• Hardware
  • Focusrite VRM box - impression after purchase
2013/03/01 01:42:40
lawajava
I like it!

After setting it up I listened to some regular songs from iTunes through the VRM box in different settings and speakers. The songs held up well and I could hear how the settings and speakers affected the songs, but the songs still held up fine.

Then I tried one of my songs which is still in early draft mode in Sonar. The tracks I have so far sound decent through the mix with my regular headphones. 

But this song when played through the VRM box clearly has major mixing issues.

In just a few tests on my Sonar song through the VRM I could immediately hear that I had a lot of fixin' to do to allow the song to hold up consistently across different speaker environments.

I'm very satisfied with this addition to my set up. Just passing this experience along to folks.
2013/03/12 11:20:59
Kevin Kascak
I've had a VRM box for a while and I really like it.  I use it more with my laptop and headphones. I try and get my mixes to sound even on three sets of the simulated monitorswith the VRM.  If my mix sounds good on multiple monitors, it usually needs only minor tweeking once I get back to the studio and listen on my main monitors.  The VRM is a great, inexpensive little device.  
 
The only real negative I have is that I wish it worked at 88.2 KHz and 96KHz sample rate also.
 
Kevin 
2013/03/13 14:07:18
bluzdog
+1, amazing little box.

Rocky
2013/03/13 20:35:39
ohgrant
 Thanks guys, I was able to resist temptation on this gizmo, but this thread made me weak and I have one on the way.
2013/03/13 22:18:49
Mosvalve
lawajava, I purchased it the other day and am waiting for delivery.  I hope it helps me as it has you. thanks for the review.
2013/03/15 09:44:17
NW Smith
Thanks for the info on the VRM. It's definitely on my "to buy" list.
2013/03/19 21:15:43
ohgrant
  Wow, thanks guys. I have ARC2 and have been using it for some time.....was still struggling to get the results I was looking for listening back on other systems. After 4 hours after I unpacked the VRM, I was able to very quickly find and fix the things that were still bothering me about 2 projects I've been working on for months. The results are the first 2 mixes on my page. 

 I'm not making any conclusions about ARC, perhaps my room sucks beyond any help ARC can give?  For me the VRM box gives me the results I was looking to get from ARC and I was able to establish an immediate work flow.

 I'm not going to bother with the SPDIF, I simply shut my interface off and plug the box in, it becomes the only ASIO device. Nothing to change in Sonar just mix...simples

Thanks guys, you've helped me to suck to a much lesser degree  :)
2013/03/20 01:48:28
lawajava
Glad some of you are discovering what I discovered - that it's helpful.
2013/03/20 07:01:26
fireberd
I've had one for quite a while.  I don't use it for mixes, or to be truthful much of anything other than to see what a mix will sound like on different speakers. 
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