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Guide · Open source

How to use AutoEq: web app, install and EQ settings

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

AutoEq is an open-source tool that calculates equalizer settings to correct how a pair of headphones sounds, based on published frequency response measurements. This guide explains the easiest route (the web app at autoeq.app), the developer install from the README, and the limits you should know before you start. By the end you will know which path fits you and how to run the basic command.

AutoEqjaakkopasanen/AutoEq · ★ 16.4k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Pick your route. Use the web app at autoeq.app if you want no installation. Choose the command line only if you are comfortable with a terminal.
  2. 2Check your headphone is covered. Confirm the headphone has been measured by a supported source. If it is missing, the README says it has not been measured by any of them.
  3. 3Clone the repository. Run git clone on the AutoEq repository and move into the AutoEq folder.
  4. 4Create and activate a virtual environment. Run python -m venv venv, then activate it with the command for your operating system.
  5. 5Install the package. Update pip, then run python -m pip install -U -e . inside the AutoEq folder.
  6. 6Verify and run. Run python -m autoeq --help to check the install, then pass your measurement file and target to AutoEq.
  7. 7Apply the settings elsewhere. Import the generated settings into your separate equalizer app, since AutoEq does not apply EQ itself.

What AutoEq does and does not do

AutoEq calculates equalizer settings. It does not apply the equalization itself, so you need a separate equalizer app to use the settings. According to the README, it produces settings for basically all types of equalizer apps.

The project's measurements come from oratory1990, crinacle, InnerFidelity, Rtings and legacy headphone.com measurements. A headphone that none of these sources has measured is not in the database.

  • Produces EQ settings; does not play or process audio
  • Needs a separate equalizer app to apply the settings
  • Only covers headphones measured by the supported sources

Use the web app at autoeq.app

For most people the web application is the intended route. The README says it lets you equalize and tweak headphone frequency responses without installing anything.

Go to autoeq.app, select your equalizer app of choice, and follow the import instructions shown on the site.

  • No installation required
  • Choose your equalizer app on the site and follow its import instructions

Install AutoEq for command line use

The command line and Python interface are advanced use, mainly intended for developers. Before installing, you need Git, 64-bit Python 3, and possibly libsndfile if you hit problems with soundfile.

On Windows, when installing Git, choose Windows SSL verification instead of Open SSL, or you may have trouble installing dependencies. When installing Python, check Add Python 3.X to PATH.

  • Git
  • 64-bit Python 3 with Add Python 3.X to PATH checked
  • libsndfile, only if you have soundfile problems
  • On Linux you may need Python dev packages, pip and venv
git clone https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq.git cd AutoEq python -m venv venv python -m pip install -U -e .

Activate the environment and check the install

Activate the virtual environment before running AutoEq. The README gives different commands for Windows and for Linux and Mac. Update pip first, then run the help command to confirm the install worked.

When you come back later, you only need to change into the folder and activate the environment again.

  • Windows: venv\Scripts\activate.bat
  • Linux and Mac: . venv/bin/activate
  • Check the install with the help command; it lists the accepted parameters
python -m pip install -U pip python -m autoeq --help

Run an example equalization

The README example equalizes the Sennheiser HD 650 and saves results to my_results/. The flags select the input measurement, the target curve and the output types.

The README also shows a longer example with a Sennheiser HD 800 that uses a target, a maximum gain and parametric EQ settings. Use the --help output to see every parameter for your version.

  • --input-file points to a measurement CSV
  • --target points to a target curve CSV
  • --output-dir sets where results are saved
python -m autoeq --input-file="measurements/oratory1990/data/over-ear/Sennheiser HD 650.csv" --output-dir="my_results" --target="targets/harman_over-ear_2018.csv" --convolution-eq --parametric-eq --ten-band-eq --fs=44100,48000

Update AutoEq when the project changes

The README says AutoEq is in active development and gets new measurements, results and features. Pull the latest code with git, then refresh the packages if dependencies changed.

  • Get the latest code with git pull
  • Refresh dependencies if needed
git pull python -m pip install -U -e .

What people use it for

  • Getting EQ settings for a measured headphone and importing them into an equalizer app
  • Comparing a headphone against a chosen target curve
  • Scripting frequency response processing or EQ optimization in Python
  • Generating results for a headphone from the bundled oratory1990 measurements

Frequently asked questions

Is AutoEq free?

AutoEq is released under the MIT licence, according to the project's listing. The README does not describe any paid tier, so check the repository licence file for the full terms.

Do I need to install AutoEq to use it?

No. The README says the web application at autoeq.app lets you equalize and tweak headphone frequency responses without installing anything. Installation is only needed for command line and Python use.

What do I need to install AutoEq from the command line?

The README lists Git, 64-bit Python 3, and libsndfile only if you have soundfile problems. On Linux you may also need Python dev packages and pip, and on Windows you may need the Visual C++ Redistributable.

Does AutoEq apply the equalization to my audio?

No. AutoEq only calculates equalizer settings. The README says you need a different equalizer app to apply them.

Why is my headphone missing from AutoEq?

The README says a headphone missing from AutoEq means it has not been measured by any of the supported sources. Opening an issue will not add it, because the project takes its measurements from those databases.

How does AutoEq compare with Equalizer APO or oratory1990 presets?

Equalizer APO is a system-wide equalizer app, so it applies EQ rather than calculating it. The oratory1990 presets are ready-made settings, while AutoEq generates settings for many headphones and lets you pick a target. The README does not give a detailed comparison, so test each against your own headphone.

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Our verdict

AutoEq suits people who own a headphone measured by a supported source and want EQ settings they can import into their own equalizer app, especially through the web app. Pick another option if you want an app that applies EQ directly, if your headphone has no supported measurement, or if you are unwilling to use a terminal for the command line route.

Install options & downloads