diff --git a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Profiles/LocalPCInformation.cs b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Profiles/LocalPCInformation.cs
index 675e6c2d8..101625a16 100644
--- a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Profiles/LocalPCInformation.cs
+++ b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Profiles/LocalPCInformation.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using Aurora.Utils;
 using NAudio.CoreAudioApi;
 using System.Linq;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 
 namespace Aurora.Profiles {
     /// <summary>
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@ private MMDevice CaptureDevice {
 
         private MMDevice RenderDevice {
             get {
-                renderProxy.DeviceId = Global.Configuration.GSIAudioRenderDevice;
+                if (renderProxy != null)
+                    renderProxy.DeviceId = Global.Configuration.GSIAudioRenderDevice;
                 return renderProxy?.Device;
             }
         }
@@ -150,9 +152,16 @@ private MMDevice RenderDevice {
 
         static LocalPCInformation() {
             // Do not create a capture device if audio capture is disabled. Otherwise it will create a mic icon in win 10 and people will think we're spies.
-            if (Global.Configuration.EnableAudioCapture)
-                captureProxy = new AudioDeviceProxy(Global.Configuration.GSIAudioCaptureDevice, DataFlow.Capture);
-            renderProxy = new AudioDeviceProxy(Global.Configuration.GSIAudioRenderDevice, DataFlow.Render);
+            try
+            {
+                if (Global.Configuration.EnableAudioCapture)
+                    captureProxy = new AudioDeviceProxy(Global.Configuration.GSIAudioCaptureDevice, DataFlow.Capture);
+                renderProxy = new AudioDeviceProxy(Global.Configuration.GSIAudioRenderDevice, DataFlow.Render);
+            }
+            catch(COMException e)
+            {
+                Global.logger.Error("Error initializing audio device proxy in LocalPCInfo, this is probably caused by an incompatible audio software: " + e);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Configuration.cs b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Configuration.cs
index 9ed26a8a6..5090dffd6 100755
--- a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Configuration.cs
+++ b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Configuration.cs
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ public class Configuration : INotifyPropertyChanged
         public float idle_frequency;
 
         //Hardware Monitor
-        public int HardwareMonitorUpdateRate;
+        public int HardwareMonitorUpdateRate { get; set; } = 300;
 
         public VariableRegistry VarRegistry;
 
@@ -579,8 +579,6 @@ public Configuration()
             idle_amount = 5;
             idle_frequency = 2.5f;
 
-            HardwareMonitorUpdateRate = 200;
-
             //Debug
             BitmapDebugTopMost = false;
             HttpDebugTopMost = false;
diff --git a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Control_Settings.xaml b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Control_Settings.xaml
index 239bc8501..c954ba8cb 100755
--- a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Control_Settings.xaml
+++ b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Control_Settings.xaml
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@
                     <CheckBox x:Name="timed_dimming_checkbox" Content="Enable timed blackout of the keyboard" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="10,184,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Checked="timed_dimming_checkbox_Checked" Unchecked="timed_dimming_checkbox_Checked"/>
                     <CheckBox x:Name="chkOverlayPreview" Content="Show Overlays and Underlays in Application Preview" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="12,62,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Checked="chkOverlayPreview_Checked" Unchecked="chkOverlayPreview_Checked"/>
                     <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="11,230,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Blackout start time:" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-                    <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="12,254,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Blackout end time:" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
+                    <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="11,254,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Blackout end time:" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
                     <CheckBox x:Name="timed_dimming_with_games_checkbox" Content="Apply timed blackout to game events" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="10,205,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Checked="timed_dimming_with_games_checkbox_Checked" Unchecked="timed_dimming_with_games_checkbox_Checked"/>
                     <ListBox x:Name="excluded_listbox" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="199" Margin="512,139,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="160"/>
                     <TextBlock Text="Excluded Processes" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="512,117,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="113"/>
@@ -178,6 +178,10 @@
                     <TextBlock Text="GSI Recording Device:" Margin="511,89,0,0" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" />
                     <ComboBox SelectedValue="{Binding Path=GSIAudioCaptureDevice, Mode=TwoWay}" ItemsSource="{x:Static u:AudioDeviceProxy.RecordingDevices}" DisplayMemberPath="Value" SelectedValuePath="Key" Margin="632,86,0,0" Width="185" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" />
                     <TextBlock Text="?" TextDecorations="Underline" ToolTip="The audio recording device that will be used for the local PC information state values. Does not affect visualizer layer." ToolTipService.InitialShowDelay="0" Margin="822,89,0,0" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" />
+
+                    <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="12,278,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Hardware sensors update rate:" VerticalAlignment="Top" ToolTip="Used for CPU and GPU usage, etc"/>
+                    <xctk:IntegerUpDown HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="24" Margin="178,278,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="50" Value="{Binding HardwareMonitorUpdateRate}" Maximum="2000" Minimum="100" MouseWheelActiveOnFocus="True" />
+
                 </Grid>
             </TabItem>
             <TabItem Header="Away Effects">
diff --git a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Control_Settings.xaml.cs b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Control_Settings.xaml.cs
index 9783afa0d..2b87647a1 100755
--- a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Control_Settings.xaml.cs
+++ b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Control_Settings.xaml.cs
@@ -952,9 +952,9 @@ private void startDelayAmount_ValueChanged(object sender, RoutedPropertyChangedE
         private void btnDumpSensors_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
         {
             if (HardwareMonitor.TryDump())
-                Xceed.Wpf.Toolkit.MessageBox.Show("Successfully wrote sensor info to logs folder");
+                System.Windows.MessageBox.Show("Successfully wrote sensor info to logs folder");
             else
-                Xceed.Wpf.Toolkit.MessageBox.Show("Eror dumping file. Consult log for details.");
+                System.Windows.MessageBox.Show("Eror dumping file. Consult log for details.");
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/AmbilightLayerHandler.cs b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/AmbilightLayerHandler.cs
index 3110dd8c7..74069f507 100644
--- a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/AmbilightLayerHandler.cs
+++ b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/AmbilightLayerHandler.cs
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ public override EffectLayer Render(IGameState gamestate)
                     break;
 
