Systemwide retuning to A = 432 Hz on PC

Hi,

In the previous post I acquainted you with a method of playbacking music in 432 Hz tuning on PC using a music player, and in this article I'm going to explain how can you playback music in this tuning on a PC systemwide. Be it a music played from a browser or from other sources, even from streaming services, which uses the DirectSound (DS) or the Microsoft Multimedia Environment (MME) method.

Subject: Playbacking music in 432 Hz tuning systemwide on a PC.

Reasoning: Please refer to a previous article for reasoning.

Understanding: Please refer to a previous article for understanding.

Proem: There are more methods of playbacking music in this tuning systemwide on a PC and I will try to cover those I know about. I'm going to reveal that the method 2 is the preferred one, but it might be worth reading at least the introduction to method 1 for being aware of what is possible and to extend your knowledge about PC audio.

Method 1 (Experimental): Utilizing Equalizer APO and pitch shifting VST plugin

System requirements: Windows Vista, 7, 8, or 10.

Introduction

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Equalizer APO is a software created by Jonas Thedering, which puts an APO (Audio Processing Object) into the Windows audio stream. This allows for modifying system audio. Sadly, there has been found an error in the APO recently (version 1.2.1 and earlier), which may lead to serious issues if changing a frequency higher than half of a currently used sampling rate frequency. And while it isn't the main reason making the method experimental, it adds yet another one to call it so.

Of course, being it an equalizer, the purpose indeed is an equalizing, but more options and a feature allowing to load certain VST plugins, although with known and serious problems, makes the equalizer to be more than that. For those new into this, it stands for “Virtual Studio Technology”, and it is being well used by mixing & mastering technicians or engineers, many of musicians and composers alike.

You could tell that Equalizer APO has started becoming a hit after it was released, even without a user interface, which was later added. On that matter, my friend Peter Verbeek created Peace Equalizer, formerly named just PEACE (from Peter's Equalizer APO Configuration Extension), getting the equalization itself to a different sphere of user experience - making it easy to create your own presets (configurations), further improved with effects, automation and much more options. Peace Equalizer can also be used to control the plugins, but it assumes already some experience. And since its usage relies on installation of EQ APO, I will be explaining only the simplier way without an additional installation. Peace Equalizer can be downloaded from its project site here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/peace-equalizer-apo-extension/

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Realization: To achieve systemwide retuning using this method, you will need a 64-bit pitch shifting VST plugin. One that allows retuning with minimal artifacts and has quite a precise control, is zplane's Elastique Pitch, which, as already mentioned in the previous post, costs approximately 149 EUR. But you may possibly find another quality retuning VST plugin for less money or even for free.

✎ Note (6. 10. 2020): And as I found out, and my test seems to prove it, even this, almost a 150 EUR priced VST plugin, which is integrated also in certain programs for editing audio, has noticeable artifacts. And the problem is on so-called transients, therefore, on beginnings of tones or sounds, which causes something like a glass-like effect, or a short echo. So please consider mention of the plugin in this article to be only a presentation of one of the possibilities for retuning. A test of plugins will be in the 3rd article, most likely.

However, I can't recommend this method, mainly because of damaging “pop” sounds, which relate to the VST feature. Then there is the recently found problem with equalizing, so you need to be very careful when using it. Still, it can be very useful, be it for equalizing itself or for other things, but I recommend controlling the APO with Peace Equalizer, which is being actively developed.

Steps:

1) Download the equalizer from this page:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/

2) Start the installation process and put the APO on your default playbacking sound

device. A restart of your PC will be required to finish the process.

Note: After installing the Equalizer APO, your sound enhancements will be disabled,

and most probably along with an integrated equalizer commonly available in your sound driver.

3) Install 64-bit .dll of appropriate pitch shifting VST plugin, such as zplane's Elastique Pitch.

4) Change Windows and/or amplifier's volume to 0 to avoid hearing possible sound

glitches, which may also cause a damage to your speakers when activating or deactivating the plugin, depending on loudness. In some cases, it may create a pop also when initiating playback even after doing some change.

5) Open “Editor” in the “Equalizer APO” installation directory. At default it should be

here: C:/Program Files/EqualizerAPO.

6) Click on the green plus and choose “Plugins” → “VST plug-in” and click.

7) Then click on an icon with paper, which is on the left side next to the “Options” menu.

8) Locate a valid 64-bit .dll of your pitch shifter.

After loading the .dll, the plugin becomes active.

