Right channel only recording

[Patson]

I use Windows XP, Audacity 1.2.6, and an Alesis Multimix 12 Firewire. To make sure I understand, when looking at a timeline, the top is the left channel and the bottom is the right channel, correct??

I cannot get both channels to record. I have gone to Pref, Channels and selected stereo, however, only the bottom channel records. If I choose mono, then nothing gets recorded.

I checked the pan knob on the Alesis and it is set in the middle. When recording I hear audio in both ears through my headphones and the pan knob works properly. The LED lights also show both channels coming in via the mic. I don't see/know of any way to adjust for left or right channel out to the computer. I rechecked all connections based on the Alesis manuel and all cables are tight, good quality and routed properly. (it is connected to my computer via Firewire)

I have the exact problem when I use my Adobe Audition software too. I think I am just missing a basic setting somewhere and can't figure it out. Any suggestions would be appreciated as this videographer is trying to produce better audio.

Thanks in advance, Pat

[kozikowski]

<<<when looking at a timeline, the top is the left channel and the bottom is the right channel, correct??>>>

Yes, that's correct.

There are quite a few reasons you could get left only, but no reasons you can get right only.

<<<Alesis Multimix 12 Firewire.>>>

Has this box ever worked anywhere?

Does it still?

Koz

[Patson]

Thanks for your response,

Yes, I've used it for two projects and it worked just fine when I was recording an audiobook in Jan and Feb. I did all the recording in Audacity and it worked very well. Then I didn't use it at all until just last week. I was to start recording another book and couldn't get the left channel to record when I was trying to get the settings adjusted for the reader. Is it possible that something could have gone out in the box after it has been sitting for two months and was now just fired up? I purchased some M-audio speakers that I was using for editing/cleaning up the audiobook. Then when I went into Adobe Premiere to edit a video project, the audio would not route from my computer to the Alesis to the new speakers. When I got that setting resolved in the Premier software, it was not happy and the timeline kept stopping. So I went back to the original settings so I could editing through on my crummy desktop speakers. Now that the video project is done and it's time for another audio book, I'm only getting the right channel. I was going to contact Alesis, however I feel that since the audio is coming into the mixer just fine, they will probably blame a setting on the computer or in the software. I appreciate all ideas to resolve this.

Thanks, Pat

[kozikowski]

<<<Yes, I've used it for two projects and it worked just fine when I was recording an audiobook in Jan and Feb. >>>

That's too bad.

You're really close to Stump The Band time. Beyond something is just broken, I can think of only one other thing that could cause this. The mixer claims that it sends all of its individual channels and the Mix-Outs down the FireWire digital pathway. We know that Audacity will accept and manage up to 16 tracks of audio from any one sound device. The mixer counts as one device, so I'm wondering if you're "looking" at the wrong sound channels.

This would make the people blaming the computer right.

For example, if your microphone was connected to the mixer channel 2 and Audacity was expecting all 16 channels, your microphone would arrive as "Right," really channel 2 of 16.

Does the sound in Audacity go away when you bring the board master faders down?

--------------------- - - -----------------------

The Real Broken Event could be that the Line-Out signals, being that you have basically a nice analog mixer, have satisfied the requirements of the analog services (audio outputs, metering, headphones) but the connections to the little analog/digital FireWire converter have failed. It's practically a guarantee that the board does not decode the digital signal to run the meters, so the digital output is flying blind in a thick fog.

If you contact the company (and you may have no choice) I would ask them how they tell if the digital output was correct. They may have a secret button or a simple software package.

Given that you are producing work with a mono microphone, you can proceed with the show and "make" two channel mono later. So this isn't a show stopper, but it's certainly cause for alarm.

Koz

[Patson]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I did contact Alesis and they had me change settings from mono to stereo to a few different channels in what seemed to be an attempt to figure out what you had suggested might be the problem, but nothing changed.

They then had me do a complete uninstall/reinstall with new drivers and they stressed to pay close attention to the proper install sequence. Audacity now is up and running and I'm happy. Audition still is not behaving exactly right, but it is a "vintage" edition and is probably not happy with the new updates.

Again, thanks for you time Koz, I greatly appreciate it!

Pattie