Windows Movie Maker : no support for mike input?

[Kevin Tysen]

I can do this on an older computer but not on a newer computer, but I don't know why:
I start up Windows Movie Maker and connect a microphone to the computer, and then I can speak into the microphone, and WMM records my voice as a sound file and adds the sound to the movie project.
I can do that on an older computer, but I can't figure out how to do it on a new computer. The version of WMM is different. I checked the help info, but I can't find anything. Is it just impossible to do now?
There is an icon for adding video or pictures, and there is another icon for adding sound, but the icon for adding sound is not enabled, for some reason.
Do I have to record and make a file with Windows sound recorder or something, and then import it into the movie project?
I've tried using sound recorder before, but the sound quality is not very good. It records in a different format from WMM on the old computer.

[Peter Johnson]

I've tried using sound recorder before, but the sound quality is not very good.

You did this on the new computer? Or on the old?
If on the old, then have you tried using any other app, such as Audacity, to record sound on the new computer? If no apps will let you record sound, then there is something wrong with the sound driver on the new computer. You might want to get the latest driver from the sound card (or chip) manufacturer. Also, check the Sound control panel to make sure that there are input sources available and that you have the one for the microphone checked.

[Kevin Tysen]

Thank you. There is no program called Audacity on this new computer.
The Sound Recorder on this new computer can record my voice, but it comes out extremely weak. I have to turn the sound up all the way, or I can't hear it at all. And there's background noise/static. I think maybe the resistance (ohms) on the mike is wrong or something. Anyway, I can't say for sure about the quality of the recording done by Sound Recorder because it's too weak to hear clearly.

On the old computer, I was able to open up a movie project in WMM and directly add narration to the project, but I can't do that with this new computer. That seems really strange to me because usually newer computers and newer versions of an application have MORE functions than old ones, not fewer.

[Campbell Ritchie]

You can find out about Audacity here.

[Peter Johnson]

Have you looked at the Recording tab on the Sounds control panel like I suggested? Once the desired input device is selected, click on Properties and check the Level tab.

[Kevin Tysen]

I found the recording level tab and moved it up to 100% and I can hear the recording now, but there is a lot of background noise. There was a setting for cancelling background noise and I clicked it, but the background noise persists.

[Campbell Ritchie]

You may find the microphone itself is picking up the background.