Windows 10: When did Windows add Mono Audio settings?

I am doing an assignment on Software that assist with hearing and I can't find anything anywhere. Please help

:)

 

Mono audio (ease of access) plus Listen to Microphone (audio control)

I wish to have my Windows 10 (20H2) machine listen to microphone (relay audio from sound input device to sound output device) and be in Mono audio mode (combine left and right input sound streams and send the combined result to both left and right output sound stream) at start-up.

The "Turn on Mono" setting does not appear to take effect until after an (any?) application using windows sound is started. The "listen to microphone" setting IS in effect at start-up (however, the audio flow is still stereo, which is not intended.)

Here is the step-by-step:

1. Start Windows 10, no audio-based application running
2. Ease of Access > Audio > Turn on Mono
3. Sound Control Panel > Recording > (double click on) Microphone > Listen > [x] Listen to this Device

4. Reboot.

5. At this point, the "Turn on Mono" setting does not appear to be in effect (left and right audio channels are still distinct)

6. Start (any) windows sound application

7. At this point, the "Turn on Mono" setting DOES appear to be in effect (left and right channels are merged at input, and the merged audio is presented to both left and right audio outputs)

8. Stop the windows sound application

9. At this point, the "Turn on Mono" setting DOES appear to be in effect (left and right channels are merged at input, and the merged audio is presented to both left and right audio outputs)

Repeatable beginning at step 4.

I imagine this is not intended behavior, and I'm wondering if it's an oversight in Windows 10?

Thanks for any advice or attempts to duplicate this sequence.

Dave

 

Mono audio (ease of access) plus Listen to Microphone (audio control)

I find that if I set mono, then restart, then test as I posted, it's mono.

This suggests another snaglet in 2004/20H2.

Another option for you might be to use the bat file in the tutorial and run that at startup.
Turn On or Off Mono Audio in Windows 10

I've asked about 20H2 after that tutorial for you.
Turn On or Off Mono Audio in Windows 10

 

Mono audio (ease of access) plus Listen to Microphone (audio control)

Thank you for the reply.

Would you be able to attempt replicate the step-by-step I posted, particularly observing for mono behavior after start-up, but before any application is running?

My posting did not include a test for mono status after operating the mono control panel setting; only that the mono status was not actually active after a reboot, when it should be.

Upon first reboot after the settings change, the audio channels are not merged, as I can verify that the channels are independent (I feed audio source only from "left", and the output is only in "left" ("right" is silent input, silent output), even when Mono setting is applied). Once an application runs after start-up, the audio source feeding only "left" input is now observed on both "left" and "right" outputs.

Thank you again for any assistance, or any advice where I can proceed.

Dave