                 case AmbilightType.AverageColor:
-                    var average = BitmapUtils.GetAverageColor(screen);
+                    var average = BitmapUtils.GetRegionColor(screen, cropRegion);
 
                     if (Properties.BrightenImage)
                         average = ColorUtils.ChangeBrightness(average,  Properties.BrightnessChange);
diff --git a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/Control_EqualizerLayer.xaml b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/Control_EqualizerLayer.xaml
index e140026a6..c7e8788aa 100644
--- a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/Control_EqualizerLayer.xaml
+++ b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/Control_EqualizerLayer.xaml
@@ -1,15 +1,4 @@
-<UserControl x:Class="Aurora.Settings.Layers.Control_EqualizerLayer"
-             xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
-             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
-             xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006" 
-             xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008" 
-             xmlns:xctk="http://schemas.xceed.com/wpf/xaml/toolkit" 
-             xmlns:ncore="http://schemas.ncore.com/wpf/xaml/colorbox"
-             xmlns:System="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib" 
-             xmlns:u="clr-namespace:Aurora.Utils" 
-             xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Aurora.Settings.Layers"
-             xmlns:c="clr-namespace:Aurora.Controls"
-             mc:Ignorable="d" Loaded="UserControl_Loaded">
+<UserControl x:Class="Aurora.Settings.Layers.Control_EqualizerLayer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006" xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008" xmlns:xctk="http://schemas.xceed.com/wpf/xaml/toolkit" xmlns:ncore="http://schemas.ncore.com/wpf/xaml/colorbox" xmlns:System="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib" xmlns:u="clr-namespace:Aurora.Utils" xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Aurora.Settings.Layers" xmlns:c="clr-namespace:Aurora.Controls" mc:Ignorable="d" Loaded="UserControl_Loaded">
     <UserControl.Resources>
         <ResourceDictionary>
             <ObjectDataProvider x:Key="EqualizerType" MethodName="GetValues" ObjectType="{x:Type System:Enum}">
@@ -17,7 +6,7 @@
                     <x:Type TypeName="local:EqualizerType" />
                 </ObjectDataProvider.MethodParameters>
             </ObjectDataProvider>
-            <u:EqualizerTypeToStringVC x:Key="EqualizerTypeToStringVC"/>
+            <u:EqualizerTypeToStringVC x:Key="EqualizerTypeToStringVC" />
             <DataTemplate x:Key="EqualizerTypeTemplate">
                 <TextBlock Text="{Binding Converter={StaticResource EqualizerTypeToStringVC}}" />
             </DataTemplate>
@@ -27,7 +16,7 @@
                     <x:Type TypeName="local:EqualizerPresentationType" />
                 </ObjectDataProvider.MethodParameters>
             </ObjectDataProvider>
-            <u:EqualizerPresentationTypeToStringVC x:Key="EqualizerPresentationTypeToStringVC"/>
+            <u:EqualizerPresentationTypeToStringVC x:Key="EqualizerPresentationTypeToStringVC" />
             <DataTemplate x:Key="EqualizerPresentationTypeTemplate">
                 <TextBlock Text="{Binding Converter={StaticResource EqualizerPresentationTypeToStringVC}}" />
             </DataTemplate>
@@ -37,7 +26,7 @@
                     <x:Type TypeName="local:EqualizerBackgroundMode" />
                 </ObjectDataProvider.MethodParameters>
             </ObjectDataProvider>
-            <u:EqualizerBackgroundModeToStringVC x:Key="EqualizerBackgroundModeToStringVC"/>
+            <u:EqualizerBackgroundModeToStringVC x:Key="EqualizerBackgroundModeToStringVC" />
             <DataTemplate x:Key="EqualizerBackgroundModeTemplate">
                 <TextBlock Text="{Binding Converter={StaticResource EqualizerBackgroundModeToStringVC}}" />
             </DataTemplate>
@@ -45,53 +34,120 @@
         </ResourceDictionary>
     </UserControl.Resources>
 
