Sound enhancers for freebsd (like old pulseeffects. or like easyeffects in linux)

B

besta

Hello friends,

Are there any sound enhancers for freebsd these days ? I think some are called DSP sound enhancer ?

Until 2 years ago freebsd had pulseeffects. And pulseeffects with its "bass enhancer", sound stage, reverberations, and some other effects, made even "bad quality" mp3 tracks sound a lot better.

Some cellphones also have these "sound enhancers". It makes the sound a lot more fun and alive to listen to.

Unfortunately, the pulseeffects project was disfigured and renamed into easyeffects (instead of forked). And easyeffects use some audio stuff that is only available in linux at the moment.

The pulseeffects package does not build in freebsd anymore... C++ problems or something... maybe its simple for someone skilled on that. But as of now, it has been abandoned. The guy that maintained it was a nice guy, but no idea where he is now. I hope he is well.. he was a military guy iirc

If anyone with C++ skills would look into the last pulseeffects build and help fix it, it would be awesome... the way it was is perfect.. so just getting it back into a pkg would be freaking awesome and all freebsd sound lovers would like that i bet!

Are there any other relevant sound enhancers for freebsd ?

Another option is of course, use a linux bhyve and use easyeffects on it. But native would be best.
 
hi,, guys. yeah , i am music fans. and ask some soud enhancers for freebsd same a weeks ago. wish some one can solve it.
 
https://www.freshports.org/audio/pulseeffects

"audio/pulseeffects: Remove expired port

2023-06-30 audio/pulseeffects: Broken for almost a year and abandoned upstream"

EDIT:

In /boot/loader.conf add line:

hint.pcm.5.eq=1

And you can user mixer or mixertui.

https://www.freshports.org/audio/mixertui/

I found a guide online.

https://m4c.pl/blog/freebsd-audio-setup-bitperfect-equalizer-realtime/

There is additional information in that guide that may be helpful. It's pretty nice that there is an eq that can be enabled though. That should be on by default. :D
 
LibreQuest said:
https://www.freshports.org/audio/pulseeffects

"audio/pulseeffects: Remove expired port

2023-06-30 audio/pulseeffects: Broken for almost a year and abandoned upstream"

EDIT:

In /boot/loader.conf add line:

hint.pcm.5.eq=1

And you can user mixer or mixertui.

https://www.freshports.org/audio/mixertui/

I found a guide online.

https://m4c.pl/blog/freebsd-audio-setup-bitperfect-equalizer-realtime/

There is additional information in that guide that may be helpful. It's pretty nice that there is an eq that can be enabled though. That should be on by default. :D
Click to expand...
LibreQuest :
fellow your guide , the music can be play in one player, not more , and can't play any music with wwwbrowser .thanks.
and no musicpd_enable="yes" item in rc.conf
 
LibreQuest said:
https://www.freshports.org/audio/pulseeffects

"audio/pulseeffects: Remove expired port

2023-06-30 audio/pulseeffects: Broken for almost a year and abandoned upstream"

EDIT:

In /boot/loader.conf add line:

hint.pcm.5.eq=1

And you can user mixer or mixertui.

https://www.freshports.org/audio/mixertui/

I found a guide online.

https://m4c.pl/blog/freebsd-audio-setup-bitperfect-equalizer-realtime/

There is additional information in that guide that may be helpful. It's pretty nice that there is an eq that can be enabled though. That should be on by default. :D
Click to expand...
LibreQuest Its good to have an eq but sound enhancers are not just an equalizer. Sound enhancers are a lot more than an equalizer. Sound enhancers go around sound effects to enhance the sound.
 
DEar LibreQuest :
below was my sound system info ..
cat /dev/sndstat
Installed devices:
pcm0: <NVIDIA (0x0042) (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
pcm1: <NVIDIA (0x0042) (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
pcm2: <NVIDIA (0x0042) (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
pcm3: <Realtek ALC280 (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> (play/rec) default
pcm4: <Realtek ALC280 (Rear Analog)> (play/rec)
No devices installed from userspace.
game@work2:~ $ mixer
pcm3:mixer: <Realtek ALC280 (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> on hdaa1 (play/rec) (default)
vol = 0.80:0.80 pbk
pcm = 0.80:0.80 pbk
speaker = 0.50:0.50 rec
mix = 0.50:0.50 rec
rec = 0.37:0.37 pbk
igain = 0.50:0.50 pbk
ogain = 0.80:0.80 pbk
monitor = 0.56:0.56 rec src



how to enhance it ? thanks.
 
I would suggest attempting to build easyeffects. I have tried and have failed.

