Channel imbalance when recording

[ignatz]

I am using Audacity version 1.3.13 on Windows 7 SP1, fully updated.

I have developed a channel recording imbalance—weak right channel when the balance slider in Realtek HD Audio Manager is centered at the midpoint between L and R.

This is a recent development for no apparent reason. Until a couple of months ago, both channels had had similar meter readings for all the years I have used Audacity. I’ve never previously had any reason to adjust the balance control.

The second picture below is what I see when recording. Most of my recording is done from Youtube and this phenomenon occurs in all cases.

I can adjust for this to some degree by pushing the Realtek HD Audio Manager balance slider way to the right. See the first picture below to see that setting (upper left in the picture). The slider is only adjustable in ten steps (rather than anywhere along its range) and I therefore can’t correct the imbalance precisely.

I can’t recall any system changes that might be relevant, other than continually keeping Windows updated.

Any ideas why this has occurred in the last couple of months? Am I overlooking a global setting?

Any suggestions appreciated.

[DVDdoug]

I'm not on Win7 right now, but there is usually a balance control for each input as well as a master balance control.

If that's not it, maybe your soundcard (or soundchip) has died.

On WinXP, you double-click the speaker icon to bring-up the Windows mixer, and then go through the options to select the recording mixer. But, I think the steps are different on Win7...

[ignatz]

I'm not on Win7 right now, but there is usually a balance control for each input as well as a master balance control.

If that's not it, maybe your soundcard (or soundchip) has died.

On WinXP, you double-click the speaker icon to bring-up the Windows mixer, and then go through the options to select the recording mixer. But, I think the steps are different on Win7...

If there is another balance control, I certainly cannot find it.

Double-clicking the speaker icon brings up the interface shown in the first picture in my first post. That's the nearest thing I can find to a balance control.

I don't see anything directly relevant in Windows sound control panel.

I am unaware of a "Windows mixer".

Any other suggestions? Is Windows 7 not widely used on this forum?