-    <Grid>
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Equalizer Effect Type: " VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-        <ComboBox x:Name="eq_type" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="120,-2,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="147" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerType}}" ItemTemplate="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerTypeTemplate}}" SelectionChanged="eq_type_SelectionChanged"/>
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="View Type: " VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="0,27,0,0"/>
-        <ComboBox x:Name="eq_view_type" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="65,25,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="202" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerPresentationType}}" ItemTemplate="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerPresentationTypeTemplate}}" SelectionChanged="eq_view_type_SelectionChanged"/>
-
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="0,54,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Primary Color:" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-        <xctk:ColorPicker x:Name="Clr_primary_color" Margin="80,52,0,0" Height="24" VerticalAlignment="Top" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Width="187" ColorMode="ColorCanvas" SelectedColorChanged="Clr_primary_color_SelectedColorChanged" UsingAlphaChannel="True" />
-
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="0,83,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Secondary Color:" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-        <xctk:ColorPicker x:Name="Clr_secondary_color" Margin="95,81,0,0" Height="24" VerticalAlignment="Top" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Width="172" ColorMode="ColorCanvas" SelectedColorChanged="Clr_secondary_color_SelectedColorChanged" UsingAlphaChannel="True" />
-
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Gradient (Linear Only): " VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="0,110,0,0"/>
-        <ncore:ColorBox x:Name="gradient_editor" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="60" Margin="0,130,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="260" BrushChanged="Gradient_editor_BrushChanged"/>
-        <Button x:Name="Button_SetGradientRainbow" Content="Set to Rainbow" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="0,195,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Click="Button_SetGradientRainbow_Click"/>
-        <Button x:Name="Button_SetGradientRainbowLoop" Content="Set to Rainbow (Seamless)" Margin="91,195,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Width="145" Click="Button_SetGradientRainbowLoop_Click"/>
-
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="272,3,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Max amplitude:" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-        <xctk:IntegerUpDown x:Name="updown_max_amplitude_value" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="24" Margin="359,-2,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="50" Value="1" Maximum="120" Minimum="1" MouseWheelActiveOnFocus="True" ValueChanged="updown_max_amplitude_value_ValueChanged"/>
-
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="272,57,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Background Mode:" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-        <ComboBox x:Name="eq_background_mode" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="377,54,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="119" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerBackgroundMode}}" ItemTemplate="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerBackgroundModeTemplate}}" SelectionChanged="eq_background_mode_SelectionChanged"/>
-
-        <CheckBox x:Name="chkbox_scale_with_system_volume" Content="Scale with system volume" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="272,28,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Checked="chkbox_scale_with_system_sound_Checked" Unchecked="chkbox_scale_with_system_sound_Checked"/>
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="272,86,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Background Color:" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-        <xctk:ColorPicker x:Name="Clr_dim_color" Margin="375,83,0,0" Height="24" VerticalAlignment="Top" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Width="120" ColorMode="ColorCanvas" SelectedColorChanged="Clr_dim_color_SelectedColorChanged" UsingAlphaChannel="True" />
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="272,107,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Frequencies" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-        <ListView x:Name="lstbx_frequencies" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="272,128,0,0" Width="100">
-            <ListBox.ItemTemplate>
-                <HierarchicalDataTemplate>
-                    <DockPanel HorizontalAlignment="Stretch" >
-                        <TextBlock Text="{Binding}" />
-                        <TextBlock Text=" Hz" HorizontalAlignment="Left"/>
-                    </DockPanel>
