Looking for an equalizer

Sargentwhitey · Mar 20, 2005, 02:32 AM

So, many times I've looked around the internet for a program that'll run in the background and equalize all sounds sent through my computer and have had absolutely no luck. During games and such (especially UT2004) I'd like the music I'm listening to to sound better than just using a "flat" sound. Also, I will soon be using a turntable to play my some of my older albums through my computer and would like those to be equalized as well. Anyone know of any programs?
EDIT!: I currently am using an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 in case that helps

thomasabarnes · Mar 20, 2005, 03:33 AM

Windows media player, for EQing music files it can play, but I dont think u want that. You will have to use a music production program to do what you want with your albums.

I would have thought your sound card would have an EQ u can use for EQing general sounds.

If u had a kX compatible Creative sound card, u could use the kX driver to do all that u say u want to do. Sorry I couldnt be more helpful.

Zelig · Mar 20, 2005, 03:44 AM

A quick search on Google didn't turn up anything that looked particularly good.

If you're serious about getting a good sound, you may want to look into a hardware based equalizer such as the Behringer DEQ2496. I've heard good things about that one in particular, but it's pretty pricey to go with a computer based system... more than I'd pay, though I usually leave everything flat.

edit: You could try this.

Sargentwhitey · Mar 20, 2005, 04:07 AM

Doesn't seem to change anything when playing some non-equalized audio through iTunes... so.. nothing yet

Thanks for you guys help so far

Hopefully someone else can find something.

**dj_stick** · Mar 20, 2005, 08:41 AM

your soundcard software should have a built in EQ tool, search its control applications…

Sargentwhitey · Mar 20, 2005, 06:56 PM

Already searched and got nothing.

**dj_stick** · Mar 21, 2005, 01:27 AM

hve you check the manufacturer's website about optional software or newer drivers?

Sargentwhitey · Mar 21, 2005, 01:33 AM

I have the newest drivers available... which are quite old IMO but.. I also checked their website for optional software and come up with nothing...

Isn't looking too good

**dj_stick** · Mar 21, 2005, 01:43 AM

someone in the kX forum mentioned a program called plogue bidule, which is apparently similiar to the kX DSP, and you can add effects to the sound streams

i wonder if this may work for you. Check google for a link, if you try it - please report your results - it would be interesting to find out the capabilities of this program

Sargentwhitey · Mar 21, 2005, 02:00 AM

Hmmm, I found and downloaded it.. its very.. complex and powerful that's for sure. I'll need some time to tool around with it to see just how far it can go.

**dj_stick** · Mar 21, 2005, 02:31 AM

hopefully you can get it functioning as you need it
it's a software solution, so it will have a CPU overhead, but i'm not sure how much - you'll have to monitor it

Sargentwhitey · Mar 21, 2005, 05:02 AM

Well, after working with this Bidule for some time I figured out I can't get it to do what I wish, but.. it does seem to be able to do just about everything else you'd need for mixing a song (ie. for a home band, electronic artist).

**dj_stick** · Mar 21, 2005, 05:57 AM

PM forum member BiCho about this i think he is a bidule user, and may be able to help

Eck · Mar 30, 2005, 05:02 AM

I hope you're still checking the thread! I just was browsing through and saw your request.

What you want can be accomplished through QSound Lab's QMaxII software. It will allow you to process any audio on your system and is completely user controllable. (You can turn it on and off for times you don't want the processing.)

It offers most of the features of the kind included on QSound enabled soundcards like the Phillips, Prodigy, etc. You don't get EAX though. Your Revo already has that for you to turn on when you want it though. Q-Rumble and Q-Sizzle is awesome, and you also get an EQ.

Now, I've had trouble with it when any other processing is enabled. For example, don't turn on Sensaura on your Revo while QMaxII is running and don't enable the SRS stuff either. Also, if using WMP, disable the WMP's EQ and any other of its processes, like WOW effects, etc. If you don't do that, QMaxII will actually break WMP and you'll need to reinstall it!!! Enabling other stuff will also sometimes break QMaxII so you would need to uninstall and reinstall it. I mean, if you turn other EQ type stuff while QMaxII is on. To turn QMaxII off completely you must first click the Power Off button in its GUI, then exit out of the systray icon. Then you may safely use other EQ's.

With the Creative cards, I've never seen the need for it. However I wasn't satisfied with my Revo's options and found the QMaxII perfect for it. I usually wouldn't have it run at Windows startup, but would turn it on from the start menu when I wanted to listen to music. Really, PowerDVD, games, or Windows sounds have no need for QMaxII. I just turned it on for music.

It's great with 2 speaker or headphones as it has Q-Expander to widen the sound stage.

You've got to buy it, but I think it's worth it.

Mar 20, 2005, 02:32 AM	#1
Sargentwhitey Has a JOB.. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,473 Rep Power: 0	Looking for an equalizer So, many times I've looked around the internet for a program that'll run in the background and equalize all sounds sent through my computer and have had absolutely no luck. During games and such (especially UT2004) I'd like the music I'm listening to to sound better than just using a "flat" sound. Also, I will soon be using a turntable to play my some of my older albums through my computer and would like those to be equalized as well. Anyone know of any programs? EDIT!: I currently am using an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 in case that helps __________________ Mobile:Intel Celeron M 1.5GHz, 40GB WD, 1GB PC24000, Intel Mediocre Graphics 2, SB Audigy 2 Notebook Last edited by Sargentwhitey; Mar 20, 2005 at 02:37 AM.

