pmurdie

Q: Sound balance reverting to right channel

I have a 2011 Macbook Air that I connect to a nonThunderbolt 27" Cinema Display via the Thunderbolt/USB ports from my Macbook Air.

 

Lately I've noticed that when I disconnect the Macbook and reconnect to the Cinema Display, the sound then comes from the right speaker only. Looking into system preferences the sound balance always reverts to the right channel only. I'm choosing the LED Cinema Display device for sound output.

 

No matter how many times I then correct this, the process repeats itself every time I disconnect and reconnect, I have to manually correct the sound balance.

 

Anyone else experienced similar?

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 22, 2012 8:33 AM

Close

Q: Sound balance reverting to right channel

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 5 of 5
  • by -isomorph-,

    -isomorph- -isomorph- Mar 21, 2014 3:24 PM in response to Kroduction
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 21, 2014 3:24 PM in response to Kroduction

    hi all... let me explain why i am posting here.  recently my Macbook Pro started having some weird issue with audio playback not when plug into a TV/sound system via HDMI, not when output is the default laptop built-in speakers BUT ONLY when my headphones are plugged in (and yes, i tried different headphones, issue remains so it's the headphones). 

     

    here is what happens. from 1 day to the next, when watching say a TV show, suddenly the music/background sound/voice mix was all wrong, ie voice barely audible and overlaid with all sorts of weird electronic sound distortions as if there was some sort effects processor in the loop and gone wrong or something.

     

    in System Preferences-->Sound the balance slider stopped affecting the left/right balance, that is, slide it to the left or right, you still hear sound on both channels!  but only when the headphones are plugged in. it behaves normally when output is speakers.

     

    so anyways, i tried everything:  SMC rest, PRAM reset, safe boot, recovery mode boot, OS reinstall, the suggestions above... nothing works.  went on chat with Apple but that was a wash. they are telling me that the only conclusion left is that it is a hardware problem! 

     

    so being stubborn that i am, and unwilling to accept that the audio circuitry could fail so miserably from 1 day to the next (after all, i forked out more than $4000/USD on this laptop when it came out in 2011--talk about an overpriced piece of junk considering that less than 1 year after purchase the DVD player stopped working, and the LCD started to fail within 2 years!) i investigated further and found out that when paying around with the 2 sliders for channel 1 and 2 in AudioMidi app, i am able to playback videos normally but still can't get the balance to behave properly.

     

    actually, i am wondering whether i've lost the stereo altogether and audio is coming out in mono only?  and is it really not a software issue?  did i rule everything out?

     

    i am this close to flying all the way down to Cupertino, CA, storm into the Apple building and if i manage to get past security, throw my laptop at the CEO!  yeah, i am past pis$3d off. and to think i was considering buying one their new desktops! jesus, isnt' there any computer manufacturer left able to build a quality system? 

  • by ALB2850,

    ALB2850 ALB2850 Mar 29, 2014 7:47 PM in response to Kroduction
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 29, 2014 7:47 PM in response to Kroduction

    Worked like a charm. Thanks!

  • by Dziagv,

    Dziagv Dziagv May 1, 2014 1:24 PM in response to Kroduction
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 1, 2014 1:24 PM in response to Kroduction

    There is no "com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist" in my Audio folder, what should I delete?

    I'm using Macbook Pro Retina running Mavericks Screen Shot 2014-05-01 at 22.22.45.png

  • by -isomorph-,

    -isomorph- -isomorph- May 2, 2014 1:09 PM in response to Dziagv
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 2, 2014 1:09 PM in response to Dziagv

    Dziagv, don't bother. Time to switch to Linux.    OK am kidding. Funny thing is, after I took all imaginable steps under the sun (safe mode reboot, PRAM reset, wiped the drive and reinstalled from network, you name it....) my system seems to have healed itself (all of a sudden and after a few days after the last step--no rhyme nor reason to it) and the problem finally disappeared.  However, iTunes won't even start now ((latest update and all that; gives me some run time crash dump).

     

    And so contrary to all the claims to the contrary from Apple Support, it turns out I was right and it was NOT a hardware problem!  Those guys wanted me to actually replace the motherboard!  For crying out loud. 

     

    Looks like Apple is becoming the new Microsoft where your best bet was always to wipe the drive and re-install Windows.  It's pathetic.  I am now officially in the Google camp--not a dime of my hard earned cash will go to Apple notwithstanding the gorgeous new desktop system, which is to die for:  from now on, it's Android, Chrome, and Linux Ubuntu all the way.