Code: 
src/meson.build:137:1: ERROR: Problem encountered: Dependency "ladspa" not found, tried looking for ladspa.h

I do have ladspa installed but I have no idea where the script is attempting to locate the installation .h file. I am sure it could be tracked down and either the script modified or the location created for this dependency of the built script. I do suspect the entire built process will not be short of errors.

https://github.com/wwmm/easyeffects
 
I recommend going with the jack demon. That's where all the professional effects hang out, starting with Jamin.

You don't necessarily need a jack audio source. You can put pulseaudio on top of jack and route into the jack system that way.
 
besta said:
Hello friends,

Are there any sound enhancers for freebsd these days ? I think some are called DSP sound enhancer ?

Until 2 years ago freebsd had pulseeffects. And pulseeffects with its "bass enhancer", sound stage, reverberations, and some other effects, made even "bad quality" mp3 tracks sound a lot better.

Some cellphones also have these "sound enhancers". It makes the sound a lot more fun and alive to listen to.

Unfortunately, the pulseeffects project was disfigured and renamed into easyeffects (instead of forked). And easyeffects use some audio stuff that is only available in linux at the moment.

The pulseeffects package does not build in freebsd anymore... C++ problems or something... maybe its simple for someone skilled on that. But as of now, it has been abandoned. The guy that maintained it was a nice guy, but no idea where he is now. I hope he is well.. he was a military guy iirc

If anyone with C++ skills would look into the last pulseeffects build and help fix it, it would be awesome... the way it was is perfect.. so just getting it back into a pkg would be freaking awesome and all freebsd sound lovers would like that i bet!

Are there any other relevant sound enhancers for freebsd ?

Another option is of course, use a linux bhyve and use easyeffects on it. But native would be best.
Click to expand...

do you use audacious? , I find that "crystalizer" effect make good work, and I made myself a patch to run the equalizer to 31 bands
if you like I send you the files , only work in gtk2 version of audacious
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot from 2025-06-17 06-59-46.png
    Screenshot from 2025-06-17 06-59-46.png
    510.3 KB · Views: 94
cracauer@ said:
I recommend going with the jack demon. That's where all the professional effects hang out, starting with Jamin.

You don't necessarily need a jack audio source. You can put pulseaudio on top of jack and route into the jack system that way.
Click to expand...
i dont see any jamin in ports/pkg
 
This is not really the desired "solution" (i would prefer pulseeffects since that software was able to capture the sound output and enhance it independently of the software sound output) but i decided to try "mixxx" the open source dj software.. and it turns out it has some "sound enhancer", and also a pitch which is sometimes cool too.

On the screen shot, i turned the "L"(low) knob and it makes the wave sound thicker and more bassy.

Maybe you will find that cool while we dont get a fix for pulseeffects
 

Attachments

  • before.png
    before.png
    7.9 KB · Views: 84
  • after.png
    after.png
    8.7 KB · Views: 84
I was able to build pulseeffects under freebsd 14.3.

If anybody cares to help me test it, and if people are mostly happy with it, i will update the freebsd port if this works good enough for you guys. Some filters are not working, ie. the equalizer.. it seems to be able to activate, however any changes to its settings does not reflect in sound output.

Most other filters work as expected.. especially the bass enhancer one which i am more interested in

Here is the branch "freebsd-fixes-001" with some fixes for freebsd under my fork: https://github.com/hernan604/pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd/tree/freebsd-fixes-001

Clone the repo:

Code: 
git clone -b freebsd-fixes-001 https://github.com/hernan604/pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd

cd pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd

Install dependencies:

Code: 
./install_deps.sh

And then run build.sh to build and install:

Code: 
./build.sh

NOTE: You need to enable dbus in /etc/rc.conf:

Code: 
sysrc dbus_enable="YES"

(and reboot) -- if you start it manually with "service dbus onestart" you might need to run pulseeffects a couple times.. i recommend you enable in /etc/rc.conf and reboot

After you enabled dbus, run:

Code: 
pulseeffects

And it is possible to run pulseeffects inside a bhyve vm also.. you will need to add the required parameters to your bhyve conf to get soundoutput. But that also works

The reason some plugins/effects are not working is because some of those plugins might have outdated bindings from the gstreamer libraries and what not. I asked in the wwmm issues page, and thats what i was told ( https://github.com/wwmm/easyeffects/issues/2876#issuecomment-2993638849 ).. some bindings were renamed over the years. I dont really know how to debug that, but if anyone cares, please submit a PR patch in my branch https://github.com/hernan604/pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd/tree/freebsd-fixes-001

Check it out and reply here if you like it or not
 
hernan604 said:
Clone the repo:

git clone git@github.com:hernan604/pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd.git
Checkout the branch with freebsd fixes:

cd pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd git checkout freebsd-fixes-001
Click to expand...
I think that you could trim your commands to make it a one-liner code.

