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I don't know if anyone has explored this little gem of a software or not...but I tend to think pretty highly of it.
Anyone using a Windows based computer setup should really look into this. It's free, so that's even better.
The program is called Fidelizer.
Basically, what it does is re-prioritizes all the processes within windows to optimize the audio portion only and gives them higher count over EVERYTHING else windows does. In doing so, this helps make sure that the audio (bit by bit) arrives precisely in time to it's destination. As most users can attest to, windows LOVES to do background tasks and this can cause the audio threads to not arrive at their proper time. It's sort of like jitter on the CPU side of things. It's NOT jitter mind you, but that's the easiest way to think of it.
The benefits I've found have been a more fuller and natural sound. The biggest benefit I've found is when used, things just seem to sound more realistic than they do without using it.
The negatives are only four, and all minor annoyances more than anything. First, once you run the program... you can't undo it until you reboot. Which isn't really a negative unless you can't reboot or forget and come back to the computer and wonder why everything is running so slow. Just would've been nice to be able to run things again and return to normal. Second, by default the checkbox for making the program's website your home page is checked.... so if you forget to un-check it... yeah you know. And third, after you run the program... it automatically pops up it's website which you have to close off. The guy that wrote the program did these things because companies were taking his software and trying to incorporate it with their hardware and pass it off as theirs....so he did this so they can't use it as their own. Again, all annoyances and nothing major but they are there. The last and possible the biggest issue some will have is that it will stop your wireless network. It needs to be hardwired in order to use. I think the lowest quality setting will allow wireless but all the others stop your wifi card. I believe this is true, but have not tried it, I think I read that somewhere though.
In order to use the program all you have to do is put the Fidelizer.exe onto your desktop and run it. When it comes up you can select your "level of musicality"... there's an extreme mode that will shutdown your network and most system processes...I've not used it as all my music is stored on my server so I need network. I have always stuck with Audiophile quality and it works well in this mode. Make sure to un-check the box for switching your homepage. Now before you click to "Fidelize" your computer, you should make sure that most of your open programs are shut down. This includes your audio playback software (actually this is the most important). You do not want your Audio program open as it will lower it's priority to process the audio. Once you click the Fidelize button, it will take a few seconds and optimize the processes. When done it will pop up it's webpage (just close it), then open up your audio playback software and start to enjoy. The program will stay running until the computer reboots. This is even true if you "end task" on it as none of the other processes ever get re-prioritized. When you're done all you have to do is reboot and your computer will return to normal. How do you know when it's normal... when Fidelizer is running, just try opening up IE or Chrome or any other programs and you'll see how slow they open and run.
I personally use this anytime I want to sit back and really do some critical listening.... for my normal sit down and just listen to a few songs I don't use it...but any extended session... yep... it's a great piece of software!
Anyone using a Windows based computer setup should really look into this. It's free, so that's even better.
The program is called Fidelizer.
Basically, what it does is re-prioritizes all the processes within windows to optimize the audio portion only and gives them higher count over EVERYTHING else windows does. In doing so, this helps make sure that the audio (bit by bit) arrives precisely in time to it's destination. As most users can attest to, windows LOVES to do background tasks and this can cause the audio threads to not arrive at their proper time. It's sort of like jitter on the CPU side of things. It's NOT jitter mind you, but that's the easiest way to think of it.
The benefits I've found have been a more fuller and natural sound. The biggest benefit I've found is when used, things just seem to sound more realistic than they do without using it.
The negatives are only four, and all minor annoyances more than anything. First, once you run the program... you can't undo it until you reboot. Which isn't really a negative unless you can't reboot or forget and come back to the computer and wonder why everything is running so slow. Just would've been nice to be able to run things again and return to normal. Second, by default the checkbox for making the program's website your home page is checked.... so if you forget to un-check it... yeah you know. And third, after you run the program... it automatically pops up it's website which you have to close off. The guy that wrote the program did these things because companies were taking his software and trying to incorporate it with their hardware and pass it off as theirs....so he did this so they can't use it as their own. Again, all annoyances and nothing major but they are there. The last and possible the biggest issue some will have is that it will stop your wireless network. It needs to be hardwired in order to use. I think the lowest quality setting will allow wireless but all the others stop your wifi card. I believe this is true, but have not tried it, I think I read that somewhere though.
In order to use the program all you have to do is put the Fidelizer.exe onto your desktop and run it. When it comes up you can select your "level of musicality"... there's an extreme mode that will shutdown your network and most system processes...I've not used it as all my music is stored on my server so I need network. I have always stuck with Audiophile quality and it works well in this mode. Make sure to un-check the box for switching your homepage. Now before you click to "Fidelize" your computer, you should make sure that most of your open programs are shut down. This includes your audio playback software (actually this is the most important). You do not want your Audio program open as it will lower it's priority to process the audio. Once you click the Fidelize button, it will take a few seconds and optimize the processes. When done it will pop up it's webpage (just close it), then open up your audio playback software and start to enjoy. The program will stay running until the computer reboots. This is even true if you "end task" on it as none of the other processes ever get re-prioritized. When you're done all you have to do is reboot and your computer will return to normal. How do you know when it's normal... when Fidelizer is running, just try opening up IE or Chrome or any other programs and you'll see how slow they open and run.
I personally use this anytime I want to sit back and really do some critical listening.... for my normal sit down and just listen to a few songs I don't use it...but any extended session... yep... it's a great piece of software!
I just really like to know how things work (especially being a software developer by day).
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