NotHereToPlayGames

I'm open for suggestions. "Decoding is better done on hardware" doesn't sound like an option, I'm just looking to watch movies, not buy thousands of dollars in recording studio equipment. So I've been trying dozens of different software-based options.

Portables *can* be .exe's. Common "wrappers" that bundle everything into an .exe is Cameyo, Spoon, Thinapp (used to be called Thinstall), et cetera. If truly portable, any folder that the .exe creates will be created within the folder that contains the .exe and not to external locations like Program Files or Windows folders. If truly portable, any registy entries required are created "internally" and not within the OS's registry. Often times, the OS registy is TEMPORARILY used by portable apps, but the registry entries are REMOVED when the portable app is exited/closed.

Disregard. I like Audio Limiter Pro the best. BUT... it can only be active on one browser tab at a time and I generally have anywhere from two to seven, never only one. And once I take the tab to a "picture-in-picture popped-out window", there is no toolbar to activate this extension on a per-popped-out-tab basis. So I need to stick with this one instead, works on all tabs -- https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/volume-limiter/mifbapamdlfoaejolcmnagpedbooefjf

At the OS-level, I am running this as my equalizer. https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/ *plus* https://sourceforge.net/projects/peace-equalizer-apo-extension/ voice preset, -6dB pre-amplify reduction, enable surround effect

Okay, I found what is working great for my setups. Whispers amplified, gun fire and explosions reduced. STOP the MADNESS of having to increase/decrease volume 140 times during a 90min movie! Test cases - 1) Computer A = no external speakers, just the speakers built into the computer monitor (cheap Insignia tv HDMI input) 2) Computer B = three external speakers - Creative powered left, right, center/subwoofer 3) Computer C = HDMI feeding Onkyo TX-NR696 Dolby Atmos 7.2 configured as standard 5.1 (front left, front right, front center, surround left, surround right, subwoofer) 4) Computer D = HDMI converted to old-school red/white/yellow AV feeding audio two-channel audio inputs of Samsung (can't find model #) which 'converts' 2.0 stereo to 5.1 surround Browser runs compressor. EQ no longer ran from within browser and ran at OS-level instead. Browser = Audio Limiter Pro -- https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/audio-limiter-pro/nbegknfbjphdkfigiepacdkichbmdaof Set at "commercial" preset, ceiling reduced to -10, threshold reduced to -40. Good test video = 1hr 22min area of Mr. and Mrs. Smith -- https://youtu.be/47G7Xhmt0so?t=4954

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<copied from a Google search> Windows Defender was first introduced as a downloadable anti-spyware tool for Windows XP (Service Pack 2) and Windows Server 2003, then became a built-in feature starting with Windows Vista, evolving into a full antivirus suite with Windows 8, and is now part of the integrated Windows Security in Windows 10/11. </copy> If you allow/enable "Windows Updates", then it can add Windows Defender. I always disabled Windows Updates when I ran XP x64 so I am unsure if Windows Defender would have been installed via that route.

Nah, not really. Just typed too fast. I edited my post but you read it before my edit went through. Regardless, the bottom line here is that Supermium users only have themselves to blame if they are "opting IN" on these 'protection services'.

I would have to investigate further. ie, Supermium can be keeping the setting in the GUI but that doesn't technically mean that the setting "works". Doesn't really interest me further at this point. Not at v138 at least. Who knows about future releases.

You made/forwarded/cited this so-called claim. The burden is on you to prove it. Citing two people arguing in Russian is no proof of anything. If you can't prove it, it doesn't exist. But technically, I AGREE WITH YOU. No skin off my back either way. Supermium couldn't log into my bank. But yeah, I did try, and yeah, I *immediately* changed my bank password after the failed login attempt. Supermium (and all Chrome forks above version 79 [December 2019]) have password data breach "protection". Personally, if you "trust these", you only INVITE man-in-the-middle and you VOLUNTEERED for your password hash to be TRANSMITTED !!! You REQUESTED it be analyzed via THIRD-PARTY to see if it exists in the wild. You ASKED for that when you opted in for the "protection". This is no different than VOLUNTEERING your local files to be SUBMITTED to antivirus firms if you allow them to be scanned by antivirus software. Technically, I AGREE WITH YOU, there *ARE* settings in Supermium (and all Chrome versions since 2019 !!!) that transmit data that I **OPT OUT OF**. But for the enduser that does "trust" the 'service', I leave that up to them to decide on their own, I would suggest they disable these "settings". But there will be just as many that claim they are "safer" having some embedded Chrome "service" acting as their "nanny" to protect themselves from themself.

Without some sort of PROOF, this shall be considered "fearmongering".

This one is easier to use. But also doesn't let me use an EQ in conjuction with it. https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/decibel-limiter/jhdflfacjalpcajleapijmclnbilnjlh

This seems to be a great replacement for Audio Compressor. Audio Compressor was "always on" but this one has to be "turned on" whenever you load a web site. I haven't yet looked at the code to see if it can be configured to turn itself on. This one doesn't let me use an EQ in conjuction with it. https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/audio-limiter-pro/nbegknfbjphdkfigiepacdkichbmdaof

Seeking suggestions to improve video streaming experience. 1) ability to save presets specific to Computer A's speakers, Computer B's speakers, and Computer C's speakers 2) ability to prevent things like action movie LOUD scenes from being TOO LOUD 3) should work on multiple web sites (ie, not YouTube-only types of extensions) My current config uses two extensions that work decent for the most part. But one of the two extensions (Audio Compressor) has a tendency to LOCK UP (video freezes and/or stutters) and needs disabled/re-enabled quite frequently. Re-enabling also requires the streaming video web site to be reloaded. Currently using Audio Compressor version 0.1.28 in conjunction with Ears Audio Toolkit version 1.3.12. https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/audio-compressor/daomidlfpcfjchpalpjogmnhabkekbnn?hl=en https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/Ears: Bass Boost%2C EQ Any Audio!/nfdfiepdkbnoanddpianalelglmfooik

Disregard. Based on bank account login, I will need to wait until Supermium releases a v140 or higher. But even then, I also forgot that Supermium will never be able to work with Widevine on Netflix (not a showstopper, per se).