PowerBook issue: audio balance keeps changing to either left or right

[4np]

I have this weird issue with my PowerBook (2nd last revision) for quite a while; whenever I plug my iPod headphones in I only hear audio on either the left or the right side. When I then go to the audio panel the audio balance is also to the left or the right. When I center it the audio is fine. However, when I plug again the headphones in at a later stage the audio balance is again off to the left or the right.

Is anybody familiair with this issue?

 

[Queso]

I was getting that a few months ago on my Rev A. PB12", always to the left. It happened every time I used RealPlayer or its plug-in. In the end I re-installed that and the problem went away.

Might not be RealPlayer for you, but is there any other audio software you are using regularly that could be causing it?

 

[swiftaw]

Yeah, it's a familiar issue. Just have to keep checking the audio balance.

 

[davipt]

Is anybody familiair with this issue?

Oh yeah, a lot. Happened to a Powerbook G4 1GHz and to a newer Powerbook 1.5GHz. Now on the MacBook Pro, it never happened.

What happened to me was the following:
- at the office listening to music through the phones
- take the phones jack out
- close the lid and get to standby
- at home, I'd use the laptop but don't use the phones or notice if the sound is wrong
- next day at the office, open the lid, connect the phones, start itunes, bum - sound in a random place - could be full left, full right, middle or (seldomly) even 33/50% to a side.

Tryed hard to report a bug in radar and explain what and how it happened, but the developer never understood. Then I got the MacBook and never cared about it anymore.

 

[4np]

Weird... Ah well, it's not very annoying; it's just weird

 

[PlaceofDis]

its a known bug. Balanced should fix it for you. worked in the past for me.