-                </HierarchicalDataTemplate>
-            </ListBox.ItemTemplate>
-        </ListView>
-        <TextBox x:Name="txtBox_newFreqValue" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="23" Margin="377,128,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="60"/>
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="442,135,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Hz" VerticalAlignment="Top"/>
-        <Button x:Name="btn_AddFreq" Content="Add Frequency" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="377,155,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="100" Click="btn_AddFreq_Click"/>
-        <Button x:Name="btn_DeleteFreq" Content="Delete Frequency" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="377,180,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="100" Click="btn_DeleteFreq_Click"/>
-        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="377,205,0,-13" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Note: There must be at least 2 frequencies to sample between" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="46" Width="116"/>
-        <Button x:Name="btn_ShowPreviewWindow" Content="Show Preview Window" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="0,220,0,-2" VerticalAlignment="Top" Click="btn_ShowPreviewWindow_Click"/>
-
-        <c:KeySequence x:Name="affectedKeys" Title="Affected Rectangle" RecordingTag="EqAffectedRect" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" Margin="511,7,0,0" SequenceUpdated="KeySequence_keys_SequenceUpdated" />
-
-        <TextBlock Text="Audio Device:" Margin="511,127,0,0" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" />
-        <ComboBox SelectedValue="{Binding Path=Properties._DeviceId, Mode=TwoWay}" ItemsSource="{x:Static u:AudioDeviceProxy.PlaybackDevices}" DisplayMemberPath="Value" SelectedValuePath="Key" Margin="589,125,0,0" Width="152" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" />
+    <Grid Width="700" Height="320" VerticalAlignment="Top" HorizontalAlignment="Left">
+        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+            <ColumnDefinition Width="1*" />
+            <ColumnDefinition Width=".5*" />
+            <ColumnDefinition Width=".75*" />
+        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+        <Grid Grid.Column="0">
+            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                <ColumnDefinition />
+                <ColumnDefinition />
+            </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+            </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Equalizer Effect Type: " />
+            <ComboBox Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="eq_type" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerType}}" ItemTemplate="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerTypeTemplate}}" SelectionChanged="eq_type_SelectionChanged" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="View Type: " />
+            <ComboBox Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="eq_view_type" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerPresentationType}}" ItemTemplate="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerPresentationTypeTemplate}}" SelectionChanged="eq_view_type_SelectionChanged" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" Text="Background Mode:" />
+            <ComboBox Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="eq_background_mode" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerBackgroundMode}}" ItemTemplate="{Binding Source={StaticResource EqualizerBackgroundModeTemplate}}" SelectionChanged="eq_background_mode_SelectionChanged" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="3" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" Text="Background Color:" />
+            <xctk:ColorPicker Grid.Row="3" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="Clr_dim_color" ColorMode="ColorCanvas" SelectedColorChanged="Clr_dim_color_SelectedColorChanged" UsingAlphaChannel="True" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="4" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Primary Color:" />
+            <xctk:ColorPicker Grid.Row="4" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="Clr_primary_color" ColorMode="ColorCanvas" SelectedColorChanged="Clr_primary_color_SelectedColorChanged" UsingAlphaChannel="True" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="5" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" Text="Secondary Color:" />
+            <xctk:ColorPicker Grid.Row="5" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="Clr_secondary_color" ColorMode="ColorCanvas" SelectedColorChanged="Clr_secondary_color_SelectedColorChanged" UsingAlphaChannel="True" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="6" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Gradient (Linear Only): " />
+            <ncore:ColorBox Grid.Row="6" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="gradient_editor" BrushChanged="Gradient_editor_BrushChanged" />
+
+            <Button Grid.Row="7" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" x:Name="Button_SetGradientRainbow" Content="Set to Rainbow" Click="Button_SetGradientRainbow_Click" />
