"You Take It All"
https://soundcloud.com/bats-brew/you-take-it-all-1
 
1st mix attempt using ARC2, this is a working mix, not a finished song yet.
 

spectrum analysis:


so, here's the thing:
my previous mixes, and (2) album releases, have a very similar end result, as compared to this song mix; i know what i want to get in the end, and i always find a way to get it.
 
but
 
whereas in the past, to get a song mix right, i've had to rely on multiple mix sessions, analysis between sessions, multiple system playback, walking the room during mix sessions, and all this other PALAVA......
on THIS session, it was simple: one hour of sitting in one spot, the mix was 'easy', and when i was done, and ran the spectrum analysis, the curve of my mix, almost matched the final 'mastered' versions of my previous album releases.
 
big wow from me.
 
i'm not saying this mix is done, or that i'm totally happy yet....
only that, the software did exactly what it said it would do. it fixed some very stange (and typical) anomalies in my room.

and i can make mix decisions faster, easier, and apparently can trust what i'm hearing more than what i had before.
 
 
 
would love some feedback on how it is translating.
i'm continuing to experiment to dial my room in, with treatments, placement and this new room correction software,
so this is definitely a work in progress.
 

Bat,
 
Cool song.    Sounds really good.   I am listening on some nice Altec computer speakers here at work.  Everything is clean and well balanced.  The bonus is that it is also a great song....
 
Appreciate your detail on Arc2 testing and results.  I know there have been some heated discussions on these forums about the use of ARC and whether it is real or snake oil.    I wouldn't call your review scientific proof that Arc is working as you expect, some might say you accidentally stumbled  into the same EQ curve you have previously created.   Personally, I use Arc and believe that it makes a huge difference in mix quality and saves a ton of time as you pointed out.   I used to do the car stereo, work, send to others, etc..   and spent a lot of time doing sanity checks on mixes.  Arc has greatly reduced this effort and for me, even if a placebo effect, makes it well worth the investment and time needed to take your room measurements.  
 
As always, you mix sounds great and glad to hear you are reducing your mix time based on the use of Arc.  Thanks for sharing your result.

Regards

a fantastic song. due to the fact that pretty much all of your stuff is great, I have no idea if ARC2 was a key factor. man, I LOVE your guitar work. the tone and the playing is outstanding!

MARKNO999
thanks for listening and commenting...

i'm hoping some of the better ears here, and guys with much nicer systems than i have, will be able to give me some pointers about what is 'pokey' or 'holey'
LOL
i guess i understand why people would bristle at ARC2.
i mean, i needed it a LONG time ago, and just held off.
honestly, i probably would not have bothered with it, except that the holiday deal price was just too good to ignore.
and i'm glad i got it.

there is no argument against room treatment.
in a pro studio, it is something that is just done, period.
plus, the mix room layout is typically governed by the need to utilize the space with mixing in mind.
for my little studio, a converted spare bedroom in a basement setup, i can do so much room treatment before the payback is a wash.
right now, my room is really dead sounding, which is great for close micing and capture...
but not so great for mixing.
plus, because i'm setup at a 45 degree angle out of a corner, with some weird traps going on, i have low end anomalies that i just cannot fix, and this software simply recognizes it, eq's for it, and places that EQ across the outputs to my monitors, to get me back to flat.
and it works.
it's not perfect, and the way it works is unique to EVERY SINGLE set of speakers, rooms, and for that matter, they way you test the room (it pays to be clinical and diligent).
and what you say about the eq curve, etc....
well, i knew i'd have to explain that a little more, and that's ok...
and maybe we're talking apples and apples..

but when i say 'EQ curves', and prior to installing the ARC2, i'm talking about trying to hit PRO release spectrum curves, that are proven good EQ curves, both by studying the sound of pro mixes thru my monitors, AND burning wav files and comparing mine to the pro releases..
what this does, is inform my mind, and my ear, of what i need to change during mixdown, to get to where my final wav file has similar EQ curves...
in other words, i had to teach myself how to eq thru my monitors, to approximate PROPER eq for a given song or track.....
there was no accident to my finding the 'same eq curve'..... it was strict diligence, scientific discovery, many many hours of experimenting, repeating, making myself get good at getting my rig, in my room, to translate.

i was successful.
and it took a long time.

and when i plugged in the ARC2, and did the mix very straightfoward and honestly, and no over eq'ing to compensate, just pure mixing.....
the damn mix just ended up looking exactly like what i was getting before, without going through all that other headache.
end of my story.
LOL
 
 
 

ARC is great.  That being said this song is freaking cool, and ARC didn't make that happen.  I use ARC as well, and somehow, my songs aren't this awesome.  Hmmmm.  Maybe I'm using it wrong...:)

The mix sounds really good Bat. Cool song, well written, great arrangement and well played. I really like the natural sound of all the real instruments. I have been going back and listening to some of the songs that I tracked 8-10 years ago, lately. Though the mixing on my old songs really sucked, I noticed how good the real amps sounded in these old songs.

Bat, 
 
It sounds great on my D5's and ATH M-50's.  Arc 2 in your hands is a great tool.  The mix is so well balanced.  I can't afford it now but maybe someday. Keep going.  I love your music.
 
Rimshot
 

im no use to you in relation to the arc verification since im on laptop speakers.
 
I just clicked cos I know Ill get a solid, well crafted, melodically pleasing acoustic/rock tune, and so it was!
 
Cian
 
 

I do like this song a lot and it sounds just awesome to my ears. No matter what you use for tools, your music always seem to come across as professionally mixed and mastered, and ARC2 seems to be working for you just great. Everything sounds right in place and has a great natural sound to it and very well balanced and equaled out. Very nicely done and congrats on the new software. Happy New Year!!
 
Peace and Blessings, John

Wow. Great work, no matter what tools you used.
Good song, very (VERY) well played and sung, cool arrangement, at times almost has a Supertramp feel only with a little harder edge.
If the goal of ARC is to get a "professional", "radio ready" mix then I'd say it was money well spent. And I mean that in the best possible way. I'm really impressed.
Again, great work, thanks very much for sharing it.