9) Now you will need to setup the plugin.

For setting up the zplane's Elastique Pitch, open the

VST and set it as following (It is copied from a previous post):

Clipping prevention:

In case your plugin has an integrated input volume control, set it to at least -5 dB to avoid possible clipping.

In case your plugin hasn't got the input volume control, move the VST plugin in the „Editor“ to the second place by dragging it, then click on the green plus of the first

position, navigate to „Basic filters“ 🡒 Preamp (Preamplification) and similarly, set it to at least -5 dB.

The definite value can be various, depending on a plugin and method of retuning, but 5 dB seems to be sufficient. However, this will be better described in the next article.

10) Close the editor, increase volume to a desired level and that's basically it. If you’re going to use it, please read the following paragraphs as well.

Eventually, you could create a shortcut on desktop for the “Editor” and theoretically, turning it on and off when needed, but again, Equalizer APO has its errors, which can result in crashing of the Editor, damaging pop sounds or glitches. So if you're going to try this out for some reason, please bear in mind, that you have to change Windows volume and/or amplifier volume to 0 when trying your plugin and switching it on or off. In some cases, the pop sound can be heard even when initiating playback after enabling or disabling it, so I do not recommend it.

Method 2 (Stable): Utilizing VB-Audio Hi-Fi Cable, VSTHost or SAVIHost, Volume² and pitch shifting VST plugin

System requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, or 10.

Considering that you need 4 things to make this method work, it's quite clear that it will take more time preparing it for the purpose we want it to, but the result is very good. I will describe each needed program first.

VB-Audio Hi-Fi Cable

Keep calm, no need to look for a real Hi-Fi cable. This one is virtual. It is a special software which creates virtual sound devices for internal re-routing of audio signal. The specifications are excellent, so you can expect an unaffected audio transmission. It is made by Vincent Burel.

Website: https://www.vb-audio.com/Cable/index.htm#DownloadASIOBridge

✎ Update: (17. 5. 2020)

Since the "non Hi-Fi" VB-Audio virtual cable version appears to cause very elevatated gain in ultra sound range, it is highly recommended to use the Hi-Fi cable mentioned. Firstly assumed unaffected audio transmission doesn't seem as unaffected after an analysis. More information on this may come later.

VSTHost and SAVIHost

As the name suggests, VSTHost is a host program, and its “guests” are VST plugins. In other meaning it works as a host in the audio stream, between input and output. The program might not have the most understandable menu in the world, but I will explain how to make it work, so you can stay calm. There is also something like a lite version of it, named SAVIHost, which supports just one plugin, and is much easier to use. However, it's missing one useful option we might need for retuning - input volume control. Anyway, despite its unclear and unintuitive menu, it is very well programmed in terms of audio processing, in my opinion, with just one exception - usage of its engine switch. The creator of both programs is Hermann Seib.

Website: https://www.hermannseib.com/english/vsthost.htm

Volume²

If you want to use this method on Windows 10 operating system, then you will most likely need this program as well. The reason is, that Windows 10 switches default audio device upon volume adjustment, and we need to control volume of a non-default device. In case of Windows 7 or Vista it should work as expected, probably.

Volume² is a program created by Alexandr Irza, which can replace the usual Windows volume control and even add something more, a lot more actually. But mainly, it has an option to set an alternative sound device and independently change volume of other device, which is just ideal for our purpose. There are more volume control programs, like open-source 3RVX and other, even paid programs, but this one, and probably the only one, has that unique option.

Although it's functional, some essential things could be improved or added, like an option to change how the replaced volume controller appears, or an option to adjust volume horizontally. Trying to control the loudness using a vertical movement may lead to a sudden amplification at opening certain applications, so a safer way will be using a scroll wheel for adjusting, which works nicely. In this regard, some of the options may look excessive, and perhaps they really are, but I'm glad for this program anyway.

Website: https://irzyxa.blogspot.com

Realization: Similarly as in the method 1 and in the previous article, a VST plugin such as Elastique Pitch by zplane is required for retuning. VB-Audio Hi-Fi Cable, VSTHost and SAVIHost are donationware utilities. Volume² basically too, although it is described as freeware by the author, but Elastique Pitch is paid and costs around 150 EUR.

✎ Note (6. 10. 2020): As already mentioned in method 1, Elastique Pitch has also its flaws, or, at least one noticeable flaw, and that is incorrect transients, which can be well heard in certain music. This persisting problem is also present in version 2.1.2.

