Right or wrong, I don’t ramp my songs up to 0 or in other words no headroom. I was taught that it is the same idea as giving a final mix to a mastering engineer; they need a bit of room to work. While it would be nice if streaming services didn’t mangle our submission, we know they are going to.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Here is something else you might want to consider? I calibrated my monitor speakers using this guide from Presonus and has worked well for me. Since you already have Studio One Pro you have the tone gererator built into it. The only other thing you need to do is download a dB meter app to your phone and follow the guide. How Do I Calibrate My Studio Monitors?
BIAB 2026 Ultrapack- Studio One Pro 7 Windows 11, Mac Mini M4 with Logic Pro 11, Melodyne Studio, Luna Pro
You also have tons of experience. Would you agree with the other basic statement I made: "In the end, I think Mario has it right: send your audio in the best quality they accept..."?
Yes, absolutely.
For ideal results, the goal should to learn what that "best quality" is for one's most used platform. That said, AppleMusic standards are not going to cause problems with most services and platforms. Those of us who master for clients need to know their exact needs and have the tools & experience to use them. I posted a couple of mine.
In the extreme example I cited, I drove the couple hours to the K-Love broadcast HQ to get an exact rundown of their technical specs. Having had a Class 1 FCC license in my background when I managed a 10W FM station didn't hurt (yeah, I speak broadcast-geek). That's a market of 520 stations and translators—artists who get regular play reach an estimated 20–30M listeners not counting internet.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
The only other thing you need to do is download a dB meter app to your phone and follow the guide.
Outside of monitoring SPL at live events, I don't see the use.
It does not replace calibrating studio monitors to one's listening position with a dedicated measurement microphone and apps for applying and storing the settings. At $299, ARC Studio isn't bad but, with only 9 bands of adjustment, isn't great either. Here's a rundown of Room/Monitor Calibration Apps & Hardware ranging from $299—$12,000.
The nice thing about a box is that is stores the settings in your monitoring chain. 'Apps-only' such as the ARC 4 App require the settings to be inserted when you monitor and bypassed when you export the audio or bounce to disk. There is a workaround for Mac using an Aggregate Device to host the app but Windows does not have this functionality—again, the box makes it a non-issue.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Good for you, I guess, but the industry does not use this except when mastering to CD where -0.1 dB is the goal. As Matt already posted:
Quote
Right or wrong, I don’t ramp my songs up to 0 or in other words no headroom. I was taught that it is the same idea as giving a final mix to a mastering engineer; they need a bit of room to work
Although there is no hard industry standard, no one I know wants to see tracks submitted that exceed -3 dB, I include myself.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
Here is something else you might want to consider? I calibrated my monitor speakers using this guide from Presonus and has worked well for me. Since you already have Studio One Pro you have the tone gererator built into it. The only other thing you need to do is download a dB meter app to your phone and follow the guide. How Do I Calibrate My Studio Monitors?
Another useful post, thanks for sharing. Here is how I'm understanding the factors at play; there are many.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
I agree with the ARC. I have the version 3 with the calibration mic. I also use Sonarworks reference that is calibrated for my AKG K240 headphones which pretty much gives me a good Idea of what my actual mix sounds like without the room.
BIAB 2026 Ultrapack- Studio One Pro 7 Windows 11, Mac Mini M4 with Logic Pro 11, Melodyne Studio, Luna Pro
I agree with the ARC. I have the version 3 with the calibration mic. I also use Sonarworks reference that is calibrated for my AKG K240 headphones which pretty much gives me a good Idea of what my actual mix sounds like without the room.
The ARC 3 upgrade to 4 can’t have been handled worse. Though I purchased 3 + mic directly and emailed the receipt to Customer Support, they wouldn’t let me just purchase the ARC box (comes with 4). Finally, they had a sale and I had enough Jam Points to get the box with another mic at lower cost. I should sell that extra Measurement Mic on Reverb.
As for the differences between ARC 3 and 4, I wouldn’t spend $99 just for that. IKM has so many bundles etc. that 4 is likely to be included in the next thing you buy anyway.
I went for the Slate VSX system a couple years ago. It’s pretty good but I can’t say that I prefer it to calibrated monitor speakers. Nice to get a different perspective now and then.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
That's exactly how I have acquired a lot IKM products is with them bundle sales and have received many great deals over the years. Thanks for the heads up.
BIAB 2026 Ultrapack- Studio One Pro 7 Windows 11, Mac Mini M4 with Logic Pro 11, Melodyne Studio, Luna Pro
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This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
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