I just finished a new project and I did a preliminary mix on headphones yesterday.  So, this morning I went into the project to do a speaker mix using my new ARC 2.5 room correction tool and discovered something really weird.  When I turned the Correction On button, the mix sounded EXACTLY the way I wanted it!  I didn't do any tweaking at all from the headphone mix.  Then I turned the Correction off and the mix changed to a really boringly flat creature that had no redemption.  What's happening here?  I know I don't want to (or not supposed to) apply the ARC to the rendered mix, but I want the corrected mix (as per ARC) to carry over into the rendered mix.  Is this saying something about how my monitors are configured, or perhaps my playback device (Windows Media Player)?  Would appreciate any answers besides "You shouldn't have bought the evil ARC snake oil tool".  That won't help me.
 
Thanks!!
John B.

It could just be that the frequency response deficiencies in your headphones are similar to that in your monitors, either that or it's a difference in loudness.
 
If you look at the correction graph on ARC, you can work out what frequencies have been boosted by looking at the "before" graph. As these are now louder, it may just sound better because they're louder.
 
What I've done on my ARC setup, is go to the Monitor tab and tweak the output volume to match the bypassed volume level.
 
Now, when bypassing ARC, there's more of a change in "color" (for want of a better word) rather than the whole thing sounding better because it's louder.
 
 
 

Do NOT export the mix with the ARC correction applied!
IF you did your room measurements correctly, then ARC is doing its job and compensating for your room's
problems.
Again, DO NOT EXPORT WITH ARC APPLIED.
I'm surprised that you nailed the mix with your headphones, but good on ya...
 
T

msmcleod
 
 
What I've done on my ARC setup, is go to the Monitor tab and tweak the output volume to match the bypassed volume level.
 
 
 

Yeah.  I haven't done that yet.  That could also explain why my renderings lack the bass I add to them in the mix.  I have the low end in ARC boosted, but when I render it seems to lose the bass.  I was wondering how that works. Thanks!
 

Start with a monitor mix with correction mode on, first, get it where you have a nice balance when you turn ARC 2 off and on, play with the speaker emulations until you get a good average mix in all modes, then turn it off and check the mix on headphones last.  When you get a mix that sounds good in all (or most) of the various modes, you'll be there.  When I first got ARC 2, I was dubious that any mix could sound good in all modes until I played Steely Dan over the system.  Sure enough, their mix sound great in any mode I put it through, though there are big differences going from "flat" to "small TV".  I soon learned to compensate, and my mixes started sounding better.  It took me a while to learn the system, but now, I get to the finish line much faster, and it was worth the effort.
 
I also use Mixchecker for their emulations, too.  A good combination with ARC 2,

Lynn
  When I first got ARC 2, I was dubious that any mix could sound good in all modes until I played Steely Dan over the system.  Sure enough, their mix sound great in any mode I put it through, though there are big differences going from "flat" to "small TV".

I heard somewhere that "Deacon Blues" by Steely Dan is kind of a benchmark to calibrate and set up gear at least in some pro studios.
 

If I were mixing a metal song I would not use any SD song as a reference point.
 
Hence I would not use Black Sabbath to reference when mixing a jazz, folk or country piece either.

bapu
If I were mixing a metal song I would not use any SD song as a reference point.
 
Hence I would not use Black Sabbath to reference when mixing a jazz, folk or country piece either.

I would suggest for metal or hard rock to try U2 for a reference.

I don't do hard rock.  Steely Dan would be a better reference for me.