Audacity Forum

Let me start by saying that YES, I do have the recording preferences set to "2-channel (stereo)." I have been using Audacity for a while now and never had this problem before. I'm using Audacity on Windows 7 to get recordings from a digital 12-track console onto the computer. The output coming directly from the console is true stereo, but for some reason when it gets into Audacity, I'm losing sounds that are panned to the right. The Left and Right channels in Audacity are getting equal levels of volume, but everything seems to be panned center and things that were originally panned right are barely audible. I've been using Audacity in this way for over 6 months now and I haven't changed anything in my setup or configuration, but now all of a sudden I'm having this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

If you import a known good audio file and play it, does it play normally?
If you play an audio file in another program (for example Windows Media Player), does it play normally?

Yes, if I import a good audio file into Audacity it plays fine, with normal stereo seperation. Same goes for playing audio within other programs on the computer.

Do you think it's the interface I'm using? Haven't had this problem with it before. It's a Numark analog-to-digital interface (RCA to USB). I tried switching out the RCA cables, made no difference.

Could you give a detailed description of your set up, including the make/model of the various bit of equipment and what you have plugged into where with what sort of cable.

It looks like I discovered what the problem was. Somehow the sound settings in my computer's control panel got changed. The recording properties were somehow set to 1 channel. Certainly not my doing. I wonder if the computer defaults back to this setting after a full shutdown or something? Anyway, thank you for your time. It's great to know that you guys are here to help.

You're welcome.