Change stereo sound output to one side of the earphones only...

Hello Realgar,

 Thank you for using Microsoft Windows Vista Forums.

 Sorry you are having a problem with this issue.

 Go into Control Panel-> Sound-> Under the "Playback" Tab select "Properties" for your device. (Speakers, headset)
Next you will be on a tab "Speaker Properties".  Select "Levels' this option will allow you to change the balance.

 Please let us know status.  Thanks!

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James Microsoft Answers Support Engineer Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Hi, I had tried that before, it doesn't result in what I want, it will only mute the right channel, but the right channel sounds still don't output to the left side too (it does not output the mono sound to the left side)...

In winamp I could sum the left and right channels and output both to the left side, that's what I wish to achieve, if possible...

Hi realgar,

Thanks for posting to answers.microsoft.com

From the information provided, it may be that you are wanting to change the configuration of your speakers.  To do so Click Start ORB / Control Panel / Classic View / Sounds / Playback tab / Click the Speakers listed and select the Configure button below.  The configuration and test module will be open and there are a few features that you will be able to change the output of.

Verify if those settings are as desired, if so, the only output that should be different on one side then the other is if the devices are in Surround Sound Configuration.  If you are not wanting the surround sound effect, change it to the Front/Left/Right feature from the configuration screen described previously.

Please let us know if this assists you or if further assistance is needed.

Kind regards,

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Debbie
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Hi, I had tried that before, it doesn't result in what I want, it will only mute the right channel, but the right channel sounds still don't output to the left side too (it does not output the mono sound to the left side)...

In winamp I could sum the left and right channels and output both to the left side, that's what I wish to achieve, if possible...

Realgar,

Nobody ever seems to understand the question you are asking or ones simiar to it. It's really beginning to make me angry, as I have a similar problem, and can't find a solution.

Maybe this will help:

Realgar is DEAF (Can't hear) in one ear( his right ear).
Some songs have stereo separation. For example: maybe it has music in the left, singing in the right, so in this case, he can hear the music, but can't hear the singing.

Simply changing the balance will not resolve the issue. He needs the system to provide MONO output, so that both left and right audio is present in BOTH EARS.

This should NOT be overly complicated to understand.

I have a similar, but what should be a simpler to solve, problem: I have about 80% loss in my right ear. For ME, the balance control slider DOES resolve the issue, but only temporarily, when I restart Vista, the balance is always right back at the balanced position. I have to go through the same sequence of 11 mouse clicks and a slider drag EVERY TIME I START WINDOW. There does not even appear to be a way to easily access the balance page of the control from an icon.

I think that the real answer here is that Microsoft (and other companies, like Apple) have engineered out these simple features (locked balance control, mono output) because most people don't use the controls. They pretty much ignore the fact that for everone with a hearing imbalance (not uncommon by the way...) these tools are critical.

I have asked for solutions to these problems several times in the past, and I get responses like:
Why would you want to change the balance? It's already perfectly balanced. Or: That will change the way it's supposed to sound. Or even: "That's not the way the artist wanted it presented."

I've also seen comments about using a balance control device (ever try to find one? I have found ONE, and it's almost as bulky as one of the larger iPods, with a 25 foot cable.) or "If you're handy with a soldering iron, you could try including resistors in the wiriing"

IS there ANYONE who can actually take the time to READ the problem that knows a solution?

I have the exact same problem as Realgar. I can only hear from the right side (not from left side like Realgar though), and would like to get a solution that can make the sound output come from one side of the the headphone. In other words, what outputs from the left and right can all be directed to one side (simply put: what you hear from both sides, we want to hear from one side).
I am almost sure that I configured the settings to do that before, but I cannot find it. Maybe it was on WinXP.

I looked into the configuration and test module that was suggested.  I found in the first window there was an option for stereo sound, but not an option for the mono sound that we'd all love...actually there wasn't any other option besides the stereo sound.  Is there maybe something we can download and install so that we can get mono sound?

You have to enable SRS WoW effects, which is a bass boosting thing in Media Player.. As a side effect it changes the sound to almost mono. You can't tell the difference on most songs. It's one of the Now Playing>Enhancements options. Then, once it's enabled, lower the sliders to 0 if you don't like the other effects.

Another option is to get a mono stereo cable or mono headphones.

this helps but this takes too long...........Microsoft really makes things worse big time

I use VLC Media Player instead, it's free and you can actually set to Mono output.

Thank you very much James...it was very useful..!!!!!! Sometimes somesilly problems gives us great panic...Thank you!!!!