How do I link Equalizer APO and Voicemeeter to put an equalizer on a pair of...
A system-wide equalizer for Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 / 11
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I need to use the Scarlett 4i4's ASIO driver because I'm working in a DAW, but I want to apply a highly tweakable global equalizer on my headphones with Equalizer APO to make sure audio is portrayed more accurately while I'm producing using Ableton Live and a bunch of different VST plugins.
I was trying to figure it out last night and I got Voicemeter set up as a default routing all audio out to the Focusrite driver, but I couldn't get the Equalizer APO to work at all and I'm wondering if maybe I missed something. There's a few threads in here where people talk as if they got something like this set up easily but I can't seem to find a precise list of directions. Maybe I should try Voicemeeter Potato or Banana like most of them were using I guess. But I'm sure I have to be missing some setting or something.
Better to attach your config file(s).
Iẗ́s long time since I used this combination (EqualizerAPO+Banana) but, IIRC, you set Voicemeeter as system default playback device, set Voicemeeter use ASIO output, enable APOs for Voicemeeter device (EqualizerAPO Configurator), target your config to use Voicemeeter output devices (Device: command, you get the device names copied from Configurator).
I did this, but with Voicemeeter standard, and I still wasn't getting any control with E APO. But I did notice that if I didn't have E APO installed for the Focusrite USB device even though it's using ASIO drivers, this configuration would lead to horrible gibberish reaching my headphones. I tried having E APO alter the two Voicemeeter devices and even all devices it was installed on at the same time and I still got no effect. I messed with the preamp knob to confirm this. But maybe Banana is just better for this.
Is this the best way to EQ headphones used for both production and casual listening and gaming for cheap? Or is there a good alternative to Voicemeeter or both programs that can let me put in a custom EQ curve for devices using ASIO drivers?
Last edit: blueeighty2 2021-06-10
Banana do have parametric EQ but it depends on your EQ curve if it is enough for you and if it works as you wish in your setup(s).
With DAW I use ASIO with VST EQ in the end of the path (master section) and with EqualizerAPO I used same VST EQ (same preset) through system default (WASAPI Shared) for other listening. Note also that EqualizerAPO's Voicemeeter integration has been done through some kind of service module so it can be PITA when used with software like DAW as for an example.
Thanks for the info. Do you know any programs that will let me exploit an EQ VST like that system wide without ever unplugging my headphones from the Focusrite? Or is WASAPI Shared a way to do that? If so are there any similar alternatives? I'd rather have at least a couple options to try before making any more threads or continuing this one, if there are other options.
Last edit: blueeighty2 2021-06-11
Actually, EqualizerAPO has limited support for VST plug-ins and as it streams through WASAPI Shared it should work well side-by-side with ASIO using software but,... not simultaneously because of ASIO (as do WASAPI Exclusive Mode and WDM/KS) in most cases locks the device from other software (usually software like DAWs do have release ASIO driver option so you be able to use device when DAW is active but not needing audio device services).
During years I've used many minimal VST hosting software to achieve system wide effects but these needs virtual audio driver to work.
Can I get the Focusrite interface to use WASAPI then? Though when I'm doing tutorials or video guides I am working in a DAW and watching videos online at the same time.
Since Vista WASAPI Shared Mode is default audio driver mode for Windows so you don't need to switch it on from somewhere but just install drivers bundled with Focusrite which you already done if you have the ASIO for Focusrite working already.
To work with DAW and online Videos simultaneously you have to switch device driver in DAW options from ASIO to WASAPI (or Direct Sound or WDM) but this is not a good choice if you need low latency in your DAW work.