Mar 20, 2005, 03:33 AM	#2
thomasabarnes Long Time ***** Friend Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,375 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Windows media player, for EQing music files it can play, but I dont think u want that. You will have to use a music production program to do what you want with your albums. I would have thought your sound card would have an EQ u can use for EQing general sounds. If u had a kX compatible Creative sound card, u could use the kX driver to do all that u say u want to do. Sorry I couldnt be more helpful. __________________ May a song always touch you in a positive way. SONAR X1D Expanded, Windows 7 Pro 64Bit, MOTU UltraLite MK3, 150 GB HDD, 250 GB HDD, 1 TB x2 HDD 7200 rpm My Music Production: Top 40, Contemporary Christian, Pop/Rock, Decent Rap, Inspirationals, and Children Songs Last edited by thomasabarnes; Mar 20, 2005 at 03:41 AM.

Mar 20, 2005, 03:44 AM	#3
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	A quick search on Google didn't turn up anything that looked particularly good. If you're serious about getting a good sound, you may want to look into a hardware based equalizer such as the Behringer DEQ2496. I've heard good things about that one in particular, but it's pretty pricey to go with a computer based system... more than I'd pay, though I usually leave everything flat. edit: You could try this. __________________ --

Mar 20, 2005, 04:07 AM	Thread Starter #4
Sargentwhitey Has a JOB.. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,473 Rep Power: 0	Doesn't seem to change anything when playing some non-equalized audio through iTunes... so.. nothing yet Thanks for you guys help so far Hopefully someone else can find something. __________________ Mobile:Intel Celeron M 1.5GHz, 40GB WD, 1GB PC24000, Intel Mediocre Graphics 2, SB Audigy 2 Notebook

Mar 20, 2005, 06:56 PM	Thread Starter #6
Sargentwhitey Has a JOB.. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,473 Rep Power: 0	Already searched and got nothing. __________________ Mobile:Intel Celeron M 1.5GHz, 40GB WD, 1GB PC24000, Intel Mediocre Graphics 2, SB Audigy 2 Notebook

Mar 21, 2005, 01:33 AM	Thread Starter #8
Sargentwhitey Has a JOB.. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,473 Rep Power: 0	I have the newest drivers available... which are quite old IMO but.. I also checked their website for optional software and come up with nothing... Isn't looking too good __________________ Mobile:Intel Celeron M 1.5GHz, 40GB WD, 1GB PC24000, Intel Mediocre Graphics 2, SB Audigy 2 Notebook

Mar 21, 2005, 02:00 AM	Thread Starter #10
Sargentwhitey Has a JOB.. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,473 Rep Power: 0	Hmmm, I found and downloaded it.. its very.. complex and powerful that's for sure. I'll need some time to tool around with it to see just how far it can go. __________________ Mobile:Intel Celeron M 1.5GHz, 40GB WD, 1GB PC24000, Intel Mediocre Graphics 2, SB Audigy 2 Notebook

Mar 21, 2005, 05:02 AM	Thread Starter #12
Sargentwhitey Has a JOB.. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 1,473 Rep Power: 0	Well, after working with this Bidule for some time I figured out I can't get it to do what I wish, but.. it does seem to be able to do just about everything else you'd need for mixing a song (ie. for a home band, electronic artist). __________________ Mobile:Intel Celeron M 1.5GHz, 40GB WD, 1GB PC24000, Intel Mediocre Graphics 2, SB Audigy 2 Notebook

Mar 30, 2005, 05:02 AM	#14
Eck DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 154 Rep Power: 0	I hope you're still checking the thread! I just was browsing through and saw your request. What you want can be accomplished through QSound Lab's QMaxII software. It will allow you to process any audio on your system and is completely user controllable. (You can turn it on and off for times you don't want the processing.) It offers most of the features of the kind included on QSound enabled soundcards like the Phillips, Prodigy, etc. You don't get EAX though. Your Revo already has that for you to turn on when you want it though. Q-Rumble and Q-Sizzle is awesome, and you also get an EQ. Now, I've had trouble with it when any other processing is enabled. For example, don't turn on Sensaura on your Revo while QMaxII is running and don't enable the SRS stuff either. Also, if using WMP, disable the WMP's EQ and any other of its processes, like WOW effects, etc. If you don't do that, QMaxII will actually break WMP and you'll need to reinstall it!!! Enabling other stuff will also sometimes break QMaxII so you would need to uninstall and reinstall it. I mean, if you turn other EQ type stuff while QMaxII is on. To turn QMaxII off completely you must first click the Power Off button in its GUI, then exit out of the systray icon. Then you may safely use other EQ's. With the Creative cards, I've never seen the need for it. However I wasn't satisfied with my Revo's options and found the QMaxII perfect for it. I usually wouldn't have it run at Windows startup, but would turn it on from the start menu when I wanted to listen to music. Really, PowerDVD, games, or Windows sounds have no need for QMaxII. I just turned it on for music. It's great with 2 speaker or headphones as it has Q-Expander to widen the sound stage. You've got to buy it, but I think it's worth it. __________________ Epox 8KRAIPRO/Asus A7V880 Crucial 3200DDR 512x2 Sempron 3300+/AthlonXP3200 Gigabyte NVidia 6600GT/ATI Radeon x850PRO 250GB Maxtor Sata/250GB Maxtor ATA Audigy 2 ZS Platinum/Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro