Confusing Right with Left...

[Thortok2000]

This didn't get an answer in the other forum after a few days, so maybe it was the wrong forum. I'll try this one...

When I first got my TV tuner and started playing my console video games on it, I noticed pretty quickly that left and right audio were messed up. I checked all the way down the line. I had my headphones on correctly, I had my speakers set up, I had my sound card set up, I had white plugged into white and red plugged into red. But it was still swapped, left was right and right was left. The problem only occurred when using the TV tuner, right and left works fine in my other video games and programs, etc.

To fix this, I plug my white cords into the red slot and my red cords into the white slot. And this works fine for while I'm actually playing the game.

However, now that I'm recording, I notice in my playback that left and right audio is swapped back again. So when I go back to play the recording of me playing the game, it is now incorrectly swapped (and therefore correctly representing the fact that the cords are plugged in the swapped way)...but when I'm actually playing and even while I'm actually doing the recording, it's fine (and the opposite of the way the cords are plugged in).

What gives? Or is it some problem with Windows Media Player that's doing the playback?

[lordsmurf]

What sound card?

[Thortok2000]

My driver says "SoundMAX Digital Audio", I think it's the onboard sound card of my PCChips A31G Motherboard.

[lordsmurf]

Well, that's your problem. Your sound card is a piece of crap. Most all "integrated" cards are that way. Sorry to be blunt, but I assume you want the direct answer.

Get a good dedicated PCI slot sound card, either from SoundBlaster or Turtle Beach.

Problem solved.

[Thortok2000]

It's a piece of crap compared to fancy soundcards, etc. This I know.

However, it works, and this is the only time I've ever encountered it giving any kind of error at all. I don't have the money to go around buying parts I don't need. I'm not trying to record in surround sound or anything.

Are you saying this problem is unfixable?

[bendixG15]

I hear about compatability problems between Vista and Creative cards.
I am not on Vista so I don't care.

But if you are on Vista, you may find some info here ..
http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=Vista&message.id=1694

[Thortok2000]

Not on Vista. Using WinXP.

[lordsmurf]

However, it works, .................. I don't have the money to go around buying parts I don't need.

(A) It doesn't work.
(B) You can grab a card for $25. If that breaks the bank, you've got more important problems to deal with.

I know I sound like a real ass in this post, but I'm honestly trying to give sage advice.

[SingSing]

I think soundmax is from Analog Device. I have it on one of my MOBO, and it works properly on left and right channel setup on both in and out.

Hmm, The sound card input and output are both on stereo mini plugs. it is worth while to determine wether the RCA to miniplug cables are identical and setup correctly or not.

[Thortok2000]

My monitor isn't plugged in.

When I turn on my computer, the monitor "doesn't work". Better go buy a new one! Because that's ALWAYS the first step in solving ANY technical problem!

[/sarcasm]

I would really prefer to exhaust all alternatives first before I start spending money. The reason I came to this forum was to ask if there's some settings somewhere that can be changed to fix this or something. Fixing is better than replacing.

[dphirschler]

As blunt as he is being, I find myself agreeing with Lordsmurf here. $25 can be money well spent. You'd be surprised at just how good a soundcard you can buy for that money. You'll notice right away the absence of noise and just the clean sound of things. But you'll also likely get S/PDIF digital 5.1 output and a much cleaner line-in input.


Darryl

[Thortok2000]

So what do I do if it turns out it's a problem with the program I'm doing the recording with, and the exact same problem happens even on a different soundcard?

My speakers aren't all that great in the first place so if I got a new soundcard I wouldn't really be able to notice any increase in sound quality.

And yes, I really can't afford to part with $25. I'd rather just put up with the problem.

[lordsmurf]

So what do I do if it turns out it's a problem with the program I'm doing the recording with, and the exact same problem happens even on a different soundcard?

Stores like Walmart sell the $25 SoundBlaster cards, and they have a 90-day return policy. Just take it back, say it didn't work with your computer (but mention it might be fine, it's not a defective product). They'll give your money back, the good product goes back on the shelf.

Easy.

[Thortok2000]

And then what? Let's assume all that's already happened and I still have the problem. What do I do now?

[dphirschler]

Maybe you can try this approach in AviSynth when you go to encode your game video:

video=AviSource("myvideo.avi").KillAudio
audio=AviSource("myvideo.avi").KillVideo

audioL=GetChannel(audio,1)#.Normalize
audioR=GetChannel(audio,2)#.Normalize
audio=MergeChannels(audioR, audioL)

return AudioDub(video, audio)

Darryl

[liquid217]

What application are you using view the tv in signal? Are you running the audio through the tv card, and then to the sound board, or is it run directly into the line input?

Im thinking its some type of directshow filter problem. If you are using a directshow application, build a filter graph with graphedit and see if there is an offending filter in the chain.

[Thortok2000]

Actually, I remembered that the computer gathering dust in the corner had a relatively new soundcard in it, so I went and grabbed that.

It's a CMI 8738 C3DX thingy. I can't find the software that went with it.

In Windows, everything works fine, but when I go to HyperMedia (the recording program that came with my tv tuner card), everything is, like, echoed or something. Right and left work correctly, though, but the echo is even worse.

I'm still adjusting settings and stuff trying to figure this out, but if anyone knows and can help, please do.

Edit: Nevermind, I fixed it.

Thanks for all the help guys! Sorry if I was unsocial.

And hey, now I have a better soundcard in this computer. If it wasn't for this thread I probably would've forgotten that computer had a soundcard in it. I can already notice the sound quality improved, even with my crappy speakers.

Thanks again!

[lordsmurf]

Glad you got it working.