+            <Button Grid.Row="7" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="Button_SetGradientRainbowLoop" Content="Set to Rainbow (Seamless)" Click="Button_SetGradientRainbowLoop_Click" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="8" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" Text="Audio Device:" />
+            <ComboBox Grid.Row="8" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" SelectedValue="{Binding Path=Properties._DeviceId, Mode=TwoWay}" ItemsSource="{x:Static u:AudioDeviceProxy.PlaybackDevices}" DisplayMemberPath="Value" SelectedValuePath="Key" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="9" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" Text="Max amplitude:" />
+            <xctk:IntegerUpDown Grid.Row="9" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="updown_max_amplitude_value" Value="1" Maximum="120" Minimum="1" MouseWheelActiveOnFocus="True" ValueChanged="updown_max_amplitude_value_ValueChanged" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="10" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3" Text="Scale with volume:" />
+            <CheckBox Grid.Row="10" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="chkbox_scale_with_system_volume" Checked="chkbox_scale_with_system_sound_Checked" Unchecked="chkbox_scale_with_system_sound_Checked" />
+        </Grid>
+        <Grid Grid.Column="1">
+            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition Height="28px" />
+                <RowDefinition />
+                <RowDefinition Height="25px" />
+            </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                <ColumnDefinition Width="2*" />
+                <ColumnDefinition Width="1*" />
+                <ColumnDefinition Width="22px" />
+            </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="0" Margin="3,3,0,3" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Text="Frequencies" Width="63" />
+            <Image Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" Width="20" Height="20" ToolTip="There must be at least 2 frequencies to sample between" Source="/Aurora;component/Resources/info.png" ToolTipService.InitialShowDelay="0" />
+
+            <ListView Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="0" Grid.RowSpan="5" x:Name="lstbx_frequencies">
+                <ListBox.ItemTemplate>
+                    <HierarchicalDataTemplate>
+                        <DockPanel HorizontalAlignment="Stretch">
+                            <TextBlock Text="{Binding}" />
+                            <TextBlock Text=" Hz" HorizontalAlignment="Left" />
+                        </DockPanel>
+                    </HierarchicalDataTemplate>
+                </ListBox.ItemTemplate>
+            </ListView>
+
+            <Button Grid.Row="6" Grid.Column="0" Grid.ColumnSpan="3" Margin="0,4,3,2" x:Name="btn_ShowPreviewWindow" Content="Show Preview Window" Click="btn_ShowPreviewWindow_Click" />
+
+            <TextBox Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Margin="3" x:Name="txtBox_newFreqValue" />
+
+            <TextBlock Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="2" Margin="3" Text="Hz" />
+
+            <Button Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Margin="3" x:Name="btn_AddFreq" Click="btn_AddFreq_Click">
+                <Image Source="/Aurora;component/Resources/Layers_Add.png" Margin="2,0" Width="18" Height="18" />
+            </Button>
+            <Button Grid.Row="3" Grid.Column="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Margin="3" x:Name="btn_DeleteFreq" Click="btn_DeleteFreq_Click">
+                <Image Source="/Aurora;component/Resources/Layers_Remove.png" Margin="2,0" Width="18" Height="18" />
+            </Button>
+
+        </Grid>
+        <Grid Grid.Column="2">
+
+            <Grid>
+                <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                    <RowDefinition Height="28" />
+                    <RowDefinition />
+                </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+
+                <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" Height="28px" Text="Key Sequence" Margin="3" />
+                <c:KeySequence Grid.Row="1" x:Name="affectedKeys" Title="Affected Rectangle" RecordingTag="EqAffectedRect" SequenceUpdated="KeySequence_keys_SequenceUpdated" />
+            </Grid>
+
+        </Grid>
     </Grid>
 </UserControl>
diff --git a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/EqualizerLayerHandler.cs b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/EqualizerLayerHandler.cs
index 95705e033..8d3e1197a 100644
--- a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/EqualizerLayerHandler.cs
+++ b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Settings/Layers/EqualizerLayerHandler.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 using System.Drawing;
 using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
 using System.Linq;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.ServiceModel.Configuration;
 using System.Text;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Windows;
@@ -175,6 +177,8 @@ private AudioDeviceProxy DeviceProxy {
 
