Recommendation to Enable audio enhancements Changes Frequency Response
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#172 Recommendation to Enable audio enhancements Changes Frequency Response
The current instructions note, that under Windows 10, one must set the device to use Install as SFX/EFX and also Enable audio enhancements. However, this second setting is not only unnecessary; it affects the frequency response, adding a bump at around 10 kHz, 5 kHz and somewhere below Schroeder. Furthermore, every time Equalizer APO starts after boot, it tries to turn on the Enable audio enhancements - despite the fact that I've turned it off.
I'd be happy to provide measurements, if proof of this is desired.
Thanks for sharing this. This may be important info.
Does this also happen when setting SFX/MFX? I guess it all depends how the manufacturer has made his audio device driver. It could be they did a better job with GFX/LFX (for Windows 7 and 8). Until now Windows does support GFX/LFX as legacy APO method but this may change of course.
I took some measurements - interesting results! I tested with both MFX and SFX: MFX without the enable audio enhancements (eae) renders equaliser apo unusable; however, SFX works both with and without eae. Post-mix is used in all cases. In addition to changing the frequency response, eae also feeds some of the left channel in to the right channel. Interestingly, all of the measurements taken, despite not changing the volume - nor any other part of the setup - resulted in different levels: it seems eae changes things quite a bit!
I'm using Windows 10 with Realtek driver version 6.0.8981.1 and eapo 1.2.1
In the first set of curves, I present all of the measurements. A key is provided at the bottom. In the second set of curves, I present just the left channel measurements, aligned at around 300 to 400 Hz.
Last edit: Dafydd 2021-07-11
What I haven't figured out all the time I'm doing the support for Peace and Equalizer APO is if Windows has some default audio enhancements going on or/and if the device driver, mainly of Realtek has a default audio enhancements, even if the audio enhancements available for the user are disabled. You're measurements (if consistent) can be explained by that. Some clues of such default enhancements are present, such as Peace/Equalizer APO users reporting that "Windows" is actively preventing clipping, creating the familiar distortion which users report (and obviously can't explain well). Perhaps, and I'm speculating, that's the nature of the technique of the implementation of Audio Processing Objects (APO's) techniques (GFX/LFX, SFX/MFX. SFX/EFX). But I don't have a clue about this if this is the case. Do you have any ideas where the variance in your measurements are coming from?
I recall reading of an AES paper presented by Microsoft, and concerning some audio enhancements they were researching. I've no idea what came of this. I'll ask on audio science review - perhaps someone will know about this odd behaviour.
Edit: here's the thread, in case one wishes to follow along: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/windows-setting-changes-frequency-response.24940/
Last edit: Dafydd 2021-07-13
Some very interesting stuff going on your post. Also this post is very interesting.
Under Windows 10 (21H1), there's no resetting by OS / Equalizer APO / VIA audio driver - audio enhancements remain turned off as I set them.
OP issue is most likely with the Realtek driver, specially if it's modded (most mods = just flipping some registry flags and hope for the best).
Might want to disable from startup some of the driver's TSR programs (control panel etc.) that are not actually needed and could trigger this unwanted behavior.
Do you think that this issue could be a 20H1 issue? For instance, a Realtek/Microsoft driver update fault in 20H1 which is solved in 21H1.
I'm not so sure: I'm on Windows 10 LTSC 1809....
O, right :) I don't know where the enterprise version Windows differs from the regular one.
Here's the error message: clicking yes turne eae back on
So the Configuration Editor checks the "Enable audio enhancements" on the "Advanced" tab as explained here in the wiki. This must be the APO of the Realtek device. If you don't want to use you might uncheck both "Use original APO" checkboxes of the troubleshooting options of this Realtek device. I think that prevents this message from popping up.