Initialize failed for device !
A system-wide equalizer for Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 / 11
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I'm trying to install it on my microphone, but it doesn't work. (an error occurs)
Have you tried to do this manually (according to the following steps)?
1. For the FDuce SL40 check the left checkbox.
2. Check the Troubleshooting options checkbox.
3. Uncheck Auto checkbox (so no automatic APO technique will be chosen and tested).
4. Select an Install as setting. Perhaps starting with SFX/MFX.
yes I tried it didn't work I also noticed that no one had ever had this error
I haven't seen this error either. It would be nice if the developer of Equalizer APO has something to say about it. You could try to stick the USB headphones in another USB port. That's creates a new audio device in the list of Windows and so in the Device Selector (after restarting it).
It seems that the problem is not in the microphone and where it is connected, I tried with another microphone, the same error
So it could a USB audio device driver issue or some overactive anti-malware app. Did you have a Windows update recently? Or have the "Get latest updates ...." switch enabled? Also, it seems 24 H2 of Windows 11 might have some issues.
I'm having the same issue with Windows 10 22H2 on my old PC tablet. I have Windows Defender disabled on it (I mainly use it to remote into other devices). I tried the troubleshooting, disabling auto and trying each option one at a time, no luck.
Downgrading from 1.4.1 to 1.4 fixed the issue. Though, for some reason the editor always says it hasn't enabled audio enhancements on the target device even though it's definitely working.
Last edit: Lorem Ipsum 2025-02-20
Thanks for sharing. Perhaps 1.4.1. has an issue as others have reported problems. Btw. I don't know what the developer did in 1.4.1.
It does happen that it works despite the Configuration Editor saying that audio enhancements aren't enabled. Being an Audio Processing Object (audio enhancement) Equalizer APO shouldn't work on that particular device but it does setting question marks at the detection by the editor.
Yes, I have Windows 24H2 with the latest updates, the driver for the microphone input device was updated in January
Last edit: Mirhodjaev Valery 2025-02-17
That driver could be the culprit. Are you able to install another one (an older or a substitute)?
I just downloaded the old version of the program and then the newest one and the problem went away)
That's just great. Good to know that you managed to get rid of the issue.
It's a shame that "CLAP" and "VST3" are not supported, it's also a pity that the program simply doesn't support 32-bit "VST" plugins (
I guess you could find a VST 2 host which supports VST 3 plugins and/or 32 bit plugins. But I'm not sure how it all works. It seems others have made this work with Equalizer APO.
Interesting thread! Glad to hear rolling back to an older version fixed the issue — sometimes those small version changes really do cause unexpected problems, especially after driver updates or big Windows releases like 24H2.
About VST3 and 32-bit plugins: yeah, it’s a bit limiting that Equalizer APO doesn’t support them directly. Some users have had luck using a VST host as a bridge, like Minihost Modular or Cantabile, to load VST3 or 32-bit plugins and then route them through APO. It’s not perfect, but could be worth experimenting with if you really need those plugins.
Would be curious to hear if anyone here has tried that setup successfully!