loading into SoundForge brings the levels at digital zero on the left and clipping on the right
Yes, I forgot to mention that there was clipping and I can't see how to get rid of it. I am using Audacity... I probably need a newer version too. There is a recording lever and meter where I can see it go into the red on the right, but the levers from minimum to maximum, do nothing to the sound or meters. I probably have to do something lame like hit the record button, but I figured that function would just output a new file somewhere. I will try it.
Mono conversion would fix the stereo imbalance
You guys finally convinced me, with a set point of SFX origin on a map, that mono is the best solution. It probably has been for some time or always. I don't know, but I believe it to be true now.