Tutorial: Fix loudness on any headset

[JasSmith87]

Hey guys,

If you're having the same problem I am you're USB headset has 2 volumes available to you, off and unbearably loud. Turning off the surround can help with this in some cases, but you're probably still limited in the useful values of the master volume (for me anything over 2% was VERY loud).

Fixing this is pretty simple thanks to a handy little utility called Equalizer APO.

Download it here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/

After you download you are going to want to run the installer. At some point it will ask you to select which devices you want to use the equalizer on. Select your headphones now.

Let the install finish then reboot.

After you reboot open the file C:\Program Files\EqualizerAPO\config\config.txt, delete the contents and replace it with

Preamp: -12 dB

You may change the value to match your preference however you like. As soon as you save the file your output will be adjusted. I picked -12 because some games were too quiet at -15 or -20, but music was too loud at -10.

[Terppa]

Thank you very much!

[bogroll]

Works very well. I like how when you edit the text file and save, it automatically adjusts the overall gain. Very nice find JS.

Would it work for normal soundcards?... don't see why not as the website doesn't specifically mention USB.

[bogroll]

Confirmed it works on normal sound cards. I like how when you edit and save the text file it automatically adjusts the gain. Be nice to have a gui.

Make this a sticky please!! I'm sure that the windows CP setting for 'Loudness' will do the same but this allows us more control. Nice find.

[JasSmith87]

The loudness CP setting does normalization, this allows you to fix the loudness without normalizing.

[ReginaPhalange]

thanks, corsair need do something in the driver

[AlexKotsc]

Registrered only to say THANK YOU VERY F'ING MUCH!!!! I have been looking for a fix for a long time, and this did the trick!

Lets hope Corsair/Windows fixes their drivers for USB Headset sometime in the future so we don't have to do hacks to make our equipment function properly.

[ReginaPhalange]

Question, this work fine, but make my mic very low, in fraps, action or other software cant lisent my voice

[vohk]

Oh, this is awesome. I've been resorting to screwing with every programs volume.

Originally Posted by ReginaPhalange

Question, this work fine, but make my mic very low, in fraps, action or other software cant lisent my voice

When installing, did you select the microphone device as well? Just using 'preamp:' in the config file affects any devices you selected.

If you want to adjust volume for each device independently, make sure you have the correct devices selected in E. APO, then try a config something what I'm using:

Device: Corsair Vengeance 1500 Headset
Preamp: -8db

Device: Microphone
Preamp: +20db

Found the how-to on the project's SF wiki.

[Azurin]

Really wish this worked for Valve's Steam/DotA 2 for the mic Preamp: +15dB. EqualizerAPO makes Valve's Steam mic transmissions sound distorted,robotic,demonic.

[razblack]

this isn' necessary if you setup the stereo mixer and set your desktop speakers as default playback, and then in recording properties for stereo mix, set the vengeance as default playback through this device.

[Lodion]

Thank you for this! One thing to ensure it works, in Playback Devices, Enhancements you need to make sure "Disable all enhancements" is NOT ticked, otherwise it will not work.

[StaticFX]

omg thank you!!!!! this works perfectly! and 12 seems to be a good setting!

[kobaia]

Didn't work for me. I change and nothing happens. There's no corsair driver on my computer because, when i use, the headset make a noise .
Im using volume 2 on windows , 6 or 12 db still too loud. What im doing wrong

[HenryKam]

No I don't have any problem with my headset CS540 its good and thanks for you help......