So, you have two options. Using VSTHost or using SAVIHost. If your plugin has an input volume control, you may use SAVIHost. You'll evade a journey of mouse clicks.

Setting it all up will "take" some time, so please be ready for it.

VSTHost variant

Steps:

1) Firstly, if you are playing music or running something with audio, then close it and set Windows volume and/or amp volume to 0.

2) Download and install VB-Audio Hi-Fi Cable from this website:

https://www.vb-audio.com/Cable/index.htm#DownloadASIOBridge

Notes: The ASIO-Bridge isn’t needed for our purpose.

A restart of your computer might be required for finishing the installation

process.

3) Open Windows sound devices.

4) Locate Hi-Fi Cable Input in the “Playback” tab, open its properties and then switch to the “Advanced” tab. Set sample and bit rate to match your default playback device and confirm the setting. Preferred is 24-bit/48 kHz for compatibility reasons, but depends on your computer performance and sound device.

Caution: Too high demand of audio on a lower-performance PC may cause stuttering of sound. The cause can be lack of RAM, for instance.

5) Click on Hi-Fi Cable Output in the “Recording” tab and set its resolution the same way, but this time click on “Apply”.

6) While having opened the properties of Hi-Fi Cable Output, switch to the “Listen” tab and select your default playback device, but be specific. “Listen to this device” has to be unchecked. Then confirm the settings. (OK, OK)

7) Depending on your system, download and unpack a 32-bit or 64-bit version of VSTHost from author’s website: https://www.hermannseib.com/english/vsthost.htm

If you have a high-performance computer, you may use the double-precision version.

8) Unless you've already done so, install your pitch shifting VST plugin, which has a precise control and doesn't create any much of sound artifacts.

Note: In case of 32-bit OS you need to use a 32-bit version of the plugin.

9) Check if the Windows volume is set to 0. If it’s not, make it so.

10) Start VSTHost from the “vsthost.exe” file.

Note: The program will be phoning-home most likely, unless you block it in your firewall.

11) You can see the program’s input and ouput devices, but you need to set up them right, so go to “Devices” in the menu and click on “Wave...”.

12) In the input should be “MME: Hi-Fi Cable Output” and in the output field “MME: Speakers” or similar. Select the same sample rate as of your device and change buffer to 48000 samples (4 b/s). (OK)

13) Now you need to add the plugin, so right-click on the area with a grey texture and navigate to “File” → “New PlugIn...” and click.

14) Locate a .dll file of your pitch shifter and add it into the program by clicking the “Open” button.

The plugin gets automatically connected to the input and output.

15) Click this icon on the plugin device to open and set it up.

In case of the zplane's one, please read as already mentioned in the 9th step of method 1 - the rectangle.

16) Close the plugin, click this icon in the “Engine Input” device and set it to about -5 dB by dragging the slider to prevent clipping. Sadly, the control isn't precise.

17) Navigate to “Performance” tab in the menu and check “Autosave PlugIn Banks”. Having this enabled should preserve setting of plugins when saving the configuration.

18) Since the configuration needs to be saved, click on the “Performance“ tab in the menu, or on the grey textured area again and select it from there. Then click on “Save As...“ . Name your preset and confirm it.

19) Repeat the step above, until the preset's name is showed as an active configuration below the menu. It is an error of the program.

20) Close VSTHost by clicking the "X" symbol. It may take a while.

21) Download and install “Last Release version“ of Volume² from author's website here:

https://irzyxa.blogspot.com/p/downloads.html

Note: The application will be phoning-home most likely and restart will be required after disabling the original volume control.

22) Right click on the new volume icon on task bar and then click on “Volume²” to get into the options and set it as following for having a starting point similar to a default Windows volume, but with an option to adjust loudness using a scroll wheel, which is preferred:

Main window

Mouse window

System window

SAVIHost variant

1) Perform steps 1 - 6 of the VSTHost variant.

2) Depending on your system, download and unpack a 32-bit or 64-bit version of SAVIHost (Without the keyboard) from author's website:

https://www.hermannseib.com/english/savihost.htm

3) If not done already, install your pitch shifting VST plugin, which has a precise control and doesn't create any much of sound artifacts.

Note: SAVIHost and plugin has to be of the same bit processing design.

4) Locate your installed plugin and copy or move it into the SAVIHost folder. Then make the files to share the same name. You can name it as you wish, for example, like this:

The .fxb file is meant for settings. You will need to create it later.

5) Check if the Windows volume is set to 0. If it's not, make it so.