         private float[] previous_freq_results = null;
 
+        private bool first = true;
+
         public EqualizerLayerHandler()
         {
             _ffts = new Complex[fftLength];
@@ -193,11 +197,34 @@ public override EffectLayer Render(IGameState gamestate)
         {
             try
             {
+                //this initialization has to be done on this method 
+                //because of threading issues with the NAudio stuff.
+                //it should only be done once, so we set this bool to true right after.
+                //should prevent the layer from spamming the log with errors and throwing
+                //exceptions left and right if the users has nahimic drivers installed
+                if (first)
+                {
+                    try
+                    {
+                        DeviceProxy.DeviceId = Properties.DeviceId;
+                    }
+                    catch (COMException e)
+                    {
+                        Global.logger.Error("Error binding to audio device in the audio visualizer layer. This is probably caused by an incompatibility with audio software: " + e);
+                    }
+                    first = false;
+                }
+
+                EffectLayer equalizer_layer = new EffectLayer();
+
+                if (deviceProxy is null)
+                    return equalizer_layer;
+
                 // Update device ID. If it has changed, it will re-assign itself to the new device
                 DeviceProxy.DeviceId = Properties.DeviceId;
 
                 // The system sound as a value between 0.0 and 1.0
-                float system_sound_normalized = DeviceProxy.Device?.AudioEndpointVolume.MasterVolumeLevelScalar ?? 1f;
+                float system_sound_normalized = DeviceProxy.Device?.AudioMeterInformation?.MasterPeakValue ?? 1f;
 
                 // Scale the Maximum amplitude with the system sound if enabled, so that at 100% volume the max_amp is unchanged.
                 // Replaces all Properties.MaxAmplitude calls with the scaled value
@@ -214,8 +241,6 @@ public override EffectLayer Render(IGameState gamestate)
                 Complex[] _local_fft = new List<Complex>(_ffts).ToArray();
                 Complex[] _local_fft_previous = new List<Complex>(_ffts_prev).ToArray();
 
-                EffectLayer equalizer_layer = new EffectLayer();
-
                 bool BgEnabled = false;
                 switch (Properties.BackgroundMode)
                 {
@@ -419,7 +444,7 @@ private Brush GetBrush(float value, float position, float max_position)
 
         public override void Dispose()
         {
-            DeviceProxy?.Dispose();
+            deviceProxy?.Dispose();
             deviceProxy = null;
         }
     }
diff --git a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Utils/HardwareMonitor.cs b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Utils/HardwareMonitor.cs
index 537321b20..6bb5b2436 100644
--- a/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Utils/HardwareMonitor.cs
+++ b/Project-Aurora/Project-Aurora/Utils/HardwareMonitor.cs
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public static bool TryDump()
 
         private static ISensor FindSensor(this IHardware hardware, string identifier)
         {
-            var result = Array.Find(hardware.Sensors, s => s.Identifier.ToString().Contains(identifier));
+            var result = hardware.Sensors.OrderBy(s => s.Identifier).FirstOrDefault(s => s.Identifier.ToString().Contains(identifier));
             if (result is null)
             {
                 Global.logger.Error(
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ private static ISensor FindSensor(this IHardware hardware, string identifier)
 
         private static ISensor FindSensor(this IHardware hardware, SensorType type)
         {
-            var result = Array.Find(hardware.Sensors, s => s.SensorType == type);
+            var result = hardware.Sensors.OrderBy(s => s.Identifier).FirstOrDefault(s => s.SensorType == type);
             if (result is null)
             {
                 Global.logger.Error(
@@ -119,7 +119,9 @@ protected HardwareUpdater()
                 _updateTimer.Elapsed += (a, b) =>
                 {
                     if (inUse)
-                        hw.Update();
+                        hw?.Update();
+                    if (_updateTimer.Interval != Global.Configuration.HardwareMonitorUpdateRate)
+                        _updateTimer.Interval = Global.Configuration.HardwareMonitorUpdateRate;
                 };
                 _updateTimer.Start();
             }
@@ -129,14 +131,8 @@ protected float GetValue(ISensor sensor)
                 inUse = true;
                 _useTimer.Stop();
                 _useTimer.Start();
-                return sensor?.Value ?? 0;
-            }
 
-            public void SetUpdateTimer(int interval)
-            {
-                _updateTimer.Interval = interval;
-                _updateTimer.Stop();
-                _updateTimer.Start();
+                return sensor?.Value ?? 0;
             }
         }