Cannot record witha USB or plug in Mic

Sterling: I'm not familiar with Garage Band however using the article I did at least get a sound track that looked recorded as it made a wave form. However I could not play it- I played it, but did not hear anything. I'm using a computer mic plugged into a USB port. I did so by going to pref. as directed and selecting built in Mic. I also tried Audacity but it did not record any sound. No wave form in Audacity. I could not find anything in Audacity Pref to select my mic. Realtec will not select the mic. I tried to move the garage band file to audacity but it did not move as the ext is wrong. I do have an interface coming and hope that will help on the volume. I also could not get sound recorded in Elements Premier by Adobe. UGGgggg!

Ronald

Sterling: I'm not familiar with Garage Band however using the article I did at least get a sound track that looked recorded as it made a wave form. However I could not play it- I played it, but did not hear anything. I'm using a computer mic plugged into a USB port. I did so by going to pref. as directed and selecting built in Mic. I also tried Audacity but it did not record any sound. No wave form in Audacity. I could not find anything in Audacity Pref to select my mic. Realtec will not select the mic. I tried to move the garage band file to audacity but it did not move as the ext is wrong. I do have an interface coming and hope that will help on the volume. I also could not get sound recorded in Elements Premier by Adobe. UGGgggg!

Ronald

A 3.5mm plug mic never shows up- If I try a USB mic, the realtek name does show in the box, however it never shows any bars on the input volume NOR will sound record in any program. I finally got GarageBand to record(I get a wave pattern) however I cannot get the sound to playback?? These are cheap mics, and no driver is involved. One is a PC mic I have had for years- works fine as I used it with GarageBand. I have on order an interface unit which is an amplifier and it does come with a driver so I'm waiting for that- For your info- WhenI used the PC mic on a USB input, and it did record in GarageBand, When the mic was plugged in, the "Sound" pref box did not show and bars with this mic when I spoke or tapped the mic- BUT- lit did record in GarageBand. My purpose is to use a mic to narrate in iMovie and the built in mic is lousy as far as sound quality! Thanks!!