TC Electronic Clarity M Meter Firmware Issue

[Hugh Robjohns]

Both v2.0.3 and v2.1.2 are currently available on the TC Electronic website.

Loading firmware is as simple as dropping the required file into a dedicated folder when the meter is plugged into a computer (and set to look like a thumb drive).

Fortunately, the meter is quite happy to accept an earlier version of firmware than currently installed, if necessary, as well as a later version, and it only takes a few seconds and a reboot of the meter to complete.

[Bob Bickerton]

Thanks!

Bob

[Bob Bickerton]

Arrived and shipped with 2.0.3.

Very nice piece of kit.

Bob

[Hugh Robjohns]

I think 2.1.2 must be very recent.

Glad the system pleases, though.

[ConcertinaChap]

Thanks for the heads-up, Hugh. I'm a major fan of the thing too. To be quite honest, despite all the explanations I never really understood what loudness was all about until I watched that amazing radar display on different pieces of music. I've never used the plugin as I've attached it to an S/PDIF output on my Apollo which is set to mirror the analogue output which is in turn set to full volume (monitoring volume controlled through a Drawmer). That means I can use it to check anything that can be played on my computer which is massively useful.

CC

[The Elf]

I can honestly tell you that the plug-in is rock-solid. If you only ever need to run it from your DAW (as do I), then it really is a simple solution. I set it up years ago and I just forget it exists - the Clarity works with no fuss, even if I switch it on after loadsing Cubase; that's something I can't say for any other USB gear!

[Urthlupe]

I work with no fuss, even after being turned on once Cubase has loaded…..



Loopy xx

[Martin Walker]

I work with no fuss, even after being turned on once Cubase has loaded…..



Loopy xx

TMI

[stormymondays]

2.1.3 has been out for a few months, fortunately. I’m reviving this thread to ask how you guys use it. I think Hugh could write an article about how to use the vector scope

I find it invaluable for loudness metering, but the RTA is not much use, which it’s a shame. Maybe the display is too fast? I’ve tried using it to compare the tonal balances of mixes and I can’t really “see” anything of what I can hear.

[ConcertinaChap]

I haven't been looking, does 2.1.3 fix the issue Hugh had noted, do you know?

Like the Elf, mine mainly resides on the loudness page which I've tailored to my taste. A tutorial on the vector scope would be useful, I have to say.

Cheers,

CC

[Hugh Robjohns]

2.1.3 has been out for a few months

Ah, thanks for that -- I haven't looked for an update in a while. I'll check it out.

I’m reviving this thread to ask how you guys use it. I think Hugh could write an article about how to use the vector scope

The more you use the vectorscope, the more sense it makes! It's a case of learning to interpret and correlate what you see with what you hear.

As a general rule, you want a round ball of string with no (large) holes. That's 'perfect' stereo.

If it's a vertical sausage the source is narrow, tending towards mono. True mono is a vertical line.

If the ball is flattened, so it's wider than it is high, you have a significant 'out-of-phase' element and it will sound super-wide, but mono compatibility may be compromised.

If the image becomes diamond shaped with hard edges there is significant limiting going on.

If it leans towards one side you have a left/right imbalance.

And if you have big holes in the ball of string there are substantial time-of-arrival differences between the channels -- such as when using a spaced mic array -- which, again, may compromise mono compatibility.

... the RTA is not much use, which it’s a shame. Maybe the display is too fast? I’ve tried using it to compare the tonal balances of mixes and I can’t really “see” anything of what I can hear.

The RTA is quite a crude tool in comparison to the FFT displays which are increasingly available in DAWs and EQ plugins. It really comes into its own for system alignment with pink noise, and identifying howlround frequencies in PAs! But you're not going to see subtle tonal differences with it.

I presume the Clarity M doesn't have the processing power to provide a real-time high-res FFT display.

I'll check out the firmware and report back.

[stormymondays]

Very useful! I think this should at least make it into a Q&A feature in SOS...