ARC 2 comes in two parts: the standalone measurement app that works with any Mac or PC's soundcard and the DAW plug-in that uses the data gleaned and stored from the measurement app as a preset. In my case, I run the correction plug-in in the Master Fader just like any other stereo plug-in inserted in Pro Tools HD 3 Accel 10.2. Do not mix through ARC--it is for monitoring not a stereo signal processor such as an EQ.

The beauty of this system's methodology is you can experiment and store measurement files ad infinitum--as many different speaker and sets of room acoustics as you want and load any of them in the correction plug-in in any DAW platform you happen use to create or mix music within. If you record and mix music using a laptop and connect to many different speaker systems in your travels, you could store separate correction curves for each studio you use--provided the monitor speakers have not changed significantly.

I used the measurement microphone that came with ARC 1 for this new version and was impressed by how much better sounding and enhanced ARC 2 works--ARC 2 is now a mature software system and way more than just a new GUI update or an OS/software/update!

ARC 2 works by measuring your room using the included measurement microphone and the standalone software to generate an opposite corrective filter curve. New is that it can be done with just seven measurements or up to 16 and this process takes about 1/3 the time of the original version and produces a much smoother result with better resolution (more measurements) in the low frequencies.

I like selecting one of the new Alt References presets that model the sound of consumer listening devices such as boom boxes, '80's and '90's stereo speakers, tinny computer speakers, LCD TVs, club PA systems, or car audio systems to hear your mixes as if played through those systems.

The four customized presets allow for adjusting and storing correction curves suited to your own mixing style and perhaps your clients' listening preferences. There are six different frequencies you can adjust up and down in each preset that are "on top of" your room correction curve--I'm all over this feature for co-workers who cannot get enough bass or love to listen super bright--or both at the same time! Since ARC 2 is correcting in the monitoring path and you're not mixing through it, I save lot of tutorial explanation when I should be mixing music.

Also new in ARC 2 is the virtual Monitor Control panel interface that has: a big main volume knob, an adjustable Dim switch, a Mute switch and a the ability to monitor between standard Stereo, Mono or Side (difference signal) for checking problems encountered in stereo mixing.