ARC: DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?

There has been some discussion lately of IK's ARC: is it "Magic", is it "Snake Oil", is it merely a "Placebo"?

Well I had some time yesterday and ran some tests.  You decide!

Quick rundown:

ARC 2, Adam A7 monitors and Adam Sub 7.
ARC mic at the "sweet spot", RME UFX pre, hitting Sonar Producer X3e at apprx -16db.
I can't remember where I got the "Pink Noise" file, it was trimmed to "hover" at -6db in Sonar; about 85db at the "Sweet Spot".
Har-Bal 3 used to "analyze" the wave forms.

Top line is the "Pink Noise" source file, the bottom line is the ARCless recording with the Sub ON.

ARCless comparison of Sub ON and Sub OFF recordings.

Here is the "pretty" picture ARC of what would have us believe it is doing with the Sub ON.

Here are the results of ARC "correcting" my room. Note that the "corrected" recording is the "lighter" colored line.
If you look carefully at the upper left hand corner of the images the "Source" files are listed the lower "Ref" file will always be lighter in color.

ARC's claimed correction with the Sub OFF, again quite a "pretty" picture!

The NO Sub waveforms.

Dave (bitflipper) had mentioned he would like to see a before/after waterfall plot. If someone can recommend some software I would be glad to do that.

Now lets talk about my control room. Its small; 12' 6" L x 7' 8" W x 7' 4" H. Vocal/Amp room 9' 10 L x 7' W x 7' 4" H. Its built in a 24' trailer.
Lots of 703 in the walls; inside out, room in a room design. See http://www.johnlsayers.com/Pages/Spark_1.htm for what inspired me to build this way.

I have a "major" issue at 500hz. If you look carefully it starts in the low 60's, then again at 125ish, 250+- then 1khz. Pretty minor at 2k, but there again at 4k.

I DO hear a more "controlled" bottom end when ARC is on, especially with the Sub ON. Maybe I'm hitting the Sub a little "hard". But it sounds "right" whit ARC ON.

I DID believe that ARC was doing some "fancy" phasing, not so much anymore.

Here are the 5 sec sweep 10Hz-20kHz Mike posted; Thanks Mike!

The "heavier" line is the ARC corrected recording, lighter line is the ARCless recording.