  • by Dziagv,

    Dziagv Dziagv May 3, 2014 1:09 AM in response to -isomorph-
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 3, 2014 1:09 AM in response to -isomorph-

    I reinstalled system and now everything is ok and I think I know what was cause of the problem. Recently I plug in not orginal Chinese headphones, after that in sound prefences "output" in that white table appeared some weird stuff, now it's gone. So use only orginal accessories with your mac

  • by Dziagv,

    Dziagv Dziagv May 4, 2014 4:13 AM in response to Dziagv
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 4, 2014 4:13 AM in response to Dziagv

    Wait! I take it back, after reinstalation, and using only orginal headphones problem come back, now I'm ****** off, have to do all settings again and problem is not solved

  • by Dziagv,

    Dziagv Dziagv May 4, 2014 4:39 AM in response to Dziagv
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 4, 2014 4:39 AM in response to Dziagv

    Screen Shot 2014-05-04 at 13.29.54.png

     

    Those 2 things are couse of the problem. I didn't install any Soundflower, don't know why is that here now, but right after reinstal there where only "headphones".

    Here are programms on my mac

    Screen Shot 2014-05-04 at 13.36.15.png

    I also have Java and Flash player. Does any body knwo with is couse of this problem?

  • by Grsmto,

    Grsmto Grsmto May 4, 2014 6:01 AM in response to Dziagv
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2014 6:01 AM in response to Dziagv

    I also have Soundflower installed. It could comes from that. I'll check this out.

  • by Joshua Stowers,

    Joshua Stowers Joshua Stowers Jul 7, 2014 4:58 AM in response to pmurdie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 7, 2014 4:58 AM in response to pmurdie

    I've been having the same problem with my 2013 Macbook Pro w/ Retina 13 inch. I think it happens when I restart my computer. For the longest time I thought I had hearing problems in my left ear. Haha.

  • by BeatsByKroduction,

    BeatsByKroduction BeatsByKroduction Jan 7, 2015 4:01 AM in response to Dziagv
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 7, 2015 4:01 AM in response to Dziagv

    PANNING SOLUTION

    1 Go to System Preferences/Flash Player/ Click block all sites from storing information on this computer and consider deleting all site data and settings

    2 Trash the com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist and Audio Folder contents in /Library/Preferences/Audio

    3 Empty the Trash

    4 Go to Applications/Utilities/Audio MIDI Setup and balance the volume

    5 Go to System Preferences/Sound/ and reset the balance to the centre

    6 Restart

     

    Hope this helps

     

    Kroduction

    [Music Producer]

  • by coligreens,

    coligreens coligreens Jan 12, 2015 1:40 PM in response to pmurdie
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Video
    Jan 12, 2015 1:40 PM in response to pmurdie

    Just set up a new 2012 Mini for my kids and this is happening. Most of the above didn't work and I'm not about to do the microsoft method as someone mentioned above. This is just stoopid! A mac should just work, thats why we spend the money. Apple please fix this in the next yosemite update.

  • by mattmcgiv,

    mattmcgiv mattmcgiv Mar 6, 2015 5:21 PM in response to pmurdie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2015 5:21 PM in response to pmurdie

    +1 my audio balances in the right headphone every time I plug them in

  • by jferrier,

    jferrier jferrier Mar 8, 2015 3:24 PM in response to pmurdie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 8, 2015 3:24 PM in response to pmurdie

    I've been having this issue on and off the past few months.

     

    MBP Retina, 15", Early 2013.

    27" USB/MiniDisplay Port Cinema Display

     

    I haven't narrowed down the steps to reproduce yet as it has been intermittent.  Seems to happen most when I do some combination of plug in, close the lid and use Spotify.

  • by intentionMan,

    intentionMan intentionMan Aug 31, 2015 2:37 PM in response to pmurdie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2015 2:37 PM in response to pmurdie

    So many ways to create the same problem.

    Recently my MBA started in with this behaviour.  Traced it to the installation of Boom.  Not 100% certain, but close.  It appears to react to my adjusting the volume on my headset by adjusting the balance instead.  Increase volume pushes the balance to the right.  Sometimes.  Decreasing volume never pushes it to the left.  I must enter the settings to correct it.  I have a sense that certain sound plugins do not interact correctly all the time.  I think it is probably Apples fault since there seems to be many plugins reacting, if I have read the thread correctly.

     

    Since this works correctly 98% of the time and since I like the Boom functionality I am likely to delay testing the removal of Boom to correct the problem.  Since it is intermittent I could wait a long time before I really knew it had an effect.  I wonder if Apple reads these things.  There does seem to be a theme to the problems.

  • by iEoin,

    iEoin iEoin Feb 17, 2016 1:36 AM in response to jcfive@gmail.com
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 17, 2016 1:36 AM in response to jcfive@gmail.com

    Exact same problem every time I hit Cmd-F2 to use iMac screen as remote display for Mac Book Pro Retina over thunderbolt cable.  I can even see if happen if I have the Sound Preference pane open on another screen - balance setting jumps to the left.

     

    Wonder if this is a "feature" intended to provide better stereo separation if using a cinema display?

     

    The "revert" to centre can be upset if the remote screen toggles back by itself (the MBPr is shut-down or cable is unplugged) leaving the iMac in Left boost mode.

     

    The funny thing is I hadn't noticed it before... maybe I don't listen to music enough or it's a new bug?  I'm running 10.10.5 on my iMac and 10.11.3 on my MacBookPro

first Previous Page 5 of 5