TC Electronic Clarity M Stereo
is a
professional
stereo audio
meter with 7"
high-resolution
display and USB
connectivity
for
seamless
integration into your
DAW. Despite its compact dimensions, the Clarity M Stereo provides all the information you need to correctly analyze and estimate the incoming audio signal. Also on board is the legendary
LM6 Loudness
Radar
Meter,
a True
Peak
Meter
, Downmix
Compliance, Stereo Correlation
and a Real
Time Analyzer - everything you need for modern audio production. The
Stereo Audio Meter
is also compliant with all major broadcast standards such as
ITU BS.1770-4, ATSC A/85, EBU R128, TR-B32
and
OP-59
and uses the
USB
connection for
simple VST, audio units and AAX plug-in metering.
TC Electronic Clarity M Stereo Overview
professional stereo audio meter for mixing, mastering and post production
ultimate metering toolbox to diagnose phase, balance, frequency distribution loudness, channel weighting, clipping and mono compatibility
high-resolution 7" LCD display for precise metering in all studio environments
USB connection for easy VST, Audio Unit and AAX plugin metering
Stereo 96kHz AES3 digital audio @ 75Ohm BNC connectors for broadcast suitable metring
Vectorscope for detailed left-right analysis
Real Time Anazlyer with 1/3 Oct Resolution
precise correlation display
True Peak display identifies clipping in DACs, CODECs and Downstram filters
LM6 loudness Radar
detailed statistics overview for all measured loudness parameters
This stereo version is great value and works flawlessly. Quite heavy and very well built so it won't be easily pulled from your desktop or monitor bridge. One of those didn't-know-i-needed-it-til-i-got-it products. Wonderful to have an always-on real time display.
Couple of niggles. The quick-start manuals includes diagrams of the hook-up options. Despite there being plenty of white space the annotations are in ridiculously small type (4-5pt?). Really stupid when you're trying to determine the best way to connect. Secondly, the device lacks a straightforward coaxial SPDIF input meaning I had to connect > monitor controller SPDIF out > SPDIF to word clock adaptor > to Word clock lead > to Dsub 15 breakout cable > to Clarity M! Works though, just inelegant.
This is a very helpful tool to have to hand when needing to reference measurements such as loudness in LUFS, RMS, True Peaks etc. Also has (as it says in the description) vectorscopes and stereo balance meters so you can easily see if your L-R is getting out of phase anywhere, and the general spread of EQ across bands. Sure plugins can do this for less money, but sometimes having something that can be just sat next to your main display, always visible, is super helpful in this sort of application.
I compared it with iZotope's Ozone meter and it seems to match exactly within 0.1db or LUFS, so seems to be accurate.
My only irk is that is only accepts an AES/SPIDIF digital input, not a tos ADAT.
All in all, for the price, a really great little piece of kit! Will probably help your mixes or masters far more than that particular outboard compressor that you might use for 1% of your work ;)
Positives: Solid build aluminium body with functional and professional feel. Connection for all systems. Visually bright and clear metering that’s customisable. Vst works without a hitch.
Cons: USB lead is short. Information on set up options is limp.
Overall: Love it, it’s exactly what I need to catch my eye when working and as a solid point of reference when mixing, mastering and referencing. Now I have one, it seems essential.