Playback and monitoring issue - only 1 speaker?

[aljones81]

Hey guys- owner of a brand new Dell laptop and Mbox 2, running PT LE 7.4. Right now, I have two computer speakers running into the headphone output on the front of the Mbox- not a great solution, but I'm just getting started with this. Anyways, while I have a track ready to record, only the left speaker is giving me any audio- already tried the Mono switch, didn't do anything. Furthermore, upon playback, if I pan the track 100% to the right, I don't hear it at all- same deal, no speaker. I know it's not the speakers, as I've plugged them into the headphone output on my computer and tested it in iTunes.

I realize the answer to my problem is probably something extremely basic, but I just can't seem to figure it out.

The 1/8" to 1/4" headphone adapter IS stereo.

Besides this, I'm not running into too many problems- figured out how to use Amplitube, added a drumbeat from Reason, etc...I'm really enjoying PT so far.

Thanks for any help, and here's my system information.



Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9300 @ 2.50GHz
Speed : 2.49GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
Internal Data Cache : 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 6MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 24-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
System
System : Dell Inc. Latitude D830
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard : Dell Inc. 0UY141
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB PCMCIA CardBus USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
System BIOS : Dell Inc. A11
Total Memory : 3.5GB DDR2
Chipset
Model : Dell Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 199MHz (796MHz)
Total Memory : 4GB DDR2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 332MHz (664MHz)
Video System
Adapter : NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M (256MB DDR2, PCIe 1.00 x16, PS 3.0, VS 3.0)
Physical Storage Devices
Hitachi HTS722016K9A300 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 15MB Cache) : 149GB (C:)
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-T21N (ATAPI33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)
Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 149GB (NTFS) @ Hitachi HTS722016K9A300 160GB (SATA300, NCQ, 15MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (D:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-T21N (ATAPI33, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Dell ICH8M-E (ICH8 Family) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Hub Controller 2 : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : SMSC LPC v1
Audio Device : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Sigmatel ??? (76A0)
Audio Codec : Conexant Systems ??? (2C06)
Serial Port(s) : 2
USB Controller 1 : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #4
USB Controller 2 : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #5
USB Controller 3 : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI #2
USB Controller 4 : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #1
USB Controller 5 : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #2
USB Controller 6 : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI #3
USB Controller 7 : Dell 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI #1
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Dell Integrated OHCI IEEE 1394 Host Controller
CardBus/PCMCIA Controller 1 : O2 Micro OZ711EZ1 MemoryCardBus Controller
System SMBus Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus
Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft Office Document Image Writer Driver (300x300, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Network Services
Network Adapter : Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Network Adapter : Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini-Card - Packet Scheduler Miniport (Ethernet, 54Mbps)
Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 100%
Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP (2002) Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)
Platform Compliance : x86

[albee1952]

I am always suspect of computer speakers so I would start there. First thing I would do is plug in some stereo headphones and see if they sound correct. If so, then I know something is whacky with the speakers. If the problem still exists, are you trying to record a microphone to a stereo track?(famous newbie mistake). Looking at the edit window, is the track output set to the correct output?

[aljones81]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I am always suspect of computer speakers so I would start there. First thing I would do is plug in some stereo headphones and see if they sound correct. If so, then I know something is whacky with the speakers. If the problem still exists, are you trying to record a microphone to a stereo track?(famous newbie mistake). Looking at the edit window, is the track output set to the correct output?

I have headphones plugged in right now- audio is only coming from the left one.
No, I am not trying to record a microphone to a stereo track- actually, right now, I am simply testing it with playback. All of the tracks in the Mix window are panned at 0.
In the Mix window, under a track's Output, here's what happens:
Out 1-2: only left speaker
Out 1: only left speaker
Out 2: nothing

Any ideas on what could be causing my Out 2 to not work? Thanks so much

[spkguitar]

Originally Posted by aljones81

I have headphones plugged in right now- audio is only coming from the left one.

Are the headphones also plugged into your 1/4" to 1/8" adapter?

Do you possibly have a Mono master fader instead of stereo?

[aljones81]

Originally Posted by spkguitar

Are the headphones also plugged into your 1/4" to 1/8" adapter?

Do you possibly have a Mono master fader instead of stereo?

Yes- headphones are plugged in to the 1/4" to 1/8" adapter (the headphone output on the Mbox is 1/4").
I don't have a master fader track.

Thanks for the reply.

[albee1952]

You got me scratching my head. Maybe its time for a trip to the dealer?

[aljones81]

Originally Posted by albee1952

You got me scratching my head. Maybe its time for a trip to the dealer?

Maybe- I think tomorrow I'll try calling Digidesign Tech Support. From what I can tell, Output 2 isn't working...

[spkguitar]

Originally Posted by aljones81

Yes- headphones are plugged in to the 1/4" to 1/8" adapter (the headphone output on the Mbox is 1/4").

Have you thought about switching adapters? It might be the adapter that is faulty.

Maybe try a real pair of headphones? Or some real monitors?

[aljones81]

I might have spoken too soon about Output 2 not working.
I just tested the Monitor Outputs on the back of the Mbox- I plugged computer speakers into a 1/8-to-1/4 adapter into the L out, and headphones into a 1/8-to-1/4 adapter into the R out. Both worked fine (obviously only the L sides on each). So this appears to be an issue with the headphone output on the front of the Mbox, where it's only sending audio to the L channel...and yes, I tried the Mono switch, but it didn't do anything.

At least if I call Tech Support I have an idea of where the problem is located...

[aljones81]

Originally Posted by spkguitar

Have you thought about switching adapters? It might be the adapter that is faulty.

Maybe try a real pair of headphones? Or some real monitors?

Yes, I've tried two different adapters, which I've also used on my old Boss BR-532 with no problems.
"Real" headphones or "real" monitors are certainly on my list of things to buy...believe me, I don't plan on doing any serious mixes on computer speakers However, right now I'm just trying to make sure everything is working how it's supposed to. Would I be correct assuming that no matter what type of headphones I'm using, it should come through as a stereo signal?

Thanks for the reply.