expect the interface to make any difference in terms of room compensation. Changing the microphone positions an inch or two from the previous measurement will have a far greater impact.


    All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

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    #8
    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 18:39:09 (permalink)
    I guess in retrospect it was a stupid question, since it was the interface I changed, not the room or the monitors! My brain is running on fumes....

    James
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    mixmkr
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 18:43:42 (permalink)
    But isn't the interface in the signal chain?...both in and out.  However, I wouldn't think it'd make that much difference...no more than your RME upgrade  :-D

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    #10
    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/26 23:29:12 (permalink)
    Hmm now I'm confused. For some reason this is one of those (many) things I just can't seem to wrap my head around. 

    James
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    wizard71
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/27 18:45:28 (permalink)
    You've got nothing to lose from doing them again even if it's just for peace of mind.

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    Leadfoot
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/27 19:25:59 (permalink)
    If it was me, I wouldn't be able to stop wondering about it until I redid the measurements. I can't stand having "what ifs" hanging around in the back of my head.
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    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/27 21:23:26 (permalink)
    Yeah I know it's fairly easy to do again, but on the other hand I've been so pleased with the results of the first measurements I took that I almost don't want to jinx it. I realize that may sound dumb...
     
    Anyway I've asked the question on the IK forum, and if I don't get a satisfactory answer there I'm going to ask IK support. Let's have some more input on this....

    James
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    mixmkr
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/27 21:45:57 (permalink)
    sharke
    Yeah I know it's fairly easy to do again, but on the other hand I've been so pleased with the results of the first measurements I took that I almost don't want to jinx it. I realize that may sound dumb...
     


    that sounds dumb !!  :-D
    So...you blew the weekend and didn't do it, eh?  Shame, shame, shame....  You better have recorded some new stuff then....

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    #15
    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/27 22:41:41 (permalink)
    mixmkr
    sharke
    Yeah I know it's fairly easy to do again, but on the other hand I've been so pleased with the results of the first measurements I took that I almost don't want to jinx it. I realize that may sound dumb...
     


    that sounds dumb !!  :-D
    So...you blew the weekend and didn't do it, eh?  Shame, shame, shame....  You better have recorded some new stuff then....




    Actually I'm still trying to get to grips with the Babyface...I haven't even worked out how to record into Sonar with it yet, it's a trifle more complicated than my previous box 

    James
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    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/28 01:32:04 (permalink)
    Well I got a reply from Obi on the IK forum: 
     
    "As long as both were of the same quality (USB/Firewire connection vs built in sound card) it shouldn't be an issue."
     
    That's good enough for me 

    James
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    DeeringAmps
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/28 08:16:45 (permalink)
    I guess you are referring to "total mix"? It is a bit intimidating at first. But it's very flexable. Just work with it a bit.
    T

    Tom Deering
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    #18
    bluzdog
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/28 08:22:32 (permalink)
    I would re-do the measurements and compare the old settings with the new ones.
     
    Rocky
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    batsbrew
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/28 11:08:53 (permalink)
    i know that all the different interfaces i currently have, or have previously used, have a different sonic fingerprint...
     
    my guess is, that there are minor differences in the way that mic is translated thru each interface.
     
    it'd be a cool experiment to just SEE
    if any changes are made......
     

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    gustabo
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/28 14:07:50 (permalink)
    Re-do your measurements, save it under a different name so you can use your old settings if you prefer.
    Not a big deal...


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    #21
    Danny Danzi
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/30 17:26:10 (permalink)
    sharke
    I decided to forgo basic nutrition for a few weeks and upgraded to an RME Babyface. Very impressed with the sound so far. In fact I wasn't expecting it to sound that much different to my old Fast Track....lol.....it sure does though.
     
    First thing on my mind - does this mean my original ARC2 measurements will be slightly off because of the difference in sound? Is it worth redoing them? Luckily I was too lazy to remove the little pieces of tape I stuck on the floor to mark out the positions...so it's not that much of a big deal if I have to 




    Sharke, that shouldn't make a difference at all. If you DO try it and hear a difference, your mic positions were slightly different from the first time you did the corrections. The only times you need to re-correct:
     
    1. New monitors
    2. New positioning/moved old monitors
    3. Added a sub
    4. Updated ARC software where IK tells you that a new correction will be needed (this only happened once to me)
     
    New interfaces shouldn't make a difference really but if you have the time and don't mind doing the correction again, (I hate doing them with a passion) give it a shot and see if a difference exists as well as how much of a difference there may be. I don't think you'll notice anything though other than if you:
     
    a) pay more attention to detail this time around doing the correction positions....or less detail
    b) more detail to mic placement/set-up or less detail
     
    What I mean by that is....quite a few guys on the forum have done what I like to call "the ARC quickie correction". It doesn't yield great results. They contact me and I send them my detailed correction method and it totally changes their game.
     
    They may have done the correction the first time by eye instead of using a tape measurer. They may have forgotten to turn off input monitoring in their interface. They may not have paid attention to the "at your nose and ears" placement of the mic. They may not have gotten enough signal at the "OK" screen.
     
    Changing these things can make a huge difference. For some, the differences for the better are unreal. For others, the difference sometimes end up worse than the "quickie" corrections. It depends on the situation and the monitors really. At least that's been my experience. Good luck man. :)
     
    -Danny

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    #22
    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/31 22:48:51 (permalink)
    Thanks for the advice Danny. So you reckon precise tape measurements is the way to go? I did put some time into taping the positions on my floor (they're still there now, lol) but I can't remember how precise I was with it. I may well have used a tape measure for the horizontal distances from center position, and used the floorboards as a guide for the vertical positions. I think I may well give it another go at the weekend to see if my correction curve is similar to the first attempt. All I do know, however, is that at present it cleared all of the mud and boom out of my bottom end and made the top end come alive. 

    James
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    Danny Danzi
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/07/31 23:53:22 (permalink)
    Definitely, Sharke. The more precise, the more ARC makes a difference for the better in my particular experience. Everything has to be symmetrical as well as set up just right. As soon as you don't do something just as it should be, you notice it leaps and bounds when you do a new correction that has a more disciplined approach. The more I did quickies and didn't pay attention to detail, the more I noticed things sounding more flat and natural when I DID pay attention to detail with a new correction.
     
    ARC removed a ton of congestion for me on my NS-10's and made them useable for me. It also removed the low end that was driving me crazy in my Adam's that sounded great yet was too dominant during mixing/listening. It did the exact same thing to my KRK's. This low end issue was forcing me to mix bass light. 
     
    I'll pm you my ARC guidelines that have always worked for me. They are probably nothing that you haven't already done, but if by chance you may have missed something, I probably bring it to your attention in this. :)
     
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    #24
    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/08/01 00:01:03 (permalink)
    Thanks Danny, they were in fact very helpful indeed. 

    James
    Windows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
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    Danny Danzi
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/08/01 00:44:54 (permalink)
    You're quite welcome. :)

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    gustabo
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/08/01 06:40:00 (permalink)
    Instead of precise tape measurements on the floor, I took an old bed sheet, precisely marked it and lay that on the floor whenever I redo my measurements.
    That way, it's consistent and faster for me...


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    #27
    sharke
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    Re: New interface - should I redo my ARC2 measurements? 2014/08/01 23:50:36 (permalink)
    gustabo
    Instead of precise tape measurements on the floor, I took an old bed sheet, precisely marked it and lay that on the floor whenever I redo my measurements.
    That way, it's consistent and faster for me...




    That's not a bad idea. I don't have an old bed sheet but I guess I could mark it out on some construction paper and keep it rolled up in a tube for future use. 

    James
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