USB, too

The ARC-8 contains a built-in, Windows- and Mac-compatible, USB sound card on channel 8B with USB connection to a PC. Most Windows-compatible audio software can play and record from the console. The Digilink-Xtreme software will recognize the ARC-8 console and operate in the free ARC mode to provide live on-air features ideal for broadcast, Internet or podcast-style radio applications.

One of the tasks I ran this board through was to produce a multitrack recording of a local band. Using the USB connection I ran the board through my laptop using Adobe Audition 3.0. The quality was perfect and the convenience of running the various instruments and microphones through the board made switching between tracks easy. At the beginning of the recording all levels were set, which made multi-track recording easy just by turning on or off each channel – thus turning a laptop into a portable recording studio.

This console packs a lot into a relatively small package, weighing in around 10 pounds. Its dimensions are 11.5" (depth), 2" (height) and 18" (width). This could easily fit into a small suitcase/road case.

No matter what use you have with an audio console, the ARC-8 could fill that need and not take up too much space, require an engineer to install every time you use it and be carried anywhere. All this is done without losing any audio quality.

Wilson is an announcer, producer, webmaster and promotions guy at WAKO-AM/FM, Lawrenceville, IL.

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