How to open the equalizer in Windows 7: built-in system tools, sound card managers and third-party software

Apparently, the majority of users who use modern computers not only as a tool for working with office programs, but also as a media center, know that very often special tools called equalizers are used to improve the sound. The principle of their work is quite simple: due to the amplification or attenuation of some frequencies, the overall sound of the music track is changed. That's just how to open the equalizer in Windows 7, not everyone guesses. In addition, this issue causes almost a real panic, since such a tool is not in every system. Therefore, before taking any configuration steps, make sure that your computer device has the appropriate sound card installed, for which it is possible to use a special virtual mixing console with built-in equalizer. Otherwise, the settings of the system itself will be automated and will relate exclusively to changes in volume parameters.

General principles of using equalizer in Windows?

It’s worth starting with a discussion of common user actions, since improperly setting the sound parameters can lead to the opposite effect, and instead of improving the quality, you will get the appearance of distortion and blocking. Here you need to clearly understand that the amplification of a particular sound frequency automatically entails an increase in volume level. Thus, even when using predefined template circuits, it is sometimes advisable to slightly reduce the overall sound level. Along the way, pay attention to your speaker system, because if the speakers do not support the reproduction of too high or too low frequencies, it will be completely pointless to tune them.





How to open the equalizer in Windows 7 to activate and configure?

Now let's focus on practical actions. First of all, you can use the automatic tool in the form of an equalizer, which is available in any operating system of this family.

Activating the Windows Equalizer




To activate it, just go to the “Control Panel”, select the sound section, click the properties button of the default playback device, go to the environment (enhancements) tab, which can also be designated as Enhancements, and then check the box below use equalizer. In the English version, this setting is best characterized as it is marked as Loudness Equalization. And this, in fact, allows us to use precisely automatic sound enhancement in relation to the volume of sound reproduction.

Some users are trying to find the equalizer settings in the “Device Manager”. It’s worth saying right away that there are no such parameters!

Note: if you are wondering about where the “Device Manager” is located in Windows 7, it is easier to get to it either through the same “Control Panel” or through the administration section “computer control point in the PCM menu on the terminal icon), or call “Run” from the console with the command devmgmt.msc , etc. Again, in this manager, you can mainly manage only drivers, and the related parameters and settings are not presented in it.





Equalizer settings in Relatek soundcard settings

Where is the equalizer of Windows 7 in the form of a built-in automated applet, figured out. Now let's look at some parameters and options based on the fact that a Realtek family sound card is installed on your computer. For integrated Intel HD Audio sound chips, you can’t even look for equalizer parameters - you won’t find them anyway, because of the original ones)

Intel HD Audio Mixer




This can be verified quite simply by opening the volume mixer from the system tray (only the signal level parameters will be presented there).

But back to Realtek cards. How to open the equalizer in Windows 7 in relation to such chips? Quite simple! From the system tray, you can call up the mixer display or start the special “Realtek Manager” from the standard “Control Panel”.

Soundcard mixer Realtek




To adjust the sound, go to the tab of sound effects, and then select the type of equalizer, since it is turned off by default (the field will indicate “None”). The list contains several basic templates, from which you can select settings that correspond, for example, to any particular style of music (rock, pop, disco, etc.). If you wish, you can change the main scheme by moving the sliders that are responsible for setting a particular frequency, then save your own settings by setting the name of the user scheme.

Additional programs for music to the computer

These were the simplest solutions and a general understanding of the use of tools for tuning the frequency characteristics of sound reproduction on a computer. Where is the equalizer of Windows 7 and Realtek sound cards, a little figured out. But what should users do with integrated audio cards for which the use of a standard equalizer is not provided? In principle, there is a way out in this situation.

Apparently, many people use the built-in media player and third-party players to listen to music or watch videos. Almost all such programs have their own equalizers. Just look at the settings of the same players VLC, JetAudio, AIMP, WinAmp and the like.

Equalizer in AIMP Player




The equalizer with all its settings and templates will be found without problems (usually you can get to it by pressing a special button directly on the main panel of the player).

Equalizer APO




If you need a separate equalizer that could be used without a player in relation to playing all the sounds in the system, it is best to install additional programs like SoundMax, Pushtec EQ VS, EasyQ, PC Equalizer, Equalizer APO, Voxendo software products and many others. Usually, after installation, such applets are loaded with Windows and can replace a frequency adjustment tool that is missing for a specific soundcard and applies to the entire system, and not just to the selected player.

Epilogue

That's all with regard to addressing issues related to how to open the equalizer in Windows 7. In conclusion, it remains to say that if you use separate additional equalizers in addition to existing active tools, do not overdo the settings, because excessive amplification of certain often can lead not only to the appearance of distortion, but also to the fact that the dynamics of your speaker system due to excessive load simply fail.




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