Peak filter quality weirdness

[Frank Jackson]

If I take this -

Device: all
Channel: all
Preamp: -7.4 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 173 Hz Gain -2.7 dB Q 2
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 310 Hz Gain 5 dB Q 1.4
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2000 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 2
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 2850 Hz Gain 2.5 dB Q 4.5
Filter 5: ON HSC Fc 3000 Hz Gain 7 dB Q 0.7
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3450 Hz Gain -3.5 dB Q 5.5
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 4300 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 5
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 6660 Hz Gain 1.7 dB Q 7
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 8000 Hz Gain -1.7 dB Q 4
Filter 10: ON HSC Fc 10000 Hz Gain -3 dB Q 0.7

• EQ and change the Q of the first band from 2 to 2.001, the sound of the treble changes noticeably. The difference should be imperceptible, and certainly shouldn't affect the high end at all. You can get the same effect by increasing the Q on any of the peak bands by 0.001. Is the math involved somehow affected by the number of decimal places used?

[Peter Verbeek]

After testing your commands on my laptop I don't seem to have the effect you're experiencing when I do a q change from 2 to 2.001 (or any decimal change). The only issue I know about is the problem with a comma being the decimal separator when exporting from REW. Which version of Equalizer APO are you using? I'm on 1.2.1.

[DanielT]

Hi Peter, after running your program which really works by the way, as I wanted to boost my speakers volume, the sounds seems to become very flat. I think its probably due to the equalizer which is all set to all flat by default, and I don't know how best to tune them. Is there like recommended settings where I can import from? If I want to uninstall the program as I don't know how to meddle with the equalizer, do I just go to control panel and uninstall or does it already changed some files, that I need to revert such as by going to the configurator and I uncheck all the output device first before uninstalling?

Would be a shame thou, as I been searching high and low for such a program only to delete it as i dunno how to configure it. Any chance it can configure for night mode?

"Night mode reduces the decibels of large sounds, such as explosions and gunfire, meaning that quieter noises such as footsteps are technically 'amplified' since the louder sound is quieter (so the quieter sound will sound louder). When used in conjunction with stereo sound, this makes footsteps alot easier to hear, especially when in the heat of battle." https://www.reddit.com/r/SiegeAcademy/comments/bz1l3h/psa_use_night_mode_for_audio_dynamic_range/

[Peter Verbeek]

At installation Peace overwrites the config.txt file of Equalizer APO by inserting this include file command:

Include: peace.txt

This is needed so Peace can do its magic. It means that your config in config.txt is overwritten at Peace installation (so once). Then by using the Configuration Editor you could add new commands. This way you have the Peace interface with all its power and also the Configuration Editor for some additional audio changing commands.

At uninstallation Peace will only delete the Peace include file command. That's all. Uninstall Peace by using the Control panel or by using the Peace setup tool (the uninstall tab). Peace doesn't do anything to devices as this is the task of the Configurator. In other words, it's only an interface.

If you boost your speakers by pre amplifying them or by an equalization above 0 dB (total sum of it) you might get clipping which distorts the sound. This clipping might be corrected by Windows and/or the audio driver perhaps causing this flat sound you experience. If the audio is in danger of clipping can be determined by monitoring the peak value meter on the Peace interface. If it fills up then the audio may distort or the above correction may be applied. To prevent clipping just dial back the pre amp slider or lower all equalization sliders (with the arrow down button).

As an equalization depends on the brand/type of speakers or your taste, a default equalization could be a nice starting point. Then by playing around with the sliders while listening to music you could improve the sound. All depends what you need/want. Are familiar with the concept of an equalizer?

Another possibility is to import a prefined eq specific for your speakers from AutoEQ page on GitHub. Usually this page has an Equalizer APO file for your speakers containing filter command (for equalizing the audio) which can be imported in Peace. This is done by copying the commands into Notepad (for instance), saving this file and using the Peace import button.

If you want a dark background you could use a theme. I usually use "ThemeDark2".

Let me know if you need more explanation of things.

[DanielT]

Hi Peter but I do not see this Peace thing that you described. And from the page, it seems really hard to go about doing so. So I might have to uninstall the app as between sounding soft vs sounding flat, I would go for sounding soft. I'll try configuring it myself before I uninstall, but don;t think I know how to. normally i just switch between presets - So merely uninstalling the program alone wouldn't revert the sound?

And from your tutorial, the config file refers to the settings I have configured and I need to export it

What is loudness correction? Is it where I can maintain the volume and achieve "night mode" seems like a great app, but too advance for beginners and the tutorial is quite brief

[Peter Verbeek]

Sorry, my bad. I thought you had installed the Peace equalizer interface. Now I get when you say how to start configuring your speakers. It's kind of difficult with the Configuration Editor of Equalizer APO. It lacks so many things. Peace is so much easier and complete. Just download and install it and you'll see. If you're familiar with a hardware equalizer you'll recognize the layout. And Peace is all about easy preset switching. This is very cumbersome in the Configuration Editor.

So forget what I said and install Peace first. Then we'll take it from there. Else it gets quite confusing. For instance when you say "And from your tutorial, the config file refers to the settings I have configured and I need to export it" I see you're confused about things which does happen to many. That's why I built Peace. Equalizer APO has become popular due to the Peace interface.

[DanielT]

Many thanks. Where can I download Peace? And do I need to set the config file back and uninstall APO before running Peace?

[Peter Verbeek]

I'm not going to add a link here. It's a bit rude. But just google "Peace equalizer apo" or click on the link on the main page of Equalizer APO (at the right). Peace is a project here on SourceForge (including program code, themes, eq files, etc.).

As Peace is an interface for Equalizer APO so you need it. So it's installing Equalizer APO then Peace (and start using it). If you haven't done anything major you want to keep you don't need to do anything. I suggest to start fresh.

Btw. As project manager of the Peace website I'll answer any question on its forum and you could create tickets (which are processed in contrast to the tickets on the Equalizer APO website). Tickets are for changes, new features and bugs.

[DanielT]

I see. I thought they are related app by the same person. Anyway back to the very 1st question many days back. If I were to uninstall, can I just do so or I cannot, as running it the first time as set a config file whatever that is and I have to set back as uninstalling alone will not revert it

[Peter Verbeek]

If you don't want to use Equalizer APO you can uninstall it. At the uninstallation Equalizer APO undoes all audio rerouting of the devices where Equalizer APO is installed upon. That should revert things back to before the installation. Sometimes it doesn't. Then the audio driver or drivers need to be installed again. Are you experiencing odd sounds or other issues as you're asking to uninstall Equalizer APO?

[DanielT]

yeah Skype keeps saying sound card is not working. I uninstalled and reinstalled and update the audio drivers but still the same. Going to try deleting APO to see if it helps. do I just go control panel and click uninstall or is there any specific uninstall program

[Peter Verbeek]

Uninstalling is done by the normal Windows app installation/uninstalling screen. I don't advise deleting Equalizer APO manually (by deleting folders and files).