Code: 
git clone -b freebsd-fixes-001 https://github.com/hernan604/pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd
 
To each, their own - I guess. I did a lot of work to have bitperfect audio enabled on FreeBSD, without any "enhancers" in play. Pure OSS up to 7.1 (also pass-through for surround formats) up to 192/24 , nothing else. It can be hard to avoid Pulseaudio these days.
 
recluce said:
To each, their own - I guess. I did a lot of work to have bitperfect audio enabled on FreeBSD, without any "enhancers" in play. Pure OSS up to 7.1 (also pass-through for surround formats) up to 192/24 , nothing else. It can be hard to avoid Pulseaudio these days.
Click to expand...
DEAr recluce :
can you share your solution step by step for us ?

below was my sound system info ..
cat /dev/sndstat
Installed devices:
pcm0: <NVIDIA (0x0042) (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
pcm1: <NVIDIA (0x0042) (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
pcm2: <NVIDIA (0x0042) (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
pcm3: <Realtek ALC280 (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> (play/rec) default
pcm4: <Realtek ALC280 (Rear Analog)> (play/rec)
No devices installed from userspace.
game@work2:~ $ mixer
pcm3:mixer: <Realtek ALC280 (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> on hdaa1 (play/rec) (default)
vol = 0.80:0.80 pbk
pcm = 0.80:0.80 pbk
speaker = 0.50:0.50 rec
mix = 0.50:0.50 rec
rec = 0.37:0.37 pbk
igain = 0.50:0.50 pbk
ogain = 0.80:0.80 pbk
monitor = 0.56:0.56 rec src

please let me music Hi.............thanks.
 
hernan604 said:
I was able to build pulseeffects under freebsd 14.3.

If anybody cares to help me test it, and if people are mostly happy with it, i will update the freebsd port if this works good enough for you guys. Some filters are not working, ie. the equalizer.. it seems to be able to activate, however any changes to its settings does not reflect in sound output.

Most other filters work as expected.. especially the bass enhancer one which i am more interested in

Here is the branch "freebsd-fixes-001" with some fixes for freebsd under my fork: https://github.com/hernan604/pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd/tree/freebsd-fixes-001

Clone the repo:

Code: 
git clone -b freebsd-fixes-001 https://github.com/hernan604/pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd

cd pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd

Install dependencies:

Code: 
./install_deps.sh

And then run build.sh to build and install:

Code: 
./build.sh

NOTE: You need to enable dbus in /etc/rc.conf:

Code: 
sysrc dbus_enable="YES"

(and reboot) -- if you start it manually with "service dbus onestart" you might need to run pulseeffects a couple times.. i recommend you enable in /etc/rc.conf and reboot

After you enabled dbus, run:

Code: 
pulseeffects

And it is possible to run pulseeffects inside a bhyve vm also.. you will need to add the required parameters to your bhyve conf to get soundoutput. But that also works

The reason some plugins/effects are not working is because some of those plugins might have outdated bindings from the gstreamer libraries and what not. I asked in the wwmm issues page, and thats what i was told ( https://github.com/wwmm/easyeffects/issues/2876#issuecomment-2993638849 ).. some bindings were renamed over the years. I dont really know how to debug that, but if anyone cares, please submit a PR patch in my branch https://github.com/hernan604/pulseeffects-legacy-freebsd/tree/freebsd-fixes-001

Check it out and reply here if you like it or not
Click to expand...
Build fails for me. I have attached output.
 

Attachments

LibreQuest I rebuilt it here on a fresh freebsd 14.3. I noticed the "meson" dependency was missing in install_deps.sh so i added it.

I also installed bash and sudo... and added the username thats building to sudoers file. (the ninja from meson will ask if you want it to use sudo to install the pulseeffects)

So basically, installed a fresh freebsd14.3, installed bash, git, sudo and zsh. Cloned the repo, switched to the freebsd-fixes-001 branch, added my user to sudoers file, then ran ./install_deps.sh and ./build.sh

And no errors.

Your error seems related to boost libs... which is installed via the install_deps.sh script
 
ArgentoSoma do you even know what is pulseeffects ?

pulseeffects is not a player.. it acts like a middleware between the audio software ( be it a browser, a movie player like vlc, or any music player, or whatever audio software ) and your card output. It is a software to enhance sound output.
 
besta said:
ArgentoSoma do you even know what is pulseeffects ?

pulseeffects is not a player.. it acts like a middleware between the audio software ( be it a browser, a movie player like vlc, or any music player, or whatever audio software ) and your card output. It is a software to enhance sound output.
Click to expand...
Sorry!

Now, given your vast and extensive knowledge (judging by the way you speak), I'll proceed to say that you can modify the system-wide EQ preset in FreeBSD using src.

How so? You have it for homework. Let's see if reading the documentation helps you (if you can read clearly).

P.S.: I know what Pulseeffects and Easyeffects are.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top