6) Run the .exe file.

Note: SAVIHost might be phoning-home.

7) Navigate to “Devices” and click on “Wave…”

8) In the input should be “MME: Hi-Fi Cable Output” and in the output field

“MME: Speakers” or similar. Select the same sample rate as of your device and change buffer to 48000 samples (4 b/s). 24-bit/48 kHz is preferred for compatibility reasons.

9) Set up your plugin for retuning.

If you have a plugin with an integrated input volume control as assumed, set it to -5 or so dB to prevent clipping.

To retune music from 440 Hz to 432 Hz, pitch needs to be changed by 0,32 semitones, or by 8 Hz, or 1,818 % lower.

In case of the zplane's one, please read as already mentioned in the 9th step of method 1 - the rectangle, but make sure to check the “Soft Clipping” feature.

10) Save the settings via SAVIHost (PlugIn → Save as...) and close it.

11) Continue by performing steps as written in the VSTHost variant, starting by step 20.

Usage: At the current point, your Windows audio should work as usual, so you can increase the volume.

Finally, to retune the system audio, lower your volume, start VST/SAVIHost, minimize it, then right click on the Volume² icon and select “Hi-Fi Cable Input” as your default device. Increase your volume to a desired level using this program and it's basically ready for usage. But please read the following paragraphs as well (The caution paragraph is the same as in the first method).

If you want back your unaltered sound, then I suggest to stop currently played audio, if there is any, and simply selecting your usual default device again via the Volume². It should be working all-right.

Then you'll be able to simply switch between default devices to take effect of the plugin or to bypass it, but I recommend lowering your volume before doing so, although it should be “pop” free using it this way. You need to try it yourself.

If for some reason you see the original Windows volume OSD in fullscreen or borderless mode in an application, try using other custom OSD mode or reinstalling Volume².

Tips: Making the host program to start automatically upon login and minimize itself will make using of it much easier. Minimizing to system tray can be enabled by clicking the “View” button in the menu and checking the appropriate task.

It is also possible to change default device from a desktop shortcut and thus further minimize steps needed for usage.

So, in comparison to method 1, this one should be without any pops or glitches if used as described. But of course, I can't guarantee it will work so well at any time. It depends on the plugin too. Anyway, this is a functional and usable method of retuning music systemwide, and so is my preferred one. I am grateful to authors of VB-Audio Hi-Fi Cable, VSTHost and Volume² for their programs, because, as you can see, wonderful things can happen in conjunction of some quality work.

What has to be said, is that such pitch shifting isn't recommended for watching live performances, for instance. The reason for it is, that the plugin, its host program and the re-routing creates a delay, therefor, the image and sound won't be synchronized, so you need to count with it. Other than that, it should be working fine.

“Method 3” (Driver dependable pitch shifting)

It is a pitch shifting, which is part of a sound driver and supported by the audio processor itself. An example of a pitch shifting that can be done through control of a sound driver is C-Media's Xear™ “SingFX” feature. The usage of such pitch shifting is most likely done with a minimum of delay, but it may lack fine-tuning. So due to this reason, it is in quotation marks, because it's currently not usable for retuning music to

A = 432 Hz, but if improved, it could make it a good method.

Have an enjoyable listening,

Lubomír

Article update (26. 2. 2020):

Added a note about OSD appearing in fullscreen or borderless mode.

Added a new paragraph to Volume² description.

Updated mouse window image.

Added a postscript in step 22 in regard to update in the image.

Article update (28. 3. 2020):

Changed preferred sampling frequency in 4th step of VSTHost Variant.

Article update (16. 4. 2020):

A correction of a suggested dB value to -3,7 in all respective paragraphs to prevent clipping and correction of an adjointed text in regard to it.

Article update (17. 5. 2020):

Changed text of preffered sampling frequency.

Added new text to VB-Audio cable.

Article update (15. 6. 2020)

Another correction of suggested dB value to -5, since I still received clipped samples even with reduction of 3,7 dB in some cases.

Update: (6. 9. 2020)

Correction of the meaning of VST. I still seem to do mistake in this. I'm sorry.

Update: (6. 10. 2020)

Added note.

All content on this page is copyrighted. This article I wrote mainly as a suggestion on how to play music in 432 Hz tuning. I’m not involved in any advertising. If you would like to read more articles about PC audio or about audio in general and you want to support me, you can do so by various ways, also by donating, though it isn't required, it's voluntary. Thank you.