Stereo channel reverse or swap

edil · #1 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2005, 01:29 PM

I have the Shure E4C IEM and I don't like to use them with the cable going around the ears. Because of that, I use the right earpiece in the left ear and the left earpiece in the right ear.

It is possible to swap or reverse channels with Rockbox?

If that's not possible with the current version I will like to see it in a future release.

Do you know of any very small attachment, device or accessory that can be put between the phone cable plug and the player output port that swaps the channels?

**andrewmel** · #2 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2005, 02:05 PM

I am wondering what the difference is? Well maybe with classical music where the violins are on the left?

a

**musichound** · #3 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewmel

I am wondering what the difference is? Well maybe with classical music where the violins are on the left?

a

It would matter to me. If I would know a audio signal is not being received properly it would drive me mad. Maybe I am too anal retentative.

edil · #4 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2005, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewmel

I am wondering what the difference is? Well maybe with classical music where the violins are on the left?

a

You answer you own question, but is more than "violins on the left". Sound engineers record, edit and master music with right and left channels in mind to properly recreate the sound experience. At the end is a matter of perception of reality, something that degrades severely when using headphones. If on top of that you reverse channels you are making it even worse.

I search the Rockbox's Wiki page and could not find anything related to swapping channels. I do saw that you can change the stereo width to get a bigger stage imaging but it seems that even that, is not yet implemented for the Iriver version of Rockbox.

It seems that my only option is to find an adapter cable but I can not find it.

bobwise · #5 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2005, 02:51 PM

The adapter cable would be simple to make. Just swap the left channel wire with the right one.

**andrewmel** · #6 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2005, 02:58 PM

Besides Classical music, does it matter if the lead guitarist is standing on the left or the right side of the stage?

Is there any real bias that is always applied to one side and a different one applied to the other?

Did Led Zep always put JPJ on the left side of the stage?

How would you even know that you had it the wrong way around?

a

**musichound** · #7 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewmel

Besides Classical music, does it matter if the lead guitarist is standing on the left or the right side of the stage?

Is there any real bias that is always applied to one side and a different one applied to the other?

Did Led Zep always put JPJ on the left side of the stage?

How would you even know that you had it the wrong way around?

a

Not too sure, but I am going with the actual audio recording. Also, no two people's indivisual ears are alike. A person hearing strenght is different in their left ear than their right ear. For instance, I like guitars real loud. If a guitar sounded good in my right ear it wouldn't sound as good in my left ear because the hearing in my right ear is a little stronger. However, if the original recording does pipe the guitar in the left chanel I may flip it so I can hear it the best possible way. After all, this is Jimmy Page we are talking about.

**blindsniper** · #8 (**permalink**) November 17th, 2005, 08:01 PM

Well, actually, I know of many songs that have differences between left and right...and they are modern rock. I could load the one that has it the most for you guys to listen to just to see it...It would be even weirder than it is if it was reversed. I say just swap the channels...that atleast you know is properly done

edil · #9 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewmel

Besides Classical music, does it matter if the lead guitarist is standing on the left or the right side of the stage?

Is there any real bias that is always applied to one side and a different one applied to the other?

Did Led Zep always put JPJ on the left side of the stage?

How would you even know that you had it the wrong way around?

a

Well I will give you a point, if it is a mono recording, what is left or what is right doesn't matter.

Anyways I think this thread has diverted from the original purpose. So can you confirm that channel swaping is not possible with the current version of RockBox? and if I go the DIY way as suggested can you please tell me the parts that I need to build the adapter?

adama · #10 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 08:27 AM

Something like these ought to do it, with a short length of wire in between. You'd just have to wire it up so that it swaps the channels over.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...1211&doy=18m11
and
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...1187&doy=18m11

Alternatively you could just cut off the plug from your headphones and solder a new plug back on with the wires switched. Depends whether you want the headphones switched permanently or not..

edil · #11 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adama

Something like these ought to do it, with a short length of wire in between. You'd just have to wire it up so that it swaps the channels over.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...1211&doy=18m11
and
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...1187&doy=18m11

Alternatively you could just cut off the plug from your headphones and solder a new plug back on with the wires switched. Depends whether you want the headphones switched permanently or not..

Thanks Adama I will look in to it.

**andrewmel** · #12 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blindsniper

Well, actually, I know of many songs that have differences between left and right...and they are modern rock. I could load the one that has it the most for you guys to listen to just to see it...It would be even weirder than it is if it was reversed. I say just swap the channels...that atleast you know is properly done

I agree that many (almost all?) songs have a difference between left and right, but if you dont know which is left and which is right, does it matter?

This is why it does matter with classical music, the violins are nearly always on stage right (musicians point of view).

a

**musichound** · #13 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 02:58 PM

There might be another type: Spoken voice, even though I don't have any of that genre. Not too sure on this, though.

**DreamTactix291** · #14 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewmel

I agree that many (almost all?) songs have a difference between left and right, but if you dont know which is left and which is right, does it matter?

This is why it does matter with classical music, the violins are nearly always on stage right (musicians point of view).

a

It does it you're especially picky like me. Plus if you listen to lots of live stuff like me it just seems right to hear it with the instruments coming from the proper side of the stage.

**andrewmel** · #15 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 10:17 PM

I guess my point is, how do you know which side they were on? And do you want to hear it from the audience side or the bands side (access all areas

)?

a

**DreamTactix291** · #16 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 10:31 PM

Audience side

And if you really like a band you know which side of the stage they play on

**andrewmel** · #17 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamTactix291

Audience side

And if you really like a band you know which side of the stage they play on

Ahhh, now I get it. I guess I dont listen to much live music....

a

**DreamTactix291** · #18 (**permalink**) November 18th, 2005, 11:15 PM

Yeah the balance is usually a lot more centred for studio recordings unless the sound is mixed to sound like live. As a collector of bootlegs I must say I like the sound of a live recording a lot despite all its imperfections.

02keilj · #19 (**permalink**) November 20th, 2005, 02:28 AM

Hmm
videos would be changed a bit
if someone in the video is on the left and you have swapped your chanels around then you would get their voice on the right

**LAB DESIGN** · #20 (**permalink**) November 20th, 2005, 05:48 AM

The White Stripes for an easy example: Meg White (the drummer) is always on the left side of the stage.

LD

Dragon_Fangs · #21 (**permalink**) November 25th, 2005, 09:52 PM

On certain recordings of a radio show I have, the hosts come in mostly one ear and the callers come in the other. Realism, differenciation, i like it.

rubber-glove · #22 (**permalink**) November 27th, 2005, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adama

Alternatively you could just cut off the plug from your headphones and solder a new plug back on with the wires switched. Depends whether you want the headphones switched permanently or not..

i wouldn't recommend cutting your headphone cable. most of the time those wires are wierd and near impossible to solder.