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Free universal equalizer for Windows?

post #1 of 11
3/8/13 at 7:15pm
Thread Starter 

I'd like to find one that is slightly easier to operate (one that you can flat out increase or reduce bass/treble, rather than tweak each individual frequency).

 

Of course, I will take what I can get.

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post #2 of 11
3/9/13 at 2:46pm

i dont know if it is soundcard specific or not.. but i've got bass and treble tones in the windows mixer (and i havent moved them to note if they work or not).

 

i figure doing a couple clicks might be worth it, and if it isnt there.. then it is because my soundcard has the bass and treble adjustments.

also, if it isnt there.. i dont think you will find anything popular that does what you want (not saying you wont find something that isnt popular, just that i havent seen it)

 

i know there was some talk about a universal equalizer over at hometheatershack.com in the room eq wizard portion of the forum.

i think i read something about it being a parametric equalizer rather than a graphic, but i didnt dive too deep into how it worked because i didnt care to use it.

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post #3 of 11
3/10/13 at 5:13pm
All the free realtek sound chips I used come with a 10-band EQ in the sound driver.
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post #4 of 11
3/10/13 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Bloggs View Post

All the free realtek sound chips I used come with a 10-band EQ in the sound driver.


Realtek sound chips only come with Realtek HD Audio Manager as far as I know, which doesn't allow individual EQ tweaking (there are presets, but they suck).  Where did you find an EQ?

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post #5 of 11
3/10/13 at 6:11pm
Look carefully in the tab for EQ presets... there's a button that changes the display from preset buttons to a ten band EQ
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post #6 of 11
3/10/13 at 8:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Bloggs View Post

Look carefully in the tab for EQ presets... there's a button that changes the display from preset buttons to a ten band EQ


 

 

That's what it looks like for me.  I don't see any buttons.

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post #7 of 11
3/11/13 at 1:22am
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/get-the-realtek-equalizer-back-in-windows-7-vista/

Hmm maybe you need newer drivers or older drivers?
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post #8 of 11
3/11/13 at 1:29am
http://www.bonjoy.com/wp-content/uploads/realtek-hd-audio-driver-free-windows-sound-effects-equalizer-4.png

With the right driver it should look like this. Note the button to the right of the reset button, it brings up a graphic EQ replacing the preset buttons.
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post #9 of 11
3/11/13 at 6:37am

Probably a driver issue, there should be a button to the right of the preset dropdown box to switch to manual custom tweaking. You can also access the EQ from the control panel from the output device properties and I found that place to be slightly more accurate (allowed finer steps of adjustment). But should be said, Realtek's EQ is quite horrible quality wise, you should stick to like steps -/+ 3 at most, anything more drastic and it starts to color the sound in an unwanted way.

 

At least that's my experience testing many different EQ's from parametric to 10-band EQs of various soundcards or VST software EQs, the quality does differ quite a bit. They may have the same task/goal but how well they execute that task seems to differ quite a bit. In best case scenario, the EQ should just be like a "loudness tweak" at x-frequency range but often there is sideeffects going on which shouldn't be happening.

 

The best 10-band EQ I've used for example would be the one in the kX Audio drivers for Audigy cards. It could even apply up to like 3-5 EQs in succession and you could boost the bass by say 30dB or whatever silly amount and it would still sound clean, it just made the frequencies louder (of course you have to watch the output volume doing so :P)


Edited by RPGWiZaRD - 3/11/13 at 6:46am
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post #10 of 11
3/11/13 at 2:58pm
In my opinion if OP wants proper control he should ditch the onboard audio for proper sound card.
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post #11 of 11
3/11/13 at 3:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anarion View Post

In my opinion if OP wants proper control he should ditch the onboard audio for proper sound card.


Actually, I use an HT Omega Claro Halo.  I am trying to figure out how to EQ with Realtek sound chips because I am trying to help someone else with their setup.

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