Imported Podcast Mono File Sounds Panned Left, But Isn't?

[kenTheriot]

I have a mono podcast file that sounds like it's panned like 75% left in Reaper. But the track is definitely not panned at all (set to Center). And when I open the same file in Adobe Audition, it is perfectly centered.

Has anyone had this happen before? If so, what was your solution?

Thanks!

[Stella645]

Is it mono as in a single channel or dual mono?

And if you drop it into an otherwise completely empty project it still sounds 75% left?

And no other files do this?

[kenTheriot]

Originally Posted by Stella645

Is it mono as in a single channel or dual mono?

And if you drop it into an otherwise completely empty project it still sounds 75% left?

And no other files do this?

It's not dual mono. I did manage a workaround for this, though I'm still not sure about the cause-and-effect.

This is an m4a file from a client whose podcast I edit. It came from Zoom. When I open the raw m4a in Reaper, it sounds panned significantly. But when I convert the file to a wav in Adobe Audition, and THEN open it in Reaper, it is centered.

So I'm not sure what is at play here. But at least this is a way to move forward.