Windows 7: Realtek Equalizer Settings

dsperber · 26 Apr 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Dwarf

As regards driver installation, I download the zipped version of the driver from Realtek. I then extract the files, and it is to the folder where the files are extracted to that I point to.

Of course. I'm an idiot. I completely forgot about that alternative download option, since I've never used it.

But I still wonder about the Registry key for the FXProperties item when you simply "update drivers" through Device Manager in this manner. If you've been losing your previously saved EQ settings (which we now know to each be represented by a pair of Registry entries) then something must be going on over and above just replacing files. Obviously these old pairs of entries are being deleted, even though you're not going through the 2-step process per the EXE installer.

Or... perhaps the update is deleting the old master key (that contains both FXProperties and Properties group items) and everything that's in it, and creating a new key and two new subordinate group items, just as would be done per the EXE installer.

Who knows... at least for now? Anyway, we're making good progress in understanding more about this whole process.

Dwarf · 26 Apr 2010

Some more information.

Firstly, there are only 2 keys on my system.

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The first of these keys refers to the digital output, whereas the second refers to the analogue output. It is this key that I was referring to in the first post in this thread.

The equalizer is independent between both outputs, and you can have two identically named equalizer enhancements, one per output, with different slider settings per output.

The format and name of the data keys is identical to that for the analogue output.

Code:

"{69203b66-c559-499c-bb5f-f54563cd7d59},n"="<user preset name n>"
"{36033203-cbc4-4960-9b48-490166ca34c9},n"=hex:41,00,9d,fb,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

dsperber · 26 Apr 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Dwarf

Firstly, there are only 2 keys on my system.

Perhaps tied to the number of "playback devices" on your system. How many do you have?

I have THREE (of which I have the Realtek HD Audio SPEAKERS device selected and green-checked as my default). And I have THREE keys under \Render which each have FXProperties and Properties in that group.

Though I don't use them or have them connected, I also have a USB type of output device (perhaps from my Pinnacle USB-710 device) and ATI HDMI audio.

Dwarf · 26 Apr 2010

That would sound reasonable and logical.

Dwarf · 26 Apr 2010

The equalizer settings are remarkably extremely high precision. Each slider can have any one of 1200 distinct values either negative or positive with relation to the central neutral (0) position. Of course, the only way to achieve this precision when setting values is to manually enter them directly into the registry, following the instructions earlier as regards the data format and location.

Positive Range

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 = 1
00 00 00 00 00 00 04 B0 = 1200

Neutral

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 = 0

Negative

FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF = -1
FF FF FF FF FF FF FB 50 = -1200

Note that these values are actually 64-bit numbers, but only the least-significant 32-bits (4 bytes) are recorded in the key. They are arranged in the key with the LSB (Least Significant Bit) entered first and the MSB (Most Significant Bit) entered last.

Aphelion · 26 Apr 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by dsperber

Quote: Originally Posted by Dwarf

Firstly, there are only 2 keys on my system.

Perhaps tied to the number of "playback devices" on your system. How many do you have?

This is correct, I also have an M-Audio 24/96 (stereo) PCI card installed.

Each output device digital/analog will show up with it's own settings.
I also had plugged in a USB audio device at one time so I have several Properties/FXProperties under the Render key.

Ap

Dwarf · 26 Apr 2010

I wonder if the names of the keys highlighted here depend upon which audio codec chip you have installed? Mine is an ALC662.

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Dwarf · 27 Apr 2010

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here. It would appear that is going to be far more tricky than first anticipated. I've uninstalled the driver and then reinstalled it in Device Manager. The keys are now as shown below.

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In addition, data keys are slightly different. This is what they show now, with the new data section shown in blue:

Code:

Speakers & Digital Output
"{69203b66-c559-499c-bb5f-f54563cd7d59},n"="<user preset name n>"
"{36033203-cbc4-4960-9b48-490166ca34c9},n"=hex:41,00,7f,fb,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

Because of these differences, I would say that the method I suggested above will not work. You can still export the relevant section, and use it to obtain the data shown in red, but you will have to create a dummy key from the HD manager itself in order to obtain the data shown in blue. Fortunately, the key names remain the same. I would use a name of a preset that you have saved for this, as you can always edit the data afterwards using the registry editor. Alternatively, you can edit the exported registry file so that it has the correct information.

If you just export the Render sub-key and the edit the resultant file just to contain the relevant information, then the data section to alter would be as highlighted below:

Code:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render\{29ec048a-cb02-4173-8d20-bae131a470b9}\FxProperties]
"{69203b66-c559-499c-bb5f-f54563cd7d59},n"="<user preset name n>"
"{36033203-cbc4-4960-9b48-490166ca34c9},n"=hex:41,00,7f,fb,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render\{b69efb25-5ac5-4f32-819e-efbc8ba37d42}\FxProperties]
"{69203b66-c559-499c-bb5f-f54563cd7d59},n"="<user preset name n>"
"{36033203-cbc4-4960-9b48-490166ca34c9},n"=hex:41,00,7f,fb,01,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

Note that the resultant file will need to be merged into the registry. This can only be done from within an account with administrative privileges (as will editing the relevant data directly in the registry).

Here is the equivalent as a batch file. You should be able to infer how to create this file by comparing the code below with that above.

Code:

@ECHO OFF
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render\{29ec048a-cb02-4173-8d20-bae131a470b9}\FxProperties" /v "{69203b66-c559-499c-bb5f-f54563cd7d59},n" /t REG_SZ /d "<user preset name n>" /f
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render\{29ec048a-cb02-4173-8d20-bae131a470b9}\FxProperties" /v "{36033203-cbc4-4960-9b48-490166ca34c9},n" /t REG_BINARY /d "41007ffb0100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000" /f
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render\{b69efb25-5ac5-4f32-819e-efbc8ba37d42}\FxProperties" /v "{69203b66-c559-499c-bb5f-f54563cd7d59},n" /t REG_SZ /d "<user preset name n>" /f
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render\{b69efb25-5ac5-4f32-819e-efbc8ba37d42}\FxProperties" /v "{36033203-cbc4-4960-9b48-490166ca34c9},n" /t REG_BINARY /d "41007ffb0100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000" /f

Note

To create this files, use Notepad. The file MUST be structured with the syntax as shown above. Give the file a meaningful name and save it with a .bat suffix. I suggest that you save these files in the Public Documents folder. To enter the data in the file into the registry, right click on the file and select Run as administrator. When you provide administrative credentials, the file should execute and the data be merged into the registry. Of course, you could use an account with administrative privileges.

Dwarf · 06 May 2010

Just another update. I have now installed the R2.48 driver using this method: Device Manager - Install Driver - Vista Forums

As you can see, the keys have changed again.

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Aphelion · 07 May 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Dwarf

Just another update. I have now installed the R2.48 driver using this method: Device Manager - Install Driver - Vista Forums

As you can see, the keys have changed again.

Ahhh.. so all of the work was for naught.

Ap

Windows 7: Realtek Equalizer Settings

Realtek Equalizer Settings problems?