A/V Receiver Setup With DirecTV Receiver

[psyclguy]

I am trying to record XM Music from my DirecTV HR-20 receiver running through my A/V receiver to my PC. I have the satellite receiver connected to the amp via optical cable and an RCA connection from the line out on the amp to the line in on the PC. Here's the problem: I'm only getting the left stereo channel to the PC's sound card. I can run a cable from the amp's headphone jack to the PC and get both channels but I would rather have the line out connection to the PC for better quality. Any ideas?

[BattleZone]

I assume that you're using a 3.5mm stereo (3-conductor) mini-jack to red & white RCA cable, right? I'd bet the cable is the problem, but you might want to try to see if you can patch those RCA outputs from the AV receiver to another component (that can record) and verify that it is outputting signal on both channels.

If that's the case, the problem is either the cable or the jack on the sound card.

You ARE connecting to the Line In, and not the Mic In, on the soundcard, right? Mic In is mono.

[psyclguy]

Yes, line in to the PC. As I said, when I connect to the PC from the receiver via the receiver's headphone jack I get sound from both channels, right and left. But when I connect the line output from the A/V receiver using the "Tape Out" and using the same cables I'm only getting the left channel on the PC's sound card.