Only getting left side recording

Ok so I'm just trying to get the basics. I created a track hooked my mic to the M-audio plugged the M-audio (Fast Track Pro) to the computer via USB armed the track selected Stereo left/right hit record and got a recording but only in the left channel. Fader is center. When I look at the signal coming into Reaper I'm only getting left side so I'm guessing it's the M-audio? I have switched the M-audio from mono to stereo but that doesn't do anything. No matter what I do I only get left side?? Then I tried to record a second track (again just playing to get the basics) and this time I couldn't get sound at all - is that a routing issue? Ok - The M-audio has 2 channels I just tried the mic in channel 2 and only get right side so I know it's the M-audio. How do I get it to send signal to left and right? Thanks, Den

The Fast Track is a two input device. You are plugged into input 1 yes? That means what you are seeing is absolutely normal. If you want a "stereo" track recorded you have to use both inputs or the S/PDIF digital input with a stereo digital signal. What you probably want to do is select "Stereo Left" and Reaper will record the mono signal. Then you can pan it wherever you want at playback. Maybe... check it out. :) D

From what I see there is mono left or right and there is stereo left & right. On playback I still only get which ever channel I recorded (1) goes left (2) goes right. Pan doesn't give me both? Ok I got it. I need to set Reaper to "Mono Left" when I use the M-audio channel (1) and to "Mono Right" when I use Channel (2). Thanks Diogenes - I know you said stereo but that helped.

Thanks Diogenes - Looks like we were passing each other in responses. It makes total since to me now. I know I was sending a mono signal with just one mic but I didn't want it to just come out of one side ie. left. So telling Reaper Mono left is where the input is coming from was the answer. My thinking was backwards I thought I was telling it what I wanted it to do with the signal but it wanted to know where it was coming from. Telling it what to do with the signal is where Peter "Pan" comes into play :D

Glad you got it sorted out! :) All the options are a bit daunting at first but the power and flexibility is worth the learning curve. D

And this is an entirely valid question. Glad you got it sorted!