diff --git a/native-bridge/src/audio/engine.rs b/native-bridge/src/audio/engine.rs
index ee581ce7..e0bef763 100644
--- a/native-bridge/src/audio/engine.rs
+++ b/native-bridge/src/audio/engine.rs
@@ -928,13 +928,17 @@ impl AudioEngine {
         // NO LOGGING IN THIS FUNCTION - logging allocates memory which kills ASIO
 
         // Get channel config
+        // CRITICAL: Default to mono (is_stereo=false) if config cannot be read
+        // This ensures mono input sounds centered rather than panned left/right
         let (left_ch, right_ch, is_stereo) = if let Ok(state) = processing_state.try_read() {
             let left = state.channel_config.left_channel as usize;
             let right = state.channel_config.right_channel.unwrap_or(1) as usize;
             let stereo = state.channel_config.channel_count == 2;
             (left, right, stereo)
         } else {
-            (0, 1, true)
+            // Default to mono mode (channel 0 duplicated to both L/R = centered)
+            // This is safer than stereo which could cause panning issues
+            (0, 0, false)
         };
 
         // Clear and reuse the pre-allocated stereo buffer (no allocation!)
diff --git a/native-bridge/src/effects/eq.rs b/native-bridge/src/effects/eq.rs
index 3199620f..855accba 100644
--- a/native-bridge/src/effects/eq.rs
+++ b/native-bridge/src/effects/eq.rs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ impl Eq {
 
             let filter_type = match band_settings.band_type {
                 EqBandType::Lowshelf => BiquadType::LowShelf,
-                EqBandType::Peak => BiquadType::Peak,
+                EqBandType::Peak | EqBandType::Peaking => BiquadType::Peak,
                 EqBandType::Highshelf => BiquadType::HighShelf,
             };
 
diff --git a/native-bridge/src/effects/types.rs b/native-bridge/src/effects/types.rs
index d5e75b2f..2b7089c1 100644
--- a/native-bridge/src/effects/types.rs
+++ b/native-bridge/src/effects/types.rs
@@ -1509,7 +1509,7 @@ pub struct MultibandCompressorSettings {
 fn default_mb_low() -> f32 { 200.0 }
 fn default_mb_high() -> f32 { 2000.0 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, Default)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct CompressorBand {
     #[serde(default = "default_true")]
diff --git a/src/hooks/useNativeBridge.ts b/src/hooks/useNativeBridge.ts
index ba9580e4..c31c441e 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useNativeBridge.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useNativeBridge.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ export function useNativeBridge() {
   // Use refs to track initialization
   const initialized = useRef(false);
 
+  // Ref to hold startAudio function for auto-start
+  const startAudioRef = useRef<(() => Promise<void>) | null>(null);
+
   // Single useEffect for setup - runs once on mount
   useEffect(() => {
     if (initialized.current) return;
@@ -247,6 +250,49 @@ export function useNativeBridge() {
     };
   }, []); // Empty dependency array - run once
 
+  // Auto-start native bridge when room is connected and bridge is preferred
+  // This ensures users don't have to manually start audio after joining a room
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // Subscribe to room store for connection changes
+    const unsubscribeRoom = useRoomStore.subscribe((roomState) => {
+      const bridgeState = useBridgeAudioStore.getState();
+
+      // Check if we should auto-start: room connected + bridge connected + bridge preferred + not already running
+      if (
+        roomState.isConnected &&
+        bridgeState.isConnected &&
+        bridgeState.preferNativeBridge &&
+        !bridgeState.isRunning
+      ) {
+        console.log('[useNativeBridge] Room connected with bridge preferred, auto-starting audio...');
+        // Use a small delay to ensure all other initialization has completed
+        setTimeout(async () => {
+          // Re-check conditions in case they changed
+          const latestBridge = useBridgeAudioStore.getState();
+          const latestRoom = useRoomStore.getState();
+          if (
+            latestRoom.isConnected &&
+            latestBridge.isConnected &&
+            latestBridge.preferNativeBridge &&
+            !latestBridge.isRunning &&
+            startAudioRef.current
+          ) {
+            console.log('[useNativeBridge] Executing auto-start via ref...');
+            try {
+              await startAudioRef.current();
+            } catch (err) {
+              console.error('[useNativeBridge] Auto-start failed:', err);
+            }
+          }
+        }, 500);
+      }
+    });
+
+    return () => {
+      unsubscribeRoom();
+    };
+  }, []);
+
   // Connect to bridge
   const connect = useCallback(async () => {
     console.log('[useNativeBridge] Manual connect requested');
@@ -460,6 +506,7 @@ export function useNativeBridge() {
             isMuted: track.isMuted,
             isSolo: track.isSolo,
             volume: track.volume,
+            pan: track.pan ?? 0,
             inputGainDb: track.audioSettings.inputGain || 0,
             monitoringEnabled: directMonitoring,
             monitoringVolume: track.audioSettings.monitoringVolume ?? 1,
@@ -470,6 +517,11 @@ export function useNativeBridge() {
     }
   }, []);
 
+  // Update ref whenever startAudio changes (for auto-start feature)
+  useEffect(() => {
+    startAudioRef.current = startAudio;
+  }, [startAudio]);
+
   // Stop audio
   const stopAudio = useCallback(() => {
     const state = useBridgeAudioStore.getState();
@@ -591,6 +643,7 @@ export function useNativeBridge() {
               isMuted: track.isMuted,
               isSolo: track.isSolo,
               volume: track.volume,
+              pan: track.pan ?? 0,
               inputGainDb: track.audioSettings.inputGain || 0,
               monitoringEnabled: track.audioSettings.directMonitoring ?? true,
               monitoringVolume: track.audioSettings.monitoringVolume ?? 1,