KVR Audio

Metal · Post by **Metal** » Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:01 pm

So I have changed to a new Gaming PC and unfortunately it only comes with RealtekUSB2.0 which does not provide the enhancement tab where the loudness equalization option may be selected. I have tried to DL the RealtekHD to no avail. Apparently it is a motherboard controlled thing. (Please let me know if you know of a way to get HD installed).
Is there a program/VST that will perform a similar function as the windows loudness equalizer? It is amazing first person shooter games like PUBG that sound is EXTREMELY critical.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:11 pm

https://www.ghacks.net/2014/04/02/enabl ... n-windows/

Metal · Post by **Metal** » Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:56 pm

Thanks but I am well aware of this option however it is only available to the lucky ones that get Realtek HD. This function is not available for the version of realtek that I assume I am stuck with.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:50 pm

The appropriate KVR-worthy answer is to disable onboard audio in the BIOS, get a proper audio interface with ASIO drivers, get some active nearfield monitors or high-impedance headphones (requiring a separate headphone amp) and do some acoustical room treatment (install bass traps)
Then loudness contour eq and other soundgoodizing dsp processes are completely obsolete

Oh, old hifi amps had a loudness button. Get one for a tenner from a thrift store, garage sale, etc.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:57 pm

Metal wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:56 pm Thanks but I am well aware of this option however it is only available to the lucky ones that get Realtek HD. This function is not available for the version of realtek that I assume I am stuck with.

In that case, replace your sound card (as Bert suggested) or just turn the volume up.

Metal · Post by **Metal** » Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:57 pm

Yea. I have considered getting a sound card however, I am not sure if it will achieve what the built in loudness equalizer that realtek HD provides. Does anyone know if there is a way to achieve this with other software/VST? I have no idea what that function is doing so I have no idea what I should get to attempt to reproduce it. Whatever it does is remarkable from a gamers point of view.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Sat Jul 17, 2021 4:22 pm

It boosts low & high frequencies to compensate for the Fletcher Munson curve
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour

You can do the same with any graphical EQ by setting it to the "smile" curve.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Sun Jul 18, 2021 5:49 pm

Warning: old fart's war story ahead.

So there were time I used crappy cheap speakers and throw on a graphical EQ to "correct" them. Not only in the living room, also in the car. The loudness button on my hifi was my friend: enhance the extreme frequencies that otherwise were harder to hear.

Then I saw the light. I bought better speakers. The new car came with better speakers. Not insane expensive, just a class or two better than I had before. And the need to "correct" them with a graphical EQ went away with it.

So maybe you just have to replace the weakest link in your audio system. What speakers do you use?

Rockatansky · Post by **Rockatansky** » Sun Jul 18, 2021 6:36 pm

On macOS I'd say 'just get SoundSource', it lets you load any VST/AU plugin onto the system output, even allows individual FX chains for individual applications and some routing tricks. On Windows, I only know of Boom that does something similar, I had its demo on my Mac and couldn't get rid of it fast enough, but maybe things have changed since then. I thought there was a kind of 'system EQ' freeware for Windows only, but I can't remember its name, it may have been Equalizer APO but I don't recall. Hope this helps.

garfield78 · Post by **garfield78** » Mon Jul 19, 2021 8:10 am

you can look at this , with use of a vst plugin : https://jelstudio.dk/VSTplugin_AutoLoudness/index.html

ENV1 · Post by **ENV1** » Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:07 am

BertKoor wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 4:22 pm It boosts low & high frequencies to compensate for the Fletcher Munson curve
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour

You can do the same with any graphical EQ by setting it to the "smile" curve.

Nope, thats not what this does.

It is literally a 'Loudness Equalizer', i.e. it works sorta like a compressor/expander.

(Maybe they should have called it 'Volume Equalizer'.)

Test: Enable function, set Windows volume to full, play some music which starts with very little energy. (An intro of some sort, say some strings, no kick/snare or other heavy stuff.) Volume starts out plenty loud. As more instruments are introduced to the mix, (hats, bass, whatever), volume starts to go down. And once the kick/snare kick in, volume goes down considerably.

So what it really does is sorta expand on quieter passages and compress on louder passages.

The 'other' Loudness is purely EQ based.

Help with Loudness Equalization