I'm still learning a lot about my a1, and i need to figure out more about the audio.

It looks like i can plug in 2 channels. When i import this footage with both channels, can i turn one off, and select which one is better for the final cut?

How does this work when it comes to looking at a playback in the camera? Do you have no choice but to listen to both channels?

Thank You.

The two channels are part of a stereo stream. In post, channel 1 will be the left stereo channel, and channel 2 will be the right. You can split the stereo file into two mono files if you like and do whatever you want with them.

As for your monitoring question: again, you'll hear channel 1 in the left headphone and channel 2 in the right.

Eureka! that makes sense now, thanks a lot Jarrod!