Equalizer APO and Peace are not working
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Hello,
I would like to use Equalizer APO with the Peace EQ to optimize the roomsound in my homestudio but unfortunately it doesn't work.
I've been trying to fix it for some time now, I've watched several videos and read many articels about this topic but nothing seems to work for me.
I'm using Windows 10 (64 bit version) and I can install Equalizer APO (also 64 bit version) and Peace and if I play audio the volume meter in Peace also moves but none of the controls do anything. I'm using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Audio interface for which I installed EAPO via the Configurator. I tried the troubleshooting option and tried SFX/EFX and also SFX/MFX for my Audio interface but that doesn't fix the problem. What's strange about that is if I try to select SFX/EFX for my playback device and capture device (both for Focusrite USB) and restart my PC it works for the playback device but for the capture device SFX/MFX is selected.
I also made exceptions for Equalizer APO and Peace in my firewall and windows security settings.
I can't enable audio enhancements for my device because I don't see the "enhancement" tab and I also can't change anything in my "advanced" tab.
Does anyone know how I could get Equalizer APO with the Peace EQ to run?
Thank you!
That's because SFX/EFX isn't part of the microphone part of the Focusrite Scarlett so the Configurator sets SFX/MFX.
Do you mean that you can manipulate the audio with Peace/Equalizer APO?
If the checkboxes aren't greyed out you might to uncheck both "Use original APO" checkboxes. If this doesn't work you might need to use the pre-stage mixing which is available on the Peace effects panel as 'Equalization stage' (bottom right switch). Before doing so select the microphone in the Peace devices list. This is good practice any if you want to EQ 1 device instead of all devices. By default Equalizer APO applied an EQ on all devices.
Also many apps access a mic in exclusive mode. This bypasses Equalizer APO. Exclusive mode is nice you want 1 app to record the audio instead of multiple ones but that's how most people are using their mic anyway. To disable this exclusive access mode going to the "Advanced" tab and uncheck all exclusive access checkboxes if any (see attached image, Dutch Windows).
Hi Peter,
thank you for your quick response!
No, I meant that it works to set SFX/EFX for the playback device.
Now it looks like this:
Playback device --> SFX/EFX
Capture device --> SFX/MFX
The checkboxes are greyed out so I can't do anything there but they are unchecked.
I unchecked the exclusive access checkboxes.
I also tried using pre-stage mixing in the effects panel but unfortunately Peace / EQ APO still doesn't manipulate the audio...
If the "Use original APO" checkboxes are greyed out then there aren't any sound enhancements that might interfere with Equalizer APO. That's alright then. And SFX/MFX for capture is alright to. However, laterly in some Windows updates on 10/11 Microsoft or Realtek has reverted to LFX/GFX (Windows Vista APO technique). It's messy to say the least.
Reading your post I'm wondering if Equalizer APO is working at all. Perhaps you should check if the audio on the normal (3.5 mm) outputs can be manipulated. Sometimes Equalizer APO doesn't get enough rights to do things. For instance, the audio engine (EqualizerAPO.dll) can't read the 'config.txt' file in 'c:\program files\equalizerapo\config'. This file should be readable. And Peace should be able to write to 'peace.txt' and initially to 'config.txt'. I've also seen ones or twice that Equalizer APO isn't installed in 'c:\program files\equalizerapo' at all or Peace isn't installed in 'c:\program files\equalizerapo\config'. Some antivirus or firewall app was sandboxing this.
I just tried using Realtek Audio and it works here! I installed the APO for Realtek Audio and I started Peace and I was able to manipulate the audio.
Any other thougths on what might fix the problem?
Thank you!
I can come up with only 1 thought. I know that on this forum some users have solved their issue with the Focusrite Scarlet. Perhaps you could search for those posts.
At least you know that Equalizer APO is working. There's a bypass by using VoiceMeeter. If you aren't familiar with it, it can be a bit daunting, I mean the app and its main usage. The idea is that VoiceMeeter is using the Focusrite Scarlet as normal (so without Equalizer APO installed on it) but you manipulate one of its virtual inputs (A1 to A5) with Equalizer APO through Peace. Choose one of these and set it in Peace by selecting it in the Peace devices list. In other words you route the chosen virtual device to the Focusrite Scarlet. Unfortunately I'm not good at this as I've never needed it in the first place.
Counting the presented thoughts, that's 2 isn't it :)
I just looked up some other posts in this forum for Focusrite interfaces and found the solution... I tried installing LFX/GFX again and it worked!
Thank you for your help and the effort you're putting into this! It's very much appreciated!
You're welcome.
Yes, amongst other Anubis Mann recently reported that LFX/GFX works for his Scarlet. But this may change as LFX/GFX is (ancient) Windows Vista. So if the Scarlet stops working due to a Windows update you might try SFX/EFX then SFX/MFX.