Mono Setting for iPod?

There is no setting for this on the iPod.

I think the best solution is to go to any Radio Shack store and buy an adapter that goes from mini-jack stereo to mini-jack mono. I think it would be this one.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102690

Connect your earbuds through this adapter. If you read the customer reviews, they seem to describe what you desire.

Also, the best way to provide feedback to Apple on features is through the feedback web page

http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

I guess you are supposed to plug in mono headphones to the mono end of that adapter.

http://www.scansound.com/M102-Mono-Earbud-Style-Headphones.htm

Also, that company above seems to sell the type of headphones you want to create through modifying.

http://www.scansound.com/1-Bud.htm

I am also deaf in one ear due to surgery. I am in the UK and got an adaptor from Maplins. This is rather bulky but does work. Unfortunately it delivers the sound to one ear (sadly my deaf one) not both. With my original iPod phones this is not a problem as I simply wear the left one in my right ear. The thing is I would like to buy some new phones, maybe some that clip over the ear but it's not possible to switch these to the other ear. I can't help feeling that an adaptor is something that Apple should be able to manage and I will contact them about this. It may be that they are infringing disability laws in the UK by not providing a solution.

I stumbled across this thread by sheer chance today. I have been deaf in my right ear since birth. The problem of mono/stereo headphones has been a constant pain in the ... ear, for years. Once upon a time, very old-school headpphones has switches on them to change between stereo and mono. As did radios. Unfortunately nobody manufactures such headphones these days. I have wanted to buy an ipod for years but the lack of a simple software option to output audio in mono has put me off. The only option available for mono-aural people is that already suggested above - a clunky adapter. I also got my adapter from Maplin. They also vary widely in performance so I suggest you shop around. Any electronics shop should have them, especially the geek-type shops that sell switches, connectors, and cables etc down the back. Unfortunately, as with most adapters around the world, these are usually cheaply made and fit poorly and can (if you're not careful) damage the plugs and connectors. Come on Apple - you like to tout other 'accessibility' features on your product (e.g. spoken menus). This should be a simple fix - a software update even? - and would open up a whole new target market. I would finally buy an ipod.

Is there a problem with the product described by wutsenuf above?

http://www.scansound.com/1-Bud.htm#1BUDPRO

I checked the FAQ on their web site and they will ship internationally.

I will try your suggestion as soon as I can connect to the website, it's not letting me right now.
The only problem with this is that it restricts the choice of those of us who are mono aural and I'm not sure I can see a reason why this should be. I have also sent feedback on this subject to Apple. Here's hoping I can get onto this site soon.

Ok just managed to get on the website and I've ordered 2 types. The one that cips over the ear and the 1 Bud Pro Combo. A bit excessive but I'm off to Thailand soon so I haven't got much time and I'm not sure which would be best. Mind you it's the delivery that's expensive. Anyway I'll let you know what i think of them.

I lost the hearing in my left ear due to a tumour in my inner ear. I have experienced similar problems to those already described, such as only hearing half of the song when using just the right earphone. Previously, I have tried using the jack adaptor but this was unsatisfactory and led to damaging my ipod.

As my ipod is now not working, I have started using the music player feature on my mobile phone. Again, this caused the problem of not being able to hear all of the song which is very irritating so I started messing around with the settings. Happily, there is a feature that allows me to change the balance to 100% right. This means that all of the sound is played through the right earphone and none out of the left and solving my problem.

Is this feature available on the latest generation of ipod's?
If not, can it be added?
Is this feature on itunes? If not, can it be added?

Before purchasing my ipod a couple of years ago, I contacted the apple helpline which is based in Ireland. I explained my situation and asked if there were any solutions. I was asked "Can't you just cut the other headphone off".

As I was a little dismayed by this comment, I contacted the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to see if they were, in fact, breaking the law by not providing a solution. Unfortunately, because the ipod is a manufactured product, and not a service that is being offered to the service, there is nothing in the legislation that requires manufacturers or designers of products to make changes to their products, packaging or instructions. However, it is good practice for the company to make their products accessible to disabled customers.

Thanks for that. I hadn't thought about the legislation only affecting services and not products. I do think it's a bit much not providing some solution.

I've not had a problem with my jack adaptor other than it's rather large and it only works on the left side. This as I said isn't a problem with the supplied phones or ones like them.
I just looked and there isn't a balance feature on iTunes as far as I can see which seems odd but then most computers have this option anyway. Some people have said that combining the 2 channels takes too much processing power but if your mobile phone can shift the balance like that it seems odd that an iPod can't manage it.

My jack adaptor must have constantly kept moving in my ipod and putting pressure on the ipod jack. I tried changing the jack with a new one from ipod, but one thing lead to another and it is now pretty knackered!

I can't find the balance feature on my computer. I've looked under the control panel and opened the 'sound' programme but is doesn't appear to be there.

In any case, I have recently ordered some of the various earbuds from Scan Sound. Shipping to the UK is expensive though and it's not really a satisfactory solution as I would prefer to be able to change the balance on the ipod and use my preferred ear phones.