I'm looking for an equalizer (or, at least, bass and treble controls)
for sound cards. My operating systems are WinXP and Win2K. I know EQs
exist in music playback programs like WinAmp and WMP, but I'm looking
for a system-level control (i.e. a control panel, or a system tray
app) that can control the audio, regardless of what application sends
it.

(The reason for this is I use some sound editing software which
doesn't have an EQ setting, and I have a big subwoofer that I'd like
to reduce the bass on. There's no hardware way of doing this, and the
speakers have no drivers.)

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Request for Question Clarification by endo-ga on 22 Nov 2003 18:28 PST

Hi,

Are you looking to control the playback level of treble and bass, so
that when you play back the audio it has less bass? Or are you
expecting the change to affect the way the audio is edited?

Thanks.
endo

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Clarification of Question by jhabley-ga on 22 Nov 2003 18:29 PST

Hi Endo. It's strictly in the playback. I'm not expecting any change
to the audio file -- just a way to turn down the subwoofer bass across
ALL applications that play through the sound card.

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Request for Question Clarification by endo-ga on 22 Nov 2003 18:58 PST

Hi jhabley,

Thank you for your question and your clarification.

I am posting this as a clarification, because the 'advanced controls'
button is grayed out on my second computer, so I suspect soundcard
drivers have something to do with it.

The setting you want is built into the operating system.

start->programs->accessories->entertainment->volume
control->options->check the box that says 'advanced controls'.
There is now an advanced button on the volume control application,
clicking on it will give you the settings you want.


Please let me know if this worked, if not (e.g. the advanced controls
option is grayed out) what is your soundcard make/model?

Thanks.
endo

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Clarification of Question by jhabley-ga on 22 Nov 2003 19:04 PST

Hi Endo -- I tried that as well and while it works on some computers,
it doesn't work on mine. My guess is it's specific to sound-card
drivers. I'm hoping there's a general app that can control the audio.

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Request for Question Clarification by endo-ga on 22 Nov 2003 19:21 PST

Hi,

What soundcard do you have?

The following program seems to do what you want, unfortunately it is
not free so I cannot test it and guarantee if it works.

Sound Equalizer : FASOFT ParEQ 1.3 by Flavio Antonioli
http://www.downloadsoftware.org/audio/utilities_plug_ins/fasoft_pareq.asp

However if the programs you use send sound through DirectSound then it
seems to work. Winamp can be set to use DirectSound in the
plugins->output settings, but for WMP I don't know. I think that
unless you find other drivers for your soundcard you will be stuck.

Thanks.
endo

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Clarification of Question by jhabley-ga on 22 Nov 2003 19:50 PST

Hi Endo - is this site working for you? I've been trying the last 15
min and it is hanging...

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Request for Question Clarification by endo-ga on 22 Nov 2003 19:56 PST

Yes that site works, I've just tried it again.
You might want to try the following:

http://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=2843-2&affiliate=12439

It's the download page for that software.

Thanks.
endo

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Clarification of Question by jhabley-ga on 23 Nov 2003 11:14 PST

Hi Endo - I've had a look at this and it appears to be a DirectX
plugin for software. This isn't what I'm looking for. I don't want to
edit or change the audio itself, I'm looking for, essentially, an EQ
to sit just before it gets to the speakers. Thus, *ALL* audio
regardless of source, is processed on the fly. As if I had actually
installed a small hardware EQ.

The "Advanced" option you mentioned does this, but only for certain
sound cards it seems, and not mine. :(

Sorry I had misunderstood the program description.
Again I doubt such a program exists, it would need to intercept all
calls to the soundcard and modify the characteristics of the sound as
it is passed along.

Maybe there are some third party drivers for your soundcard, which
have this functionality, which is why I ask for the make/model.

Failing that, I'd recommend you replace the soundcard and/or speakers,
whichever is cheaper.

A Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! Dolby Digital 5.1 is only $30 on
newegg.com and an Audigy is $42, depending on your current soundcard,
these are either better or much better. :)

Thanks.
endo

Good points. Perhaps different speakers is best. Incidentally, there
is a program which CAPTURES any audio going across the sound card
(it's called TotalRecorder by HighCriteria.com) -- I was hoping for
one that operates similarly, but changes the audio.

You're right about that one.
I've found this thread, which is almost the same problem as yours:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?showtopic=14495&

I've had a go at all the programs mentionned and they are poor at
best. Virtual audio cable seems to work, but it's very annoying trying
to get Virtual audio cable and an equalizer program running at the
same time. The cost of the registered versions is higher than a decent
set of speakers.
Sorry of not being able to provide you with more help.

Thanks.
endo